Thank you, Juliana! I’m curious about your thoughts on natal mercury retrograde. I’ve read everything from ‘these people thrive during transit mercury retrograde’ to natal retrograde causing an exaggerated (and unnecessary) internal focus in some area of the person’s life. I know it’s likely to be a huge topic, but I wonder if there is some general assumption one can make.
As always, thank you for your analysis. It helps me get a feel for the time ahead.
This is taken from an old handout I made for my students:
There are several opinions regarding the effects of retrograde planets. Mantresvara (Phaladeepika) taught that a planet becomes powerful and auspicious when retrograde, which he said is like being exalted even if the planet is in an enemy sign or debilitated.
According to Parasara, a planet’s benefic tendencies are greater when retrograde. The greater the Cheshta Bala (motional strength), the greater the good of a planet. The Cheshta Bala is greatest during a planet’s retrograde motion.
A different view is found in Saravali, a great 10th-century commentary by Kalyana Varma, in which retrograde planets are seen as powerful. However, they can be powerful for good or bad. Retrograde benefics confer kingship, and retrograde malefics cause misery and aimless wandering.
Retrograde planets may be powerful/strong, but one of the foundational lessons that should be taught in Jyotish studies (which we teach at the American College of Vedic Astrology) is the difference between strong and weak planets, versus auspicious and inauspicious. This is really complex, but important to help understand retrogradation. A retrograde planet may be strong but also inauspicious. Retrogradation is also only one factor among many used to calculate planetary strength.
Certain astrological classics teach that the dasha of a retrograde planet is good, whereas others state that it will be difficult. I believe that all of this confusion comes because a retrograde planet is in itself making a conflicted movement. Though it appears to move backward from the point of view of the Earth (geocentric), it is actually moving forward from the view of the Sun (heliocentric).
Note that a retrograde planet is closer to the Earth and further from the Sun, which means it is brighter, thus acting like a beacon that is trying to draw our attention to something it signifies. In a natal chart, a retrograde planet signifies something unique and individualizing about the native’s character. It is also true that retrograde planets are more under the conscious influence of the native, or as James Braha has discussed in his books, retrograde planets and their significations are more under the control of free will than forward moving planets are. Braha believes that we have to activate these planets through conscious desire and effort; otherwise, their effects may remain latent, dormant, and unexpressed.
According to Ernst Wilhelm in his book _Vault of the Heavens_, the most important factors to determine the effects of a retrograde planet is whether it indicates auspicious or inauspicious results due to its placement, lordship and yogas it forms in the chart. If a retrograde planet indicates inauspicious results, then, it will give less inauspicious results than it will when direct, all other factors being equal. An advanced astrologer can unravel this sort of thing in a chart reading.
Probably about of four people have Mercury retrograde in their charts. If it is stationary, it is much more auspicious and can be very brilliant. You have to check for that in software calculations. Generally, Mercury retrograde people can think outside the box and in a more intuitive right-brained manner (spatially oriented). They can arrive at conclusions without having to go through the usual logical steps, and can often work better with metaphors and symbols than numbers and formulas. Some Mercury retrograde people say they thrive when it is transiting retrograde but I am not so sure about that. It depends on the overall horoscope and where it is transiting in the natal chart, and aspects being made, etc.
Certain Vedic astrology teachings believe that retrograde planets represent the Asuras, those that do not follow the Sun. When we follow the Dharma, set by Sun, we attain Moksha. So, the retrograde planets, like the lunar nodes as well, represent something that we need to overcome within our nature, in an outer worldly sense. If we choose to activate retrograde planets, we must work very hard to attain whatever it is they represent, as signified by their Cheshta Bala.
Pandit Sanjay Rath, a highly respected contemporary Vedic astrologer, teaches that retrograde planets are associated with strong desires. Rath says that a planet’s power increases when it is retrograde or stationary, but the results get delayed or become disturbed or changed in some unusual fashion, so that whatever role the given planet plays in the chart, it will reflect some unresolved problems or karmic responsibilities coming from a previous life. In other words, retrograde planets represent the unfulfilled desires which have brought us back into rebirth.
