Retrograde
When a planet appears to move backward - a time for review.
Retrograde motion is an optical illusion where a planet appears to move backward in the sky from Earth's perspective. Astrologically, retrogrades signal times to review, revisit, and reconsider matters related to that planet. It's not about things going wrong, but about slowing down and looking back before moving forward again.
Example
During Venus retrograde, you might reconnect with an ex, reassess your values, or reconsider what you truly want in relationships.
Cultural Context
Ancient Babylonian astronomers first recorded retrograde motion around 1000 BCE. They called it 'turning back' and considered it significant for omens. The fear of retrograde periods is relatively modern — traditional astrologers saw them as times of internalization, not disaster.
Famous Example
About 20% of people are born with Mercury retrograde in their natal chart, including Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, and Steve Jobs. These 'Mercury retrograde natives' often think differently and process information in unconventional ways.
Did You Know?
The outer planets (Jupiter through Pluto) are retrograde for 4-5 months every year, meaning we're almost always in SOME planetary retrograde. The 'rare' moments are when NO planets are retrograde — this happens only a few times per year!