Astrology: What does “Saturn goes into retrograde” mean?

by Vinay Bajrangi World Renowned Astrologer

Saturn or Shani represents orderliness, discipline, structure, adherence to rules & regulations, processes, and commitment. Saturn, like all other planets, appear to retrograde at some point, which means, it travels east to west, instead of west to east (backwards), across the night sky. So what? Does this backward movement affect our lives? Yes. When Saturn goes into retrograde, shown in the natal chart, the resulting dose is double - favorable or detrimental.

When Saturn retrogrades, slow and swift results are seen intermittently that test an individual’s patience and perseverance; it is a supreme test to find out if he or she is gifted with the capability of getting rid of karmic debts. Because Saturn takes the possession of the tenth house in the Kalpurush horoscope (house of karma), it is involved with the karmic dept of a person, more so when it goes into retrograde. A person will be paying for the bad deeds and rewarded for the good deeds he or she has done in the past. The outcome from the retrograde Saturn is based on the last house (12^th)and the house in which it resides.

If a native’s birth chart shows that Saturn has gone into retrograde, the person is in a prolonged dilemma before taking independent decisions. Nevertheless, his or her actions will not be in line with the decision taken, pondering over it for a long time.

According to Phaladeepika, “When a planet appears to retrograde, the effect will be same as that of the planet in the exalted state. A Vargottama planet gives results as if it is in its own sign. However, the positive effects are drawn only as long as the lord of the house is not positioned in the 6^th, 8^th, or 12^th house, or in exalted state (positioned in his own sign), or is retrograde.

Malefics, when they go into retrograde, will bring about intense evil when they attain the Vedha position (obstruction).

Kalidasa has mentioned “Vakri Svochbal’, in the Kalamritha, meaning when a planet goes into retrograde, its strength is equal to that of excitement.

A retrograde planet in the excited state has no strength and if it is in a debilitated state, it has the strength of excitement. So, the prediction of the results of a retrograde planet, whether in the excited or debilitated state, has to be done meticulously.

According to Saravali, if the retrograde Saturn is in the 4^th house, the results are disastrous; the natives’ wives and children are destroyed. Also, the dasa of a malefic planet triggers unnecessary travel.

By and large, a malefic retrograde Saturn won’t ensue positive results in an unfavorable sign. Also, even houses including 2^,4, 6, 8, and 12 give strong negative results while the upachaya houses or houses of growth give good results.