Retrograde Planets 2026
Retrograde periods (station retrograde → station direct) for 2026, with shadow detection by speed sign.
☿ Mercury
Mercury retrograde (3–4× a year, ~3 weeks) turns the mind inward and backward. Communication, travel and technology snag; it is a time to review, revise, reconsider and reconnect — not to launch. Double-check details and back up plans.
♀ Venus
Venus retrograde (~every 18 months, ~6 weeks) reviews love, money and values. Old flames return, relationships are re-evaluated and aesthetic or financial choices are reconsidered. Reflect before committing; avoid major beauty or money decisions.
♂ Mars
Mars retrograde (~every 2 years, ~2–2½ months) turns drive and anger inward. Energy, assertion and momentum stall; frustration builds. Rather than forcing forward, revisit strategy, rest, and redirect effort — premature action backfires.
♃ Jupiter
Jupiter retrograde (~4 months yearly) internalises growth and faith. Expansion turns reflective; you reassess beliefs, goals and what "more" really means. Inner development and revisiting opportunities matter more than outward reaching.
♄ Saturn
Saturn retrograde (~4½ months yearly) reviews structure, duty and discipline. Karmic lessons return for refinement; you reconsider commitments and rebuild foundations. Old responsibilities resurface to be done properly this time.
♅ Uranus
Uranus retrograde (~5 months yearly) turns rebellion inward. The urge for freedom and change becomes an inner awakening; you question what truly confines you before breaking outward. Insight precedes the eventual liberation.
♆ Neptune
Neptune retrograde (~5–6 months yearly) clears illusion. The spiritual and imaginative turn inward; fog can lift, revealing what was idealised or denied. A time for honest reflection, dream-work and seeing truth behind the glamour.
♇ Pluto
Pluto retrograde (~5–6 months yearly) deepens transformation inwardly. Power, control and buried material surface for psychological excavation. You confront your own depths and shadow before any outer rebirth can complete.
What retrograde motion means
A planet is retrograde when, from Earth, it appears to move backward through the zodiac. Nothing actually reverses — it is a trick of relative motion — but astrologically the planet's energy turns inward and reflective. Retrograde periods favour the "re-" verbs: review, revise, reconsider, reconnect, repair. They are times to internalise and refine rather than to launch and push forward.
How to use the Retrograde Planets
Shows current and upcoming retrograde periods — when a planet appears to move backward from Earth — plus the "shadow" zones before and after.
Getting started
- Pick a planet or view all.
- The tool lists retrograde start/end dates and the shadow periods.
Reading your result
Retrogrades turn a planet's themes inward: review, revise, reconnect. Mercury retrograde affects communication and tech; Venus, relationships and money; Mars, drive.
Astrologer's tip The shadow period is when you first feel the retrograde building and finally clear it.