Understanding the Retrograde Cycle | Part 3: Retrogrades as Developmental and Cosmic Hesitations
This article is the third part in a 4-part series on the retrograde cycle. You can find links to the first two parts in the section, Previous Articles in Series, at the end of the article. We will start with a review and then introduce the concept of a developmental hesitation as a framework for the retrograde cycle.
Review
As we saw in the first two articles in this series,1 there are five significant points and three significant degrees in the retrograde cycle. The five significant points demarcate the boundaries and midpoint of the cycle and define each of its phases.
To review, these five significant points are: 1) the reconnaissance point; 2) the retrograde point; 3) the midpoint; 4) the direct point; and 5) the integration point.
As shown in Graphic 2 below, the phases that these significant points demarcate are the reconnaissance phase, the retrograde phase, and the integration phase. In the reconnaissance and integration phases, the planet travels in direct motion over the retrograde territory. In the retrograde period, the planet travels retrograde over the territory.
You will typically hear the reconnaissance and integration phases, or periods, called shadow periods. I call them reconnaissance and integration periods to distinguish them from one another and to encapsulate what I believe their functions are in the cycle. I see the reconnaissance period as a time of surveying the upcoming retrograde period and the integration period as a time of integrating what one encountered during the reconnaissance and retrograde periods. The retrograde period itself is an inward-drawing time of retreat, review, reflection, etc.
The Next Piece: Hesitations
Using these three phases demarcated by the five points and considering the retrograde cycle as a whole, we can superimpose a developmental process known as a 'hesitancy’, which I am calling a hesitation, onto it. The hesitation is a brief period of pause that occurs during the transition from one phase of development to another, allowing a person time to prepare, physically and psycho-emotionally, for the new stage about to emerge.2 We can map it on the retrograde cycle as follows:
In the retrograde cycle as a developmental hesitation process, the reconnaissance period becomes a waning period in our development, a natural subsiding of energy that comes at the end of a stage and before a transition to a new stage. Think of it as akin to a wave washing ashore, a shift brought on by the natural movement of the wave cycle. The momentum is still forward, but the energy is past its peak and the power has diminished. During this waning process, we may begin to get hints of the changes ahead, which we will bring with us into the hesitation, but the new stage has not yet arisen and our awareness is still focused on the past momentum.
The retrograde period of the cycle is the hesitation itself, a period when our energy retreats and when we may withdraw from our usual activities and behaviors. Think of this period as like the wave drawing back into the sea. During this time, our behavior may regress to previous stages. We may become irritable or test old boundaries.3 I believe we may also go back to resolve old blocks, whether from the stage currently subsiding or previous ones.4 I also believe we begin processing the hints of the new about which we get inklings during the waning period of the cycle when the metaphorical wave washes ashore.
The integration period becomes the waxing part of the hesitation process. In this waxing period, the momentum shifts forward again, but we are not yet at the peak. Rather, the swell towards the peak is just beginning. At this time, I believe we reach the peak at the end of the retrograde cycle, as symbolized by when the planet finally leaves the retrograde territory and enters into the new territory ahead. During the waxing period, we integrate what we encountered inwardly and/or outwardly during the waning and hesitation periods. I believe we also integrate what we see ahead of us as we move through this period. Through this integration process, we gain strength and momentum to emerge fully fledged in and equipped for the new stage.
Superimposing the developmental hesitation onto the retrograde cycle in this way, we can see our human developmental process as a fractal of a larger Cosmic process, the Cosmos, in its infinite wisdom, having built this preparation and review process into its design at all levels. All we have to do is look up at the Moon throughout the month, or out at the ocean at any time of day or night, or at the ebb and flow of the seasons to see this process mirrored back to us. Astrologically, we can see it mirrored back to us in the retrograde cycle of the planets.
