Venus and Mars Retrogrades as the Unfolding of a Sequence of Events

In episode 493 I interview some patrons and students talk about how the recent Venus and Mars retrograde periods went for them, and to demonstrate a principle I discovered about how retrogrades can describe the unfolding of a sequence of events over an extended period of time.

One of my unique perspectives on Venus and Mars retrogrades is that they are not just the period when the planet is moving backwards, but instead represent an extended stay in one or two signs of the zodiac. This long transit often coincides with the unfolding of a sequence of events over several months, frequently centered on the topics of the whole sign houses the retrograde occupies.

Now that the extended retrograde period ranges have been completed this month, with Venus finally departing from its retrograde sign of Aries and Mars departing from its retrograde sign of Leo, I wanted to document and demonstrate this principle by sharing some real-life stories. I’m joined by several students from my courses and patrons of the podcast who share their experiences of how these transits played out in their lives.

In particular we explore three specific ways that I have identified about how retrogrades can manifest:

Retrogrades that represent the unfolding of a sequence of events that play out over an extended period of time.
Retrogrades that cross a sign boundary and connect two sets of topics across the whole sign houses involved.
When Venus and Mars are retrograde in different signs and the topics of both houses they are in become relevant.

Through these discussions, we see clear examples of how these extended retrograde periods timed significant life stories, from relationship changes and career shifts to health matters and dealing with family. This episode serves as a final case study to substantiate the theoretical framework I outlined in previous forecasts, providing concrete examples to help astrologers learn how to apply this concept to future retrogrades.