About Michael Erlewine
This geo position runs ahead of or behind the actual
position of the planet in the solar system—as that planet
is considered heliocentrically. At any given time, the
geocentric position of any planet (when not conjunct or
opposed) is either ahead of or behind the helio position.
In fact, in the course of going retrograde and then direct,
a planet passes over certain degrees of the zodiac three
different times: two while going forward, and one while
going backward—the retrograde loop. That is a lot of
going over the same ground.
This retrograde loop is actually very fascinating when
we consider the interpretation of it. What that loop
points out is that, for any planet (and its meaning), there
are times when the outer function and nature of that
planet (geocentric) runs ahead—as into the future—of
its true position, and other times when it lags or falls
behind that true (helio) position. It is similar to our
circumstances, in that appearances are seldom exactly
at one with our true inner meaning.
Sometimes things are future-oriented, even hypothetical,
as when we are trying something out or
experimenting—things get ahead of themselves. At
other times, when the planet falls behind its helio
position, we are working with areas well-traveled—
perhaps with something from our past—and we may,
then, be much more deliberate and conservative.