Retrograde Sabian

22/5/2019

Caren asks...

I'm wondering how a planet in retrograde might affect the interpretation of a Sabian symbol?

James responds...

If your planet is retrograde then generally its action is more inwards and contemplative and has the appetite to 'go over things again just to be sure'.

The Sabian Symbols are multi-layered, having various modes of expression. They can express quite literally - for example my Ascendant is Capricorn 11 A LARGE GROUP OF PHEASANTS and I actually have a family of wild pheasants in my garden most days. Or they can be subtle metaphors and take time and serious thought to uncover.

A retrograde planet is likelier to support repeated enquiry, delving and checking, in order to winkle out secrets and hidden wisdom. Although this can limit the unfettered, spontaneous outer expression of an energy, it has the bonus of making possible a close alignment with the deepest wisdom that can be revealed.

2 Comments

Krzwl

23/9/2020 09:02:16 pm

Hello there, Mr. Burgess and Miss Caren.

I appreciate this question regarding the retrograde impact upon delineating the Sabian System. Thank you for this and for your upcoming reply to my question (I hope my inquiry's reasoning is clear enough to you?)...

In calculating/appointing the Sabian degree of the ever-permanent retrograde movement of the lunar nodes, would you ever consider appointing the degree the node is actually sitting IN -- or possibly even the degree PRIOR TO? (Instead of the standard rounding up the minutes to the next greater degree.)

(I.E. -- Aries 1*30' = Aries 1* S.S. ...OR let's say, Aries 0*5' = Pisces 29* S.S.)

James Burgess

24/9/2020 06:36:21 am

Hi KRZWL,

Thanks for your question.

There can be some confusion about the degree and quite a lot of people are thrown by the unusual way to describing the position of the Sabian Symbol.

But it is simple if you look at it this way:
The specific degree, say between 0:00 Aries and 0:59 Aries is the first degree of Aries (before that is Pisces). This first degree is called Aries 1 (even though we write it Aries 0:xx) because it is the first degree (which begins at 0:00). So Taurus 15:38 is the 16th degree of Taurus, called Taurus 16.

Retrogradation is therefore not a factor - since we are never looking ahead at where the planet is going, simply identifying where it is now, and numbering its degree by this method.

I hope this is clear. Please ask again if not.
James

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