Mercury Retrograde 2022: What Is It And Dates - Farmers' Almanac

The next Mercury retrograde is from November 9-29, 2025. But what is mercury retrograde? Why and how often does it occur? Does it affect your travel plans and communication? What is retro “shade” and is there a bright side to Mercury retrograde? Here is everything you need to know, including Mercury retrograde 2025 – 2030 dates and more.

What Is Mercury Retrograde?

The term retrograde comes from the Latin word retrogradus, which literally means “backward step.” As the name suggests, retrograde is when a planet appears to go backward in its orbit, as viewed from Earth. Astronomers refer to this as “apparent retrograde motion,” because it is an optical illusion. Watch this video for a short explanation:

The opposite of retrograde is direct or prograde motion. Prograde motion is the term astronomers prefer, while astrologers are more prone to use the term “direct” motion.

Upcoming Dates

Mercury Retrograde 2025

• March 15-April 7, 2025
• July 18-August 11, 2025
• November 9-29, 2025

RELATED:

• Retrograde Guide — All Planets
• Visible Planets Guide — How To Spot Planets As “Stars”
• Venus Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde 2026

• February 26-March 20, 2026
• June 29-July 23, 2026
• October 24-November 13, 2026

Mercury Retrograde 2027

• February 9-March 3, 2027
• June 10-July 4, 2027
• October 7-28, 2027

Mercury Retrograde 2028

• January 24-February 24, 2028
• May 21-June 24, 2028
• September 19-October 11, 2028

Mercury Retrograde 2029

• January 7-27, 2029
• May 1-25, 2029
• September 2-24, 2029
• December 22, 2029-January 11, 2030

Mercury Retrograde 2030

• December 22, 2029-January 11, 2030
• April 12-May 6, 2030
• August 15-September 8, 2030
• December 5-25, 2030

Apparent Backward Motion

Every planet in our Solar System travels in the same direction in its journey around the Sun, and none of them ever pause and turn back in the opposite direction. Yet, all of them appear to do just that from time to time.

Because of the Earth’s daily rotation, the objects in the night sky appear to “move” from east to west in the night sky. While the location of the stars relative to the Earth is fixed, at least from our vantage point, the other planets in our Solar System all orbit the Sun at varying speeds.

The outer planets—Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—take longer to orbit the Sun than the Earth does, because their orbits are larger. For this reason, the Earth often laps these planets in its journey around the Sun.

When the Earth overtakes an outer planet, that planet appears to travel backward, as compared to the stars, for a time.

Picture two cars on the highway going in the same direction in different lanes. If one car is driving faster than the other, the slower car will appear to go backward from the perspective of a person in the faster car, even though the slower car is still going pretty fast in the same direction.

For the inner planets, Mercury and Venus, the mechanism that causes them to turn retrograde is the same, but in reverse. Mercury and Venus appear to go retrograde when they lap us.

Because Mercury completes its orbit around the Sun in only 88 days, the swift planet becomes retrograde three or four times in a calendar year, for about three weeks at a time. Outer planets have less frequent, but longer-lasting, periods of retrograde motion.

Why Dread It?

Astrologers believe that celestial bodies like the Moon, stars, planets, and Sun influence events on Earth. Each planet in our solar system is thought to govern a specific aspect of life. Learn more about this.

Mercury, named after the Greek messenger god, is associated with communication and transportation. When Mercury appears to move backward in its orbit, a phenomenon known as retrograde motion, astrologers believe its positive influence on these areas is diminished.

During Mercury retrograde, many people attribute various mishaps and challenges to its negative energy. These can include arguments, lost items, transportation delays, and technological difficulties. As a result, many choose to avoid important decisions and actions during this period.

Mercury Retrograde’s “Shadow Period”

The Mercury retrograde shadow period, occurring two weeks before and after the actual retrograde, is considered a time of energetic preparation and integration, respectively. As Mercury slows its orbit in anticipation of or recovery from its apparent backward motion, it’s believed to create an atmosphere of heightened introspection and potential challenges in communication, technology, and travel.

This period, referred to as “Mercury retro-shade” by some people, is thought to mirror the effects of the retrograde itself—though often in a milder form. Astrologers suggest that the pre-retrograde shadow period is an opportunity for early awareness of potential issues, allowing you to be proactive, while the post-retrograde shadow offers a chance to remember lessons learned and integrate new perspectives.

The Bright Side

Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap, but some believe it is possible to use these time frames to learn more about yourself, your community, and others. According to astrology, each Mercury retrograde involves Mercury traveling backward through a different zodiac sign. Learn more about this.

Join the Discussion!

Do you believe that retrograde causes disasters?

What is the wildest thing that happened to you during retrograde?

Let us know in the comments below!