Astrology Class - Retrogrades and How They Function Differently Than Direct Planets - Pt.2

by Robert Wilkinson

As I noted yesterday, this series was inspired by several comments asking about the difference in effect when Jupiter and the other outer planets are retrograde than when these planets are direct. Another concern was the difference when Jupiter is retrograde at 19 degrees of a sign as opposed to when it is in forward motion at the same degree.

When any planet moves through a span of degrees in a sign, it is encountering that field of experience for the first time. When it moves back via retrograde through the same span, we are given a different look at the same material.

As I noted yesterday,

When a planet is direct, it means we are "directly" experiencing its natural evolving awareness of the sign it's in. When retrograde, we're re-tracing ground we've already covered, but from a different perspective. It's like driving down a street from one direction, then driving back down the same street in the opposite direction. Two perspectives on the same field of vision.

So Jupiter direct making an aspect offers you an initial Jupiterian connection to whatever is being experienced. The sign shows the field of experience, while the aspect shows the quality of the experience within that field. When retrograde, we are still in the same field of experience we just went through, but are given a different perspective.

Here it's important to note that during a retrograde period, that planet seems to symbolize or be a conduit for unconscious factors of that planetary function to appear. It could also show manifestations from previously unknown or unperceived external sources, or even returns from other times in this life or previous ones where these energies were activated.

So the first pass is the first experience. The RX pass brings up factors not seen previously, or even feedback from the results set into motion at the first pass. It's often as though a second light is turned on during the RX period so we can dispel some shadows created by the narrow view of the first pass.

The next stage in our example of the process is when Jupiter again resumes direct motion after its retrograde period, when we traverse the same field a third time, but with multiple experiences of that field. This third pass is a synthesizing period when we are able to put a triangulated understanding into play if we have comprehended the lessons of the field. Perfect three point lighting dispels the shadows of any illumed object.

So for example, if Jupiter trined a planet or Ascendant before it went RX, it offered an initial understanding or stabilizing opportunity or protection. When RX and again trine the same planet or Ascendant, it offers a new point of view on the understanding you got when it was in direct trine, or you encounter the first results of the initial trine. The RX trine could involve understanding unconscious factors, or external factors not glimpsed when direct.

Then we synthesize the two approaches during the third trine, incorporating multiple understandings into an even greater understanding or harmonization. We then move beyond the old span of experience examined three times into new territory.

The retrograde periods are very valuable for seeing our function within a larger perspective since they introduce previously unknown factors to the experience. Any time we slow down, turn inward, and reflect on experience, we are led to a place beyond duality even if we feel immersed in the dualism. It is during the third phase that we can practice a synthesized approach to the two perspectives.

The possible interpretations of the various planets making direct and retrograde aspects are endless. Therefore I can't really offer individual interpretations via the comment stream, since I don't know your individual life and experience.

If you have questions, please examine your chart in light of what has been proposed here, and meditate on examples of how this has operated in your own past. You'll eventually see the light of your previous experiences from a vaster point of view. I've given you how it works, but you must derive meaning from your individual process.

Copyright © 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[moon2lightshadow]

Namaste Robert,
This issue on retrograde planets is a real issue to many for interpreting, because in each chart a retrograde natal planet produce so many unexpected manifestations, to not mention the effects of a retrograde transit of a planet, especially talking about retrogradation of personal planets. For now i would like to ask you what you can say about a retrograde mercury in a progressed chart( in natal chart it is direct). Does this means it afflicts both the houses he occupies and the houses he rules (gemini, virgo)?
Thank you for posting these articles and replying to our questions, which helps us so much in the process of understanding astrology.
moon2lightshadow

[s]

As I was writing out my check for your reading I thought to myself, "Dang, that's a lot of money." But then I realised that I am paying you, not only for a personal reading, but also for the time to write wonderful lessons like this one. So I get to double-dip! As the perennial student, I can't learn enough--ever. And as the perennial student, I never have enough money to buy all the knowledge I want. Thank you, Robert, for your generosity.

[Robert]

Hi moon2lightshadow - Namaskar. I agree. That's why I figured a basic explanation could help to clarify what they are, and possible interpretations. Almost everyone has at least one retrograde planet, and the outers are RX for so many months that almost all of us has one or more RX. I don't consider a Mercury RX as afflicting anything. I made that clear in my book, A New Look At Mercury Retrograde. My natal Mercury is direct. It went RX when I was young, then went direct in my young adulthood. I used several examples from my own childhood in the book to describe my experience of that phenomenon. Succinctly, it means that how you viewed those life affairs was affected as you reviewed your life, interpretations, coordinations, and other Mercury things applied through the lens of the RX span. And of course, you're most welcome. Now you understand what the classes will cover.

