A retrograde planet is also called Vakri Graha in Sanskrit, a vakri planet said to be moved backwards (nopt forwards like normal movemnet of a planet in a horoscope) due to its optical illusion. Among all planets Rahu and Ketu (north node and south node of the moon are always remain retrograde and said to move a complete anti clockwise way. All other planets apart from rahu and ketu become retrograde time to time only as they transit through the 12 zodiac signs along their orbit and after a certain time again they become straight or starts moving clockwise.

In my own opinion if the planet is aNatural Malefic in that case Retrogression of the planet will increase the negative effects than another Malefic planet in horoscope which is not a retrograde planet. If a Planet in horoscope or kundli is Natural Benefic in that case Retrogression of the planet will increase the positive effects than a Benefic planet which is actually not retrograde.

You can apply my above rules to judge a retrograde planet’s effect in a person’s life.

Apart from Retrogression of a planet in horoscope there are many other factors to be judged to read an event in depth in person’s life. they are:

• House ownership of a planet in horoscope,
• The nature of the planet you are dealing with,
• The house disposition of the planet, simply means where it placed in the horoscope

There are many school of thoughts in case of retrograde planets result, I am mentioning two famous of them below:

First opinion on retrograde planets in astrology

• Some Astrologers thinks that Due to the difference or movement in speed of the planets, planetary placement of a Zodiac goes through a continuous change, thus, in the process of one planet while overtaking or passing other planet in the zodiac then the first planet becomes slow apparently and starts moving backwards (it is not a physical backward of a planet, it is completely apparent).
• The general rule to judge a retrograde planet in horoscope is that the planet becomes weak to give any result. On the other hand in case of malefic planets when they are retrograde the ill effects will increase.

Second opinion on retrograde planets in astrology

Some astrologers follow what vedic scriptures on astrology and their writers are saying, like Mantreshwar, Jaimini, Kalyan Varma etc, and after following those opinions they come to the following conclusions:

• Any planet in horoscope is strong when the planet becomes retrograde if it does not goes to its debilitation sign.
• Any Retrogression of a planet in horoscope gives the planet Chestabala (among many other important bala in astrology) or motional strength and gives result as per it lordship in the chart. If the lordship is good then the result will be good and there will be gradual progress in life regarding the part of life. But if the lordship is not good then it will bad results related to that part of life for the person.
• If a planet is exalted in a chart but retrograde as well then it will not act like a debilitated planet what many other people think
• If a Planet is retrograde in horoscope then it not only become strong but it also gives results like exalted planet only if it is not it is posited in the inimical sign or debilitated sign (Some astrologers do not agree with this rule at all).
• When a benefic retrograde planet is occupying the laxmi stana houses like 5 and 9th they give good result. On the other hand a malefic retrograde planet goes to houses like 3rd, 6th, 8th and 12th.