Bad, GOOD, EVIL… Many astrologers use qualitative or, in the terminology of D. Rudhyar, aesthetic characteristics of various astrological elements in their practice. For example, planets in their view can be “evil” and “good,” “strong,” “weak,” and “afflicted,” aspects can be “good,” “beneficial,” and “bad,” “malefic,” “afflicting.” They even go so far as to call the entire horoscope “evil” or “afflicted.” But before slapping labels on astrological symbols, it is useful to ask oneself: what are they trying to convey? What information do they carry? What can we see in the horoscope? A system of torture imposed on a person for some misdeeds? Then why do we even engage in horoscope interpretation? All these questions are silenced in astrology, yet it would be natural to start precisely with them. In my understanding, the horoscope symbolizes a complex of tasks or lessons that a person must master in this incarnation, and at the same time, a set of means intended to fulfill these very tasks. The tasks in question are not given as punishment—for the Higher Forces that assigned them are far too elevated for manifestations of malice or vengeance. The goal of the Higher Forces is to teach us something and help us in our learning. If we adhere to this perspective, we naturally arrive at an approach to astrology that Rudhyar called ethical: there are no bad or good planets and aspects. All of them are needed for something. For example, a “weak” Saturn in your horoscope is needed to solve the tasks set before you, and it is needed exactly as it is. That Saturn, which many astrologers would call “strong,” would not suit you—it is intended for solving other tasks, not yours. Here we come to the question of the so-called “working through.” It is believed that the astrologer’s task is to point out a person’s “weak” spots in their horoscope so that they can “work through” them. It is important to understand what is meant. Does it mean that a person should artificially try to make a “weak” planet “strong,” to give its manifestations qualities not inherent to it but socially approved? Then I am against such “working through.” But this term can be understood differently. “Working through” can mean an attempt to understand why this planet was given to us exactly as it is, and to change one’s life in such a way as to make the most of the advantages provided by this very planetary position. For this understanding of “working through,” I vote with both hands. However, it is easy to theorize, but how in practice can one determine the difference between the manifestations of planets in domicile and detriment, in exaltation and fall? In the framework of this article, I will not discuss the differences between theDomiciles and exaltations, though such discrepancies exist and are significant. But this is a topic for another article; here, the important thing is to define the difference between the so-called “strong,” “good,” “beneficial” positions of planets in domicile and exaltation on one hand, and the “weak,” “evil,” “bad” positions in detriment and fall on the other. Every astrologer knows that a planet changes its expression depending on the sign it occupies. A sign can be compared to the environment in which the planet’s activity takes place. One environment favors certain types of activity, another favors others. Let’s consider, as an example, the position of Mars in Aries, in domicile. Let’s imagine this analogy: Mars is like a powerful tool—say, a jackhammer. In domicile, the environment of the planet’s expression is in full accordance with its qualities. We, with our jackhammer, could find ourselves in a mine, where our task is to extract as much ore as possible. The energy of the jackhammer can be freely released in such an environment without any particular nuances. There’s no need to think here—just drill away. Now, suppose Mars is in Libra. We suddenly find ourselves in a crystal palace full of elegant guests, and our task is to chisel away at some ornate crystal piece that’s in the way. No great physical effort is needed, yet we’ll “sweat seven shirts” trying to accomplish our task: how not to touch something wrong, how not to ruin the attire of those around us… Here, we have to think and plan more than act. As a result, energy is not spent less, but it is spent on a different level—not physical, but higher: mental, emotional, etc. The planet does not become weaker simply because it enters another sign; it merely changes the range of its expression. That is why Avgustina Pylypivna Semenko always said in her classes: if you say a planet is weak, specify in which area it is weak. If a planet is in detriment, it is weak in the physical, real, material layer of reality, yet strong in higher realms—intellectual, abstract, or perhaps spiritual. A good confirmation of this is provided by Walter A. Hoffman’s method, briefly described in S.A. Vronsky’s book *Astrology: Superstition or Science?*. One of the consequences of this method is that a planet in domicile falls into a lower, instinctively stable range of expression—it manifests calmly and adequately, without mental analysis of situations, relying on intuition. Meanwhile, a planet in detriment falls into a higher, intellectually stable range and also manifests adequately, in many ways similarly to a planet in domicile, but based not on instinct or intuition, but on intellect and reason.
So why are planets in detriment and fall traditionally called bad and weak? Imagine two people: in one, a planet in the second house—say, Jupiter—is in domicile, and in the other, it is in detriment. Suppose both engage in some activity to earn money. The first ends up with a huge pile of money, while the second has much less or nothing at all. If this second person knows their horoscope, imagine the harsh words they might use to describe Jupiter in detriment. Yet Jupiter in the second house in a sign of detriment grants the talent for understanding, knowledge, and comprehension. It likely gave the second person invaluable experience that cannot be measured in money. It gave a lot, but on another level—higher. Of course, to notice this, a person must expand their sphere of interests to a higher level. If they are obsessed with material matters, they simply won’t notice it. And for them, of course, the planet in detriment is weak and bad. But let us recall the Gospel: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). So which planet is then “better” and “more beneficial”?
