Planetary Station

Planets don't actually stop or reverse — the effect is an optical illusion caused by Earth and the other planet orbiting the Sun at different speeds. When a planet 'stations,' it appears motionless at a single point in the sky for days or even weeks before seeming to change direction. There are two types: station retrograde (forward to backward) and station direct (backward to forward). Astrologers consider station points the most powerful moments of a retrograde cycle because the planet lingers on one zodiac degree, amplifying its influence — like the difference between a fleeting glance and a fixed stare.