Even a single planet, though he be debilitated, if occupying a good house is retrograde and not combust, it raises high the native's status. Should there be two or three such planets, the native attains a very high rank and position in life.

As all the planets are moving at different speeds, there will be times when a particular planet will appear from Earth that it is not moving at all, and at times that a planet is actually moving backwards when viewed against the backdrop of a fixed star. In such periods, the planet is said to be in retrograde motion.

In the ephemeris, planets which are in retrograde are denoted by a R after the degree and minute designation.A retrograde planet may denote delayed development of factors relating to that planet rather than any negative influence as was suggested in ancient Astrology.

A capital S alongside the planetary degree in the ephemeris stands for the word stationary and will occur when the planet is slowing down and has virtually stopped moving.

The capital letter D is soemtimes used indicating that the palnet is in direct motion and is written when a planet changes from a backward direction or retrograde to a forward direction or direct.

Perhaps the greatest impact of retrograde planets can be felt when the outer planets turn retrograde while forming a transit aspect to one of the natal planets.