The individual experiences the planet's energy as an inward pull, often feeling out of step with the rest of society regarding that planet's themes.
: A person with prominent retrogrades may feel like they are living in a different time zone or replaying old traumas as if they were current events.
The individual attempts to live in the present and act like everyone else.
The individual may have been a spiritual seeker, philosopher, or outcast who disagreed with societal religious dogmas. karmic astrology vol. ii retrogrades and reincarnation pdf
“Karmic Astrology, Vol. II: Retrogrades and Reincarnation” is the second installment in Martin Schulman’s seminal Karmic Astrology series. First published in 1977 by Samuel Weiser Inc., this 204‑page work moves beyond traditional interpretations of retrograde planets. Instead of labeling retrogrades as simply “good” or “bad,” Schulman presents a nuanced framework that sees these planetary energies as karmic messengers—carriers of memories, patterns, and unresolved issues from past incarnations.
A: The book assumes some basic knowledge of astrology (e.g., what signs and houses are). If you are brand new to astrology, consider reading a beginner’s guide first. However, many beginners have successfully used the book as a reference, learning the terminology as they go.
Schulman emphasizes the Water Houses—the —as the primary reservoirs of karmic memory. The individual experiences the planet's energy as an
Talents and comfort zones brought over from past lives (often signified by the South Node).
A major contribution of Schulman’s text is his explanation of the psychological mechanics of a retrograde planet. He breaks down the experience into a distinct process of internal awakening:
While most astrologers discuss the North and South Nodes, Volume II is unique because it discusses the retrogradation of the nodes themselves. It argues that the nodes are always retrograde, symbolizing that our karmic destiny moves backward in time to heal the past. The individual may have been a spiritual seeker,
When Mercury is retrograde in the natal chart, the individual’s mind does not process information in a linear fashion. In a past life, this soul may have withheld truth, spread deceit, or was silenced before they could speak their mind. Alternatively, they may have been a scholar who obsessed over details to the point of missing the bigger picture.
holds ancestral karma and the subconscious foundation built in early childhood.
: Schulman defines a "retrograde individual" as someone with three or more retrograde planets, a personal planet retrograde, or a retrograde planet near the Ascendant or Midheaven.
Schulman identifies a unique three-step psychological process that individuals with retrograde planets constantly experience:
Key Indicators of Past-Life Karma in Your Birth Chart * Saturn – The Karmic Teacher. Saturn represents discipline, responsibility, Institute of Vedic Astrology