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..

Retrogression of Planets Part-II

Retrograde planets influence the primary structure of the human consciousness and its relationship with its human life. By blocking the "chakras" and then interfering with the Pancha Mahabhutas, they create disconnection and imbalances, inability to control the senses. An individual has to understand the retrograde planets and nurture them to bring back harmony.

Vedic Astrology classics say that retrograde planets are strong. The quality of the planet changes when it turns retrograde. Retrograde planets are closest to earth; therefore their impact on the individual is the strongest. In what respect they are stronger? What would be their effect? Two influences of retrograde planets need to be taken into account – their affect in the natal chart and by transit. The individual with retrograde planets does not always know how to control its energy. Therefore they struggle to express the planets qualities - over-emphasizing them or being in denial of their positive qualities or misusing their power. Knowing how to deal with the retrograde in the natal chart is the key. Retrogrades by transit can influence everyone whether we have them in our chart or not. A straight thinking person can suddenly change their ways under the influence of retrograde Mercury. So we all have to learn to cope with the retrograde transit and be aware of them annually.

A planet in debilitation if retrograde acts like an exalted one and an exalted planet like a debilitated one. The reason: debilitated planets have the potential to be unethical and negative, when they twist around, they start behaving in the opposite manner. Whereas an exalted planet is a good one, when it gets twisted it inherits the potential do bad. The benefics which are usually the positive, influences can become ambiguous, non-spiritual, disobedient by being retrograde, whereas the malefic can definitely become more negative due to their retrogression. Controlling the malefics in Vakriya, is a lot more difficult. The main aspect which has been noticed about retrogrades is that they do not follow tradition and in the ancient times when astrology was written, those who did not follow tradition were considered bad and unethical. Whereas now, we honour those who go outside the box, who are non- traditionalists. So the influence of retrogrades has to be thought from the point of view of the society and times we live in. Also we must celebrate their potential to be original, different, according to their karakas, and at the same time try to control their negative aspects.

Also we should not forget the houses the retrograde planets rule. Retrograde planet's dasha can bring about health issues; they also can bring diminishing returns. The start of the dasha may appear very good, but the quality of the dasha can reduce as it progresses.

In astrology, a planet in retrograde motion has special significance. The effects that the planets produces when in retrograde motion are far different than the ones they exert while moving directly. In the horoscopes, retrograde planets acquire special power and effects, while in retrograde motion at the time of birth. Theses are known as `Vakriya` planets in Hindu astrology. Usually the retrograde planets in our horoscope are depicted with R in front of its position in chart.

Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn turn retrograde at regular intervals. They generally move direct, then for a certain time period they appear to, slow down and seem stationary for a long time, apparently stationary retrograde. At this time their powers are at their highest. Then they, apparently, move retrograde, giving erratic and more prominent effects. After a particular time span, they again seem to slow down and apparently, seem to be stationary, what we call stationary direct. Then they once again acquire a direct motion.

Whenever a planet starts in a motion other than the normal course, it yields unusual effects as well. In general, the fields ruled by these planets suffer the major influence. For example, communication hazards will be more during Mercury retrograde. Accidents due to rashness will be enhanced during Mars retrograde and so on.

Hence, each planetary retrogression should be considered as a time to be cautious, and to consider things from a different viewpoint.

To Be Continued..