Mars Retrogression

First of all my Sincere Apologies to the ardent readers and followers of this sacred science for keeping everyone waiting for the posts. It is basically due to the extremely busy schedule compounded with some research studies. I also tender my apologies for not being able to reply to some comments and queries due to the same reason.

Mars retrogrades once in two years. Retrograde Mars in natal chart can bring out power issues, anger-related, anxiety-related, how to deal with conflict and aggression and anger. As Mars has masculine energy, its retrogression can create problems with how you deal with maleness within(Here "Maleness" means masculine-aggression within both males and females). It is often seen in charts of people who have problems with their sexuality- they can be overtly aggressive or completely suppress their masculine side whereby creating imbalance in personality. Men have to watch that, they do not become too aggressive and angry. As Mars is about power, its retrogression gives a lot of power, as the planet is supposed to be relatively more oriented and "apparently stationary" at least for some time, yet the individual does not understand their own power and how to use it properly. This can lead to its misuse. Mars rules Agni (fire) element so its retrogression can create too much fire or complete exhaustion. They have to watch their metabolism. It can get speeded up or be totally dull. The cycle is vicious, which deal with balance, vision and energy. Retrograde Mars will block the way this cycle works and create problems on a subtle level. Mars also deals with logic and here the logic can get skewered or twisted. It can also make a person whose logic is unconventional, but at the same time very powerful and they can reach places where others cannot as they have the ability to see things from backward to forward.

Mars retrograde in a persons birth chart causes the person to be very frigid or to go to the extremes. Some have sex aversions. During its apparently slow moving period of retrogression, two weeks before and after retrogression it indicates its effects mainly in females.

Retrogression of Mars is a high time to control and channelise our energy and drive, and prevent it from getting out of hand. We have to be thoughtful about our actions and cautious about getting rash and scattered. It`s the right time to reconsider the agenda on hand, and to be firmly rooted in ground reality. It is also the time to reenergize ourselves, rather than burning our energies in fruitless persuits.

If Mars is Retrograde in the horoscope, the person can be accident prone, or inclined to illness, in case of a wrongly placed Mars. If the Mars is well placed, the native has an unusually beautiful, logical and successful way of handling his/her affairs and actions. Whatever the case, effects are far from Normal. Again it is dependent on an individual`s own free will to control the final outcome.

The Mars Retrogression mainly affects

1) A person's ability to control and reconsider his/her actions before expressing anger.

2) It leads the native to find competitive situations hard to handle.

3) It tends to repress and thus an individual can become can become depressed also.

Mars represents direct energy, physical expression, individual action and assertiveness, as well as anger, desire, sexuality, competitiveness and motivation for self interest. Mars energies tend to burst forward exerted in short duration. Every two years Mars goes retrograde for two to two-and-a-half months. What often results, are upsets and frustrations in daily life, as emotions which should be externalized becoming internalized, a kind of chewing up one’s self. When the time to analyse the situation comes one explodes, causing the individual to act aggressively against his/her own self interest.

If one has Mars in retrograde in his/her natal chart, one may find that he/she is waging an internal battle causing difficulty in asserting oneself because of their ignorance and are afraid of the consequences of releasing their anger. One may tend to over think before one acts, may also find that one has a tendency to hold back. In karmic terms, you are likely to be attempting to make up for some vaguely recollected or even sub-consciously remembered, but deeply influential past misdeeds you now regret. Whatever the cause, you are holding yourself back instead of standing up directly for your own interests. This works directly against the life lesson that you are here to accomplish. Your are learning about yourself, defining who you are by what actions you take. You will need to let go of timidity or a lack of direction in order work out how you can initiate actions without creating a chaos of needless destruction.

Mars retrogression period is an excellent time to channelise our energies to the external world in a delicate and controlled way.

Venus Retrogression

Venus is the karaka for marriage. It being retrograde does make us choose unusual alliances. We may have an unconventional view of them or when in marriage or relationship do not know how to express our love and/or feelings well. Venus also deals with femininity, and women with Venus retrograde do not always understand how to be truly feminine. They can become overtly masculine or forget to dress feminine and be feminine. People with retrograde Venus want something different from their relationships and their concept of the women/men in their life is different. Venus rules Apas, the water element. The human body is composed of over 85% water. Water deals with emotions, taste, happiness and peace. Retrograde Venus can create problems with all these.

The effect of Venus retrograde can be disastrous/maraculous to a happy married life, with of course, depending on its position in the Chart, being of paramount importance. As Venus slowly turns retrograde, the person gradually gets disinterested in sexual activities.(Could be other way also depending on its position in Chart, Timing, Transit etc). Venus seems to work alike in all signs when retrograde. It affects men particularly more than women.

