In our country, the word “astrologer” most often evokes the name of Pavel Globa, and somewhat less frequently—among those interested in astrology—the names of Avessalom Podvodny, Mikhail Levin, Het Monster, and a few others. Yet the name of Augustina Filipivna Semenko is known only within a much narrower circle, despite the fact that Augustina Filipivna is an astrologer with decades of experience, and her intellectual contribution to the development of domestic astrology is truly invaluable. The bright creative developments of Augustina Filipivna represent a genuine example of humanistic, spiritual direction in astrology. One of her most important contributions is her methodology of teaching astrology. This methodology is less about memorizing facts and more about developing the creative potential in each student. Beginners were thus encouraged not to study the technical process of horoscope calculation or delve into numbers and reference tables, but rather to try to notice manifestations of astrological laws in the surrounding world, to realize that belief in astrology is unnecessary—its regularities are just as objective as, for example, the law of gravity. One simply needs to know them and act accordingly. Augustina Filipivna typically begins her course with the topic “Retrograde Motion of Planets,” and not by chance. Retrograde motion is a highly significant phenomenon in astrological terms, yet it receives insufficient attention among astrologers. For two years I worked under the guidance of A. F. Semenko, and during the last year I taught astrology independently, continuing to develop the ideas I received from her. I have delivered the introductory course many times to various audiences, and eventually it evolved into a manuscript now ready for publication. Below I present to you a fragment from one of the manuscript’s chapters, devoted specifically to retrograde motion. In my next publication, I intend to introduce you to another idea of A. F. Semenko related to retrograde planetary motion, offering a slightly different perspective on the subject.
1. HOW TO LEARN NOT TO REDO 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-Nozri, because, as he insists, he left something unsaid 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 whereby a planet passes three times over the same segment of the starry sky: first, moving from point 1 to point 2 (segment 1–2, see diagram); second, from point 2 to point 3 (segment 2–3); and third, from point 3 to point 4 (segment 3–4). If these three segments are superimposed onto the ecliptic—which serves us as a ruler for measuring planetary motion—they coincide exactly. What, then, might this triple passage of the same segment mean for us, the inhabitants of Earth?
One of the fundamental principles of astrology is the principle of correspondence. We, as microcosms, are similar to the Solar System (macrocosm). Therefore, if a certain element of the Solar System—Mercury, for instance—suddenly turns backward and returns to a previously traversed segment of the starry sky, it means that some part of our being corresponding to cosmic Mercury also turns inward. We somehow return to already assimilated life experience, looking back at what we have passed through. What is the meaning of this?
It is believed that during the retrograde period of a given planet, a shift in the stereotype occurs within the areas of life governed by that planet (we know that each planet has its characteristic spheres of correspondence in the surrounding world and within ourselves). The word “stereotype” is used here not in a negative sense, but rather to denote a certain established model, a set of approaches each of us uses in our activities. Each of us thinks, communicates, acts, and interacts with people in a unique way—these distinctive traits reveal our individual nature. This individual behavioral portrait is referred to here as a “stereotype.” The way we think, communicate, and process information defines the Mercury-related stereotype. Our affinities, perceptions of beauty, and ability to value things are determined by the Venus stereotype. Our actions and the way we expend energy are linked to the Mars stereotype.
All of us need a certain set of “templates” upon which we build our behavior in various situations. Crucially, these stereotypes are not fixed or permanent. They periodically change, and the process of change always unfolds in the same way:
> The individual gradually uses the old stereotype—associated with a particular planet—less actively (in the sky, the planet is slowing its direct motion, segment 1–2);
> Then, the use of the old stereotype ceases (the planet stations, point 2);
> A review of accumulated past experience begins, aimed at discovering a new, future-oriented stereotype. During this period, no stable stereotype exists in the domain of that planet; there is no solid foundation for activity (the planet moves retrograde, segment 2–3);
> A new stereotype is found. Initially, it is still schematic; the person acts with some uncertainty, but over time the new behavioral model increasingly gains confidence and authority (the planet resumes direct motion and moves forward with increasing speed, segment 3–4).