According to Pt. Vamadeva Shastri/David Frawley, planets that are retrograde are worse for health than when they are direct. In the natal chart, a retrograde planet indicates weakness of the constitution and can cause health issues in its dashas. David Frawley also says that retrograde planets affecting the 7th house and its lord cause difficulties in relationship.
Western astrologers teach that retrograde planets have more surprises to offer of an unexpected nature. They may indicate a powerful past life influence related to lessons and talents being brought forward. This is perhaps symbolically linked with the concept of their being related with other spheres of time.
Retrograde planets can signify a mental state that contains certain highlighted areas or unusually heightened traits. Retrograde planets are moving the native forward spiritually as they are moving forward from the position of the Sun, yet from the Earth, they are going backwards, so they can have an internalizing effect, especially on worldly matters.
Whoa! So many layers and nuances! Thank you, Juliana. It’s a reminder to always consider planets in context - in relation to the rest of that chart, to the dashas, etc. I appreciate your taking the time!
I never cease to be amazed as to how the content in my dreams, and the events of my day partake in this greater world illustrated by astrology. I wouldn't know any of this if it weren't for people like Ms Juliana to bring this wisdom to me.
That's very sweet, thank you Mike. And how wonderful that your dreams are guiding you through life! Have you ever read Robert Moss' books on dream shamanism? I was fortunate to take some courses with him several years ago and highly recommend his work. https://mossdreams.com/
For some reason the name sounds a little familiar, but off hand, I don't think I've ever read his book on dreams.
The dream world that I inhabit is not modeled after any system that I am aware of, but I just can't help but be taken by the correspondance between astrology and dreams. I view it as confirmation that this life is not just as it seems, or as we have been told.
Society wide, its as if we are trying, some of us anyway, to walk out of this big deep hole, and astrology is like a light on the trail, and dreams are like the trail.
This will be a month of remembering strength, I believe.
Wow! That's a lot going on!! Thank you for the head's up.
Yeah, soooooo much going on! Thanks Liz. I appreciate your kind support and feedback.
Thank you, Juliana! I’m curious about your thoughts on natal mercury retrograde. I’ve read everything from ‘these people thrive during transit mercury retrograde’ to natal retrograde causing an exaggerated (and unnecessary) internal focus in some area of the person’s life. I know it’s likely to be a huge topic, but I wonder if there is some general assumption one can make.
As always, thank you for your analysis. It helps me get a feel for the time ahead.
Hi Priya,
This is taken from an old handout I made for my students:
There are several opinions regarding the effects of retrograde planets. Mantresvara (Phaladeepika) taught that a planet becomes powerful and auspicious when retrograde, which he said is like being exalted even if the planet is in an enemy sign or debilitated.
According to Parasara, a planet’s benefic tendencies are greater when retrograde. The greater the Cheshta Bala (motional strength), the greater the good of a planet. The Cheshta Bala is greatest during a planet’s retrograde motion.
A different view is found in Saravali, a great 10th-century commentary by Kalyana Varma, in which retrograde planets are seen as powerful. However, they can be powerful for good or bad. Retrograde benefics confer kingship, and retrograde malefics cause misery and aimless wandering.
Retrograde planets may be powerful/strong, but one of the foundational lessons that should be taught in Jyotish studies (which we teach at the American College of Vedic Astrology) is the difference between strong and weak planets, versus auspicious and inauspicious. This is really complex, but important to help understand retrogradation. A retrograde planet may be strong but also inauspicious. Retrogradation is also only one factor among many used to calculate planetary strength.
Certain astrological classics teach that the dasha of a retrograde planet is good, whereas others state that it will be difficult. I believe that all of this confusion comes because a retrograde planet is in itself making a conflicted movement. Though it appears to move backward from the point of view of the Earth (geocentric), it is actually moving forward from the view of the Sun (heliocentric).
Note that a retrograde planet is closer to the Earth and further from the Sun, which means it is brighter, thus acting like a beacon that is trying to draw our attention to something it signifies. In a natal chart, a retrograde planet signifies something unique and individualizing about the native’s character. It is also true that retrograde planets are more under the conscious influence of the native, or as James Braha has discussed in his books, retrograde planets and their significations are more under the control of free will than forward moving planets are. Braha believes that we have to activate these planets through conscious desire and effort; otherwise, their effects may remain latent, dormant, and unexpressed.