It is worth separately addressing aspects. What is the main difference between “evil” or tense aspects and “good” or harmonious ones? It lies in their energetic characteristics. Tense aspects are sources of energy in the horoscope. If there are many of them, a person has a lot of energy with which they can achieve much in life. The challenge for them is the conscious use of this energy, as if it stagnates or is spent thoughtlessly, it will lead to illness, conflicts, failures, etc. Yet a person with an excess of tense aspects will never be bored—they are full of desires and aspirations, and only the tight constraints of the physical body prevent them from acting 24 hours a day. Harmonious aspects, on the other hand, are consumers of energy. They show how a person could spend energy if they had it, which is why they are associated with talents and abilities that may one day be revealed and utilized. A person with an excess of harmonious aspects in their horoscope faces no fewer problems than someone with predominantly tense aspects. In particular, boredom and a lack of desire to do anything can become a real issue. For such a person, the productive use of the energy waves that occasionally “wash over” them becomes a difficult task.
So which aspects are better—tense or harmonious? A strange question, isn’t it? What is better: to eat or to sleep? It is also interesting to consider the idea of “bad” and “good” days, weeks, and other periods of life that often appear in astrological forecasts. What would you advise your client to do on a tense, “red” day in the astrological calendar? Should they stay home and avoid everything? After all, on such a day, the Universe gives us energy—precisely so that we may use it. If we suppress this energy, a tense day will indeed threaten conflicts and illness, because the energy must find an outlet. Tense aspects are like a car moving at high speed. It can travel far, but its maneuverability is limited, and if the road chosen initially is not the best, the driver will face a series of unpleasant moments. Harmonious aspects, on the other hand, can be likened to a car moving very slowly. It won’t go far, but it can turn and reverse as much as needed, leisurely choosing the best path, which it can then accelerate on.
Thus, the best tactic during harmonious, “green” periods is reflection and planning for future activities, since there is no energy for them yet. And on “red” days, there is no time to think—action is required. It is clear that the success of actions depends on how well they were thought out. If one lives in harmony with the rhythms of the Universe, “unfavorable” days will turn into productive ones.
To conclude, let’s examine the most “malicious” situation: a planet in detriment or fall, and moreover, “afflicted” by tense aspects. It is believed that such a planet creates great problems for a person—both in terms of life circumstances and health. This is often the case, especially if the person ignores this planet or tries to “work with it” as if it were in its domicile. But let us think: why is such a situation given to a person in their horoscope? What constructive purpose can it serve? Many tense aspects make the planet an important energetic center. This is where significant progress on the life path is most likely and possible. This is where a person has much to gain. So why is this energy so often spent destructively, leading to illness and failure? Because to use the energy of a planet in detriment consciously and purposefully, we must “grow” to its level, develop our understanding of life, and cultivate interests at the heights where the planet’s power is concentrated. There, we can achieve much. But while sitting in the familiar material world, we can only complain about how unfair fate is to us.
Thus, a so-called “afflicted” natal chart is evidence of the high tasks set before a person and a call not to rest on one’s laurels. In a mundane sense, this is not very comforting, yet the owner of such a chart is destined for the joy of knowledge and mastery over their fate.Astrology is not as boring a subject as it may seem if you don’t treat it as a set of superstitions like “a black cat is bad,” but instead ask questions and try to find answers. — Oleksandr Kolesnikov
Irreversible Planets — A Guide to Action
In our country, the word “astrologer” is most often associated with the name of Pavlo Hloba, and less frequently, among those interested in astrology, with the names of Avessalom Pidvodnyi, Mykhailo Levin, and Het Monster. The name of Avhustyna Pylypivna Semenko, however, is known to a much narrower circle of people, even though Avhustyna Pylypivna is an astrologer with decades of experience.The decade and her ideological contribution to the development of native astrology are truly invaluable. The brilliant creative works of Avgustina Pylypivna are an example of truly humanistic, spiritual direction in astrology. One of the most important developments by Avgustina Pylypivna Semenko is the methodology of teaching astrology. This methodology is aimed not so much at memorizing certain information, but at developing the creative beginning in each student. Therefore, beginners were encouraged not to study the process of calculating a horoscope, not to immerse themselves in numbers and reference books, but to try to notice the manifestations of astrological laws in the surrounding world, to be convinced that one does not need to believe in astrology, since its patterns are just as objective as, for example, the law of gravity—one simply needs to know them and follow them. Usually, Avgustina Pylypivna begins her training course with the topic “Retrograde Motion of Planets,” and not by chance. Retrograde motion is a phenomenon of great significance in the astrological sense, yet it receives clearly insufficient attention among astrologers. For two years, I worked under the guidance of A.F. Semenko, and the last year I taught astrology independently, continuing to develop the ideas I had absorbed from Avgustina Pylypivna. Many times I had to give introductory courses in various audiences, and eventually it took the form of a manuscript, which is now ready for publication. Below, I offer you a fragment of one of the chapters of the manuscript, dedicated specifically to retrograde motion. In the next publication, I would like to introduce you to another idea of A.F. Semenko, which also relates to the retrograde motion of planets but allows us to view it from a slightly different perspective.
