Astrology charts show planets frozen in symbols, but in real life they move. Two special states change how they act inside us: retrograde and combust. They don’t cancel the planet. They change how the planet delivers results.
Retrograde does not mean the planet literally goes backwards in space. From Earth’s viewpoint, its motion appears reversed. Astrology reads that as inverted expression of the planet’s energy.
Normal motion → energy moves in a straight, outward way. Retrograde motion → energy turns inward, twisted, delayed, or intensified.
Retrograde is like driving in reverse gear inside the mind while the world is moving forward. You still move, but differently from others.
Retrograde matters most for the heavy players: Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter. Their cycles are slow, karmic, and long-term, so any reversal hits harder.
Saturn is the karma teacher. Retrograde Saturn turns lessons inward:
The person may look stable on the outside but carries a huge karmic weight inside.
Mars is action and anger. Retrograde Mars often:
Energy is still strong, but it loops inside first before going out.
Jupiter is wisdom and guidance. Retrograde Jupiter makes a person:
It can create late but mature understanding of life.
Rahu and Ketu are always shown in reverse motion. They are not physical planets; they are shadow points of the Moon’s orbit. So the idea of “Rahu direct” or “Ketu direct” doesn’t really apply. Their normal behavior itself is retro-style:
Retrograde logic belongs to them by design. They already bend reality.
Mercury and Venus go retrograde often, but in many lives the effect is more:
Retro Mercury brings repeat conversations, re-checks in communication, delays in documents, revisiting ideas. Retro Venus brings ex-people back, old desires revisiting, relationship rethinking.
They still matter, but for long-term life arc, retrograde weight sits more heavily on Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter.
Among all, Sun and Moon never retrograde in the astrological system. They are the core lights:
Their role is to constantly move forward through signs, not to appear backwards. So any “reverse feeling” around identity or emotion is usually due to other planets retrograding or Rahu–Ketu influence, not Sun/Moon turning back.
When Rahu or Ketu join Sun or Moon, we get eclipses. Symbolically, they can “capture” or swallow other planets too.
In charts:
This is like an eclipse of that planet’s normal behavior. The planet doesn’t vanish, but its expression becomes shadow-filtered.
Combust means a planet is too close to the Sun. The Sun’s light is so strong that the planet becomes invisible in the sky. Astrology reads that as: Sun takes over the planet’s external function.
The planet still exists in the chart. Its nature is present inside the person, but the outer world role
Your line in simple terms:
Example:
So combustion does not kill a planet. It hides its independent operation and routes that area of life through Sun’s agenda.
A planet can be:
In those cases:
Real life result: that planet becomes a major internal struggle zone and takes time, age, and awareness to handle correctly.
Important rule: Retrograde or combust alone does not guarantee events.
If the planet’s dasha–bhukti is not active:
When time activates that planet:
So timing still rules everything.
Charts are not punishment lists. Retrograde and combust planets simply tell you where life refuses to be simple and demands awareness, maturity, and time.