(o, 2025edearly 2026 AA
(Note: this page is being re-written for 2026, so parts below are complete and others in transition into the new year)
The Mercury retrogrades in 2026 are in the water elements. The water element has to do with emotions, empathy and intuition. Because Mercury is mental and analytical, the messenger is not particularly comfortable in Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. The lesson and opportunity is to communicate emotions to heal old emotional wounds. This opens you to your intuitive and feminine side at greater levels.
Although I am no longer accepting new clients, I do want to keep everyone up to date with planetary shifts through this website, the free New & Full Moon email newsletter, and the quarterly Astromark newsletter. Additionally, existing clients from the past 30 years are welcome to schedule Periodic Updates to your chart or the Seven Ray Esoteric Astrology consultation.
Mercury Retrograde
February 25 to March 20, 2026
23 degrees Pisces back to 8 degrees Pisces
Five of the ten planets we use in astrology are in the water element signs (Pisces and Cancer, Scorpio is missing) as Mercury begins its retrograde cycle. With a mental planet in an emotional sign, expect emotions too run in cycles. Practice communicating your feelings rather than stuffing them within. A good thing to do would be to pull back from the outer world to consider your vision for the future. Be sure your head and your heart are working together now. Mercury retrograde aligns with Venus on February 28, so conversations about love, money and what you value are favored now, just don’t carve your decisions in stone until April. A sacred Sabian Symbol (Dane Rudhyay, An Astrological Mandala) for the beginning degree of this retrograde is “A ‘materializing’ medium giving a seance.” This goes back to old school where spirit talked through a megaphone, rapping on tables, blowing curtains, etc. Perhaps on some level this suggests it is time to reconnect with your spiritual and intuitive side to open to Great Spirit for messages. (Note: Mark will be recovering from knee replacement during this cycle, so not taking appointments.)
Mercury Retrograde
June 29-July 23, 2026
27 degrees Cancer back to 16 degrees Cancer
This Mercury Retrograde seems a bit complicated. Cancer represents emotions, food/nutrition, residential real estate, nurturing, mothers, babies and the disease cancer. Retrogrades support “Re” words such as redo, renovate, retreat, etc. This retrograde could be a simple as a little home remodeling projects or gathering the family for a barbecue. Mercury likes quick projects. Doubtful it will be that simple. Warrior Mars has just moved into transportation sign Gemini and aligning with explosive Uranus on July 3 & 4, not a good combination for family trips over the USA July 4 holiday. Do be careful when traveling, and extra careful if flying. Also, this combination tends to drive too fast. Six of the ten planets we use in astrology are in action signs (Capricorn and Cancer at the full moon, and Aries). Another factor is expansive Jupiter moving into Leo on June 30. Because this one year transits starts under Mercury retrograde, start by reviewing where your heart is engaged in your life and where you are just going through the motions. Prepare to go to the next level of life experience during this retrograde, and start with home base.
Venus Retrograde
October 3 to November 13, 2026
9 degrees Scorpio back to 22 degrees Libra
Text coming soon…
Mercury Retrograde
October 24 to November 13, 2026
21 degrees back to 5 degrees Scorpio
Scorpio takes you to the emotional depths. It helps you cleanse the bottom of your emotional drain to release self-defeating beliefs and behaviors. It helps you research deep topics. Sex, death, taxes, and using other people’s resources are a part of Scorpio. This would be a good time to research resources such as loans, grants, refinancing, and using other people’s money. Also note that the Venus retrograde cycle discussed above is shifting from being an evening start to a morning star. Ancients considered Venus as an evening star to be grace, beauty and love which is the normal traits associated with the goddess. However, ancients considered her to be more of a warrior when she was a morning star. During this Mercury retrograde, journal or plan your battle plan to address Venus issues such as love, money, desires, and what you value now and incoming.
Retrograde dates for outer planets in 2026
Because outer planets spend so much time retrograde, it is most important to pay attention on the days surrounding when they go retrograde and direct. Also, if a planet turns retrograde or direct on a planet or angle (cusp of houses 1, 4. 7 and 10) of your natal chart, that makes the cycle more important personally. Dates are for USA time zones.
Jupiter
Jupiter began his retrograde cycle on November 11, 2025 until March 10, 2026 (26 degrees back to 15 degrees Cancer). The god of abundance leaves its yearlong journey in Cancer on June 29/30. He then moves into heart-centered Leo for one year. Because this shift is tied to the June 29 Mercury retrograde (above) and a full moon, it is time to step into leadership, open hearts, have some fun, and be creative. Jupiter expands your belief system and helps you take a risk on yourself. He will turn retrograde again at 28 degrees Leo on December 12, 2026 until April 12, 2027 (17 degrees Leo).
Saturn
Saturn is retrograde from July 12 to November 27, 2025 moving backwards from 2 degrees Aries to 25 degrees Pisces. Saturn, along with Neptune, are dipping their toes into Aries in 2025, and will be fully in Aries in 2026. The previous time Saturn was in Aries was April 1996 to February 1999. Where were you restructuring your life in order to pioneer a new path then? It’s coming back but likely in a different way since you are not the same person you were then. Saturn is finishing his 2+ year run in Pisces from January to May 24, 2025, then again September 1, 2025 until mid-February 2026. Pisces is excellent for going off on a vision quest in order to tune into the Aries new path it is time to bring forth.
Saturn begins his run in Aries on May 24. Aries is ready to pioneer a new path. Saturn reminds you that you are in it for the long term. That means you now need to put physical energy into initial efforts that will pay off down the road. A personal example is that I left my industrial sales rep job and started my full time astrology practice. It took about 4 years to get the practice into a sustainable mode, and that was 30 years ago. When Saturn was in Pisces 1994-1996 (as it has been the past two years), my desire to be in my corporate job was dissolving with no clarity on the path ahead.,.
Uranus
Uranus moves between earthy Taurus and early degrees of Gemini in 2026. The god of innovation and revolution moved into air-sign Gemini on July 7, 2025 at 2 degrees Gemini until he turned retrograde on September 5, 2025. This provided a teaser of what Gemini energy will be like for you when he returns to Gemini for seven years on April 25, 2026. The previous time Uranus was in Gemini was roughly 1942-1949, World War II. The 2026 retrograde of Uranus (6 degrees Gemini) is at the September 10 new moon. The “expect the unexpected” god is retrograde until early February 2026 (1 degree Gemini)
Neptune
Neptune fully moves into Aries on January 27, 2026, having briefly tested Aries in the spring and summer of 2025. Neptune will be in Aries until 2038. He turns retrograde July 7, 2026 at 3 degrees Aries back to 1 degree Aries on December 2, 2026. Text coming soon….
Neptune has a 165r year orbit, so the last time he was in Aries was approximately 1861-1874. The civil was was going on then, and the early beginnings of the Women’s Suffragette movement was starting. African-American gained the right to vote then.
Pluto
Pluto turns retrograde May 6 ,2026 through October 15, 2026. It is retrograde between 6 and 3 degrees Aquarius. The planet of deep transformation is in the sign of innovation until 2044. The last time Pluto was in Aquarius was 1778-1798 when the early stages of the USA was forming during the Revolutionary War. Technology will increase at a lightening pace. Although Aquarius can often be brilliant, it can also think it knows better than everyone else. It can hold the higher ideal for society to step into, or be hard-headed lacking compassion for those who are not prepared or desiring the new way. In esoteric astrology (spiritual purpose), Pluto is associated with Ray 1 of will and power. The god of the underworld helps you release anything that gets between you and the ONE SOURCE of All That Is. Although not a comfortable process (releasing fears, self-worth issues, etc.) , you become empowered through a direct connection to that One Source. Call upon Master El Morya and Archangel Michael for help.