A reader might object that they do not consciously make any special efforts to change their behavioral models. Yet these changes occur regardless—they could be said to happen automatically. They are difficult to notice because they simultaneously affect all people and the entire society. Imagine, for example, that all people on Earth suddenly changed their perception of colors: green now appears red, and red appears green. No one would notice this change in themselves; they would simply assume that some prankster had replaced all traffic light lenses at once. Something similar happens during planetary retrograde periods: people do not notice the internal changes taking place, yet these changes can be observed in the surrounding world. Therefore, I invite readers to observe the world around them and draw their own conclusions about the manifestations of planetary retrograde periods in our lives.
Such observations have, of course, already been made in the past. Since retrograde motion is most frequently observed in Mercury, the majority of observations relate to this planet. To illustrate the characteristics of the different stages of retrograde motion, I will examine them using Mercury retrograde as an example, and then briefly touch upon the retrogradation of other planets.
Segment 1–2. The phase of the old stereotype’s decline.
Feeling something slipping away, a person clings to any opportunity to apply the old, familiar template. As a result, during this time, the number of activities governed by the planet entering retrograde increases. If this planet is Mercury, various agreements, contracts, documents, and paperwork flood our lives. However, the peculiarity of this phase is that even well-executed tasks will very likely require revision or modification—shortly put, we will soon have to return to them, just as the planet in the sky, having changed direction, returns along a path already traveled.
Observations show that a report submitted during segment 1–2 is often returned during segment 2–3 for reworking and correction—after all, it was prepared according to the old stereotype, which no longer exists by the time the planet reaches point 2. For the same reason, a job application written during segment 1–2 is soon returned: it turns out to be improperly formatted and needs to be rephrased. We often find ourselves surprised: how could we have recently written or said such a thing? The explanation is simple—we were guided by the old stereotype. When the planet changes direction and enters segment 2–3, we cease to recognize the old approach as our own, and the same happens to everyone on Earth. The next phase of the retrograde period begins.
Segment 2–3. The phase of searching for an alternative stereotype.
The old approach to matters governed by this planet has ceased to exist, and familiar reference points are lost. There is no solid ground beneath our feet, no reliable criteria. Yet, remarkably, unusual and unexpected ideas come to mind—ideas that would otherwise be impossible to imagine. Perhaps one of them will become the foundation for a future stereotype.
The mind, intellect, and desire for knowledge, governed by Mercury, seem to shift direction during this phase: instead of the usual exploration of the external world, the person turns inward, focusing on their inner content, studying their inner essence, and reflecting on past experiences. Externally, this manifests as reduced attention, increased errors (often strange and inexplicable ones), and a lack of understanding of seemingly trivial matters. A teacher at the blackboard makes mistakes in simple calculations and fails to notice them, even when pointed out. An established currency transportation system breaks down, and bags of money end up literally on the street (some may remember the incident at Sheremetyevo, reported in newspapers). No one can be reached, and no agreements can be made.
At the same time, the number of people seeking a new, alternative worldview—different from the established, conventional one—increases. They strive to find answers to their questions within their inner world, attempting to look inside themselves. Once, I successfully predicted to a meditation teacher that the number of his students would increase during Mercury’s retrograde period.
Mercury is the patron of commerce, and purchases made during Mercury retrograde often bear the strong imprint of this retrograde quality: the purchase turns out to be either inappropriate (since there is no reliable criterion for selection at this time), or it later becomes clear that it is not quite what was expected, or it must be used in an unusual way. Sometimes, the idea of return or backward movement is literally embedded in the situation. For example, a cassette tape purchased during segment 2–3 turns out to be of poor quality and must be returned for re-recording. Even after re-recording, it remains unsatisfactory, and one must then ponder for a long time what to do with it. Jeans bought during this period suddenly tear at a suspicious spot upon Mercury turning direct—a spot unnoticed at the time of purchase. A book bought about Jesus Christ turns out, upon closer inspection, to be atheistic.
Agreements and contracts made during Mercury retrograde resemble buildings constructed on sand—they lack a solid foundation of consistent thinking. One businessman decided to organize his enterprise. During segment 2–3, he completed all documentation, prepared drawings, and made agreements with people. However, it is often observed that if you first meet and make agreements with someone during Mercury retrograde, you frequently never see them again. This businessman, after Mercury turned direct, never encountered the people with whom he had discussed establishing the business. Yet he was not overly distressed: in the light of a new stereotype, he decided to organize (and later successfully did) a completely different kind of enterprise.
