So, I’m trying to learn astrology. I’m very new to this, and anytime I see people talk about mercure retrograde they talk about it very negatively. Is it like this everytime, or are there good aspects about it ?
And do the negative effects last during the whole retrograde or are there spikes ?
And one last thing, is it the sign that’s in mercury that is being touched ? I read everywhere that this one was pretty intense. Why is it more intense than the others we had until now ?

Thank you ! 🫶🏻

Retrograding planets, how could the transiting planet affect negative or positive aspects in a chart and the planet transiting a natal planet?
If the retrograding planet doesn’t aspect anything does it impact the chart, house etc.
How do you read this or from experience, how might these things show up in the mundane or affect a chart?
I feel like I have a grasp on the basics of charts but transits and aspects I’m still trying to learn.

Any pointers on websites or book recommendations are helpful! Feeling a little bit lost or there are so many different explanations on the one topic.

Keep in mind I am a beginner and am simplifying For this example let us take the sun and put him in Aquarius, so he has -5 essential dignity and lets make the sun the 7th lord (7th house Leo). So his quality of what he can give wont be great or would be challenging due to -5 essential dignity.

Now let's say the sun will have -7 accidental dignity, and 4 points of accidental dignity making a total of -3. I see accidental dignity as the opportunity for a planet to act and bring results- regardless of its quality (essential dignity). Keep in mind this is an example, not me currently looking at scores and making the perfect hypothetical chart.

So would this person have a very slim chance at marriage considering the 4 accidental points scored? And the marriage would be not so great. Due to the low dignities.

I know a -5 essential dignity planet with high accidental dignity can be very unpleasant or bring less desirable results. And a high essential dignity (+10 for example) planet with very little accidental dignity will have little chance to fulfill its job

Please go easy on me, I am a beginner and this a very simple example. MODS the example is just a hypothetical one, I am not trying to break rules as it is hypothetical placement

Hi! I have been calculating the Almuten Figuris and wanted to ask astrologers why might also some questions:

1. What method are you using or which method do you find the most authoritative?
   

- I'm looking at 5 points (sun, moon, asc, fortune, and pre-natal syzygy) and scoring the planets against them (5 - domicile, 4 - exaltation, 3 - triplicity, 2 - egyptian, 1 - face) and that give me the essential dignity of each planet. I am also separately calculating accidental but only day ruler, hour ruler, and points based house placements.

1. When calculating the Almuten Figuris, should only essential dignities be used, or should accidental dignities also be included/added? What accidental dignities are you using and how do you score them?

2. What if there is a tie or if one planet wins by a small margin or if it wins in essential and loses with accidental added, how do you handle that? Since the sun and moon are already disadvantaged should I consider a runner up sun? Would you next look at planetary condition/speed, aspects, etc. or just consider it a secondary almuten or co-significator?

Thank you so much!!!