Use the cosmic calculator below to determine which planets, if any, were in retrograde in your birth chart.
In This Article...
If I was born during a retrograde, how do you know?
It is well known that Mercury retrograde can sabotage any type of communication. Fortunately, it only occurs four times a year for three weeks at a time, but if you were born during Mercury retrograde, its affects may continue a bit longer. It turns out that not everything is awful because many extremely successful people were born while Mercury was in retrograde. Being born with Mercury retrograde in your natal chart can be a great gift, even though it may not initially seem that way. However, it can also make some aspects of your life more ambiguous.
Priorities first Look at your birth chart (you can make a natal chart on Cafe Astrology for free), then locate Mercury to see if you were born during Mercury’s backspin. The word “Rx” will appear above the Mercury symbol in your chart if Mercury was in retrograde when you were born.
What does that signify, then? “They frequently find it difficult to communicate with people because they are lost in their own thoughts. For instance, they converse with themselves while the other person is, of course, unaware of it. They think they spoke what they were thinking, but they did not truly do so “According to Astrology Booth’s website, astrologer Janet Booth. Or they misunderstand what someone says because they extrapolate their own ideas onto the speaker’s words, or they failed to pay attention because they were preoccupied with their internal debate.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because introspective people frequently exhibit extraordinary creativity. The late musical genius Prince was a Mercury-retro baby, claims Booth on her website. She said that people born during Mercury retrograde typically exhibit shyness as children but develop greater extroversion by the time they are in their early 20s. And this is the point at which the majority of artists let loose on the world.
If a planet was in retrograde when you were born, what does it mean?
ICYWW, a planet is said to be “retrograde” if Earth is orbiting it and it looks to be travelling backward from our perspective. All of the planets go through retrograde motion, but Mercury is the most prevalent and feared because of his numerous three- to four-yearly retrogrades, which frequently result in what Kavanagh refers to as “Mercury mischief.” “Every year, the larger, outer celestial bodiesincluding Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto, and Chironmove backward for a significant amount of timetypically four to five months. Every alternate year, closer to Earth orbiting planets Venus and Mars go into retrograde.” She continues, “The sun and moon never go backwards.”
When a planet goes retrograde, its energy is effectively partly blocked from the outside, making it harder for living forms to express themselves there. Ambi Kavanagh is an astrologer.
What does it signify if your natal chart has one or more retrograde planets? Consider it a karmic lesson you must learn in this lifetime. It’s not all terrible news, and the chart doesn’t seem particularly bad either, according to Kavanagh. “When a planet is retrograde, its energy is effectively partially blocked from the outside, making it harder for the life areas that fall under its purview to express themselves. The soul of the chart holder opted to take on physical form in order to receive more profound lessons about the aspects of life that particular planet rules.”
The natal chart and retrograde: how do they interact?
The crucial word here is appears since, strictly speaking, no planet actually goes backwards in its orbit around the Sun. They don’t even slow down, in fact. Because the Earth orbits the Sun at a different rate than the other planets, retrograde-station-direct cycles are essentially illusions that arise from our vantage point on Earth.
More often than any other planet, Mercury goes into retrograde, but outer planets do it more regularly. Mercury can never be farther from the Sun than 28 degrees, and it always changes course when it is farther from the Sun. 710% of the time, Venus and Mars are in retrograde motion. For lengthy stretches of the year, Jupiter through Pluto are in retrograde motion.
A planet or body’s energies are directed inward while it is retrograde in the birth chart. However, there is something about the energies of the planet that the natives keep covert or hidden, even though they are frequently felt more intensely. When expressing the direct or overt energy of the planet, there may be shyness, embarrassment, or awkwardness.
