What Does Retrograde Mean? Mercury & Planet Retrograde Guide
In astrology, retrograde describes a planet that, seen from Earth, appears to move backward through the sky for a while. The planet never actually reverses course; the difference in speed between Earth and that planet creates the illusion. This guide explains in plain language what retrograde means, why it happens, how the shadow period works, the traditional meaning of each retrograde from Mercury to Pluto, and what retrograde planets in your birth chart describe. The box on this page uses ephemeris calculations to show which planets are retrograde right now and when the next retrogrades begin.
Content updated:
Planets in retrograde right now
As of November 6, 2026 · UTC
- MercuryScorpioOctober 24 – November 13, 2026turns direct on November 13, 2026
- VenusScorpio LibraOctober 3 – November 14, 2026turns direct on November 14, 2026
- SaturnAriesJuly 26 – December 10, 2026turns direct on December 10, 2026
- UranusGeminiSeptember 10, 2026 – February 8, 2027turns direct on February 8, 2027
- NeptuneAriesJuly 7 – December 12, 2026turns direct on December 12, 2026
In the shadow period
- MarsVirgo Leoin pre-shadow · retrograde begins January 10, 2027
Upcoming retrogrades
- JupiterLeoDecember 13, 2026 – April 13, 2027
- MarsVirgo LeoJanuary 10 – April 1, 2027
- PlutoAquariusMay 8 – October 18, 2027
- NeptuneAriesJuly 9 – December 15, 2027
Next Mercury retrogrades
- MercuryPisces AquariusFebruary 9 – March 3, 2027
- MercuryCancer GeminiJune 10 – July 4, 2027
- MercuryScorpio LibraOctober 7 – 28, 2027
Dates are calculated from an ephemeris using the tropical zodiac and updated every six hours.
2027 retrograde calendar and houses by signPlanetary positions are calculated astronomically. Astrological meanings are symbolic interpretations, not scientific personality tests or predictions of future events.
What does retrograde mean?
The word retrograde comes from the Latin retrogradus, “stepping backward,” and astrologers often shorten it to “retro.” That shorthand can be confusing, because in everyday English retro usually means a style that borrows from past decades, like vintage fashion, music or design. In astrology it means something else entirely. A planet normally travels forward through the zodiac signs, from Aries to Taurus, from Taurus to Gemini and so on. During a retrograde period, the same planet seems to slip in the opposite direction for several weeks or months, sliding back toward degrees it has already crossed. That is why horoscopes say “Mercury is retrograde” or “Mercury is going backward.” The phrase describes what the sky looks like from Earth; it doesn’t mean the planet actually turns around in its orbit.
Why do planets go retrograde?
Picture two cars driving in parallel lanes on a highway. As you pass a slower car, it briefly seems to drift backward relative to you, even though both cars are heading the same way. Planets work the same way. Earth orbits the Sun faster than the outer planets, from Mars all the way out to Pluto, and as Earth overtakes them, they appear to slide backward against the background of stars. Mercury and Venus, on the other hand, are faster than Earth; these two inner planets look as if they move backward when they pass between the Sun and Earth. That is why an outer planet’s retrograde happens around the time it stands opposite the Sun, while an inner planet’s retrograde coincides with its conjunction with the Sun. The Sun and Moon never go retrograde.
Stations: when a retrograde begins and ends
A planet doesn’t switch direction overnight. First it slows down, lingers at almost the same degree for several days, and only then begins moving backward. This pause is called a station. The point where the retrograde begins is the retrograde station, when the planet “stations retrograde,” and the point where it turns forward again is the direct station, when it “stations direct.” Astrologers tend to pay more attention to these two stations than to the middle of the retrograde, because the planet emphasizes the same degree for days and its themes feel more pronounced. If a station degree falls close to a planet or the ascendant in your birth chart, those days are read as especially personal for you. The times listed in retrograde calendars mark these exact station moments.
What is the retrograde shadow period?
The shadow period exists because a planet crosses the same stretch of zodiac degrees three times: before, during and after the retrograde. The pre-shadow begins the day the planet first reaches the degree where it will later station direct, and it lasts until the retrograde station. The post-shadow starts after the direct station and ends the day the planet passes the degree where the retrograde began. For Mercury, the pre-shadow and post-shadow usually last about two weeks each; for Venus and Mars they can stretch to several weeks. In traditional interpretation, the pre-shadow is when issues first come up, the retrograde is when they are reconsidered, and the post-shadow is when they are wrapped up and completed. That is why it makes more sense to plan an important decision around the shadow periods, not just the retrograde dates themselves.
Mercury retrograde: when is it and how long does it last?
Mercury goes retrograde more often than any other planet. It usually turns retrograde three times a year, sometimes four, and each retrograde lasts about three weeks; with the shadow periods included, the whole cycle comes close to two months. Because Mercury rules communication, messages, travel, technology, contracts and the way you think, its retrograde is the most talked-about period in astrology. Tradition sees these weeks as prone to misunderstandings, delays, lost messages and unfinished business coming back around. The same stretch is also considered productive for reviewing an old project, rereading and editing your writing, and reconnecting with someone you haven’t been in touch with for a long time. You can find the current and upcoming Mercury retrograde dates in the box at the top of this page.
