Your Guide to Every Retrograde During 2025, Because There Are Way Too Many

Retrogrades have a reputation for being chaotic and unpleasant (looking at you, Mercury!), but they’re actually a standard and regularly-occurring part of almost every major planets’ cycle through the zodiac. And if you know how to work with them, many can actually be quite helpful. That’s because whenever a planet retrogrades, it also brings us an opportunity to review and revise matters in that celestial body’s areas of expertise. Sure, the slow-downs and mix-ups native to these cosmic reroutes can be annoying sometimes, but knowing what to expect from all the retrogrades of 2025 will make it easier to use each of these backward-facing journeys to your advantage.

In astrology, a retrograde refers to a period of time during which a planet appears to be moving backwards in the sky, retracing its most recent steps through the zodiac. The planets aren’t actually moving backward in their orbit—it’s an optical illusion that makes it look that way—but astrologically, this backpedal can have some major effects. As a planet slows down and shifts into reverse, energy in the realms symbolically ruled by that planet tend to do the same. So instead of charging ahead on things in that cosmic area, you’ll be better served by the retrograde if you’re willing to embrace reflection, revision, and integration instead of action. Mercury retrograde is a great example, as this planet governs timing and communication—which is why its tri-annual backspins are notorious for bringing mental mix-ups, scheduling snags, and other logistical mishaps.

As 2025 begins, there a few planets still mid-retrograde. Change-maker Uranus and philosophical Jupiter wrap up their retrogrades during the first five weeks of the year, stationing direct on January 30 and February 4, respectively. Mars retrograde will also be going strong as the year begins, as this intense backspin up on February 23 and challenges everyone to pump the brakes instead of hitting the gas as they ease into the new year.

Additionally, every single major planet will be retrograding at one point or another in 2025—including Venus and Mars, which backspin slightly less often than the rest of the celestial crew—so there will be opportunities to integrate all of the many types of changes that are currently shifting the cosmic landscape. In fact, there will only one six-day window in all of 2025 during which no major planets will be retrograde, and that’s the stretch between the end of Mars retrograde on February 23 and the beginning of Venus retrograde on March 1. Use this mystical week of forward-flowing energy to tap into your clearest intentions.

Your Guide to Every Retrograde Taking Place in 2025

Retrogrades are a normal part of most planets’ annual cycle, so there’s no reason to be stressed over them—especially if you know what to expect and how to work with them. Here’s the scoop on every retrograde happening in 2025.