Retrograde

Retrograde is the apparent backward motion of a planet through the zodiac as viewed from Earth — an optical effect of the planets' relative orbital speeds, not actual reversal. Every planet except the Sun and Moon goes retrograde periodically. Mercury retrogrades three or four times a year for about three weeks each time; outer planets retrograde for months. Despite popular reputation, astrological retrogrades are NOT inherently bad — they're review periods. Mercury retrograde isn't "don't sign contracts"; it's "re-read the contract, re-think the wording, expect to revise." The first few days around a station (when the planet is slowing to a halt before reversing direction, or speeding up before resuming forward motion) are typically the loudest part of the cycle. Pre-shadow and post-shadow periods (when the planet retraces and re-covers the same degrees forward) are also commonly tracked by working astrologers.