The energies of the retrograde planet can occasionally cause delays in early life as well as denial, a lack of, or something missing. Saturn retrograde people may have experienced a lack of structure, discipline, or even an authoritative figure in their early years, and as a result, they may feel awkward in situations that require strict rules or etiquette. On the other hand, the outcome is similar if the native experienced very strict influences when they were youngerthey frequently feel guilty and worry excessively about fulfilling their obligations, what other people think of them, and how to follow the rules. That is one instance. Another scenario with Uranus retrograde prominent in the chart is where there may have been a lack of freedom, too many rules, or a lack of support for eccentricity and uniqueness in childhood, which resulted in the native’s expression of these traits in adulthood being constrained, choppy, and generally unnatural. When Venus is retrograde, it’s possible that the child was discouraged in some manner when they tried to express their love or become more appealing. It’s also possible that there wasn’t enough money or resources available.
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury is usually more keen and the sense of humor is more eccentric when it is retrograde at birth. When Mercury is retrograde in a person’s natal chart, they process information differently than when Mercury is direct. How many people have a retrograde Mercury at birth? approximately 18%.
It is common for people in this position to spend a lot of time thinking, verifying, and examining their thoughts and ideas before sharing them. Some people in this position battle with questions about their perceptions or their capacity to learn.
Venus Retrograde
Around 7-8% of the time that Venus is in retrograde, which means that 7-8% of births occur during Venus’s retrograde.
The emotional nature is intense when Venus is retrograde at birth. The act of socializing is never taken lightly. In their adolescence, they may exhibit some shyness due to feelings of uneasiness with small chat and social graces, as well as a dislike of superficialities. A person with a retrograde Venus values love greatly, but they may not express it clearly enough for others to understand exactly how passionately they can love. This individual is always more complex than they appear. They can occasionally conceal their romantic (and financial) lives in some way. Those who were born during Venus’s retrograde phase must be on the lookout for romantic self-destruction. An underlying sense of not being “good enough, beautiful enough, or loveable enough” might exist. There may be very deep insecurities. Self-love can be problematic. Fears can cause people to overcompensate by overeating, going on serial dates, etc., or they can have the reverse impact by making them believe they don’t require love. In one lifetime, the same person can swing from either pole. Of course, it is best to strike a balance. See more information on Venus Retrograde, including Venus Retrograde in the signs, in the Natal Chart.
Mars Retrograde
Being assertive or standing up for oneself can be difficult when Mars is retrograde at birth since it can arouse anxieties of being ineffectual. There may frequently be detours to take in order to achieve your goals. Despite being deeply ingrained, people frequently misjudge our want nature. Timing may be off frequently, or you may express your desires (or rage) in bursts rather than more freely, keeping these feelings to yourself and letting them fester until you lose control. You could come across too powerful or too weak depending on the situation, and you frequently think of the better thing to say or do afterwards, when you’re not under pressure. As working under pressure or with others can make you feel anxious, it is usually preferable to go at your own pace instead of following a schedule. As you become older, you could find highly original ways to physically express yourself or fairly effectively direct your energy in odd but useful directions.
Retrogrades become more frequent as the planets travel farther from us, and it is more typical for people to have these planets retrograde in their horoscopes.
Jupiter Retrograde
People with Jupiter retrograde in their birth charts have a propensity to have unique or diverse viewpoints, worldviews, or moral codes. Instead of learning from others, they would rather draw lessons from their own experiences and responses to them. They are planners who worry more than others about their future or the effects of their actions because they do not inherently believe in luck. They might have to learn that they are entitled to things that others would take for granted.
Saturn Retrograde
When Saturn is retrograde in the birth chart, feelings of guilt and self-doubt may be more frequent than usual. Internalized fears can cause people to put on a strong face so that others won’t perceive them as being vulnerable. Strong anxiety about disappointing other people, failing to fulfill their obligations, or ultimately making terrible decisions might also exist. Sometimes, discipline and order in childhood were lacking. In some ways, having Saturn retrograde in the chart has a similar effect to having a strong Uranus, where the native finds an excessively regimented or disciplined life unsettling. When they are in circumstances that call for protocol, etiquette, or particular sets of standards and rules, people born with Saturn retrograde may feel extremely uneasy or nervous.