Often, people who make agreements during Mercury retrograde do not clearly understand what they want, which is why they intuitively choose a period when everyone lacks clear ideas about anything. Sometimes a person experiences failure after failure, but if one traces the timing of their attempts, it turns out they unconsciously schedule them precisely during Mercury retrograde periods. Such a person would benefit from more carefully and concretely defining the concept of their intended endeavor.
During a planet’s retrograde period, we seem to turn inward toward the past in its domain of influence—and here’s what’s interesting: people who played some role in our lives but whom we haven’t seen in a long time begin to reappear, as if by magic. The Mercury principle corresponds to brothers, sisters, other relatives (except parents and children), neighbors, acquaintances, friends, classmates—and it is precisely these people who suddenly re-enter our lives, often after a long absence, when Mercury turns retrograde.
The Mercury retrograde period is considered favorable for revisiting past endeavors, agreements, or contracts that previously failed. We are given the opportunity to return and try again. However, one should not expect to complete these matters immediately—during a planet’s retrograde motion, they should only be “set in motion,” while the actual realization of the agreement is best carried out during the planet’s direct motion.
Generally, retrograde planetary periods should not be considered purely unfavorable. They are neither good nor bad—they simply have their own characteristics. Awareness of these characteristics allows a person to use these periods beneficially, while ignorance leads to various difficulties. There is nothing fatal about these periods. Not everything done during Mercury retrograde will necessarily fail. The probability of failure simply increases if, during a time when Nature turns us inward and toward our inner world, we attempt to “cast our fishing line” far into the future and external world.
In any case, astrology does not speak of a rigid program determining a person’s life, but rather of the “weather” along the path we walk—this path being called Fate. Sometimes the planetary wind begins to blow in our faces. So what? It’s a good opportunity to look back at the path already traveled.
We cannot always avoid various tasks and agreements during Mercury retrograde—we live real lives, and life imposes certain obligations upon us. In such cases, one should remember that an agreement, contract, etc., “born” during Mercury retrograde will be more enduring if it is not “tied” to conventional approaches or old, backward-looking thinking stereotypes. The more unusual the approach, the more future-oriented it is, the more enduring the result will be. Still, any “entity” “born” during a planet’s retrograde motion carries the imprint of that retrograde motion. It is accompanied by a constant theme of seeking alternatives, is unstable, and prone to various changes and revisions. We think: “Maybe it could have been done differently, maybe it could have been done better.”
A characteristic example is the CIS agreement, concluded during Mercury retrograde. Another example is Pontius Pilate in “The Master and Margarita”—most likely, Mercury was retrograde on the “fourteenth day of the spring month of Nisan.”
But now the retrograde motion ends. The planet stations and resumes direct motion. The period of the new stereotype begins.
Segment 3–4. The phase of forming the new stereotype.
Here, a new approach to a certain area of life has already been chosen, but it cannot yet be said to be fully formed or firmly established in practice. Therefore, at the beginning of this phase, retrograde characteristics still manifest strongly. For example, a tape recorder purchased immediately after Mercury turns direct (the beginning of segment 3–4) had to be returned to the store. But the closer we get to the end of the segment, to exiting the retrograde zone, the less likely such incidents become, as the stereotype grows stronger and actions become more confident and grounded.
After passing point 4, retrograde characteristics 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. In principle, these periods are absolutely analogous in both planets—the process of stereotype change goes through the same three stages—but the stereotype itself pertains to a completely different sphere of human experience, one governed by Venus. Here, our affinities and sympathies, our perceptions of beauty and ugliness, our relationships with others—what brings us together or pushes us apart—are subject to review. Our ideas about our appearance, clothing style, hairstyle, etc., change. I would speculate (though I have not conducted such research) that global fashion trends shift in accordance with Venus retrograde periods. During one class, a student, after confirming with me the dates of the last Venus retrograde period, said: “Exactly! Until that time, my son had long hair, but then he cut it short.”
Retrograde Venus invites us to return to past preferences, to gain experience from them that will be useful in the future, and possibly to try again if we previously failed. If during Mercury retrograde our past friends and acquaintances return, Venus brings back those we once loved or felt affection for. She urges us, when choosing a new stereotype, not to repeat past mistakes. Clearly, during the search for a new stereotype—while Venus traverses segment 2–3—it is unwise to begin relationships expected to be stable and reliable. This applies especially to marriage. The stereotype is changing, and in a sense, we ourselves do not yet know what we want.
