May 16, 2008
I originally wrote A Theory of Apparent Motion in 1995 although it had been nurturing for many years before that. The catalyst that brought it to life was Michael Erlewine’s New Age Forum, a pioneering effort on the brand new Microsoft Network. Michael allowed me to be the host of the Astrology Hour every Friday night. It was a time of great astrological interaction and inspiration. My thinking about apparent Motion has not changed over the last 13 years but only has grown from the 1995 writing. All of the basic principals hold true to my way of thinking. I still believe that the retrograde cycle is the generator of growth and illumination while I still believe that the retrograde cycle is the key indicator of negative interaction.
May 17, 2008
It may sound like a contradiction of terms to say that retrograde motion is the generator of growth and illumination and the key indicator of negative interaction but that is the way I observe it working. In a natal chart a retrograde planet indicates where the negative influences in the person’s life will manifest. The natal retrograde will also be the indicator of the real life and character growth areas of the person’s life. These growth areas show that as the person overcomes the obstacle posed by the retrograde planet inner growth occurs. I do not believe that an average person overcomes their natal retrograde planetary positions. Yes many will rise above the negative situations and achieve great growth but many many more will not overcome and will give in to the negativeness that the retrograde causes.
May 18, 2008
The transiting retrograde pattern is the root cause of negative interaction. When a transiting planet is retrograde a person with the same natal planet retrograde will have situations to deal with specifically if exact degree crossings are involved. A transiting planet that interacts with another transiting planet will be the cause of the negative interaction.
May 19, 2008
To properly understand retrograde planets it is best not to use the trine and square thinking that comes with aspects. Namely let the retrograde or direct planet speak to positive and negative when there is exact degree interaction. Planetary interaction is powerful but if one of two planets are retrograde then there is a problem. If one of three interaction planets is retrograde then the problem eases but is still there. Two direct planets interacting and even if they are in square aspect they are positive