Uranus Retrograde
Uranus retrograde can indicate a hesitance to adapt or a hidden skepticism of emerging ideas or advancements. While Uranus direct locals are more likely to flaunt their peculiarities, or at the very least to be proud of them, these folks may conceal them. Having Uranus in retrograde is comparable to having Saturn dominant in the chart, in certain aspects. With this posture, there may be a buildup of energy, so while they may follow the rules for a while, at some point they may have a fit of rebellion before returning to a more orderly, law-abiding lifestyle.
Neptune Retrograde
People with Neptune retrograde in their birth chart may have a tendency to suppress their weaknesses, spiritual side, or compassion because they feel awkward expressing them. These things may very well exist and go deep, but natives of Neptune retrograde prefer to keep them hidden. These folks may lack a strong sense of faith, making them inherently suspicious. They might anticipate the worse if they are left to fill in the blanks. As they worry about being let down, there can be a great risk of having unrealistically high expectations.
Pluto Retrograde
People with Pluto retrograde in their birth charts may be more likely than those with Pluto direct to dread being controlled, tricked, or misled by others. There might be a propensity for people to conceal these worries because doing so makes them feel more exposed. They may not always be in touch with this urge and don’t communicate their need for power or control to others as readily.
Being born during Mercury retrograde is it unusual?
It’s not unusual for comparable predictions to be made about a child’s life when they are born at the same time as a notable event. Several superstitious relatives questioned whether the fact that my cousin was born during a hurricane wasn’t a sign of some kind (for the record, he is now in his 30s and not a walking natural catastrophe). A birth during Mercury retrograde could be interpreted as a similarly ominous sign because it is the astrological analog of a hurricane. However, it turns out that there are some fascinating facts about being born when Mercury is retrograde that are really uplifting.
According to the well-known Australian astrology website Mystic Medusa, having Mercury retrograde when you were born is a benefit. “It is not harmful, or at the absolute least, not detrimental. Your consciousness is expanded, and you are given a natural poetic sense. It bestows upon them a fantastical literacy that many people long to possess.”
You have a good chance of learning you were one of the 25 percent of people who were born during Mercury retrograde, according to ThoughtCo. These are a few of the most intriguing details about your birthday’s astrological significance.
What does it signify if Mercury was retrograde when you were born?
Those who were born during Mercury retrograde might not experience the trip as strongly. In fact, because their natal Mercury will feel “at home” among the cosmic spin, they could be able to think more clearly, act more effectively, and make better decisions. If you were born during this passage, you can find out here.
Are the planets in retrograde strong?
What does it signify when a planet is in retrograde motion? Simply said, during a planet’s retrograde motion, it is during this time that it is closest to Earth. As a result, anytime a planet appears to be moving backward, it transits close to Earth.
When viewed from Earth, planets in retrograde motion appear to pause and move backward for a while. In fact, planets are always moving forward. It is not possible. Retrograde planets appear to be going backward because we on Earth pass the planet by, which is why it appears they are. When you try to pass another car on the highway, however, you see that even though they are moving forward, they seem to be slowing down and reversing. Similar to planetary retrogression, that effect. The main distinction is that, in this example, cars follow a straight course while planets travel in a circle.
Chesta BalaMotional Strength
Are the planets in retrograde strong? The fact that retrograde planets are closest to Earth during the retrograde period gives them great strength. Therefore, during that time, the heavenly body has the greatest impact over us. As enormous celestial bodies, planets have an impact on us both physically and metaphysically. Astrology is used to explain the metaphysical component.
What does retrograde mean in astrology? In astrology, planets have a greater weight and are therefore capable of producing effects that are more powerful. A retrograde planet technically has additional power points known as Chesta Bala, or points of being close to the earth, in terms of Shadbala, or planetary strength level. As a result, we have unequivocal evidence that the retrograde planet is significantly more potent as a result of raising the Shadbala score.
Chesta Bala is one of the six strengths that make up the overall Shadbala score on the planet’s Shadbala scale. Chesta refers to the force necessary for the movement of the planet in this context. In other words, this strength is defined as how much physical effort the planet expends, which also strengthens its astrological impacts.