Similarly, Mars retrograde follows the same laws as Mercury or Venus retrograde. Only the theme or sphere of experience undergoing stereotype change will differ. Mars’s theme is activity, action, and the way energy is expended to achieve goals. Mars is significantly associated with work and occupation, since, viewed on a large scale, we spend the majority of our energy at work. After Mars retrograde ends, we unconsciously adopt a new strategy of action, discovering new, possibly more effective ways to realize our intentions. Sometimes these changes are so significant that we change jobs.
Retrograde Mars may bring back from the past competitors, rivals—those who stimulated our activity and prevented us from becoming complacent. It gives us another chance to achieve goals that were previously out of reach. However, during Mars retrograde, one should not invest great effort into achieving something intended to be long-lasting. Our actions at this time lack a solid foundation, and the same applies to their results.
According to research by American astrologer Jacob Schwartz, history shows that the side initiating war during Mars retrograde usually loses it.
We have already discussed that every “entity”—whether a business, a contract, or a marital union—that entered life during a planet’s retrograde motion carries the imprint of that retrograde motion throughout its existence. Of course, this also applies to people born during a planet’s retrograde period. Those born during Mercury retrograde (a relatively large number—about one in six) often experience communication difficulties. The manifestations of the Mercury principle—mind, speech, perception of the world—are, figuratively speaking, directed inward rather than outward, as in others. To understand and perceive the surrounding world, they must first understand themselves and look within. They do not feel their informational contact with people and the external world to be reliable or stable. As a result, they become either withdrawn and unsociable, or (much more rarely, but it happens) excessively talkative, because no matter how much they speak, the outcome of communication does not satisfy them. Often in childhood, such people keep diaries, finding in them a conversation partner they lack in life. Children born during Mercury retrograde more frequently have speech defects.
However, this does not mean that retrograde Mercury is “bad” or “harmful.” It grants people strong intuition and deep intellect. Although children born with retrograde Mercury may experience learning difficulties, there is a sense that they already know everything without teachers—that they draw knowledge from some boundless inner reservoir they brought into this life from a past incarnation. They possess a mysterious, irrational wisdom, and for this reason, such children often struggle to communicate with their peers—”normal” children.
But even more importantly, retrograde Mercury prepares a surprise for its subjects. Sooner or later (the exact timing can be determined by a predictive method to be discussed in another book), a radical transformation occurs in the lives of those with retrograde Mercury. The dam separating them from their surroundings bursts under the pressure of accumulated inner knowledge, and these individuals become hyper-communicative, hyper-curious, hyper-sociable. Since such a breakthrough often occurs when a person chooses a profession, former withdrawn children frequently choose careers placing them in the thick of events and people—becoming journalists, writers, reporters, businessmen, etc.
Once, a woman approached me, concerned about her son. His school performance was poor: he did not absorb what teachers explained and thus avoided studying. But he was far from lazy—he was passionately interested in animals and plants; he had an entire menagerie, and his knowledge of living nature could rival that of a biology student. This was indeed a classic case of retrograde Mercury. I cast the child’s natal chart and confirmed that Mercury was indeed retrograde at birth. Moreover, I determined that Mercury was one of the most important factors in the chart and was located in the Tenth House, which governs a person’s social manifestation and profession. The forecast indicated that a change in this person’s life would occur at age 21. I told the mother not to worry about her son’s fate. The best thing she could do was to allow him freedom for independent development, even if this contradicted societal stereotypes. When he turned 21, she would see the fruits of his focused dedication; additional chart factors, combined with those already mentioned, suggested that her child would become a well-known personality.
People born during Venus retrograde are much rarer—one in eighteen to twenty. For them, finding satisfying relationships and mutual understanding in life can be problematic. However, it has been observed that while another planet creates personal difficulties for an individual, it simultaneously supports success in endeavors undertaken not for oneself, but for others. A person is inefficient and wasteful in the area governed by the retrograde planet when trying to achieve something for themselves, but their energy, when dispersed around them, helps others achieve their goals. As a result, the owner of retrograde Venus may introduce, marry off, or wed all their friends and acquaintances, yet never find a partner for themselves—or, if they do, spend their life doubting whether they made the right choice. But when the time comes, and retrograde Venus releases its captive, this person gains such deep understanding of the nature of relationships that they become capable not only of personal success but also of helping many others avoid alienation.