1. HOW TO LEARN NOT TO OVERDO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE?
“… And when he sleeps, he sees the same thing—the moonlit path, and wants to walk along it and speak with the prisoner Ha-Notsri, because, as he claims, he did not finish saying something back then, long ago, on the fourteenth day of the spring month of Nisan.”
Mikhail Bulgakov, “The Master and Margarita”
Retrograde motion of a planet is an astronomical phenomenon in which a planet passes three times over the same section of the zodiac: the first time moving from point 1 to point 2 (section 1–2, see the diagram), the second time from point 2 to point 3, and the third time from point 3 to point 4 (section 3–4). If these three sections are superimposed on the ecliptic, which serves us as a kind of ruler for measuring planetary motion, they will coincide with one another. What, then, can this triple passage over the same section of the zodiac mean for us, the inhabitants of Earth?
One of the fundamental principles of astrology is the principle of correspondence. We (the microcosm) correspond to the Solar System (the macrocosm), and if an element of the Solar System called Mercury suddenly turns backward and returns to an already traversed section of the zodiac, then some part of our being corresponding to cosmic Mercury also changes direction. Why do we sometimes return to already mastered life experience, looking back at the past? What is the meaning of this?
It is believed that during the retrograde motion of a planet, a shift in stereotypes occurs in the areas corresponding to that planet (we know that each planet has its own characteristic spheres of correspondence in the world around us and within ourselves). The word “stereotype” is used here not in a negative sense; it refers to some established model, a set of approaches that each of us uses in our affairs. Each of us thinks, communicates, acts, and interacts with people in our own way—this individual portrait of activity is what is referred to here as a “stereotype.” How we think, communicate, and process information determines the Mercury-related stereotype. Our sympathies, ideas of beauty, and ability to appreciate anything are governed by the Venus stereotype. Our actions, how we expend our energy, are connected to the Mars stereotype.
We all need a certain set of “templates” on which we base our behavior in various situations. An important fact is that these stereotypes are not rigid or fixed once and for all. They periodically change, and the process of change unfolds in the same way each time:
– A person gradually uses the old stereotype associated with a particular planet less and less actively (in the sky, the planet is slowing its direct motion, section 1–2);
– Then the use of the old stereotype stops altogether (the planet halts, point 2);
– A review of accumulated past experience begins in order to find a new stereotype oriented toward the future; during this period, no stable stereotype exists in the area of this planet, and there is no firm foundation for action (the planet moves retrograde, section 2–3);
– A new stereotype is found; initially, it is still quite schematic, and a person acts with uncertainty, but over time, the new behavioral model becomes increasingly confident (the planet turns direct and, gaining speed, moves forward, section 3–4).
The reader may object that they do not consciously take any special action to change their behavioral models. However, changes occur anyway, so to speak, automatically; they are difficult to notice because they happen simultaneously in all people, throughout society. Imagine, for example, that all the people on Earth changed their perception of colors: green now seemed red to them, and red seemed green. No oneYou won’t notice these changes in yourself right away—you might just assume some saboteurs swapped out all the traffic light bulbs at once. Something similar happens during planetary retrogrades: the shifts within us go unnoticed, yet they become visible in the surrounding world. I therefore invite readers to observe the world around them and draw their own conclusions about how retrograde periods manifest in our lives. Such observations have certainly been made before. Since retrograde motion most frequently occurs with Mercury, most of the research focuses on this planet. To illustrate the distinct phases of retrograde motion, I will examine them using Mercury retrograde as an example, then briefly touch on the retrogrades of other planets.
Section 1 – 2. The stage of the old stereotype’s dissolution.
As you feel something slipping away, you cling to any chance to apply your familiar, habitual pattern. Consequently, during this time the number of matters governed by the planet entering the retrograde zone increases. If that planet is Mercury, then in our lives contracts, agreements, and documents are literally “going sideways”—being signed, finalized, and executed. Yet the peculiarity of this stage is that flawless work is highly likely to require revision or alteration; in short, you’ll soon have to return to it, just as the planet, reversing direction in the sky, retraces its previous path. Observations show that a report submitted during section 1–2 is soon (during section 2–3) sent back for corrections and error fixes, because it was prepared according to an outdated stereotype that no longer existed by the time the planet reached point 2. The same applies to a job application written during section 1–2: it soon comes back, because it turns out to be improperly phrased and must be rewritten. We ourselves often marvel at how we could have written or said such a thing so recently. The explanation is simple—we were operating from the old stereotype. When the planet changes direction and enters section 2–3, we stop recognizing the old approach as our own, and the same happens to everyone on Earth. The next stage of the retrograde period begins.