As a result, whenever a planet goes retrograde, it needs to exert more power or effort to continue moving, which gives it Chesta Bala.
What does it mean to have a Venus retrograde birth?
The feeling nature is intense when Venus is retrograde in the natal chart. The act of socializing is never taken lightly. In their adolescence, they may exhibit some shyness due to feelings of uneasiness with small chat and social graces, as well as a dislike of superficialities. A person with a retrograde Venus values love greatly, but they may not express it clearly enough for others to understand exactly how passionately they can love. This individual is always more complex than they appear. They can occasionally conceal their romantic (and financial) lives in some way.
Those who were born during Venus’s retrograde phase must be on the lookout for romantic self-destruction. An underlying sense of not being “good enough, beautiful enough, or loveable enough” might exist. There may be very deep insecurities. Self-love can be problematic. Fears can cause people to overcompensate by overeating, going on serial dates, etc., or they can have the reverse impact by making them believe they don’t require love. In one lifetime, the same person can swing from either pole. Of course, it is best to strike a balance.
It’s crucial for Venus retrograde individuals to refrain from seeking happiness elsewhere. The love you deserve will come to you when you cultivate happiness within and take ownership of your own happiness.
A person born with Venus retrograde can seem to be made or broken by relationships since they take them so seriously. This job comes with a deep-seated fear of being rejected. Whether or not the Venus retrograde person has moved on physically, there can be an exceptionally protracted emotional healing period following a breakup. Emotionally recovering from a tough relationship or breakup might take several years.
Venus retrograde individuals could be perceived by others as having a unique set of values when it comes to romantic relationships. But many Venus retrograde people have a strong moral code, and their views are very meaningful and real to them. It’s only that the majority may not always adhere to the same code!
If they are not satisfied with what they have to offer as a person, some retrograde Venus residents may appear to be purchasing love or they may express their love through materialistic attention more than others. With this situation, love and money may be tied together too intimately. In fact, Venus retrograde natives may experience financial losses in their love life.
With Venus retrograde, there may be privacy or secrecy about finances. They might store a secret stash, while on the other hand, they might quietly struggle with debt, be a closet shopper, or engage in gambling. Additionally, it could be difficult to demand what they are worth. When it comes to taking money, requesting a raise, or applying for high-paying employment, there could be reluctance. Venus retrograde in a person’s chart can cause them to undercharge for their services.
With this status, they could also have expectations of themselves that are excessively high. Retrograde Venus people may be focused on superficial parts of themselves, such as through extreme body awareness/shyness or care about their physical appearance, even when they detest superficiality in others. Ironically, those in this position should really question why they hold themselves to a higher standard than their romantic partners.
As a way to avoid putting their hearts on the line, insecurities might result in overcompensation, frequently with the features of the Venus sign. For instance, emphasis may be placed on sex instead of closeness or on monetary presents rather than more spiritual or overt displays of affection.
Delay in falling in love or getting married is sometimes linked to Venus retrograde. Many Venus residents in retrograde do, however, create early, committed alliances. However, generally speaking, it takes them a while before they truly open up to the union process. There may be considerable hesitation.
Natives of retrograde Venus are frequently misunderstood. This is due to two factors: first, they may not have traditional beliefs about love, marriage, women’s roles, and relationships; second, they might conceal their genuine emotions, which makes matters worse. Retrograde Venus locals may appear less emotional than they actually are due to defense strategies. In actuality, they have very strong feelings and take a very long time to not just get to know and trust someone, but also to move on from a challenging relationship.
One of the reasons their beliefs and attitudes are unconventional is that they may be profound thinkers when it comes to love and relationships, spotting problems and defects that others might not always notice. Many are ardent supporters of women’s rights and have a sensitive place for those who suffer as a result of strict regulations and expectations.
Natives of retrograde Venus can be a little challenging to adore because they appear to need more assurance than other people. Their current romantic desires and worries may be worsened by difficult childhood or early love experiences.