Owners of retrograde Mars are approximately as rare. These are people who do not perceive adequate results from their efforts. They feel they expend more energy than others yet achieve less. Here, the same “dispersion effect” manifests: those born during Mars retrograde truly struggle to achieve things alone, yet they are excellent organizers, capable of directing the energy of others into the right channels and thereby achieving success. They are generals who do not charge ahead of the army (they would make poor soldiers), but can best direct the energy of human masses. They are coaches who cannot set records themselves but can train their athletes to do so.
Thus, events occurring in the Solar System symbolically reflect in our lives, in society, and on 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 traveled.
To conclude, I provide the dates of the upcoming retrograde periods of personal planets. The numbers in the column headers correspond to the points in the diagram with the same numbers, and the column contents indicate the dates when the planets pass through the respective points.
2. “THE FOUR FACES” OF A PLANET AND THE CYCLE OF PLANETARY PRINCIPLE UNFOLDING
About a year and a half ago, Dane Rudhyar’s book “An Astrological Key to Understanding Psychological Complexes” appeared on bookstore shelves. Rudhyar’s books have always been significant as sources of ideas and inspiration for the direction of astrology developed by A. F. Semenko. This book, despite its small size, contained a considerable number of interesting ideas (though it was evident that Rudhyar wrote it in less than optimal spirits). One idea concerned the possibility of four different approaches to interpreting a planet’s principle depending on whether it is: a) a morning or evening star; b) retrograde or direct.
If in a natal chart a planet is a “morning star”—that is, has a smaller longitude than the Sun and thus rises before it—then we can say that the principle of this planet is projected forward, at the forefront of the person’s personality. This planet symbolizes an instrument through which the individual forges their life path. Ahead lies the unknown; there is no one to ask, no one to consult, so the person must rely primarily on their own perception of new experience. Therefore, in the domain governed by this planet, the individual exhibits independence, activity, and a pioneering spirit, albeit with a somewhat narrow field of vision.
Rudhyar calls Mercury in this position “Mercury- Prometheus,” representing the active, independent use of intellect, communication, and other Mercurial projections to gain information through self-directed exploration of the world. Such a person is more likely to discover answers independently than to ask others. They are accustomed to relying on their own mind and are not afraid to step into the unknown. For a person with Promethean Mercury, the importance of knowledge to others is less relevant; what matters is personal interest. They resemble a miner in a coal face, extracting coal; for them, what happens to the coal afterward, on the surface, is not particularly important.
Rudhyar calls Venus as a morning star “Venus-Lucifer.” Its owner is characterized by active pursuit of emotional experience. They initiate relationships without much regard for conventional norms, possessing their own individual perceptions of beauty and value. They are explorers and experimenters in art, fashion, and human relationships.
Conversely, if a planet is an “evening star”—that is, has a greater longitude than the Sun and thus sets later in the evening sky—then its projections in the individual’s personality exhibit less activity but a broader field of vision and greater scope. This is like the army’s rear, absorbing trophies won by others, accounting for and systematizing them, and supplying the advancing units with everything necessary. A person with such a planet is not inclined to make active efforts to gain new experience in its domain. Instead, they are more likely to listen to the experiences of others, compare different viewpoints, systematize them, and draw their own conclusions.
Rudhyar calls Mercury in this position “Mercury-Epimetheus.” A person with such Mercury in their natal chart is not a knowledge seeker blazing new trails through the jungle of the unknown. Rather, they are a cartographer, mapping lands discovered by others. Their mind is systematic and analytical. They are a source of various knowledge, and for them, objective usefulness is important, not just subjective interest. They classify and systematize acquired information, thereby gaining new meaning.
Rudhyar names Venus as an evening star “Venus-Hesper.” Owners of this Venus type tend to listen to societal or others’ opinions in relationships, fashion, and values. They are less goal-oriented, more inclined toward diversity in emotional experience, and prone to doubts and generalizations.
