Retrograde Planets

Good writing about retrogrades can be scarce, so we'll give a short primer: Retrogrades have to do with the angular aspect between a planet and the sun, as viewed from the earth. When planets reach a precise number of degrees away from the sun (consult your ephemeris), they go retrograde. When they reach the same angle again, they go direct. So all sun - planet oppositions are retrograde. For that matter, all oppositions (except those of the moon) involve one planet retrograde, one direct. (Other aspects are just as interesting.) The further the distance in miles a planet is from the sun, the more its retrograde is a generational affair. How much of a generation are we talking about? Did you know that every Aquarian born between 1900 and 1985 had a retrograde Pluto and almost as many people born in April have a retrograde Neptune? So for an outer planet retrograde to be personal, it seems to us that it must be either in aspect to the sun, or angular in the chart. We could go on, have a look at the books while we think about it:

	UNDERSTANDING RETROGRADES - Helen J. Adams (aka Garrett), $14.95 Contents: Understanding retrogrades Mercury retrograde: Interpreting Mercury retrograde, Progressed Mercury retrograde, Interpretation memos, Transiting Mercury retrograde, Mercury retrograde in health Venus retrograde: Interpreting Venus retrograde, Progressed Venus retrograde, Transiting Venus retrograde, Venus retrograde in health Mars retrograde: Interpreting Mars retrograde, Progressed Mars retrograde, Transiting Mars retrograde, Mars retrograde in health Jupiter retrograde: Interpreting Jupiter retrograde, Progressed Jupiter retrograde, Transiting Jupiter retrograde, Jupiter retrograde in health Saturn retrograde: Interpreting Saturn retrograde, Progressed Saturn retrograde, Transiting Saturn retrograde, Saturn retrograde in health Uranus retrograde: Interpreting Uranus retrograde, Progressed Uranus retrograde, Transiting Uranus retrograde, Uranus retrograde in health Neptune retrograde: Interpreting Neptune retrograde, Progressed Neptune retrograde, Transiting Neptune retrograde, Neptune retrograde in health Pluto retrograde: Interpreting Pluto retrograde, Progressed Pluto retrograde, Transiting Pluto retrograde, Pluto retrograde in health Additional observations: Aspects of retrograde planets, Retrogrades in health, House cusps. Comment: Garrett has studied the mechanics of retrogrades. She notes, for example, that Mercury retrograde picks up at the same place in the zodiac as the Mercury retrograde some ten months before, she discovers the 96 year Venus retrograde cycle (by sign), aspects formed by retrograde planets, transiting & progressed retrogrades, the number of houses a retrograde is from the sun, retrogrades in health & more. Notably free of the karmic retribution stuff (as found in Martin Schulman, for example). One of the best books on retrogrades, with excellent tables & diagrams. AFA, 93 pages.

	MORE ABOUT RETROGRADES - Helen Adams Garrett, $7.50 Contents: What are retrogrades Interpreting retrograde planets Retrograde planets in the signs Sun-retrograde outer planet aspects Health & retrograde planets Progressed & transiting retrograde planets Comment: Contrasts the geocentric (ephemeris) sign position of retrograde Mercury, Venus & Mars with their possible heliocentric positions, a useful new slant on retrogrades. Skips that for the outer planets, where she contrasts the advancing & receding aspects between retrograde planets & the sun, eg, Sun trine Saturn as Saturn goes into retrograde, then the Sun - Saturn trine as Saturn is about to go direct. These two books on retrogrades by Helen Adams are useful & include things we've long wished for in books about retrogrades. Concludes with health & retrograde planets, retrograde planets by progression & transit. Stuff you won't find elsewhere. AFA, 52 pages.

	YOUR HIDDEN POWERS: Intercepted Signs & Retrograde Planets - Joanne Wickenburg, $20.00 An intercepted sign is when the house swallows up the sign (big house). An intercepted house is when the same sign falls on two adjoining houses (small house). These always come in pairs (2 intercepted signs, 2 intercepted houses). Charts that have intercepted signs always have intercepted houses, too. Since people confuse this with retrograde planets, the author also includes notes on retrogrades & the retrograde process. Inspired by Dane Rudhyar. 223 pages including appendix of retrograde planets Mercury through Saturn for 1920-1999. AFA, paper.

	RETROGRADES - Mohan Koparkar, $7.95 Retrograde planets in houses, & ruling houses (your retrograde Mercury may be in the 3rd house, but it rules the 6th, for example). Since most oppositions involve a retrograde planet, this book describes retrograde oppositions. Many interesting & useful details here not found elsewhere, which makes this our favorite retrograde book. 140 pages. Mohan Enterprises, paper.

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