Contemplations on Spirit
'In this blog I contemplate the means to understand one self and the motivation that moves us to unfold in heart and soul.'
Retrograde Planets -
Sidereal Venus Sukra Ahead
Coming October, Venus - the planet of experiencing harmony, a sense of togetherness through balance, a sense of affection, pleasure, comfort, enjoyment, feeling at ease - will be in its retrograde motion. Astronomically, retrograde planets are like an optical illusion - they appear to go backward through the zodiac, but this is because of a difference in speed in that circular motion; we perceive them as going backwards when they are actually just moving at a different pace.
Overflowing cup
Over the years, a common perception that retrograde planets have a negative or even malicious effect on life in transit, and on inborn nature in general in the birth chart has surfaced..
When people are born with retrograde planets in their chart, this is usually read as a sense of quirkiness, a sense of vulnerability, or at least something different than common perception - and often perceived as an obstacle to growth. However, when people are born under a retrograde motion, it is because they are able to thrive with that quality. Their inborn traits signify that in this lifetime, in this incarnation, it serves their process of self-development best if they express this planet, this archetype, through that retrograde expression.
Astronomically, when a planet is retrograde, it is closer to earth. It has a bigger influence, a stronger presence. Compared to a cup that is overflowing - the cup of Venus, in this case, will overflow with Venus quality.
Because Venus is a benefic - a planet usually experienced as favorable - being a benefic can become an obstacle once it is overflowing: the need to experience togetherness, harmony, balance, and sensuality enhances, and can exaggerate to the point that things get out of control.
By contrast, with a natural malefic force like Mars, Mars retrograde is assertiveness, energy, and action turned inward and overflowing. On the one hand the need for validation of ones energy, on the other hand the tendency to overcompensate this and pull up “speed”. This can produce aggressive, out-of-control behavior, and such a big sense of "fire" that it increases the possibility of accidents or inflammation.
All retrograde planets are stronger, more present in their quality. With Mercury, for example, an overflowing mind-intellect means spiraling, scattered-ness of mind, overdrive in cognition and speech - and through that fragmentation, the increased risc of misplacing things, transportation problems, being out of timing, misunderstanding things because of the speed thoughts move at. It is a very extreme representation of the archetype.
When someone is born under a planet's retrograde motion, the stationary point later in life - when that planet turns direct in transit, is usually a significant period where one can finally express what has been internalized up until then. Conversely, when someone is born under a planet's direct motion, that planet's retrograde transit later in life becomes a period of reflective and unavoidable moderation and internalization of that archetype.
Retrograde planets generally carry a reputation of being uncomfortable or even malicious, but if you ask me, they have been misunderstood. When a planet goes retrograde, its presence is enhanced because of its closer proximity to earth - so it is a time to become more aware of that archetype in your life.
When people say things like "I really feel this retrograde motion of such and such planet," it's worth pausing..
Sometimes when it's difficult to experience this primal archetype, you can finally lose that sense of being blocked when the relevant planet goes retrograde. When you have difficulty experiencing pleasure, harmony, or comfort, retrograde Venus is a great period to internalize, reflect, and discover what within us needs harmony, and how we can feel and experience this within.
Because of that internalization, there's always a risk of things being unpolished, not yet domesticated - we need to go through a state of internalization and ripening through the retrograde motion, like a snake that cannot be rushed out of its skin. At some point we become aware - though this is always influenced by many other indicators in the chart.
Core message: a retrograde motion is not necessarily bad. It is always a time where we can reflect and become more aware of the archetype present in our life.
Paving the way
Once a planet starts slowing down in relation to Earth and its rotation, there is a point where it becomes stationary. A stationary planet is a very sensitive point - a point in one's chart where, even briefly, things consolidate in that specific degree, so there is usually a message to be shared. For example, when Venus stops in sidereal Virgo, it appears stationary and then turns retrograde - this highlights that degree of the chart, and also the connection it makes to other sensitive points in the birth chart or in the transits of other planets.
Before, during and after a planet goes retrograde, it covers a significant part of the zodiac: first touched in direct motion, then it slows, becomes stationary, and turns retrograde, covering that same part of the zodiac again (the "shadow" part); then it stations again to go direct, and covers that same part of the zodiac a third time, moving forward again. So this part of the zodiac becomes important over a significant chunk of time. Hence, there is a lot of experience gathered with the archetype that planet covers. This is all very important when working with retrograde planets.
With personal fast moving planets like Venus in this case, this shadow period covers a bigger distance in the zodiac at a faster pace. With a planet like Saturn retrograde, it covers less distance in the zodiac, but it is usually deeply felt due to its slow motion through the zodiac and focused influence on the involved degrees.
Venus Retrograde Through the Nakshatras
Venus or Sukra in Sanskrit retrograde through the nakshatras (sidereal zodiac): note that the tropical and sidereal zodiacs cover different parts of the chart, so which system is consulted matters - the sidereal system is being used here. Also, the exact stationary dates differ between the tropical and sidereal zodiac. The tropical system notes stationary retrograde on October 3rd, stationing direct again on November 13th; the Vedic sidereal system notes stationing retrograde on October 1st and stationing direct again on November 22nd - a notably longer chunk of retrograde time in that second reading. The retrograde motion of Venus, and the stationary points on its way retrograde and its way back to direct, will be highlighted - given a certain limelight and intensity.
All of this illustrates our interaction with time - time as a form of nectar, and we have to know its quality in order to apply it as a remedy or equilibrium.
There is a part of the chart that will be touched by this retrograde motion of Venus, but the general point to emphasize is that a retrograde motion, inborn or in transit, is a time where the planet enhances its strength - it is more present, and therefore there is an increased chance it can overflow, overwhelm, become too much, and spin out of control.