Both planet types can be direct or retrograde. The expressions of direct planets most closely align with conventional norms, as such planets move in the same direction as the luminaries, and their projections in the personality are primarily oriented toward mastering the external world. In life situations related to such planets, the external course of events, the outward aspect, and the literal meaning of what is happening are emphasized.
The opposite is true for retrograde planets. Their owners perceive the external world indirectly—through their inner reaction. In life situations corresponding to retrograde planets, the main action occurs internally, hidden from the surface observer. The external aspect here is neither informative nor particularly significant. Owners of such planets are somehow “not of this world,” since they most successfully overcome external difficulties by changing something within themselves.
The combination of the two positional variants of a planet relative to the Sun and the two motion directions gives rise to four types of expression for each planet. Let us examine them, following Rudhyar, using Mercury as an example (I merely rephrase his ideas in my own words).
1. Retrograde Mercury- Prometheus. A very interesting situation: on one hand, the person is inclined to actively seek answers to arising questions and acquire knowledge; on the other, the most important direction for seeking knowledge is inward, through oneself. Here, the principle “Learning is recollection of what we already truly know” operates most vividly. To understand the surrounding world, the person must first understand themselves.
2. Direct Mercury- Prometheus. The owner of such Mercury enjoys feeling the power of their intellect. They direct their thinking toward interesting external phenomena and extract information that feeds their curiosity. For this person, understanding what happens in the surrounding world is essential to understanding themselves.
3. Direct Mercury- Epimetheus. Owners of this Mercury type build their mental model of the world from bricks gathered by more specialized Prometheans. For them, discovering some structure in the cosmos is very important, as they resemble beings with an external skeleton: their own structure is determined by the presence of an external structure and mirrors it. They notice external world regularities and adapt their lives accordingly.
4. Retrograde Mercury- Epimetheus. For these people, the structure of the inner world is more important. They absorb information gathered by others in the world but primarily apply it to themselves. And if they succeed in bringing order within themselves, what happens externally also becomes meaningful. A vivid example is someone who follows several spiritual development or self-healing paths, taking bits from each to create their own concept.
Having compiled descriptions of the four Mercurial types, I decided to verify them with examples and selected birth data of historical figures, celebrities, and well-known individuals who had manifested themselves in Mercurial fields of activity. I divided a sheet of paper into four sections and sat at the computer, ready to enter each name into the appropriate category. However, the results slightly altered my approach and proved quite instructive.
The category for direct Prometheans filled up fastest with famous names. The list speaks for itself: Gogol, Gorky, Kant, Freud, Pushkin, Lomonosov, Newton, Kepler, Byron, Kulibin… The list could go on for a long time. Hardly lagging behind were direct Epimetheans, and the overall set of names confirms the description of this Mercury type. This group included Lenin, Marx, Herzen, Descartes, Karamzin, Darwin, and three chess legends: Kasparov, Tal, and Alekhine.
But the categories for retrograde types remained empty for a long time. Eventually, I specifically searched for celebrities with retrograde Mercury. Not immediately, but retrograde Prometheans were found. The mere list of their names evokes a sense of depth and mystery: Robert Burns, Agatha Christie, Georges Simenon, Mikhail Bulgakov; here was also Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, who tested medicinal effects on himself.
After prolonged searching, I found only two owners of retrograde Epimetheus: Paracelsus and Alexander Blok.
Seemingly just a list of names—yet how much food for thought! Reflecting along the lines in which the four types of Mercury expression are described, one can similarly characterize the four types of Venus, Mars, and other planetary expressions. Yet these are known matters; I merely aim to present them in a more accessible language.
But let us consider the question somewhat differently. In its motion as observed from Earth, Mercury sequentially passes through all four discussed types of expression, forming a kind of cycle. In A. F. Semenko’s teaching methodology, the concept of the so-called universal cycle—a multi-level structure manifesting in all possible natural cyclic processes—holds an important place.