Section 2 – 3. The stage of seeking an alternative stereotype.
The old approach to matters governed by this planet has ceased to exist, and familiar landmarks are lost. There is no solid ground beneath our feet, no reliable criteria. Yet unusual, unexpected ideas surface—ideas that would be inconceivable at any other time; perhaps one of them will become the foundation for a future stereotype. Mercury governs the mind, intellect, and the drive to learn; as it traverses section 2–3, this drive seems to shift inward. Instead of seeking knowledge of the external world, we focus more on our inner content, examining our inner essence and reflecting on past experiences. Externally, this manifests as diminished attention, an increase in errors (often strange and incomprehensible ones), and a failure to grasp even trivial matters. A teacher at the blackboard miscalculates simple arithmetic and fails to notice the mistake even when it’s pointed out. A well-oiled currency transport system malfunctions, and sacks of money end up literally on the street (some may recall the incident at Sheremetyevo that made headlines). No one can be reached, nothing can be agreed upon… At the same time, more people are searching for a new worldview, an alternative to the established, conventional one. They seek answers to their questions within their inner world, attempting to look inward.
I once successfully predicted to an acquaintance, a meditation instructor, that the number of students would rise during Mercury retrograde. Mercury governs commerce, and anything purchased during Mercury retrograde often bears the mark of this “backward” quality: the purchase turns out to be ill-timed (since there are no reliable criteria for choosing it at this time), or it later proves not quite what was expected, or its use must be adapted somehow. Sometimes the idea of “returning” or “moving backward” is literally embedded in the situation. For example, a cassette tape purchased during section 2–3 turns out to be defective and must be returned for a re-recording. Even after re-recording, it still isn’t much better, and you’re left wondering what to do with it. Jeans bought during this period suddenly rip in a suspicious spot that went unnoticed at purchase, just as Mercury turns direct. A book on Jesus Christ, upon closer inspection, turns out to be atheistic. Agreements and contracts made during Mercury retrograde resemble buildings constructed on sand: they lack a solid foundation of thought patterns.
One businessman decided to launch his own enterprise. During section 2–3, he filed all the paperwork, prepared the blueprints, and made arrangements with people… Yet it’s often observed that if you first meet someone and make an agreement during Mercury retrograde, you frequently never see them again. And so it was with this businessman: after Mercury turned direct, he never encountered the people he’d planned to start the business with. He wasn’t overly concerned, though; in light of the new stereotype, he decided (and later successfully did) to organize an entirely different type of business.
It’s common for people making agreements during Mercury retrograde to have only a vague idea of what they want, which is why they intuitively choose a period when everyone lacks clear perceptions of anything. Sometimes a person fails repeatedly, yet if you track the timing of their attempts, you’ll notice they somehow manage—without knowing astrology—to time them precisely for Mercury retrograde periods. Such a person would benefit from more thorough and concrete planning of their intended endeavor.
During a planet’s retrograde, we seem to turn back to the past in its sphere of influence, and here’s something curious: people who once played a role in our lives but whom we haven’t seen in ages suddenly reappear, as if by magic. Mercury corresponds to siblings, other relatives (excluding parents and children), neighbors, acquaintances, friends, and classmates—and it’s these people who suddenly re-enter our lives after a long absence when Mercury turns retrograde.
Mercury retrograde is considered favorable for matters, agreements, and contracts that previously failed. We’re given a chance to go back and try again. However, don’t expect to bring these matters to completion immediately—during retrograde, you merely “get them moving,” while implementation is best left for the direct period.
In general, retrograde periods shouldn’t be viewed as purely unfavorable; they’re neither good nor bad, but simply have their own characteristics. Knowing these allows a person to use such periods to their advantage, while ignorance leads to various difficulties. There’s nothing fatal about these periods either. Not everything done during Mercury retrograde will turn out badly; the likelihood of failure simply rises when, while Nature turns us inward, we try to “cast our line” far into the future or the external world.
Astrology doesn’t present life as a rigid program we must follow; rather, it’s like the weather along the route we call Fate. Sometimes the planetary wind blows right in our faces. So what? It’s an excellent opportunity to look back at the section of the route we’ve already traveled.In such cases, it is important to remember that any agreement or contract, etc., “born” during the retrograde period of Mercury will be more enduring if it is not tied to habitual approaches or outdated thinking patterns that are becoming obsolete. The more unusual the approach and the more future-oriented it is, the more lasting the result will be. Nevertheless, “entities” “born” during the retrograde motion of a planet bear the imprint of that retrograde motion; they are accompanied by a constant theme of seeking alternatives, they are unstable, prone to various kinds of changes and refinements. We think: “it could have been done differently, it could have been done better.”
