What is the significance of "retrograde" in astrological terms?

[Mabus]

I checked out a couple of websites and they point out that several plantets were in retrograde in my natal chart. (My understanding of retrograde is that planets look like they are going backwards.) I'm new to this. I do read Jonathan Cainer on a fairly regular basis but beyond that I feel like a complete and total novice.

What is the significance of this event? Does it matter what planets they are and where they are in the chart?

[stellanoir]

1. It's true that retrogradation is described

more accurately as "apparant backward motion." Like passing a car that's going in the same direction on the highway, the car that you're passing appears to go backwards. If a planet actually pulled a U turn in the sky, the whole solar system would probably collapse.

The significance of retrograde planets can vary wildly based on a number of factors, such as frequency of occurance, placement (sign & house), and exactly how they are aspected to other planets.

Generally, the more infrequent the cycles of retrogradation are for any given planet, the greater it's significance.

Outer most planets can be retrograde for about 4-5 months out of the year so they aren't that unusual. Those planets, including Jupiter and Saturn influence worldly, external, and collective energies.

However, if an outermost planet is angular or conjunct a luminary (Sun or Moon) or an innermost (personal) planet, it has greater significance.

Inner most planets' retrograde cycles are less frequent (with the exception of Mercury) and have far shorter durations. Mercury retrogrades for three, three week cycles per year. Mars retrogrades for about two months once every two years or so. Venus retrogrades for about one and a half months, every year and a half. Venus retrogrades less often that any other planet.

Inner most planets effect internal and personal dynamics.

It can be said that retrogradation causes the internalization of influences that are typically external and externalizes the influences that are typically internal.

When planets do stations (change direction) by progression, there can be major reorientations in one's life as well.

I hope this helps to clarify.

[Mabus]

2. Yes it does.

Thank you. It makes a lot more sense now.