The universal cycle is primarily divided into four quadrants (see diagram). If we attempt to see the alternation of planetary types as reflecting the structure of the universal cycle, it would be natural to assign each type 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 and the universal. What, then, should be taken as the beginning of the planetary type cycle? Rudhyar considers the heliocentric conjunction of the planet with Earth—the “new planet” (by analogy with the New Moon)—to be the beginning of the planetary cycle. From a geocentric perspective, this 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 at the New Moon “the Moon’s activity, whose task is building life-organisms, is impregnated and directed by the Sun,” the inferior conjunction of Mercury with the Sun signifies the same fully in the realm of mind. Solar will (or energetic potential) flows from outside into Earth and human beings through the Mercury channel. Thus, just as the New Moon gives Earth a biological monthly impulse that then develops according to the phases of the lunar month, the “new Mercury,” the inferior conjunction, gives Earth a mental impulse that unfolds through the four types of Mercury expression.
The first type, retrograde Prometheus, corresponds to the “Self-Awareness” quadrant of the universal cycle. If we compare the universal cycle to the development cycle of a flowering plant, the first quadrant corresponds to seed swelling, preparation, and germination. Complex internal processes occur within the seed; internally, it changes significantly. Yet externally, no changes are visible. Essentially, the same is true for retrograde Mercury- Prometheus: active inner striving with minimal external manifestation.
Direct Prometheus corresponds to the “Self-Expression” quadrant. The symbolic plant sprouts and begins striving toward the earth and light. Similarly, direct Mercury- Prometheus bursts into a new sphere of experience, seeking enlightenment and illumination.
Direct Epimetheus corresponds to the “Emergence into the External World” quadrant of the universal cycle. In this quadrant, the symbolic plant emerges above the ground, grows upward and outward, occupies 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 quadrant 4, “Transition into a New Quality.” The plant fades, bears fruit, and withers. On the surface, nothing seems to remain, but underground, new sprouts are preparing. It is no coincidence that retrograde Epimetheus types are the rarest among celebrities. Their task is to deposit the experience accumulated over the development cycle into the dark, fertile depths of the soil, so that after a period of ripening, old ideas may give rise to new sprouts.
All these considerations may seem overly theoretical, but in fact, they are fully applicable in practice and provide a solid foundation for observing one’s own life, for understanding it not as a random sequence of events, but as a sequential, lawful process.
Let us begin, for example, with the inferior conjunction of Mercury with the Sun. On the day of conjunction, the Sun seems to send through Mercury into our world a certain new idea. What is this idea? We can understand something by becoming acquainted with the Sabian symbol of the degree in which the conjunction occurred (taken from Rudhyar’s “Astrological Mandala” or his “Astrology of Personality”; personally, I prefer the latter). But this way, we will understand only the general meaning of the new creative idea for all of us, since each person perceives it differently. To understand what this idea specifically communicates to you, and to which area of your life it pertains, look at which house of your horoscope the inferior conjunction of Sun and Mercury occurs in. For some people, the new Mercurial theme—and thus the new cycle of Mercury principle unfolding—will be more significant, for others less.
Check whether aspects are formed in the degree of conjunction to important points in your horoscope. The more such aspects, the more significant the upcoming cycle will be. The aspects themselves and the planets involved will indicate the characteristics of the cycle’s theme development.
During the first stage, while Mercury, having become Prometheus, remains retrograde, the idea develops covertly, preparing for manifestation. But then comes the day when Mercury turns direct. The idea begins to manifest, and you can understand the characteristics of this manifestation for all people and for yourself personally by considering: a) the Sabian symbol of the zodiac degree in which Mercury was located when changing direction; b) the house of your horoscope in which this degree falls; c) aspects formed from this degree to points in your horoscope.
The second phase of idea development lasts quite long—until the superior conjunction of Mercury with the Sun, when the new idea, refined through independent effort, is brought before society and moves toward the culmination of development—to the point where Mercury will station before turning retrograde again.
Clearly, the degrees in which the superior conjunction occurs, and then the change in planetary motion, also characterize (according to the scheme outlined above) the next stage of planetary principle unfolding.
It is not difficult to extend the research plan outlined for Mercury to other planets. One should remember that the beginning of the cycle (the beginning of the “Self-Awareness” quadrant) is the midpoint of the planet’s retrograde period (the heliocentric conjunction of the planet with Earth). For outer planets—Mars, Jupiter, etc.—in this case, a geocentric opposition to the Sun is observed instead of a conjunction.
I hope readers will manage such research independently, and I assure them they will gain numerous interesting insights and significantly deepen their understanding of astrology.
