Are People Born During Mercury Retrograde Always Influenced by It?
Friends who frequently check their horoscopes may occasionally encounter the term "retrograde," as in, "What happens when Mercury is in retrograde?" or "What should we be mindful of when Venus is retrograde?" This term often surfaces in various astrological writings. When a planet is in retrograde, it is frequently blamed for certain misfortunes in life. However, let's explore the concept of retrograde planets from the perspectives of different astrological traditions and discuss this topic that often causes concern.
Understanding "Retrograde"
The term "retrograde" describes a visual illusion observed from Earth, where celestial bodies appear to move backward. This does not mean a planet is actually moving backward in its orbit. From Earth's vantage point, the Sun and Moon never appear to be in retrograde, but the retrograde motion of the inner planets—Mercury, Venus, and Mars—has a greater impact than that of the outer planets, whose influence diminishes from Jupiter to Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Many people see retrograde planets in their natal charts and immediately assume it signifies "bad things." In reality, the slow-moving outer planets have minimal impact on most individuals.
Which Planet Was Retrograde When You Were Born?
Modern Astrology's Perspective on Retrograde Planets in the Natal Chart
From the standpoint of modern astrology, which focuses on analyzing both "surface and depth" aspects of human nature, explanations of retrograde phenomena often relate to understanding the inner self. Modern astrologers believe that individuals with many retrograde planets in their natal chart are strongly influenced by their subconscious. They tend to relate to the external world through this subconscious, resulting in a distinctly different perception of reality compared to others. This marked contrast in worldview can create substantial psychological pressure for them.
People born during a Mercury retrograde period are not incapable of communication or lacking in intelligence; rather, they may have a unique perspective on the world and frequently validate or question that perspective. Those born during a Mars retrograde may examine the motives and significance of their actions, focusing more on internal factors, which can lead to a lack of outward drive, as Mars energy is restrained. Individuals born during a Venus retrograde may experience emotional instability and insecurity, resulting in a lack of confidence in social interactions, recreation, and love, areas governed by Venus. (The influence of outer planets is briefly touched upon here.)
Retrograde Makes Benefic Planets Less Fortunate and Malefic Planets More Harmful
Classical Astrology's Interpretation of Retrograde Planets in the Natal Chart
Classical astrology focuses more on the events themselves when it comes to "retrograde," and it studies retrograde motion in more detail. Traditional classical astrology divides "retrograde" into four phases: 1. Direct motion; 2. Stationary (turning retrograde); 3. Retrograde; 4. Stationary (turning direct).
Those familiar with planetary retrograde understand that these four phases represent a planet's complete retrograde cycle. The degree of fortune or misfortune linked to a planet can vary depending on these phases. For example, if someone is born during a planet's direct motion, that planet may not pose significant issues in their natal chart, and the final stationary phase could be only slightly problematic. Therefore, when encountering articles about "XX planet in retrograde," there's no need to panic; aside from the stationary phase having the most significant impact, not all retrograde phases are necessarily negative.
In the renowned astrological text "Christian Astrology" by medieval astrologer William Lilly, it is noted that the energy of retrograde planets declines, which means benefic planets may not be as favorable, while malefic planets may become more detrimental. (Retrograde Planets degenerate from their proper nature, causing Fortunes to become Infortunes, and evil Planets far worse.) Compared to retrograde motion, stationary planets indicate more severe disasters. (Planets manifest greater and worse evils when stationary than when retrograde.)
Retrograde can result in feelings of "powerlessness" and "repetition." For an individual's natal chart, if the ruling planet Mercury is retrograde, they may find it challenging to maintain steady progress in daily tasks, often hesitating due to previous events. A more pronounced effect occurs when motion slows before retrograde (entering a stationary phase). For instance, if Mercury was in this state at birth, it may lead to "blind spots" in perspective, causing challenges in thinking and communication. When born during a stationary phase, the specific position in the chart must be evaluated; stagnation suggests no change. If it brings good fortune, things proceed smoothly; if it brings misfortune, it may lead to stubborn self-assertion. "Retrograde" signifies an "abnormal" planetary movement rather than a definitive "good or bad."
People Born During Retrograde Periods Often Exhibit "Eccentricity"
When a planet is in retrograde, its associated behaviors are often unpredictable. This unpredictability can make it difficult to accurately assess the matters represented by that planet. If a person's natal chart includes planets in retrograde, that retrograde can indicate abnormality in the areas governed by that planet. For example, if Mercury is retrograde, it suggests that the person's thinking and expression differ from others. A deeper analysis of the matters represented by the corresponding house, such as if Mercury rules the career house, may reveal that the person has a unique or unconventional profession.
Two notable examples are found in the charts of Mark Zuckerberg and Charlie Chaplin. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, has Mars retrograde in Scorpio in the 2nd house, which governs financial matters related to the 2nd and 8th houses. Mark Zuckerberg is the world's youngest billionaire, yet he lives in a modestly furnished rented one-bedroom apartment and typically has a simple breakfast of cereal. His wedding was so understated that most guests thought they were attending his fiancée Priscilla Chan's graduation. The event was intimate, with fewer than a hundred guests.
Charlie Chaplin's chart features Venus retrograde in the 7th house in Taurus. Known as one of the most talented and influential figures in the silent film era, Chaplin became a cultural icon. However, it has been said, "The better his films were, the worse his marriages were; his infatuation with young women brought him endless trouble." The retrograde Venus, representing art, contributed to Chaplin's unique comedic style in film, but as Venus rules the 7th house, it also led to four marriages, the last at age 54 to 18-year-old Oona O'Neill, which faced strong opposition from the bride's father. In our practical chart analysis, we find that many successful individuals exhibit similar retrograde planetary situations, suggesting that planetary "retrograde" can also lead to exceptional individuals, as "exceptional" inherently implies some form of "abnormality."
Conclusion: The above concepts can also apply to retrograde planets in annual transits. While retrograde can bring certain challenges, these issues are not universally impactful. Each person has a unique natal chart, and the extent and nature of the influence of "retrograde" vary from individual to individual. This cannot be simplified into an absolute "retrograde good or bad" narrative.