What not to do during Mercury retrograde (and what to do)
Astrological tradition advises against rushing to sign major contracts, buying expensive electronics on impulse or scheduling an important launch during Mercury retrograde if you can avoid it. None of this means you have to put your life on hold. If something can’t wait, go ahead and do it, but add a checkpoint: read the contract details twice, keep a written record of your correspondence, back up your data and leave extra time when you travel. The upside of a retrograde is that it suits anything that starts with “re”: reorganizing, rewriting, retrying, revisiting, reconnecting. These weeks are a good opportunity to finish an old idea or a file you left half-done, or to pick up a conversation you never quite finished. Used this way, the retrograde becomes a built-in review period rather than something to fear.
Venus retrograde: relationships and values
Venus goes retrograde about once every 19 months, and each retrograde lasts around 40 days. Since Venus describes love, relationships, taste, money and what you value, its retrograde is interpreted as a time to review these areas of life. A past relationship resurfacing, hearing from an ex, or postponed issues in a current relationship rising to the surface are themes often described during this period. Tradition suggests thinking carefully about decisions that permanently change your appearance, major cosmetic procedures and relationships that start in a rush while Venus is retrograde. On the other hand, this period is a meaningful time to figure out what truly feels good to you in a relationship, simplify your spending and redefine your sense of self-worth.
Mars retrograde: energy and motivation
Mars goes retrograde about once every two years, for a period of two to two and a half months. Mars represents energy, courage, competition, anger and the drive to take action. During its retrograde this energy turns inward: plans may move more slowly than expected, motivation may come and go, and anger that was pushed down in the past may resurface. Traditional interpretation advises against starting new conflicts during Mars retrograde and suggests weighing elective surgery and high-risk ventures carefully. At the same time, this period is well suited to reviewing your strategy, returning to a goal you left unfinished and learning to use your energy more wisely. In sports and physical training, too, increasing your workload gradually fits the spirit of this period.
Jupiter and Saturn retrograde
Jupiter and Saturn each spend roughly four to four and a half months retrograde every year, so these retrogrades don’t play out as dramatically as Mercury retrograde. Jupiter describes growth, beliefs, education, long-distance travel and opportunities. Its retrograde is read less as outward growth and more as a period of inner expansion: a good time to ask whether your goals are truly your own and to rethink your study or travel plans. Saturn represents responsibilities, limits, career and long-term structures. During Saturn retrograde, postponed obligations land back on your desk and the strength of the structures you have built is tested. This period is better used for reinforcing the order you already have and completing missing foundations than for taking on a new burden.
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto retrograde
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto spend nearly five months of every year retrograde. Because these planets move so slowly, they stay in the same sign for years and speak more about generations and social change than about individual lives. Their retrograde periods don’t feel equally strong for everyone; what really matters is whether, during the retrograde, one of these planets makes an aspect to a planet or the ascendant in your birth chart. Uranus retrograde turns the urge for sudden change inward and gives decisions about freedom time to mature. Neptune retrograde is read as a time when dreams and illusions are seen more clearly. Pluto retrograde is a process of deeply reviewing themes of power, control and transformation. These retrogrades are associated less with short-term events and more with lasting inner change.
What does a retrograde planet in your birth chart mean?
A planet that was retrograde at the moment you were born is marked as retrograde in your birth chart; in our calculator these planets carry a gold “Rx” label. A retrograde planet doesn’t mean something is wrong or weak. Mercury is retrograde for roughly a fifth of the year, so natal Mercury retrograde is quite common, and almost everyone has at least one outer planet retrograde in their chart. In traditional interpretation, a retrograde planet describes living out its themes in a more inward, more personal and sometimes unconventional way. For example, retrograde Mercury symbolizes processing your thoughts at length before saying them out loud, while retrograde Venus symbolizes finding a love language on your own terms. You can calculate your birth chart to see which of your planets are retrograde.
How does a retrograde affect your zodiac sign?
The most practical way to see how a retrograde will touch you is to check which house of your chart the retrograde’s sign falls in. For example, if a retrograde lands in your tenth house counted from your rising sign, a review of career matters is expected; if it lands in your seventh house, the review centers on relationships and partnerships. If you don’t know your birth time, you can count the houses from your Sun sign for a general idea, though a reading based on your rising sign is more personal. Our astrology calendar shows in a table which house each retrograde falls in for all twelve signs. If you don’t know your rising sign yet, the rising sign calculator will find it in a few seconds.
Common retrograde myths
The most common myth is that everything will go wrong during a retrograde. A retrograde can be read like a warning light, but it isn’t a guaranteed stretch of bad luck; millions of people get married, start businesses and travel without a hitch during these weeks. The second mistake is thinking the planet really moves backward; retrograde is only the motion as seen from Earth. The third is considering people born during a retrograde unlucky; a retrograde planet in a birth chart isn’t a deficiency but a different mode of expression. Finally, giving every retrograde the same weight is misleading too: a short, frequent Mercury retrograde and a Pluto retrograde that covers nearly half the year don’t feel equally intense. Astrology doesn’t make certain predictions about the future; retrograde dates give you a calendar you can use to plan your time consciously.
Enter your birth date, time and place; planets that were retrograde when you were born are marked “Rx” in your results.