Some Notes on Retrogading

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Added some lines in the last paragraph.

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Amended the 1st paragraph.

[masasmasas]

Respected Khoo Sir,

What would happen if a retrograde planet is aspected by another retrograde planet. How would we judge then. Take these combinations as an example

Retrograde Jupiter - 2nd house(Virgo)
Rahu - 4th house(Sc)
Saturn - 7th house (Aq)
Retrograde Venus - 8th house (Pi)
Mercury - 8th house (pi)
Sun,Moon - 9th house (Ar)
Ketu - 10th house (Ta)
Mars - 12th house (Cn)

Thanks in advance.

[GNE]

Khoo,
I'm still learning a lot (well, I guess we all are...) and sorry if it came across that I think a retrograde benefic is always bad. I was just quoting what I've read, but in a way where I was asking if it's true or not. I wasn't sure I believed the idea. As I have mercury and venus both retrograde in 10th (gem lag) and have not felt any real bad effects in my life due to them , or what they signify at all.
If going by what I "felt" was correct, I'd say benefics retrograde don't become malefic. This based just on my own experiences. But like I said, I'm still learning and I have been told not to fully judge anything based just on 1 chart.

But I guess it does depend on houses involved and what signs the planets are retrograding back towards..

The two friends charts with Jup retrograde, one is in Taurus in the 6th, the other has his in Leo in the 11th...

Retrogrades have always been a confusing subject for me, when it comes to how to judge them.
Many things I've read never seem to check out well enough on charts I've checked, like my friends charts with Jupiter retrograding..

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Natural benefics can turn malefic not through retrogading but a host of other factors like being placed in dusthana in an uncongenial sign (your friend's Jupiter in Taurus in the 6th), functional lordship (applies neither to your friends not even the one with Libea Ascendant according to Bhavarnatha Ratnakara), dispositorship and aspects received and planetary yogas involved.

Retrogading only makes the natural benefics less beneficial unless they are placed in jackpot houses. This is because they will be aspecting more from strategic houses which compensates them for being retrogading. Your Mercury and Venus both retrogading in the 10th is a case in point because then it would also be aspecring from the 9th.

Malefics turning beneficial when retrogading is something out of the ordinary observed by Bharvanatga Ratnakara. In some ways it signifies repentance.

[PV1993]

So my retrograde saturn in 7th house in Aquarius (0°57') means that in my past life I didn't give my wife and business partners a good life.

And since it is going towards 6th house it is bad but the Venusian aspect softens it up a bit.

But in my KP chart Saturn is shown in the 6th house, so how am I supposed to consider it? Is it moving towards the 5th house?

[dc_4m_kolkata]

Dear Khoo

One simple question I have and which still remains unanswered and on which I seek your views...Why are retro-exalted planets considered as debilitated planets?

This emanates from the fact that I have a retro-exalted Mercury in 9th (Capricorn Lagna) which is weak in Shadbala and unfortunately Moon (in Cancer) and Mars (in Cancer) are both under Ashlesha and Ketu (under Mercury's Nakshatra) is in 11th with Jupiter.

[astrolight99]

retrograde Mercury if exalted then give good results. Lata Mangeskar has this position.

[dc_4m_kolkata]

Astrolight99....will not that depend on the ascendant?...it cannot be generic that Retro Exalted Mercury will always confer positive results. There are two sets of expert views I have come across...one which says Retro Exalted Mercury is equivalent to debilitated and the other view is it confers good results.....Since Khoo always goes deep into reasoning that is why I have poised this question to understand Khoo's views.

[astrolight99]

a lot of research work has been done in this aspect as to whether a retrograde planet in exaltation gives good results or bad results by KN Rao group. I saw one video of Vaughn Paul Manley in KRS where he says that after great research it was found that it gives good result only. I just gave findings of the research work.

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Is your exalted Mercury placed in 5th or 9th? According to Bhavartha Ratnakara, exalted planets in these houses give Rajayoga (with or without retrogading).

Bharvatha Ratnakara only mentioned that malefics (natural) turn good. So another point is that if Mercury is a malefic through association in a chart, it should turn good too, with or without exaltation.

What if Mercury is a natural benefic? It should be less beneficial because the idea of natural benefics is that they are supposed to spread their good results all round the chart. When they are retrogade they are less likely to do so. But because they are also supposed to cast an aspect from the previous house because of retrogading, this is an alternative way to spread their good influence around (they lose some, but win some).

So how about exalted planets retrogading, and in particular Mercury? Bharvatha Ratnakara is silent on this.

However, the factor of karaka is more important in the topic of retrogading than the planet's functional rulership as I have already mentioned.

Exalted planets mean their karaka properties are enhanced. For natural malefics, they bring more good. For natural benefics, the "less beneficial" dimension I mentioned earlier has less direct import (relevance). From this logical argument, it would mean that "exaltation" cannot turn into "debilitation". This also applies to Mercury, depending on whether it is a natural malefic (through association) or natural benefic in the chart. Only that because Mercury is both moolatrikona and exalted in the same sign, the case for Mercury retrogading either a malefic or a benefic, has in addition, something in its favour.

So that is why in the example given by the forum member on Mercury retrogading (sorry, forgot to read your name) is good. In your chart, if it is bad, then it is due to other factors.

Best Regards
Hock Leong

[dc_4m_kolkata]

In my case it is exalted in the 9th and also retro. I am a Capricorn Ascendant. Therefore Retro Mercury exalted in 9th would not only aspect the 3rd House but also the 2nd House (aspect from previous house). Mercury is the 6th Lord and 9th Lord for Capricorn Ascendant. Going by my case, both 6th and 9th Lord is posited in 9th House. Therefore can it be induced that the ill results of 6th House would be reduced and benefic results of 9th House would also be reduced......

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Actually exalted planet in 5th or 9th is so good that you can just overlook the factor of retrogading.

It is supposed to be a Rajayoga - an exalted planet placed in the 5th or 9th.

[sanjay mutha]

I have jupiter and saturn both retrograde in Virgo that is 12th from libra ascendant.what is the effect in this case. ...I Am running saturn mahadasha currently. My details are 5th march 1981 ...time 22.45 pm....place chennai india.saturn being yogakaraka what will be his effect and jupiter being malefic for libra how will his effect be.

[astrolight99]

Retrograde planets if conjoined behave independently.

[sanjay mutha]

Thanks for your reply astrolight.can you also highlight about saturns and jupiter s effect and role.

[drnature88]

in trines of the 5th and the 9th, retrogade planets can work surprisingly well since these houses are places where one can get immense benefits from meditation. This is especially the case for natural benefics. Natural malefics do less harm to the 5th and 9th house when they are retrogading since they are meditating. Planets in their own signs in these houses can meditate and see results easily.

I have retrograde Mercury in 5th house ( Gemini Asc ) with Sun and Venus in Libra aspected by retrograde Jupiter ( Aries) from 11th house . I am attracted towards meditation ( learnt Reiki heaaling ( 3 B ) and Pranik healing , too ) .

[astrolight99]

Hi Khoo,

What happens if a retrograde natural benefic or malefic owns Kendra houses. And also by owning Kendra houses if they occupy Kendra or kona houses then what would be result?

Regards