A characteristic example is the CIS agreement concluded during Mercury’s retrograde motion. Another example is Pontius Pilate in “The Master and Margarita”; it is likely that on the fourteenth day of the spring month of Nisan, Mercury was retrograde. But now the retrograde motion is ending. The planet stops and begins to move direct. A period of action for a new stereotype begins. Section 3 – 4-0. The stage of forming a new stereotype. Here, a new approach to a particular sphere of life has already been chosen, but it cannot yet be said that it is fully formed or firmly established in practice. Therefore, at the beginning of this stage, the features of retrograde motion manifest quite strongly; for example, a tape recorder purchased immediately after Mercury turned direct (the beginning of section 3–4) had to be returned to the store. However, the closer we get to the end of the section, to the exit from the retrograde zone, the less likely such incidents become, since the stereotype becomes increasingly solid, and actions become more confident and justified.
After passing point 4, the features of retrograde motion cease to manifest in current events; however, they continue to accompany those “entities” that entered life during the retrograde period.
Venus has retrograde periods approximately six times less frequently than Mercury. Fundamentally, these periods for both planets are absolutely analogous; the process of changing a stereotype passes through the same three stages, but the stereotype itself relates to a completely different sphere of human experience—the realm governed by Venus. Here, our preferences and sympathies are subject to review, as are our ideas of what is beautiful and what is not, and our relationships with other people—what draws us together or pushes us apart. Our perception of how our appearance, style of dress, and hairstyle should look also changes.
I would venture to suggest (though I have not conducted such research) that fashion trends in the world change in accordance with Venus retrograde periods. During one of my classes, a student, having clarified the dates of the most recent retrograde period of this planet, said, “Exactly! Until then, my son wore long hair, and then he got a short haircut.”
Retrograde Venus invites us to revisit past preferences, to gain experience from them that will be useful for the future, and perhaps to try again if we previously failed. If during retrograde Mercury old friends and conversational partners return to our lives, then retrograde Venus brings back those we once loved or simply felt affection for. It encourages us not to repeat past mistakes when choosing a new stereotype.
It is clear that during the period of searching for a new stereotype, while Venus is passing through section 2–3, it is not advisable to begin relationships that you expect to be stable and reliable. This applies primarily to marriage. The stereotype is changing, and in a sense, we ourselves do not yet know what we truly want.
The retrograde motion of Mars follows the same laws as the retrograde motion of Mercury or Venus. Only the theme or sphere of experience in which the stereotype changes will differ. The theme of Mars is activity, action, and the way energy is expended to achieve goals; Mars is largely connected with work and occupation, for if we consider our lives on a large scale, we expend most of our energy precisely at work.
After the retrograde motion of Mars ends, we unconsciously choose a new tactical approach, finding new, possibly more effective ways to realize our plans; sometimes these changes are so significant that we change jobs. Retrograde Mars can bring back into our lives past rivals, competitors, or those who stimulated our activity and prevented us from becoming complacent. It gives us another chance to achieve goals that previously proved unattainable. However, it is not advisable to invest heavilyForces to achieve what you would like to see lasting. Our actions at this time lack a solid foundation, and the same applies to their outcome. According to research by American astrologer Jacob Schwartz, history shows: the side that started a war with retrograde Mars typically lost that war. We have already discussed how every “entity”—whether a business, a marriage, or any alliance—enters life during the retrograde motion of a planet, and its entire existence bears the imprint of that retrograde motion. Naturally, this also applies to people born during retrograde planetary periods. Those born during retrograde Mercury (which is relatively common—about one in six people) often experience difficulties in communication. The manifestations of Mercury—intellect, speech, and understanding of the world—are, figuratively speaking, directed not outward, as in others, but inward; to comprehend and perceive the surrounding world, they must first understand themselves, look within. They do not feel a reliable and stable information connection with people or the external world. As a result, they either become withdrawn, unsociable, or (much less frequently, but it happens) excessively talkative, because no matter how much they speak, the outcome of communication does not satisfy them. In childhood, such people keep diaries, finding in the diary a conversational partner they lack in life. Children born with retrograde Mercury often have speech defects. However, this does not mean that retrograde Mercury is “bad” or “harmful.” It gives people strong intuition and deep intellect; although children born with direct Mercury may struggle with learning, it seems they already know everything without teachers, drawing knowledge from some endless inner well they brought into this life from a past incarnation. They possess a mysterious, irrational wisdom, and for this reason, such children find it difficult to communicate with their peers, the “normal” children. But more importantly, retrograde Mercury has a surprise in store for its wards. Sooner or later (and the exact timing can be determined by the forecasting method discussed in another book), radical changes occur in the lives of those with retrograde Mercury. The dam separating them from others is breached by the accumulated inner knowledge, and these people become exceedingly sociable, curious, and communicative. Since such a breakthrough often occurs at the age when a person chooses a profession, former withdrawn children often select work that immerses them in events and among people—becoming journalists, writers, reporters, merchants, and so on.