Hi s - Well, what you wrote triggered a memory or two. I actually have reduced my fees several times this life, not because of a lack of business, but because of other reasons. For example, when Reagan was elected, I dropped my fees as a counterbalancing force to the greed arising in our nation. Whatever our gift we do for our world is priceless, in that we can do it for whatever we believe is a generous offer. It's like what a friend of mine, a great Vedantan philosopher, said many years ago. "The most priceless thing a person can offer another is a glass of water. For you cannot put a price on being given a glass of water, but it is in truth the most priceless thing on Earth."

Yes, my counseling practice subsidizes this column, without whom I would have to insist on advertising and site sponsors, which would change the atmosphere substantially. Though I may consider ads in the future, for now they are unnecessary clutter unless offering something substantial. So yes, people get me here, but also up close and personal when they choose to pay to hang out and get something rare, precious, and beautiful in the personal readings. And of course, you're most welcome. In this classroom, we explore beyond the norm, and even approach the threshold of Divinity, if we accept the responsibility of accepting the greatest challenge of a human life. And it's free to all who volunteer.

[moon2lightshadow]

Namaste Robert, many thanks again for your replies. I just want to mention something i noticed from my own chart. My natal mercury is also direct, but progressed was Rx since two weeks or so. I started to become more interested by my mercury since i started to learn Jyotish in which i have gemini ascendant and mercury is weak. I am aware about the weakness of my mercury in western astrology too and i wanted to combine the infos given by mercury in both systems, to find how to improve my mercury's qualities. Until progressed mercury was Rx, somehow it was not easy for me to express myself, even the capacity for understanding was not so easy, weird, or not, autosuggestion(?) i don't know what was there, anyway now things concerned to mercury seems to come easier. I also did some researches on this issue but i still need to make some connections for more understanding. I would like to participate on any experiment on understanding the message of the planets or would like to share my experience if it is needed.
Thank you for your posts which i find so much helpful.
moon2lightshadow

[Leslee]

Thanks for this explanation - very clear and very interesting!

[Robert]

Hi moon2lightshadow - Mercury retrograde is NOT weak! It is what it is within the larger pulses of planetary movement. Somewhat difficult to mix both systems, since there are incompatible elements between Vedic and Western Astrology. You may want to order a copy of my pioneering book "A New Look At Mercury Retrograde," out of print but still available via the web. It will give you insights into why the process works the way it does.

[moon2lightshadow]

Hi Robert, yes you are right, retrograde mercury is not weak, but it keeps one in the places needed to be improved. I would better say the western and vedic systems are completing each other. Wish i can get your book, unfortunately many said shipping is not available in my country. Looking forward on internet for articles from your book. Thank you again for patience and replay.
moon2lightshadow

[Robert]

Hi moon2lightshadow - Not sure Mercury RX keeps us anywhere except looking for how the Cosmic Magician does its tricks. I would definitely check with amazon or whoever to see if my book could be shipped somewhere you could get it. Where there is a will there is a way.

I studied Vedic extensively many years ago, and it's a totally different system with little to zero overlap with Western Astrology. Unlike Western, Vedic has periods, sub-periods, and sub-sub periods. It doesn't take house cusp degrees into consideration, nor even planetary degrees. Aspects don't seem to matter. Various Vedic systems cannot even agree on where the planets supposedly are. Vedic is totally fatalistic about what happens at certain times in life, and prescribe gems to mitigate effects. It is also quite fatalistic about certain planets in certain signs. For all that the system can be accurate in some particulars, to me these are all good reasons why a being should be skeptical of the system unless you find a Master of the craft. It was developed with a totally different set of analytical rules that are nowhere to be found in Western Astrology. While Western Astrology has its inconsistencies, it is far less fatalistic than Vedic, since it places the free will of the individual to respond as they choose ahead of bangles and ominous sub-periods.

[moon2lightshadow]

Hi Robert, so nice and good you replied me, thank you! You are right the western and vedic systems are different, still you know very well even in western systems are different ways of interpretations and even these differences, vedic interpretations suits the same western and eastern people. It is not about being skeptical about one system or another, but simply checking what one might bring completing each other.
You are right, where is a will there is a way, true, but still some inconveniences...anyway you are doing a good work here, with your articles, teaching us and explaining the hidden message of the planets. Thank you.
Looking forward to reading your next posts.
moon2lightshadow