Venus retrogression is related to luxuries in life, as well as our relationships with near and dear ones. If the transit of Venus is in retrograde motion, we should be thoughtful about all the relationships we are living, and the way we relate to others. It is also the time we should reconsider our material gains in life. The extent or type of influence of Venus retrogression depends upon its position in our charts. But nevertheless, it is the time to be watchful, as it is a period for strong emotional ups and downs.

If Venus is retrograde in the natal chart, it can indicate emotional and material difficulties (in case it is badly placed). If its well placed, it indicates extreme emotional attractions and repulsions. The result will always be a far cry from normal.
A person with retrograde Venus would generally show the following tendencies, particularly if the placement in Chart is not conducive.

a) Reconsiders before expressing love or affection
b) Relates awkwardly to others
c) Doubts the love others offer
d) Can become obsessed in relationships
e) Feels let down by the commitment level of others

Venus involves pleasure, love, romance, relaxation, aesthetics, peaceful feelings, harmony, money, and values. Venus tends to work by attraction. Approximately every eighteen months or so, Venus slips into retrograde for about six weeks. While Venus is retrograde, you are more likely to find your ability to attract what you want restricted or inhibited, conversely it can/may increase as well depending on the placement in the chart. You could find yourself much more concerned with achieving or maintaining external beauty, your flow of ready cash, questioning your ideas of pleasure, aesthetics, or even revaluating your feelings about romantic relationships.

A natal Venus retrograde can cause you difficulty achieving fulfillment or finding your right romantic partner. You may be more in love with your ideas about love than you are with any real person you know. In karmic terms, you need to complete a life lesson about giving and receiving love and affection. You are here to determine what is truly of value to you and learn about creating a balance of give and take in your romantic life. Your romantic dialogue has a tendency to be far too internal at times, causing you to inhibit the flow of good things into your life. You will have to be willing to experience loving and being loved in order to attract what you desire into your life and create the feelings of security you need.

Jupiter Retrogression

Jupiter (Guru) i.e. the universal and omnipresent Teacher. Jupiter retrograde usually never knows when to stop giving advice. They can be very knowledgeable yet they do not know how to use this knowledge in the right way. They can also mistrust their own wisdom. On a positive level they can look at issues with a very different viewpoint. They will also give advice that is unconventional and different. Jupiter's Karakatvas i.e knowledge, children, spiritualism, law & order etc get affected during Jupiter retrogression and more so for a person with the Jupiter being retrograde in natal chart. All other combinations in the chart have a very important role. The classics say that if Jupiter is retrograde, it will definitely give children despite what else is promised otherwise in the chart. This aspect needs to be researched further. Jupiter as a Karaka of husbands in a female chart will give a husband who is different. On an extreme negative level, they can bring twisted thinking into the relationship. Jupiter rules the Aakash element. Aakash deals with the knowledge, wisdom, our ability to purify, to repel the negative forces. Jupiter being retrograde weakens the ability to use this tatva. Vishuddhi chakra (The innate ability to remove negatives) will become blocked and this make us feel unprotected and make some wrong choices. So we do not know how to stop the negatives from polluting our life.
When this planet of growth and expansion is in retrogression, a lot many projects that were due for expansion and launch may get delayed, or stop altogether. This is the time when a person needs to think about his / her own inner resources, and use that knowledge to get the work done. Most probably, the person might come up with the conclusion that the stopped work was actually not necessary or could have done in a different way, and there are other better resources available. This is the ideal time for us to `expand` within ourselves.

Such persons often get success in other people's failures. They have the unique ability to succeed in projects that were abandoned by others. Such people revive sick companies and uncover hidden assets. In order to achieve their mental goal they prefer to bargain.

When Jupiter is retrograde in the natal chart, either it makes the person too fickle or vain (if badly placed), or it gives unusual heights of knowledge and wisdom to the native.

A person with retrograde Jupiter in his/her natal chart might have any or all of the attributes depending on the other combinations of the chart

1)Has doubts about what one deserves or is worth.
2)Finds it easy to settle for less.
3)Feels superior in some way from within.
4)Abundance is felt from within.
5)Looks inside for answers to religious questions.
6)Would be God Fearing and have a spiritual bent of mind and thinking.

