What Does Retrograde Mean, Anyway?

Many of us are somewhat familiar with the astrological phenomenon known as Mercury retrograde periods, during which we're more likely to hit unexpected traffic, send a text to the wrong group chat, or show up to the wrong bar for happy hour. But these infamous transits aren't just reserved for planet Mercury. All the planets in astrology (save for the sun and moon) have regularly-occurring retrograde periods — and each of them shake up our lives and teach us cosmic lessons in their own unique ways.

Retrogrades are common cosmic events, but they’re also the most dreaded. This is because planetary retrograde periods are known for causing confusion, revisions, and (sometimes unwelcome) blasts from the past. But retrogrades don’t have to be bad or scary, especially if you know how to work with them and align with their flow. Understanding what retrogrades mean in astrology how they impact our lives can change the way we experience these inevitable backspins.

How Do Retrogrades Work?

Before we get into the astrological meaning of retrogrades, let’s break down what’s actually happening in the cosmos during a backspin. "The word retrograde comes from a Latin word retogradus, which means ‘backward step,'" astrologer Leslie Hale of spiritual advising network Keen.com tells Bustle. "Astronomers call this retrograde movement an ‘apparent backward motion,’ because it is an illusion, and the planet is not actually moving backward.”

A retrograde is technically an optical illusion that occurs when a planet's orbit aligns with ours in just the right way. Planets don’t actually break the laws of physics and reverse their orbit — it simply looks as though they’re slowing down and moving backward from our vantage point here on Earth. It's similar to the way that when we're in a moving vehicle, a bus in the lane next to us might appear to move backwards momentarily when the speed and timing is just right.

In astrology, retrogrades are believed to signify a period of review, reassessment, and reimagining in the areas of life ruled by that planet.

How Often Do Retrogrades Happen?

Retrogrades are a commonplace occurrence in astrology — in fact, we usually have at least one planet retrograding at any given time. These planetary backspins happen in cycles, and those are different for each planet. Mercury retrogrades are one of the most notorious of them all due to the fact that they occur three to four times a year — more frequently than any other planet! Meanwhile, planets like Mars only backspin every other year.

The Astrological Meaning Of A Retrograde

Retrogrades in astronomy may refer to an optical illusion — but in astrology, the effects of these planetary transits are considered very real. "Retrogrades are periods of reassessment and redoing," Hale says. "They frequently deal with the past — so things, situations, and even people from the past can re-appear." It's a time to slow down, do some personal reflection, and review the trajectory we've been on. By making an effort to check ourselves and learn from our pasts during a retrograde, we can move forward with more clarity and confidence once it’s done.

During retrogrades, issues that we've tried to bury or ignore could come back to the surface to haunt us, forcing us to deal with them and find some resolution. Even situations that we thought were finished could bubble up again in some way, requiring us to come to new conclusions or learn new lessons.

You may notice that during certain retrogrades, you have a tendency to hit road blocks on projects, run into issues within relationships, or face personal crises and confusion. Think of these struggles as the universe’s way of helping you learn from mistakes and get in touch with yourself before charging forward on new endeavors. Hale notes that retrogrades are "connected with karmic events in life," so rolling with the retrograde flow instead of trying to overcome it can help you feel more in sync.

What Does Each Retrograde Planet Mean For Us?

Each of the planets in astrology rules over a different part of our lives. It's within those parts of our life that we'll experience the retrograde-fueled effects while a planet is backspinning. Every planet’s retrograde has something different to teach us, and they offer us opportunities to pause so we can review our decisions, assess where we're at, and make adjustments before moving forward again.

• Mercury retrograde: Mercury is the planet of communication, thinking, timing, and technology. Its retrogrades can cause all sorts of mix-ups, scheduling snags, and tech glitches. Mercury backspins three to four times a year for about three weeks at a time.
• Venus retrograde: Venus is the planet of love, romance, value, and money, so its retrogrades often impact our relationships or finances. Venus retrogrades approximately every year and half for about 40 days at a time.
• Mars retrograde: Mars is the planet of energy, passion, and sexuality, so its retrogrades affect the way we take action on things and chase our goals. Mars backspins every other year for about 60 to 80 days at a time.
• Jupiter retrograde: Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion, so its retrogrades relate to our personal evolution. Jupiter backspins once a year for about four months at a time.
• Saturn retrograde: Saturn is the planet of rules and restrictions, so its retrogrades affect our sense of responsibilities. Saturn backspins once a year for about four and a half months.
• Uranus retrograde: Uranus is the planet of chaos and unexpected shifts, so its retrogrades subtly affect the way we process sudden change in our lives. Uranus backspins once a year for about five months at a time.
• Neptune retrograde: Neptune is the planet of dreams and illusions, so its retrogrades subtly affect the way we perceive our realities. Neptune backspins once a year for about five months at a time.
• Pluto retrograde: Pluto is the planet of transformation, so its retrogrades subtly affect our relationship to slow-moving changes taking place in society. Pluto backspins once a year for about five months at a time.

What's The Best Way To Survive A Retrograde Unscathed?

Contrary to popular belief, planetary retrogrades are not here to ruin our lives. While it's true that they can cause some confusion and standstills, it's all in the name of growth and consciousness — and if we know how to align with their energy, we can actually use them to our advantage.

"When a planet retrogrades, it is time for us to take a step back and look at what the retrograding planet represents, and to polish that part of our life rather than moving forward," Hale says. "Even if it seems like nothing is going on underneath the surface [in that part of your life], there is likely a lot." Retrogrades only pose a problem if we refuse to slow our pace and do the work they’re asking of us. So if we carry on with life as usual and refuse to address the things that surface during these periods, the planets might end up serving us some infamous retrograde snags.

Of course, in our fast-paced and productivity-obsessed society, it can be difficult to press pause and take a breather. But if we're looking to align ourselves with the current astrological energy and facilitate some personal growth, then retrogrades are an ideal time to do it.

Retroshade: The Lead Up & Come-Down Of The Retrograde

Let's talk about preparing for a retrograde, and then re-adjusting after one. In addition to the retrograde itself, every retrograde cycle also includes a pre- and post-retrograde shadow period — often called a retroshade for short, and referred to as stationary retrograde periods in astronomy. These retrograde shadow periods occur when a planet is moving forward over the same portion of the zodiac that it backspins over during its actual retrograde.

During a pre-retrograde shadow period, we usually begin to feel the effects of the retrograde. It's a good time to start tying up loose ends in the areas of your life ruled by the soon-to-be-retrograding planet and start preparing (that way you can avoid all the things you shouldn't do during a retrograde). Pay attention to the themes that arise during this period, as you may be revisiting them during the retrograde.

During the post-retrograde shadow period, we slowly transition back into normal life. The energy of the retrograde hasn't fully cleared, but things are beginning to move forward again — so we should take things slowly and try to integrate the lessons the retrograde taught us.