Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Burn Rate
Retrogrades in Astrology
By
Michael Erlewine
An ebook from
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Fist published 2006
2006 Michael Erlewine
ISBN 978-0-9798328-4-0
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Cultural Astronomy
Astrology has often been called Cultural Astronomy,
and the phrase rings true to me, in particular that
accent on the second word Astronomy. We could
rephrase that to say that astrology is the meaning of
astronomy in the sense that astrology for the most
part is based on astronomy, like the accurate
positions of the planets, the lunar cycle, and all the
other celestial phenomenon. Most astrologers like to
be as accurate in their calculations as the astronomy
will permit.
In other words, astrological interpretations are based
on accurate astronomy, as just mentioned. In this
sense, our astrological imagination is limited by the
facts that astronomy delivers to us. In fact, most
astrology has to do with the meaning or interpretation
of the astronomical facts, and these astronomical
facts have had centuries of time to be absorbed and
interpreted by astrologers. However this is not true in
all cases, and the retrograde phenomenon is a good
example of an astrological technique where we have
not yet exhausted the astronomical framework or
facts.
All planets move through the familiar zodiac in the
same direction, from Aries to Taurus, and so on.
However, periodically a planet will pause in this
forward motion, and begin to move backward through
the zodiac, against the grain of the zodiac. Such a
backward-moving planet is said to be retrograde.
Depending on the planet, a planet can be retrograde
from 7% (Venus) to over 44% (Pluto) of the time.
There is a table of these figure elsewhere in this book.
In the history of astrology, retrograde planets tend to
be interpreted in somewhat of a negative way,
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Psychometrists
Astrologers are not unlike their more psychic cousins,
the psychometrists who use various objects to get in
touch with different types of information. Instead of
handling some personal object belonging to the
person in question, we astrologers tend to use all the
available astronomical facts as a touchstone or
pointer to whatever meaning we are searching for.
Much of modern astrology is concerned with our
paying close attention to the observed facts as
determined by the science of astronomy and
astrophysics. Perhaps early in this century astrologers
were a little fuzzy as regards science, but nowadays
most astrologers are interested in learning all they
can about the hard facts of deep space, the planets,
and what not. My point here is that it seems that the
more we understand the actual facts, the better
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Background
Except at the two instantaneous moments when the
Earth is conjunct or in opposition to a particular
planet, the geocentric position always differs from the
heliocentric position. The helio position is a kind of
midpoint about which the geocentric position ebbs
and flows, at least for those planets beyond the orbit
of the Earth. The same thing is indicated for the inner
planets (Mercury and Venus) by what is called their
points of "greatest elongation" (geocentrically).
This difference between the helio and geo planet
positions is based upon what we can call here the
maximum phase angle possible between the Earth
and the planet in question. Here is a list of the
maximum phase angles for the outer planets using
circular orbits (average distance from Sun). The fact
of a non-circular orbit produces values that may, at
times, be greater than those listed below.
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Planet Retrogrades
This marks a period where the geocentric position of
the planet stops its forward motion and begins to
move back over the new area it has just traversed,
making a second pass over this particular area of the
zodiac. This always takes place during the waning
"square" of the Earth to the outer planet in question.
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Summary
Thus both geocentric and heliocentric positions have
a time within the cycle during which they lead or are
sampling new degrees of the zodiac, that is: going
over fresh zodiac area. In fact, the helio position is the
midpoint or focus about which the geo position loops,
which is what we have been pointing out all along.
The stations or points in the zodiac where the planet
goes retrograde or direct are the two points where this
maximum phase angle takes place. This may amount
to an alternate form of the square aspect where,
instead of 90-degrees being the limit, the limit
becomes the maximum phase angle, in effect, the
stations. In other words, this technique measures the
point of maximum phase angle between the Earth and
any other planet -- perhaps another approach to the
concept of the "square" aspect. Only here we have a
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Further Thoughts
As shown earlier, retrograde is a purely geocentric
phenomenon, solely Earths perspective on (and from
within) the solar system of the motion of the planets
other than Earth. The heliocentric positions of the
planets never move backward, but always steadily
forward in their orbits. Since the geocentric or Earth
view of the planet as retrograde or direct is just that: a
view or perspective, we can use the heliocentric
position as the marker for the present position in the
solar system for any planet.