Whether or not a retrograde cycle will take us up in its current will depend on whether or not it activates our birth chart by transiting a natal planet or angle, whether by conjunction, opposition, square, or possibly other aspect. If it does, we may find ourselves carried into a time of transition from one stage of development to another that is specific to the retrograding planet and the planet(s), sign(s), house(s), etc. that are activated in our charts.
Practical Application: Personal Anecdote
As a planet moves through its retrograde cycle, we can notice what we encounter within ourselves and in our daily lives to gain insight into what development, if any, a given retrograde cycle is mirroring in us and perhaps helping to facilitate. To do so, we can use the dates associated with the five significant points of the cycle to map our personal journey through the process.
For the Mars retrograde cycle currently in process (see dates below), I have noticed, in hindsight, that a subtle but significant shift in my sense of identity relating to physical fitness began to occur during the reconnaissance period of the cycle. This identity was related to my success as an athlete in childhood. In astrology, Mars rules athletes. As ruler of Aries, it is also related to the formation of one’s sense of identity.
Specifically, I had overdone my training and had to take a break from working out.5 During the reconnaissance period, still operating under the wisdom and assumptions of the still-activated but waning stage, I assumed this break would be temporary and I would be back at it in a few weeks. During the retrograde part of the cycle, however, it became clear that I would not be able to return anytime soon and that there was a deeper process going on, one that was initiated by the overtraining I did.
In the process of overdoing, which I only came to understand after the fact, I achieved, paradoxically, a deep inner satisfaction that I had never experienced before, the satisfaction of setting a goal, showing up for it even though I didn’t want to, and pushing myself to realize it even though it was hard, when I didn’t believe I could do it, and when I really wanted to stop. The key was that it was me who set the goal, me who willed myself to show up, me who pushed myself to achieve it when it was tough and I doubted myself, and me who really wanted to achieve it. Those things had never come together before.
After the workout, I felt that I could finally trust myself, an inner sensation and experience I had never felt before. I believe this newly achieved experience of self-trust then freed some part of my psyche from the past. As my psyche released its grip on my old identity as athlete, I saw, to my surprise, that I had been holding on to it for all these decades. I also saw that I was doing so because there had been something left undone, something I needed to establish within myself to be able to move on.
Interestingly, as you can see from the table at the end of this section, Mars began its reconnaissance period at 17 Cancer. That degree is opposite my natal Mars at 16 Cancer [correction: Capricorn]. Cancer represents our ego. Capricorn represents roles. It then turned retrograde at 6 Leo. Leo represents the child. As Mars retreated away from Leo, so my sense of ego identity has retreated away from the egoic role I had inhabited as a child and to which I had still been clinging (because something - a key developmental task - had been left undone). Opposite 6 Leo in my chart is my Venus at 4 Aquarius. According to The Rulership Book by Rex E. Bills, Aquarius rules astrology and astrologers.6 Also, Venus, it should be noted, governs trust and relationship, including self-trust and self-relationship.
As the retrograde period has continued, my sense of identity has shifted dramatically away from fitness and towards astrology, as though the old identity has been washed away to make way for a new one to emerge. While, before this shift, I appreciated and had a knack for astrology, it also felt like an uncomfortable and awkward fit, one that I routinely bucked against. As the retrograde period has progressed, I no longer feel that sense of awkwardness. It is now just a matter of refining my specific relationship with and track within it.
For a timeline of my experience, I have included a table of the dates of Mars’ retrograde cycle. These dates are determined from the five significant points in the retrograde cycle, as shown in the first column. As you can see from the table, the reconnaissance period began on October 5th and ended on December 6th, when the retrograde period began. I wrote about my overtraining experience on October 20th, a week after it happened.7
At the time of this writing, the retrograde period is winding down and the integration period is about to begin (on February 23rd). It remains to be seen - and will be interesting to see - what the final integration will be.
