Retrogrades › Mercury › 1971
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1971: Apr 9 – May 3 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 12 – Sep 5 in Virgo and Leo; Dec 2 – Dec 22 in Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 1970 | Dec 19, 1970, 12:59 AM ET | Jan 7, 1971, 11:37 PM ET | Jan 27, 1971 | 14°06′ ♑︎ Capricorn → ♐︎ Sagittarius 27°49′ |
| Mar 26, 1971 | Apr 9, 1971, 12:08 PM ET | May 3, 1971, 6:29 AM ET | May 20, 1971 | 3°46′ ♉︎ Taurus → ♈︎ Aries 23°09′ |
| Jul 24, 1971 | Aug 12, 1971, 3:17 PM ET | Sep 5, 1971, 1:58 AM ET | Sep 19, 1971 | 10°33′ ♍︎ Virgo → ♌︎ Leo 27°22′ |
| Nov 14, 1971 | Dec 2, 1971, 9:30 PM ET | Dec 22, 1971, 3:51 PM ET | Jan 10, 1972 | 28°16′ ♐︎ Sagittarius 11°58′ |
Dec 19, 1970 – Jan 7, 1971 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 14°06′ Capricorn on Dec 19, 1970, 12:59 AM ET (1970-12-19 05:59 UTC) and direct at 27°49′ Sagittarius on Jan 7, 1971, 11:37 PM ET (1971-01-08 04:37 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Dec 1, 1970 – Jan 27, 1971.
Apr 9, 1971 – May 3, 1971 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 3°46′ Taurus on Apr 9, 1971, 12:08 PM ET (1971-04-09 17:08 UTC) and direct at 23°09′ Aries on May 3, 1971, 6:29 AM ET (1971-05-03 10:29 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort, then impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 26, 1971 – May 20, 1971.
Aug 12, 1971 – Sep 5, 1971 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 10°33′ Virgo on Aug 12, 1971, 3:17 PM ET (1971-08-12 19:17 UTC) and direct at 27°22′ Leo on Sep 5, 1971, 1:58 AM ET (1971-09-05 05:58 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details, then creativity, romance and self-expression.
Shadow: Jul 24, 1971 – Sep 19, 1971.
Dec 2, 1971 – Dec 22, 1971 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 28°16′ Sagittarius on Dec 2, 1971, 9:30 PM ET (1971-12-03 02:30 UTC) and direct at 11°58′ Sagittarius on Dec 22, 1971, 3:51 PM ET (1971-12-22 20:51 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 14, 1971 – Jan 10, 1972.
Mercury rules communication, travel, technology and contracts. During its retrograde astrologers advise reviewing rather than launching: double-check messages and bookings, back up devices, and revisit old plans or conversations.
Retrograde motion is an optical effect: Earth and Mercury move at different speeds, so Mercury appears to drift backward against the stars for a while. Our dates are station times — when the apparent motion reverses — calculated with Astronomy Engine; see the methodology.
Same year: Mars retrograde 1971 · Jupiter retrograde 1971 · Saturn retrograde 1971 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1971: Apr 9 – May 3 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 12 – Sep 5 in Virgo and Leo; Dec 2 – Dec 22 in Sagittarius. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 19, 1970, ending Jan 7, 1971.
About 74 days in total during 1971; each retrograde lasts 24 days, 23 days and 20 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 55 days.
The pre-shadow starts when Mercury first reaches the degree where it will turn direct; the post-shadow ends when it passes the degree where it turned retrograde. The dates are in the table above.
Astrology is a symbolic and cultural tradition. The planetary positions on this site are calculated with astronomical accuracy; the interpretations describe what astrologers associate with them and are not scientifically validated predictions about personality, relationships or the future.