I don’t think folks born with Venus retrograde have a ball when Venus is in retrograde transit. They may, however, appear to handle this period better than others since they may be a little more accustomed to the energy that is there throughout the roughly 40 days of Venus retrograde.
Born with Venus Retrograde: In the Signs
These are not your average Venus in Aries warriors or risk-takers. Venus retrograde in Aries brings a shyness that is undeniably appealing but may not be as outgoing and impulsive as the other Venus in Aries individuals. People who have experienced rejection in love may develop a very strong protection system that prevents them from interacting with others and from talking about it openly.
Venus is currently retrograde in the signs of Aries for Mariah Carey, Jack Nicholson, and Audrey Hepburn.
With Venus retrograde in Taurus, a lot of focus may be placed on the sensuous or secure aspects of love. These folks ought to think of themselves as sufficient and refrain from lavishing money on their lovers. Of course, this places them in a precarious position because many people with retrograde Venus worry that they are inadequate. They might be viewed as egotistical or self-absorbed. Even if they can be highly sensual and present, if they are insecure, there might not be a high enough level of intimacy.
Richard Dysart and Adolf Hitler both have Venus retrograde in Taurus.
The individual may not be as gregarious and outgoing as the other Venus in Gemini individuals when Venus is retrograde in Gemini. However, they might equate a lack of communication with a lack of love in a romantic relationship, placing an especially high importance on daily involvement and both the quantity and quality of their talks. These folks may come out as calm and scholarly when they are actually very passionately in love. To mask their weakness, they can adopt a detached demeanor.
Venus retrograde in Gemini, Courtney Love, Doug Savant, David Morrissey, Amy Brenneman, and Joss Whedon
Venus in Cancer and retrograde can make people incredibly reflective and affectionate, though many people may not realize how much until they get to know them well. This job has a lot of emotional and sensitive aspects. These people can be affected by rejection, tough breakups, and romantic dissonance for years. It might be difficult to move past hurts. They run the risk of suffocating a spouse if they aren’t confident enough in what they have to offer to be maternal in their displays of love and devotion.
Venus is retrograde in Cancer for both Courtney Cox and Wentworth Miller.
Venus is in Leo and retrograde, which intensifies the need for assurance that many people born with Venus retrograde experience. There may be a propensity to remain too long in a toxic relationship or to be devoted and loyal to the wrong individuals. When feeling uncomfortable, they could express devotion by giving lavish presents, which can be misinterpreted. Retrograde Venus in Leo may not have the same level of self-assurance in love as the other Venus in Leo individuals, but they nevertheless act proudly and conceal their past relationships or hide their fear of rejection under a faade of confidence.
When it comes to sharing their hearts, there may be some reluctance due to Venus’s retrograde motion in Virgo. Helping, being of service, and taking care of the practical aspects of a lover’s life are typical ways that they demonstrate their love. Men in this situation may have strange attraction or fixations that may be caused by a fear of proximity, while women in this position may struggle to believe in their own lovability and attractiveness. They may take longer to form committed relationships and may find it extremely difficult to emotionally move on after a relationship ends. They tend to resist the conventional and have strong sentiments about assigned roles and relationships. Many of them are also feminists.
Robert DeNiro, Mila Kunis, and Charlize Theron all have Virgo-ruled Venus retrogrades at the moment. Julio Iglesias, Venus in Virgo retrograde; Chrissie Hynde and Venus in Virgo retrograde
There are only a few notable people with this position that I am aware of, and Venus was only briefly retrograde in Libra in the early 1900s. However, I can hypothesize that because Venus is retrograde in Libra and has a very refined loving character. It might be difficult for some people, especially women, to genuinely believe in their attractiveness. They often feel self-conscious about their own physical appearance, even if they may not judge others only on appearance. Although some people avoid actual intimacy when they are in love, there might be a strong craving for closeness and camaraderie. They may have very idealized views of love and are susceptible to being hurt easily. When it comes to entering and ending romantic relationships, there can be a lot of hesitancy as well as some excessive over-analysis of their connections.
