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Retrograde
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This
is when a
planet appears to go backwards in the sky. It's not really going
backwards – it's an optical illusion
due to viewing the planet from Earth's
perspective. It's a little like passing a car on the highway – it looks
like the other car is moving backwards against the backdrop of the
scenery. Or, in the case of Mercury and
Venus, it's like watching someone on a
merry-go-round; they seem to go forward, then backward, from your
viewpoint. All planets except the Sun and
Moon go retrograde
some of the time.
When a planet is retrograde, its energy is
internalised and intensified. It feels very central and powerful, but
hard to be objective about – a bit like trying to look at the under side
of your chin! Pronounced: RET-row-grade. Compare:
Direct.
See also: Stationary,
Shadow (planetary), Mercury Retrograde. See also the
article series on Retrograde
Planets. |
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Rising Sign
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Another term for Ascendant.
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Rolling Conjunction
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An aspect configuration in which 3 or more adjacent
planets are within orb of being in conjunction
to the planet(s) on either side of them. All planets involved could be in the same sign or house,
or in adjacent signs or houses.
For example, in the illustration at right, the Red planet is conjunct the Blue planet; the Blue planet is conjunct the Purple planet;
and the Purple planet is conjunct the Yellow planet. The Red and Purple planets are not close enough to be in conjunction with each other. The same might also be true for the Red and Yellow, and the Blue and Yellow.
However, since each planet is conjunct its neighbour(s), there is a transference of energy that unites all four planets. In other words, the Red and Purple planets in
the middle will act as conductors of energy between the Blue and Yellow planets at the outside. The middle planets create a kind of bridge between the outside planets in the group,
as well as all planets in between. Therefore, the outer planets behave as if they were in conjunction, even though they're outside the usual orb for that aspect.
This creates a powerful collective effect between these planets. It also puts extra stress and significance on the "bridge" planets in the middle, since they "get it
from both sides." The nature of the bridge planets will often act as a filter through which the outside planets' energies combine.
See also: Conjunction, Multiple Conjunction, Stellium.
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 Rolling Conjunction Aspect Configuration |
Rosetta
Trapeze
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This aspect configuration is called a Rosetta by astrologers Sally Fisher and Linda Shelnutt and called a Trapeze by Bruno and Louise Huber in their
aspect patterns book .
This is a somewhat rare and very complex configuration in the energy dynamics it generates.
There is tension and conflict between the planets joined by the square aspects (the red
lines in the diagram). There is agreement and cooperation between the planets joined by the trine and sextile aspect
(blue lines). And there is stress, adjustment and paradox between the planets joined by the quincunx aspects (green lines).
There is a dynamic that happens between these planets that is similar to the concepts of "triangulation" and "scapegoating" in psychology and relationships. Person A has a problem with person B. But instead of talking to
B about it, A goes to person C and complains. C takes sides with A against B, which just fuels the conflict between A and B, and now B has two enemies instead of just one.
All four planets in this configuration have both "enemies" and "allies," and play the same role in relation to other planets. The net effect of this is that the
planetary energies tend to go around in circles, each trying to "win the argument" and finding it very hard to let go of the battle with its "enemies."
At its worst, this figure can keep problems going in circles indefinitely. Automatic reactions of frustration, anger, resentment, injustice and determination can just
fuel the fire. The issues and problems in this dynamic could potentially become obsessions that are hard to let go of.
At its best, this configuration can increase awareness and philosophical understanding. It can strengthen the ability to tolerate paradox, ambiguity and problems where
there isn't a clear solution. Awareness can stop the vicious cycle by showing you a path beyond your automatic reactions. Then it's up to you to make conscious, mindful
choices that will move you along that path.
See Bruno and Louise Huber's book
Aspect Pattern Astrology
for excellent information about aspect configurations.
See also: aspect configuration.
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 Rosetta or Trapeze Aspect Configuration |
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Ruler
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A
planet
is said to "rule" a
sign, in the sense that the planet’s
energy is like an extension of that sign’s
energy. It is helpful to think of the planet
as being the moving, changing, active, evolving version of the sign’s characteristics. So, for example,
Mars carries the energy of
Aries with it, as it travels through the signs, expressing that
Aries/Mars energy in different ways according to the sign it is in. It
is as if Mars
wears a different cloak with each sign it
travels through.
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Rulership
Rulerships
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Here are the
planetary
rulers of each
sign:
| Aries |
Mars |
| Taurus |
Venus |
| Gemini |
Mercury |
| Cancer |
Moon |
| Leo |
Sun |
| Virgo |
Mercury
(some say Chiron?) |
| Libra |
Venus |
| Scorpio |
Pluto (modern)
Mars (traditional) |
| Sagittarius |
Jupiter |
| Capricorn |
Saturn |
| Aquarius |
Uranus (modern)
Saturn (traditional) |
| Pisces |
Neptune (modern)
Jupiter (traditional) |
Note that for some signs, there are both modern and
traditional planetary rulers. This is because Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
and Chiron cannot be seen with the naked eye. These planetary bodies were not
discovered until after 1700, using the telescope.
Many Western astrologers feel the
modern planets should be regarded as being the modern planetary
rulers of certain signs,
although many of them still use traditional rulerships as well. Some
Western astrologers and most Eastern astrologers feel the modern
rulerships are not appropriate, and prefer to use the traditional
methods. It is a matter of personal preference.
See also each
Planet and
Sign in the Glossary. See also: Dispositor, Final Dispositor, Mutual Reception.
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