Jupiter represents the principles of expansion with respect to knowledge, spiritualism, wisdom, opportunities, optimism, abundance, travel, higher education, teaching, religion and philosophy. Approximately four months a year, this planet slips into retrograde. When it does, one is likely to see its influence roll through one's life and society. Plans have a tendency to implode. Jupiter retrograde influences us internally to look within to seek new meanings. One may find one can best use these opportunities to re-evaluate their life and reach new levels of awareness and understanding.
If Jupiter is retrograde in your natal chart, you have a very rich internal life. You actually make your own luck. Abundance is felt within as you search the world looking to discover truth and develop a broader philosophy of life and living. Speculations may not bring you all the external rewards you seek, but each time you take a chance, your adventures allow you to gain from a wide variety of experiences. You must remain open and honest with yourself in order to expand your spirituality and allow your inner voice to guide you.

PS: These virtues cannot and should not be applied verbatim to a chart and they should be taken as an additional input for the overall assessment, the same principle applies to all other posts as well.

Mercury Retrogression

Mercury retrograde promotes either a person talking too much or not at all. Mercury is the "Karaka" of Speech,Memory and Intellect. Their thinking can also be different. They may be very bright thinkers, but not know how to express that or drive others crazy with their ideas, thinking they are the only ones who are the intelligent ones. Mercury’s combustion can create more problems. Mercury travels close to the Sun and it is most likely to be combust. Combust and retrograde can make a person very prone to burn out and also unsure of how to deal with Mercury related and connected issues. Not an easy situation to be in. Mercury rules the prithvi (earth) bhuta. Prithvi deals with practical and stable. Prithvi also controls the Muladhara Chakra. Mercury retrograde can make someone impractical and they are more likely to make their position unstable than those whose Mercury is direct. Retrograde Mercury would show some blocks to the Muladhara chakra.

When Mercury goes retrograde, many of our everyday affairs ruled by Mercury are disrupted. When Mercury is retrograde, mental mistakes abound. Travel plans are often messed up. Misunderstandings with those in the family or at work occur. Those who have belief in Astrology will refrain from making any sort of contract when Mercury is retrograde.

Mercury is the planet that rules communication and thinking. Mercury goes in retrograde motion about three times a year for three weeks of time period each. Whenever this phenomenon takes place, all Lines of communication seems to go haywire. Things are misunderstood and information is misapplied. Thinking, in general, leaves the Course of "normal". Although some brilliant projects may be sketched out during this period, chances are that more people suffer from anxiety and nervous breakdown at this time. While the planet is Vakriya, it is often advised, not to sign any contracts, to look before putting an idea in action, even if it means a verbal commitment. Don`t rely on every information passing through. Think, watch, analyse because the information presented in front of you might be a false one if not totally unnecessary. Its time to process all the learning acquired till now to take decisions.

If Mercury is retrograde in the horoscope itself, it can indicate mental sufferings and anxieties in the case it`s negatively placed. If mercury is well placed, it bestows a brilliant mind. Whatever the case, the result is not `Usual`. All the aspects have to be taken in consideration before deriving any conclusion. But most important of all, cashing in, on the negative or positive influence of the planet is much dependent on a person`s Free will.

A person with well placed Mercury
- reconsiders before speaking
- lots of inner conversation and thoughts
- expresses self better in writing

Mercury involves mental processes and communication of all kinds. Exploring ideas, seeking knowledge, writing, public speaking, making contacts, even short trips and commerce/trading fall into Mercury‘s domain. Mercury is retrograde at least three times each year, and is most frequently retrograde planet. During this usually three week time-frame, misunderstandings increase, mails gets lost, messages are delayed or appear elsewhere, misdirection and frustration with misscommunication of all kinds tend to intensify. Odd ideas tend to occur as normal abilities and patterns of writing, learning, and speech become disrupted.
For a few, this retrograde actually has the opposite effect. New ideas, new speaking or writing abilities are often revealed in folks whose natal Mercury is retrograde. One who is normally hesitant or afraid to speak out, One who finds him/her self very concerned with how others will take your words or what will happen if they speak their mind, Those few, may tend to get a kind of vacation from or improvements in both their usual internal and external dialogue.
In Karmic terms, Mercury retrograde in your natal chart suggests that you may be dealing with old lessons about the negative consequences of uninhibited speech. Motives mean a lot to them. They can find themself attracting more than their share of criticism or opposition to their ideas, but if they let that stop them from speaking their mind, they are essentially inhibiting themself from communicating. They can learn to overcome their fears. Most other people are actually more concerned with how the world sees them, than they are, about what they think about them. One must apply one's curiosity, flexibility, and take an active interest in the welfare or interests of people around them. Half of our ability comes from listening! If speaking to groups of people makes us nervous, let our thoughts escape into the outside world by writing. Make small talk wherever possible about any topics of interest, while one boosts about one's self confidence and begin to overcome one's hesitance of expounding their personal views in public.

To be Continued..