Except when a planet is conjunct or in opposition to
the Sun, our Earth sees that helio position as either
ahead or behind (in the zodiac) the helio position.
That is what retrogrades are all about. There are thus
four distinct phases to the retrograde loop, and they
are:
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Interpreting Retrogrades
In the history of the interpretation of retrogrades,
much has been made of course of the direct and
retrograde motion. There has been almost no mention
of the distinction between direct (or retrograde)
motion forward or ahead in the zodiac of the helio
position for a planet or backward and behind in the
zodiac from that same helio position.
Keep in mind that the geocentric view of the helio
planet is how that planet appears from Earths
perspective, which is what the standard natal chart
used by astrologers all over the world is all about, the
appearance (rising sign) and circumstances in which
each of us finds ourselves embedded.
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Burn Rate
The term Burn Rate originated while working with
this technique when I began to realize that some
people had many planets with a more extreme range
or difference between the geo and helio positions for
a given planet in their chart.
Lets take my own chart as an example. The most
extreme planet in my chart (from the burn rate
perspective) is Mercury, which is at about 88% of its
maximum range, and it is in the past behind the
curve so to speak.
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The Present
What about planets that have a very low burn rate? In
this case, the geocentric positions would be very
close to the helio positions, like within 10 or 15
degrees. Planets that have a low burn rate have very
little change required to make the two positions one,
to reconcile the two. In other words, low burn rate
planets are relatively stable and clear in nature. What
you see is what you get.
Therefore in a natal chart look to these low burn rate
planets to bring clarity and clear functionality to the
nature of the planet. I like to say that these are areas
where you see or function clearly. For example, I
have only one planet with a low burn rate and that is
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Many Views
Most astrologers use astrological techniques to learn
more about themselves. With these different
techniques, in particular if they are well defined and
different from one another (such as the Burn Rate
technique), my rule is the more the better.
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The Past
It is the same idea when we look at the part of the
cycle that takes place in the past, that section of the
zodiac already traveled through by the current helio
position. There are two parts here as well.
In the first part, the planet is retrograde and traveling
into the earlier (past) degrees of the zodiac, which we
can call the past. Each day of the retrograde arc takes
the planet deeper into the past, and the intent is to go
yet deeper. This is still the second pass.
However, after the stationary point is reached, the
planet turns direct and is no longer pointing into the
past, but back toward the present. The planet is now
in the third and final iteration and passing over the
same degrees of the zodiac, as mentioned, now for
the third time.
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Retrograde Stats
Below are the synodic periods for the planets that can
be retrograde, along with the approximate number of
days each planet is retrograde in days and
percentages.
Mercury
Retrograde for approximately 24 days per cycle.
Synodic Period is 115.88 days
21% of the time retrograde
Venus
Retrograde for approximately 40 days per cycle.
Synodic Period is 583.92 days
7% of the time retrograde
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Interpretation of Retrogrades
Below are general interpretations for all of the eight
planets that can be retrograde. For each planet, there
are twelve phase interpretations given. These can be
divided into four main sections, each one of which has
three levels: Low, High, and Very High:
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Mercury
Mercury, called "Buddha" (Awareness) in Sanskrit, is
the light in our eyes, the ever-changing
consciousness within us that moves from idea to idea.
Therefore Mercury represents the Mind and all ideas,
the thoughts we have, and mental processes, in
general. Mercury rules not only our thoughts, but also
how they travel, meaning all manner of
communications, whether by phone, letter, email,
spoken conversations - what have you? And finally,
Mercury rules the wires, waves, cables, and
connections that communications travel through to
reach us.
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Venus
Venus rules how we love or appreciate, how we value
things in our life, and therefore our values and sense
of values. On the high end, Venus is compassion, the
deepest form of appreciation, and on a more
mundane level it rules how we appraise, access, and
value things around us: a good dinner, a new car, and
so on. And how we appreciate is also how we enjoy
life, so Venus marks what we enjoy, and just how we
like to have a good time. Venus rules our values and
sense of appreciation.