Once, a woman came to me worried about her son. His school performance was poor: he did not absorb what the teachers explained and therefore avoided studying in every way. But he was not lazy—he was passionately fond of animals and plants; he had a whole menagerie, and his knowledge of living nature could make a biology student envious. This was indeed a classic case of retrograde Mercury. I cast the child’s birth chart and confirmed that Mercury was indeed retrograde at the time of birth. Moreover, I determined that Mercury was one of the most significant factors in this chart and was located in the 10th house, which governs a person’s social expression and profession. The forecast showed that a change in this person’s life would occur at age 21. I told the mother she need not worry about her son’s fate. The best she could do was allow him free, independent development, even if it contradicted societal stereotypes. When he turned 21, she would see the fruits of his purposefulness; other factors in the chart, combined with the ones mentioned, suggested that her child would become a well-known figure.
People born during retrograde Venus are much rarer—about one in eighteen to twenty. For them, finding satisfying relationships or mutual understanding in life can be challenging. However, it is observed that while another planet may create individual difficulties for a person, it contributes to success in endeavors they undertake not for themselves but for others. A person is inefficient and wasteful in the area governed by the retrograde planet when acting for their own benefit, but their energy, dissipated outward, helps others achieve their goals.
As a result of this effect, the owner of retrograde Venus may introduce, marry off, or pair up all their friends, yet never find a partner themselves—or if they do, they will spend their life doubting whether they made the right choice. But when the time comes and the retrograde Venus releases its captive, this person gains such a deep understanding of the nature of relationships that they not only achieve success themselves but also help many others avoid alienation.
Owners of retrograde Mars are equally rare. These are people who do not see adequate results from their efforts. They feel they expend more energy than others but achieve less. Here, the same “dissipation effect” manifests: those born with retrograde Mars indeed struggle to achieve anything alone, yet they make excellent organizers, capable of channeling the energy of others in the right direction and thus achieving success. These are the commanders who do not charge ahead of the troops (they would make poor soldiers) but can direct the energy of the masses most effectively. These are the coaches who cannot set records themselves but can prepare their athletes to do so.
Thus, events occurring in the Solar System are symbolically reflected in our lives, in the life of society, and in the life of the Earth. And if we understand what is happening and take it into account in our affairs, there will be no unfavorable periods for us. Sometimes it is simply useful to pause and look back at the path we have traveled. To conclude, I will provide the terms for the upcoming periods of retrograde motion of the personal planets. The numbers in the column headers correspond to the points in the diagram with the same numbers, while the content of the columns lists the dates when the planets pass through the respective points.
2. “FOUR FACES” OF THE PLANETS AND THE CYCLE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLANETARY PRINCIPLE
About a year and a half ago, Dane Rudhyar’s book The Astrological Key to the Psychological Complexes appeared on bookstore shelves. Rudhyar’s works have always held great significance as a source of ideas and inspiration in the direction of astrology developed by A.F. Semenko. And this book, despite its small volume, contained a remarkable number of interesting thoughts (though it was clear that Rudhyar wrote it not in the best of spirits). One of the ideas was the possibility of four different approaches to interpreting the principle of a planet, depending on whether it is: a) a morning or evening star; b) retrograde or direct.
If, in a person’s natal chart, a planet is a “morning star”—that is, it has a lesser longitude than the Sun and, as a result, appears on the eastern horizon before it—then we can say that the principle of this planet is put forward, at the forefront of the individual’s personality. This planet symbolizes the tool with which a person paves the path of life. There is still much unknown ahead, no one to ask, no one to consult with, and the person is forced to rely primarily on their own perception of new experiences. Thus, in the sphere governed by this planet, the individual is characterized by independence, activity, and a research zeal, albeit with a certain narrowness of vision.
In this position, Rudhyar calls Mercury Mercury Prometheus, and its orientation is toward the active use of intellect, communication, and other Mercurial projections to gather information in the process of independent exploration of the world. Such a person is more inclined to find the answer to a question themselves than to ask for someone else’s opinion. They are accustomed to relying on their own mind and are not afraid to take a step into the unknown. For a person with Promethean Mercury, it is not so important how significant the knowledge is to others; the main thing is that it is interesting to them. They are like a miner in a mine, engaged in extracting coal; it matters little to them what happens to the coal once it reaches the surface of the Earth.
Rudhyar calls Venus, as a morning star, Venus Lucifer. Its owner is characterized by activity in obtaining emotional experiences. They take the first step in relationships, not guided much by generally accepted norms, and have their own individual ideas about beauty and the value of things. They are researchers and experimenters in art, fashion, and human relationships.
Conversely, if a planet is an “evening star”—that is, it has a greater longitude than the Sun and therefore sets on the evening horizon later than the Sun—then the projections of this planet in the individual’s personality are characterized by less activity but a broader field of vision and greater scope. It is like the rear guard of an army, absorbing the trophies won by others, keeping records and systematizing them, and providing the necessary resources to the following units. A person with such a planet is not inclined to take active steps to acquire new experiences in its sphere of influence. Instead, they are more likely to listen to the experiences gained by others, compare different opinions, organize them into a system, and draw their own conclusions.
