Astrology
Retrograde
Definition
The period when a planet appears to move backward through the zodiac as seen from Earth — an optical effect of the planets' relative orbits, not a real reversal — traditionally read as a time to review and revisit.
Retrograde describes the period when a planet appears to move backward through the zodiac as seen from Earth. It’s an optical effect — an apparent motion caused by the two planets’ differing orbital speeds — not an actual reversal in space.
Mercury retrograde is the famous one, popularly tied to muddles in communication, travel, and technology. In practice, astrologers read any retrograde as a signal to re-: review, revise, reconsider, reconnect — an inward turn on whatever that planet governs. As with any transit, the reflective reading treats it as a prompt for attention, not a forecast of misfortune.