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Mars
Mars represents ambition, our inner motivation and
drive, what urges us on, and keeps us moving
forward. Mars is the all about meaning, what things
mean, what moves us, and emotional energy and
push, in general. Mars carries us beyond ourselves
and out into the word, driving us up against things.
Mars is also outward aggression and moves us into
competition and combat. Ultimately, Mars energy is
our search for meaning in our lives, and a deep urge
for peace and unity. Mars is sexual energy that ends
in marriage, union, and yoga.
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Jupiter
Jupiter, named "Guru" in Sanskrit, is just that: our
guru or guide through the thickets of life, our particular
life path or vocation. Jupiter is how we succeed, the
planet of success, and success here means simple
succession or continuing, how we will be able to
continue. Jupiter is said to be the key to Saturn, how
each of us will find our way through the limitations and
laws life lays on us. It is our personal dharma path,
how we will solve the problems and obstacles that life
brings. Jupiter is the way we go through life, our way
to go.
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Saturn
Saturn is about the laws and limitations of this
material world we all live in. Saturn indicates where
we are bound to learn, the narrowness that makes our
way felt -- the walls that make homes possible.
Saturn, the great divider, holds us together as much
as it keeps us apart. In many ways, Saturn is said to
be the great teacher, the planet that keeps us from
getting carried away too far in one direction or
another. It will always seek to limit and determine any
thought, word or action. Saturn or Satan has been
called the prince of the material world.
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Uranus
Uranus is how each of us gets some independence
from the routine of our everyday existence, how we
break out, and are able to see things differently. It
rules all manner of discovery, invention, and insight,
in particular: finding new uses for old things. Uranus
marches to the beat of a different drummer, and
therefore rules all that is unusual, eccentric, and off
the beaten paths. It goes against convention and the
status quo, and favors difference and variety,
whatever is unconventional.
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Neptune
Neptune is the planet of solution, endlessly solving all
differences, and finding the unity in life, rather than
what separates. It said to be the higher octave of
Venus, and represents compassion and deep
acceptance - universal love and union. "The dewdrop
slips into the shining sea." Neptune always sees the
whole picture, the ideal as it should be and could be,
rather than how it may be at the present. It is the
planet of the imagination and inspiration, and thus
relates to film, music, and the arts - wherever the
mind can soar. It also rules all things spiritual,
whether formal religion or personal dreams and
beliefs - the mystic.
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Pluto
Pluto somehow manages to skirt past our defenses
and touch us deeply, to the very quick, and always
wherever we are most sensitive. It can humble us in
an instant, and bring on the hour's heartbreak, no
matter how we may try to steel ourselves. For this
reason, Pluto has been called the planet of
transformation and real inner change, our inner
alchemist. It is through Pluto moments that we identify
with the greater life process itself, and in that
experience, we cannot but change, and die to die
whatever we have been thinking up to that moment,
and be forced to take another look at things. Pluto can
be harsh to the extreme, and is also associated with
all kinds of force, and the more brutal kinds of truth.
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Michael Erlewine
Internationally known
astrologer and author
Noel Tyl (author of 34
books on astrology)
has this to say about
Michael Erlewine:
Michael Erlewine is
the giant influence
whose creativity is
forever imprinted on
all astrologers work since the beginning of the
Computer era! He is the man who single-handedly
applied computer technology to astrological
measurement, research, and interpretation, and has
been the formative and leading light of astrologys
modern growth. Erlewine humanized it all, adding
perception and incisive practical analyses to modern,
computerized astrology. Now, for a second
generation of astrologers and their public, Erlewines
genius continues with StarTypes and its simply
amazing!
A Brief Bio of Michael Erlewine
Michael Erlewine has studied and practiced astrology
for over 40 years, as an author, teacher, lecturer,
personal consultant, programmer, and conference
producer.
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Email:
Michael Erlewine can be reached at
Michael@Erlewine.net
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