In this position, Rudhyar calls Mercury Mercury Epimetheus, and a person with such Mercury in their natal chart is not a seeker of knowledge who blazes a new trail through the jungles of the unknown. They are more like a cartographer mapping the lands discovered by others. Their mind is systematic and analytical. They are a source of various knowledge, and for them, its objective usefulness is important, not just subjective interest. They classify and systematize the information they acquire, and as a result, it takes on new meaning.
Rudhyar gives the name Venus Hesper to Venus as an evening star. Owners of this type of Venus tend to listen to the opinions of society and other people in relationships, fashion, and their approach to values. They are less purposeful, more inclined toward diversity in emotional experiences, doubts, and generalization.
Both types of planets can be direct or retrograde. The manifestations of the principles of direct planets most closely correspond to a certain generally accepted norm, as such planets move in the same direction as the luminaries, and their projections in the individual’s personality are primarily oriented toward mastering the external world. In life situations associated with such planets, the external course of the process, the external side of the event, and the real meaning of what is happening are emphasized.
Quite the opposite can be said about retrograde planets. Their owners perceive the external world indirectly—through their own internal reactions. In life situations corresponding to retrograde planets, the main events occur internally, implicitly, hidden from the superficial observer. The external aspect here is not informative or particularly significant. Owners of such planets are, in a sense, “not of this world,” as they most successfully overcome external difficulties by changing something within themselves.
Combining the two variants of a planet’s position relative to the Sun with the two directions of its motion gives rise to four types of expression for each planet. Let us consider them, following Rudhyar, using Mercury as an example (I am merely rephrasing his descriptions in my own words).
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Retrograde Mercury Prometheus. A very interesting situation: on the one hand, the person is inclined to actively seek answers to the questions that arise for them and to acquire knowledge; on the other hand, the most important direction of the search for knowledge in this case is through themselves and within themselves. Here, the principle “Learning is the recollection of what we already truly know” is most vividly at work. To understand the surrounding world, the person must first and foremost sort themselves out.
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Direct Mercury Prometheus. The owner of such Mercury enjoys feeling the power of their own intellect. They direct their thinking toward interesting phenomena in the external world and extract information that fuels their curiosity. For this person to understand themselves, it is important for them to understand what is happening in the surrounding world.
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Direct Mercury Epimetheus. Owners of this type of Mercury build a mental model of the world from the bricks gathered by more specialized Prometheuses. For them, it is very important to discern some structure in the cosmic order, as they are like creatures with an external skeleton: their own structure is conditioned by the presence of an external structure and is its reflection. They notice patterns in the external world and then adapt their lives to them.
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Retrograde Mercury Epimetheus. For these people, the structure of the internal world is more important. They assimilate information acquired by others in the world, but in order to apply it, they must first bring order to themselves. And if they manage to do so internally, what happens externally also becomes meaningful. A vivid example of this is a follower of several spiritual development or self-improvement movements, taking a little from each specialized direction to create their own concept.
Having compiled descriptions of the four Mercurial types, I decided to confirm them with examples and used the birth data of historical figures, celebrities, and simply well-known people who have somehow manifested themselves in the Mercurial sphere of activity. I divided a sheet of paper into four parts and sat down at the computer, intending to enter each name into the corresponding column. However, the results of the work somewhat changed my approach and proved to be quite instructive. The column for direct Prometheuses filled with the names of celebrities the fastest. The list of names speaks for itself: Gogol, Gorky, Kant, Freud, Pushkin, Lomonosov, Newton, Kepler, Byron, Kulibin… The list could be continued for a very long time. The direct Epimetheuses were not far behind, and overall the list of names confirms the description of this type of Mercury.
In this group were Lenin, Marx, Herzen, Descartes, Karamzin, Darwin, and three chess luminaries: Kasparov, Tal, and Alekhine. The columns for the “backward” types of Mercury long remained empty. Eventually, I specifically set out to search for celebrities with a retrograde Mercury. Not immediately, but retrograde Prometheans did appear. Simply listing their names evokes a sense of depth and mystery: Robert Burns, Agatha Christie, Georges Simenon, Mikhail Bulgakov; and included was Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, who tested the effects of medicines on himself. After extensive research, I found only two possessors of retrograde Epimetheus: Paracelsus and Alexander Blok. It might seem like a mere enumeration of names, yet how much material for reflection! Reflecting in the same vein in which the four types of Mercury’s manifestations are described, one can characterize the four types of Venus’s, Mars’s, and other planets’ manifestations as well. However, all this is well-known; I merely strive to present it in more accessible language.
But let us consider the question from a slightly different angle. In its motion, as observed from Earth, Mercury sequentially passes through all four considered types of manifestation, forming a kind of cycle. In A.F. Semenko’s teaching methodology, the concept of the so-called universal cycle occupies an important place—a multi-level structure that manifests in all possible natural cyclic processes. The largest division of the universal cycle consists of four quadrants (see the diagram). If we attempt to see a structure of the universal cycle in the alternation of planetary types, then, of course, each type should correspond to one of the quadrants. But how exactly should this distribution be made?
