Picture the planets orbiting the Sun like an old-fashioned mechanical
racetrack. Each planet has its own track, a different distance from the Sun, traveling at different speeds. A retrograde happens when Earth passes a planet, making that planet appear to slow down, stop and then go in reverse. This optical illusion is similar to passing a car that's going slower than you -- as you pass it, it seems to go backwards, but it's still plugging along at the same speed and in the same direction.
During a 'reversal,' the areas of life that the retrograde planet rules will feel askew until it catches up to Earth again. Each planet exerts influence over certain aspects of life. Mercury rules communication, for example, so when it's in a favorable sign, your communication abilities are stronger and more effective. When a planet goes retrograde, the effects of its influence are reversed. During a Venus retrograde, don't expect love to come easily. Interestingly, the reversal of your response to these planetary movements is across the board. So if you're usually awkward during conversations or if you hate public speaking, Mercury retrograde can actually work in your favor. You'll suddenly feel much more at ease, and the words will flow smoothly.
If a planet is retrograde in your birth chart, you may face obstacles in that area, but it doesn't necessarily cause major problems. In fact, you could find that because you spend more time with these challenges, they actually become strengths. Using Mercury and Venus as examples again, if either of these planets is retrograde in your chart, you may or may not have problems with communication or love, but you may find that the processes are slowed down. It could take you longer to write papers in school or prepare for a speech -- but the time you've spent will make your language skills stronger. You may be a late bloomer when it comes to relationships and marriage, but when you finally fall in love it's more likely to be the real thing.
When you understand how a retrograde can affect you, either in your birth chart or during normal transits, you can prepare yourself ahead of time and take these challenges in stride.
To learn more about the different planets going retrograde, check out the retrograde schedule and planets in retrograde. If you want to know how the planets in retrograde affect you personally and what planets were in retrograde at the moment of your birth, try a sample Personal Profile, free of charge, from Astrology.com.
