Maximizing Personal Planet Retrogrades (for Mercury, Venus, and Mars Retrogrades) by Annie Botticelli I always liken the energy of a personal planet being retrograde as the time when the ‘tide rolls in’. If you are trying to push your boat out to sea when the tide is coming in, the odds of your desired outcome are limited as there are forces of nature working against you. However, there are things that are even more favored during a retrograde that you can focus on to best use the energy and make the transit more smooth, enjoyable, and productive. Here are some examples of what I love this time for: