Retrograde
Glossary · Last updated: 2026-07-26
Retrograde motion is when a planet appears to reverse direction against the zodiac background for a few weeks. It is a perspective effect, not a real reversal of orbit.
Mercury retrograde became a pop-culture shorthand for mix-ups. Serious chart work notes all retrograde planets, not just Mercury.
On this site
Our daily Western reader may mention retrograde planets when relevant. Birth-date cards focus on sign identity rather than transit weather.