The simplest approach would be to align the beginnings of the two cycles—the real one and the universal one. So what should be taken as the starting point of the cycle of planetary type alternation? Radyaar believes that the starting point of the planetary cycle is the heliocentric conjunction of the planet with Earth—a kind of “new planet” (by analogy with the New Moon). From a geocentric perspective, this situation corresponds to the inferior conjunction of Mercury (or Venus) with the Sun, i.e., the boundary between the two retrograde types: Mercury-Epimetheus and Mercury-Prometheus. Just as in the New Moon “the Moon’s activity, whose task is to build the life of organisms, is fertilized and directed by the Sun,” the inferior conjunction of Mercury with the Sun “fully signifies the same in the realm of the mind. The solar will (or energetic potential) flows from outside to Earth and human beings through the channel of Mercury.” That is, just as the New Moon gives Earth a biological lunar impulse, which then develops according to the phases of the lunar month, the “new Mercury,” the inferior conjunction, gives Earth a mental Mercurial impulse, which develops according to the four types of Mercury’s manifestation.
The first type, retrograde Prometheus, corresponds to the quadrant of “Self-Awareness” in the universal cycle. If we compare the universal cycle with the cycle of development of a flowering plant, the first quadrant corresponds to the swelling of the seed, its preparation, and germination. Inside the seed, complex internal processes occur, and it undergoes significant internal changes. Yet externally, no changes are visible. Essentially, the same is characteristic of retrograde Mercury-Prometheus: active internal striving with minimal external manifestation.
Direct Prometheus corresponds to the quadrant of “Self-Manifestation.” The symbolic plant breaks through and begins to strive toward the earth, toward the light. Similarly, direct Mercury-Prometheus bursts into a new sphere of experience, striving for enlightenment and illumination.
Direct Epimetheus corresponds to the quadrant of “Emergence into the Outer World” in the universal cycle. The symbolic plant in this quadrant appears above the earth’s surface, grows upward and outward, seizes the maximum possible space, and eventually blooms. Similarly, direct Mercury-Epimetheus seeks to expand the understanding of reality, making its perception complex and multidimensional.
Finally, retrograde Epimetheus corresponds to the quadrant of “Transition to a New Quality.” The plant withers, bears fruit, and seeds. On the surface of the earth, it seems as though nothing remains, but beneath the soil, new shoots are preparing. It is no coincidence that representatives of retrograde Epimetheus are the rarest among celebrities. Their task is to sink the experience accumulated during the cycle into the dark depths of fertile soil so that, after a period of maturation, old ideas may sprout anew.
All these reflections may seem overly theoretical, but in reality, they are quite practical and provide a solid foundation for observing one’s own life, for understanding it not as a random combination of events but as a consistent, lawful process.
Let us begin, for example, with the inferior conjunction of Mercury with the Sun. On the day of this conjunction, the Sun seems to send a new idea into our world through Mercury. What kind of idea is it? Some insight can be gained by examining the Sabian symbol of the degree at which the conjunction occurred (taken from “The Astrological Mandala” by Radyaar or from his “Astrology of the Personality”; I personally prefer the latter). However, this will only reveal the general meaning of the new creative idea for all of us, as each person perceives it in their own way. To understand what this idea communicates specifically to you and to which area of your life it belongs, look at which house of your horoscope the inferior conjunction of the Sun and Mercury occurs in.
For some people, the new Mercurial theme—and thus a new cycle of unfolding the principle of Mercury—will be more significant, for others less so. Observe whether the degree of conjunction forms aspects to important points in your horoscope. The more such aspects there are, the more significant the upcoming cycle will be. The aspects themselves and the planets they form with will indicate the peculiarities of the cycle’s development.
In the first stage, while Mercury, having become Prometheus, remains retrograde, there is a hidden development of the idea, a preparation for its manifestation. But a day comes when Mercury turns direct. The manifestation of the idea begins, and the specifics of this manifestation—for all people and for yourself personally—can be understood based on:
a) the Sabian symbol of the zodiacal degree where Mercury was located at the moment of the directional change;
b) the house of your horoscope in which this degree is located;
c) the aspects formed by this degree to points in your horoscope.
The second period of the idea’s development lasts quite a long time—until the superior conjunction of Mercury with the Sun, when the new idea, refined through individual efforts, is presented to society and moves toward the culmination of its development—the point at which Mercury will pause before turning retrograde again. Naturally, the degrees at which the superior conjunction occurs and then the directional change of the planet take place also characterize (according to the scheme described above) the next stage in the unfolding of the planetary principle.
It is not difficult to extend the research plan outlined for Mercury to other planets. It should be remembered that the beginning of the cycle (the beginning of the “Self-Awareness” quadrant) is the midpoint of the retrograde period of the planet (the heliocentric conjunction of the planet with Earth). For outer planets—Mars, Jupiter, etc.—in this case, what is geocentrically observed is not a conjunction but an opposition of the planet to the Sun.
I hope readers will manage this research independently and assure you that they will gain many fascinating insights and significantly deepen their understanding of astrology.
