Retrograde Planets in a Birth Chart

A planet is retrograde, or Vakri, when it appears to move backward through the zodiac from the Earth's point of view. The Sun and Moon never retrograde, and Rahu and Ketu are always retrograde by nature. Mercury turns retrograde most often, about three times a year; Venus roughly every eighteen months; Mars every two years; Jupiter and Saturn for several months annually.

In Vedic astrology, a retrograde planet is considered strong — closer to the Earth and brighter in the sky — but its energy turns inward and expresses itself unusually. Retrograde Mercury can indicate a mind that works in unconventional ways; retrograde Venus may show unusual tastes or a delayed approach to relationships; retrograde Saturn often intensifies self-discipline and a sense of duty.

Classical texts give retrograde planets extra strength in Shadbala calculations, yet warn that a retrograde malefic can be more troublesome. The practical reading is that the planet's themes will demand revisiting and reflection. Transiting retrogrades, such as the familiar Mercury retrograde, are likewise periods for reviewing rather than launching.