It is much more subtle than just saying; "Venus retrograde creates blockages and obstacles in romantic relationships and money" - it is a time to reflect on what we have in our toolbox to create and attract prosperity, harmony, balance, and ease, so significant for Venus, through art forms, creative expression through song and voice, and through art forms and crafts.
Swati Nakshatra
Venus will station to go retrograde in Swati nakshatra, then move back into Chitra nakshatra. Swati is governed by Vayu (wind, Vata constitution/prakriti), symbolized by a sprout floating on the wind, ready to land wherever it lands, take root, and sprout - but still very much dancing in the wind. Swati represents the ability and need to flow and ride the winds of life, exploring the soil and its fertility, and its effect on our experience of harmony and togetherness (since this is Venus). Venus in Swati is a strong placement, because it has the ability to experience harmony through many different impressions, being fluctuate in the way we experience harmony and togetherness - retrograde motion will enhance its presence in the chart.
Venus moving through Swati evokes a sense of curiosity toward new things, maybe enhancing certain capabilities or competencies in our practice - a time to explore new ways of finding ease and balance through curiosity. This can also evoke scattered-ness and fragmentation, which can easily come out of balance - one can become overly curious, too excited to learn new things, chasing too much pleasure and joy, so the cup overflows and takes us out of balance. Worth being mindful of.
Svati nakshatra is a very independent placement - not seeking balance through codependency, but really testing the sustainability of a relationship: how can we stay independent within relationships that require both needs to be met, both parties having an equal share, while maintaining autonomy and independence within that union. We look for ways to reach out to one another in a sustainable way without becoming dependent on one another in an unhealthy way - an emotional transaction would be an example of an unhealthy way.
Firstly, the need for creative expression: Vayu is the god of the winds and also of the celestial musicians, so chanting mantra, making sound, creating sound - what sounds are we expressing in our life, how can we reflect on our creative expression, and the curiosity of exploring new sounds and new ways to express ourselves creatively. Chanting to Sarasvati, making music, is beautiful during this time.
Vayu and the Silk-Cotton Tree
In ancient times, a silk-cotton tree grew high in the Himalayas. It had grown quite large, its branches spreading in all directions, and birds nested in its branches while creatures found protection in it. The tree grew a little full of itself. One day the great sage Narada noticed the magnificent tree and praised it, saying how wonderfully big and sturdy it was, that even storms didn't move it. This swelled the tree's ego, and it said, "You are right, the storms are my servants." Later, Narada mentioned this comment to Vayu, who became furious and went to the tree, saying: "You stupid tree, you think I'm afraid of you and that's why I keep still around you - nothing could be further from the truth. What really happened is that in the old days, when Brahma was creating the universe, he rested for a while under your branches, and that's why I gave you special consideration. But if you still believe you are so powerful, come and fight me." The tree, too full of itself, over-confidently accepted Vayu's challenge. The next day the fight began: Vayu changed into a storm and blew all the leaves, flowers, and fruit off the tree. As a result the tree stood bare and humiliated, its pride curbed.
The lesson: Be humble for everything that has been given to us, as this serves our relationships with others, and not to become dependent on the validation of others.
Chitra Nakshatra
On October 24th, Venus leaves Swati nakshatra and enters Chitra nakshatra. Chitra is the shining jewel - a reminder of everything that shimmers and that we enjoy for its appealing look, presentation, and taste - very much the outer layer of our experience of harmony, enjoyment, and affection.
When Chitra nakshatra speaks, it is a time to reflect on our interaction with beauty - what beauty and aesthetics mean to us, and how we can apply and practice that in our lives so it serves us.
It is a great time for comfort in our physical form, the form and function that creates beauty and aesthetics in life generally. It is a time to start materializing, in a trial-and-error way, the curious insights gathered while Venus was in Swati nakshatra, in relation to affection, harmony, balance, elegance, charisma, and personal charm - everything that affects our state of togetherness with our surroundings and our sense of harmony.
How is our inner sense of harmony and ease mirrored and expressed in our crafts and creative relationship to the tangible?
Chitra is the architect of the gods, governed by Vishvakarma representing our ability to build bridges. The part of Venus that wants to feel union, wants to unite, wants to reach out, wants to create or experience affection and shared affective expression - that is about how we build bridges, how we cross distance and reach out, how we express outward what is experienced within as harmony.
Vishvakarma, as the architect of the celestials, helped Rama cross the ocean by throwing solid stones into it to build a bridge for him to walk on - so Vishvakarma is the bridge-builder. Vishvakarma also made a special flying chariot for Arjuna, which Arjuna used in his battle against the Kauravas, built the palaces of Varuna and Yama, and made a special bow for Shiva - so Vishvakarma is able to bring divinity into the tangible plane through crafts and skills; very adaptive in that capacity.
There is a realm in the chart that gets highlighted/ignited by this transit, where the need for harmony - and the vulnerability that comes with it - is felt more strongly: how can we express our creative voice, how can we share our creative features and traits to express that oneness, that harmony and togetherness, that feeling of balance felt within. Going back and forth - from the sprouted seed blowing in all winds in curiosity, internalizing the voice we want to use to express our need for togetherness and harmony, to then transiting back to touch the celestial architect - expressing tangibly life's structures that are built based on our authentic need for harmony.
Vishvakarma, creating structure, building literal bridges between seemingly opposing needs within us, and allowing those needs to be met by expressing them more authentically.
I'll be at the Begijnensteeg 1 on Mondays for walk- in consultation between 1- 3pm on transits and chart reading. Y
ou can of course reach out to me for a scheduled reading!
Thanks for reading xx Melanie
08302026
