Taking the Fear Out of Retrogrades

A few times throughout the year, you may hear murmurs of warnings about the dos and don’ts around Mercury Retrograde. If I’m honest, it is one of my least favourite times in the astrology calendar, mostly because of how much fear and scaremongering comes up as a way to market to people.

This post will hopefully be a remedy to that, because whilst retrogrades can bring surprises, they don’t have to be scary or a time where you feel constantly on edge.

What is a Retrograde?

A retrograde in astrology is when a planet appears to move backwards instead of moving direct. This usually signifies that we feel its energy on a more internal level and can indicate deep shifts or situations unfolding to create momentum once forward motion is regained.

What Planets Go Retrograde?

The only celestial bodies that do not go into retrograde motion are the Sun and the Moon; they are always moving direct. All the other planets have varying timeframes in which they go retrograde:

• Mercury: Retrogrades 3–4 times a year for about 3 weeks
• Venus: Occurs roughly every 18 months for about 6 weeks
• Mars: Occurs roughly every 2 years for about 10–12 weeks
• Outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto): All go retrograde annually for 4–5 months each year

Why Do We Often Hear About Mercury Retrograde?

It’s likely we hear about Mercury Retrograde more because it occurs most frequently throughout the year. Mercury is also the closest planet to the Sun (despite being the smallest planet in the solar system).

Mercury governs technology, communication, our thought processes, decision-making, and travel. The Sun represents our conscious mind, life force, vitality, energy, and self-expression.

When we combine those meanings, people often focus on the ways Mercury might influence the self and potentially “wreak havoc,” which may be why Mercury Retrograde is spoken about with such caution.

However, as I mentioned, Mercury is a small planet and it doesn’t actually move backwards. It creates the illusion of doing so. We often feel the reverberations of its effects in the pre-shadow (ascension) and post-shadow (integration) phases. Sometimes things may not be as they seem, and perhaps that is why it’s often discussed with such trepidation.

What Can Happen During Mercury Retrograde?

We often hear about exes, old friends, and lovers reappearing, technology failing, and more disagreements occurring during retrogrades. Whilst that can happen, it ultimately depends on your individual birth chart and which house Mercury is aspecting or activating in your life.

I often see Mercury Retrograde season as an invitation to be more diligent and intentional about what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. For example:

• Checking an email a few extra times before sending it
• Pausing before responding to a text from an old flame

Retrogrades invite you to reflect before reacting to pause with the lesson rather than get caught up in the emotion. Truthfully, retrogrades can be incredibly supportive for introspection.

What Is Currently Happening in the Sky?

Mercury stationed retrograde in Pisces on February 26th and will go direct on March 20th, 2026. It is important to note the sign a planet is influencing, as they all bring about different themes and energies.

When Mercury is in Pisces, it brings themes of the unconscious, hidden realms, and things that may feel clouded or unclear. It can make you feel dreamier, more creative, and more inclined toward flow rather than structure. You may feel more intuitively connected, receive deeper insights or visions, and return to old creative ideas and pursuits.

How Can I Use This Energy to Support Me?

Look at which house Pisces rules in your birth chart. The house it influences can give you insight into how this energy may play out for you. For example, if you have Pisces in your Sixth House (Libra Rising), you may feel more resistant to timetables, deadlines, and rigid routines, and instead crave more creativity in your daily life.

Some supportive practices during this time:

• Slow down! Don’t rush decisions. Give them space to breathe so you can hear your intuitive knowing.
• Pay attention to your emotional body. If old feelings resurface, notice them.
• Create simply for the sake of creating. It doesn’t have to be meaningful or purposeful; creativity is reason enough.

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