Conclusion
Using our understanding of the three-phase structure of the retrograde cycle demarcated by the five significant points together with our understanding of the developmental hesitation that occurs in humans during developmental transition periods, a process that we see mirrored in the retrograde cycle, we can begin to craft a story for the retrograde cycle that we can use as a template for all retrograde cycles. Considering the symbolism of the planet and signs will help us to individualize the story to a specific retrograde cycle.
As we will see in Part 4, we can individualize the story further by incorporating the Sabian symbols. The Sabian symbols are symbolic word pictures for each degree of the zodiac that provide us with granular insight into a given transit.
In the next article, we’ll incorporate the Sabian symbols into what we have already developed, using our knowledge of the structure of the retrograde cycle to help us do so.
Cover Image
References
Bills, Rex E. The Rulership Book: A Dictionary of Astrological Correspondences. Richmond, Virginia: Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc., 1976. Copyright 1971.
Luvmour, Josette & Luvmour, Sambhava. Natural Learning Rhythms: Discovering How and When Your Child Learns. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts, Revised edition, 1993.
Mangan, Ellen. A Surprisingly Good Week Despite Setback. Running Slant, October 20, 2024.
UNVEIL. “Natural Learning Relationships & Supporting Wellbeing in Families - W/ Ba & Josette Luvmour - Ep #58,” November 28, 2022.
Previous Articles in Series
Mangan, Ellen. The Retrograde Story | Part 1: Retrograde Basics. Pass It On Astrology, January 18, 2025.
Mangan, Ellen. Hiding in Plain Sight: The Three 3 Anchor Points You’ll Need to Tell the Retrograde Story. Pass It On Astrology, January 29, 2025.
Updates
February 19, 2025
I made three changes in the paragraph beginning Interestingly, as you can see from the table at the end of this section… (See the 4th paragraph before Graphic 4.)
I correctly stated that my natal Mars is opposite Mars’ reconnaissance point in Cancer. However, I mistakenly wrote that my natal Mars was in Capricorn. I crossed out Cancer and added [Correction: Capricorn].
After the sentence Cancer represents ego, I added Capricorn represents roles.
I changed …from that which I inhabited as a child… to …from the egoic role I inhabited as a child...
I couldn’t help myself and made two additional minor changes.
I changed as like a wave washing ashore… to as akin to a wave washing ashore… (See the first paragraph after Graphic 3.)
I changed entering into the new territory ahead… to and enters into the new territory ahead… (See the third paragraph after Graphic 3.)
Notes
I learned about the hesitancy from the Luvmours book, Natural Learning Rhythms. See Luvmour & Luvmour, pp. 13-14. I have changed their word 'hesitancy' to 'hesitation' for this context of astrological retrogradation. While my understanding and application of this concept continues to evolve, their work provides the foundation for this approach. I recommend that you read their book, Natural Learning Rhythms to get a full understanding of the concept in development.
Luvmour & Luvmour, pp. 13-14, 27-28, 52-53. The Luvmours see the hesitation as a time of gathering ourselves for the developmental leap to come. They say that the symptoms that arise during the hesitation are not cause for concern. Rather, they are the signs and signals we need to know that a miraculous shift into a new stage of development is about to occur. The work is to support the hesitation, not counter or punish it.
In a video interview, Sambhava Luvmour talks about this idea as it relates to a child in Reasonable Being as a whole. In the first version of this artice, I misunderstood this distinction, thinking he was applying it to the hesitation period at the end of Reasonable Being. Thus, I applied it to the retrograde process. Although I now understand that Luvmour was not applying it to the hesitation, specifically, I am choosing to continue to apply it to the retrograde cycle as I feel it accurately reflects a key part of the process we undergo during a retrograde transit. See UNVEIL (timestamp: 00:39:00 - 00:41:20).
I wrote about this experience in an article/video I posted on my Running Slant Substack dedicated to fitness. The article is called A Suprisingly Good Week Despite Setback. (See Mangan, October 20, 2024.)
See Bills, p.9.
See footnote 5.