While mercury retrogrades are best known, every planet experiences retrograde periods.
- Planets turn retrograde when they appear to be moving backwards from our vantage point on Earth.
- When a particular planet goes retrograde, the themes of that planet will be impacted.
- Retrogrades get a bad rap, and though they can cause problems, they also offer an opportunity to reflect.
Uh oh—Mercury is in retrograde again. We’ve all heard the jokes, but what does it actually mean when there are planets in retrograde? You may already know that Mercury retrogrades can cause miscommunications, but other planets can spin retrograde too.
Take Venus, for example, whose retrograde cycles are known for causing relationship issues, or Mars retrograde, which can ramp up aggression. Understanding what to expect during any particular retrograde is essential, not just to avoid the mishaps—but to work with it in a productive way.
Because while retrogrades can definitely cause some problems, they’re also important opportunities for reflection. When a planet backspins, we have the chance to revisit the lessons we might have missed the first time around.
Curious to learn more? Read on for the lowdown on what retrogrades are all about, including the upcoming cycles to watch out for and what each planetary retrograde means.
What it means astrologically when a planet is in retrograde.
You might hear retrogrades described as the planets moving backwards, backspinning, or even doing an about face. These are all terms to describe the apparent backwards motion of a planet from our perspective on Earth.
But here’s the thing: The planets aren’t actually ever moving backwards. Because of the different orbits of the planets in our solar system, sometimes Earth gets passed by other planets, and sometimes Earth does the passing. When this happens, planets appear as if they’re moving backwards, and it can cause scrambled signals, disrupting that planet’s effects on Earth. (Imagine sitting on a train and looking out the window. When a train passes by, it may feel like you're moving, though you're sitting still.)
Astrologically speaking, retrogrades get a bad reputation, but they ultimately encourage us to slow down and double-check things before moving forward—and before the planet resumes forward motion.
Upcoming Retrogrades
If you’re curious which retrogrades to watch out for, here are all the upcoming retrogrades for the remainder of the year, as well as 2026 into 2027.
Mercury retrogrades:
- July 18, 2025 to August 11, 2025
- November 9, 2025 to November 29, 2025
- February 26, 2026 to March 20, 2026
- June 29, 2026 to July 23, 2026
- October 24, 2026 to November 13, 2026
Mars retrogrades:
Mars will not be going retrograde again for the rest of 2025, nor in 2026.
Venus retrogrades
October 3, 2026 to November 14, 2026.
Jupiter retrogrades:
- November 11, 2025 to March 11, 2026
- December 13, 2026 to April 13, 2027
Saturn retrogrades:
- July 13, 2025 to November 28, 2025
- July 26, 2026 to December 10, 2026
- September 10, 2026 to February 8, 2027
Uranus retrogrades:
- September 6, 2025 to February 4, 2026
- September 10, 2026 to February 8, 2027
Neptune retrogrades:
- July 4, 2025 to December 10, 2025
- July 7, 2026 to December 12, 2026
Pluto retrogrades:
- May 4, 2025 to October 14, 2025
- May 6, 2026 to October 16, 2026
Types of Retrogrades
Different planetary retrogrades impact us differently, depending on the themes of that planet. Here’s a breakdown of what each planetary retrograde means.
Mercury retrograde
Mercury retrogrades are easily the most well known because they happen the most often—roughly three to four times a year, to be exact. And with Mercury being the planet of communication, information, travel, and technology, those are all of the areas you can expect to feel frazzled when it spins retrograde. Think travel delays, technical difficulties, and miscommunications. The idea is to slow down, not speed up, in order to find mental clarity.
Venus retrograde
Venus is the planet of love, beauty, pleasure, and justice. When it spins retrograde, our relationships tend to take a hit, and that can even include our relationship with ourselves. Venus relates to self love as much as self for others, and it even rules money, so Venus retrogrades can cause financial woes as well. These cycles are an opportunity to revisit and assess our relationships and emotional needs.
Mars retrograde
Mars is the planet of war and aggression, but also action and motivation. When it backspins, its impact can be as straightforward as feeling less energized. However, this sluggish quality is by design in order for us to reassess what truly motivates us—and whether we’re living in alignment with that.
Jupiter retrograde
Jupiter is one of the “benefic” planets in astrology, known for bestowing blessings, good fortune, and luck. It’s the planet of expansion, so when it goes retrograde, we’re encouraged to lean into joy, expand our own horizons, and toss out anything that gets in the way of that.
Saturn retrograde
Saturn is the ultimate disciplinarian in astrology as the planet of challenges, structure, and hard work. During Saturn retrograde cycles, you can definitely prepare for a reality check—and potentially the consequences of your own actions.
Uranus retrograde
Uranus is the planet of rebellion and radical change—associated with the sign of Aquarius, if that gives you any clues. This planet comes to shake things up, and when it goes retrograde, we’re the ones who feel shook. These cycles may “force your hand” or otherwise encourage you to confront changes that need to be made, as well as inspire more innovation or individuality.
Neptune retrograde
Neptune is the planet of illusion in astrology, so when it backspins, we actually might find we have more clarity than usual. These are introspective periods where we can pay more attention to our hopes, dreams, and spirituality, as well as bypass our own delulu for once.
Pluto retrograde
Last but not least, Pluto retrogrades are a time of quiet, subtle transformation. Pluto is the planet of death and rebirth, and when it goes retrograde, we have a powerful opportunity to check in with ourselves—and the collective—in order to find more balance and healing.
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