According to Ernst Wilhelm in his book _Vault of the Heavens_, the most important factors to determine the effects of a retrograde planet is whether it indicates auspicious or inauspicious results due to its placement, lordship and yogas it forms in the chart. If a retrograde planet indicates inauspicious results, then, it will give less inauspicious results than it will when direct, all other factors being equal. An advanced astrologer can unravel this sort of thing in a chart reading.
Probably about of four people have Mercury retrograde in their charts. If it is stationary, it is much more auspicious and can be very brilliant. You have to check for that in software calculations. Generally, Mercury retrograde people can think outside the box and in a more intuitive right-brained manner (spatially oriented). They can arrive at conclusions without having to go through the usual logical steps, and can often work better with metaphors and symbols than numbers and formulas. Some Mercury retrograde people say they thrive when it is transiting retrograde but I am not so sure about that. It depends on the overall horoscope and where it is transiting in the natal chart, and aspects being made, etc.
Certain Vedic astrology teachings believe that retrograde planets represent the Asuras, those that do not follow the Sun. When we follow the Dharma, set by Sun, we attain Moksha. So, the retrograde planets, like the lunar nodes as well, represent something that we need to overcome within our nature, in an outer worldly sense. If we choose to activate retrograde planets, we must work very hard to attain whatever it is they represent, as signified by their Cheshta Bala.
Pandit Sanjay Rath, a highly respected contemporary Vedic astrologer, teaches that retrograde planets are associated with strong desires. Rath says that a planet’s power increases when it is retrograde or stationary, but the results get delayed or become disturbed or changed in some unusual fashion, so that whatever role the given planet plays in the chart, it will reflect some unresolved problems or karmic responsibilities coming from a previous life. In other words, retrograde planets represent the unfulfilled desires which have brought us back into rebirth.
According to Pt. Vamadeva Shastri/David Frawley, planets that are retrograde are worse for health than when they are direct. In the natal chart, a retrograde planet indicates weakness of the constitution and can cause health issues in its dashas. David Frawley also says that retrograde planets affecting the 7th house and its lord cause difficulties in relationship.
Western astrologers teach that retrograde planets have more surprises to offer of an unexpected nature. They may indicate a powerful past life influence related to lessons and talents being brought forward. This is perhaps symbolically linked with the concept of their being related with other spheres of time.
Retrograde planets can signify a mental state that contains certain highlighted areas or unusually heightened traits. Retrograde planets are moving the native forward spiritually as they are moving forward from the position of the Sun, yet from the Earth, they are going backwards, so they can have an internalizing effect, especially on worldly matters.
Hope that is helpful!
Whoa! So many layers and nuances! Thank you, Juliana. It’s a reminder to always consider planets in context - in relation to the rest of that chart, to the dashas, etc. I appreciate your taking the time!
You are welcome, glad to help!
I never cease to be amazed as to how the content in my dreams, and the events of my day partake in this greater world illustrated by astrology. I wouldn't know any of this if it weren't for people like Ms Juliana to bring this wisdom to me.
And you.
Thanx.
That's very sweet, thank you Mike. And how wonderful that your dreams are guiding you through life! Have you ever read Robert Moss' books on dream shamanism? I was fortunate to take some courses with him several years ago and highly recommend his work. https://mossdreams.com/
For some reason the name sounds a little familiar, but off hand, I don't think I've ever read his book on dreams.
The dream world that I inhabit is not modeled after any system that I am aware of, but I just can't help but be taken by the correspondance between astrology and dreams. I view it as confirmation that this life is not just as it seems, or as we have been told.
Society wide, its as if we are trying, some of us anyway, to walk out of this big deep hole, and astrology is like a light on the trail, and dreams are like the trail.
This will be a month of remembering strength, I believe.
Oh yes, thankyou for the link!
No dull day! Thanks for heads up, Juliana. I will chew through all of this, ha ha ha!