Venus in Libra, Arthur Godfrey, and Bruno Bettelheim are all experiencing retrograde motion.
Venus in Scorpio and retrograde might cause a strong yearning for intimacy in romantic relationships. Relationships are treated very seriously, and there may be deep-seated anxieties of rejection. Those who hold this viewpoint frequently reject established gender roles and relationships. When starting a new relationship, there may be some reluctance and hesitation, but once things get going, locals of retrograde Venus in Scorpio can persist with someone for a very long time, even if the relationship is difficult or toxic.
Venus is in retrograde motion in Scorpio for Ted Bundy and Jodie Foster.
A superficially relatively carefree approach toward love is typically a cover for a genuinely sensitive, affectionate character while Venus is retrograde in Sagittarius. A person with retrograde Venus in Sagittarius will be attracted to someone based on their spirit and morals. They frequently hold unconventional or otherwise out-of-the-ordinary views about the freedom of love. They have high aspirations for love because it confirms to them the beauty of life. Of course, this could make them a little bit more vulnerable because when expectations are high, there is a higher likelihood of letdown. Their propensity to dive headfirst into something without planning only serves to exacerbate this. Once they’ve let you in, these natives are very kind and giving, and those who aren’t as generous or kind as they are might take advantage of their ideals. They can be extremely hurt when a partner doesn’t automatically believe or trust them since they expect others to. People with Venus in Sagittarius have a great sensitive heart for the defenseless.
Venus is currently retrograde in Sagittarius for Pat Buchanan and Lynn Carey.
Venus is retrograde in Capricorn, which makes people more likely to be guarded or somewhat secretive about their romantic relationships. They would function best with a partner who respects this or is similar because they don’t want others to see their messy love lives. They have a strong need to be wanted and appreciated. For those born with Venus in Capricorn, love and responsibility go hand in hand, and it’s difficult to comprehend those who do. They may go out of their way to demonstrate that they are not susceptible in love because they don’t want to appear so. To genuinely feel at ease and secure while interacting with their sensitive, caring side, it can take time and experience.
Seth Green, Amber Valletta, Elizabeth Banks, Sean Kingston, Kimberly Wyatt, Bridget Regan, and Alice Eve.
There may be a strong desire for unusual partnerships when Venus is retrograde in Aquarius. Those who hold this viewpoint frequently reject established gender roles and relationships. In childhood, there might have been some repression of urges to display their more distinctive traits and quirks.
Venus is retrograde in Aquarius for Kate Moss, Ellen DeGeneres, Liam Aiken, Debbie Allen, Billy Ocean, Anita Baker, Brett Butler, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Patrick Dempsey, Rainn Wilson, Stacey Dash, Gaby Hoffmann, and Kate Middleton.
There could be a strong desire to romanticize the past, to keep their love covert, or an attraction to secret partnerships with Venus in Pisces and retrograde. Even though the native has a loving soul, there could be awkwardness while showing compassion in public. These people may need to put in a lot of effort to feel worthy of a partner who acknowledges the relationship openly or of a partnership that doesn’t demand unreasonably high sacrifice or an unbalanced power dynamic.
Langston Hughes, Tallulah Bankhead, and Charles Lindbergh were all under the influence of Venus retrograde in Pisces.
Several well-known people whose birth charts show Venus in retrograde:
Venus is in retrograde motion in the signs of Aquarius for Kate Moss, Leo for Amy Winehouse, Aries for Mariah Carey, and Virgo for Robert DeNiro. Venus is retrograde in Virgo for Julio Iglesias and in Aries for Jack Nicholson. Venus was in retrograde motion in the signs of Aries for Audrey Hepburn, Taurus for Adolf Hitler, Virgo for Chrissie Hynde. Venus is retrograde in Gemini and Courtney Love; Venus is retrograde in Scorpio and Jodie Foster; Venus was retrograde in Scorpio for Ted Bundy; in Virgo for Charlize Theron; in Virgo for Mila Kunis; and in Aquarius for Ellen DeGeneres.
