Retrogrades › Mercury › 1981
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1981: Feb 8 – Mar 2 in Pisces and Aquarius; Jun 9 – Jul 3 in Cancer and Gemini; Oct 6 – Oct 27 in Scorpio and Libra.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 1981 | Feb 8, 1981, 7:29 AM ET | Mar 2, 1981, 2:08 AM ET | Mar 22, 1981 | 4°55′ ♓︎ Pisces → ♒︎ Aquarius 19°51′ |
| May 24, 1981 | Jun 9, 1981, 7:39 AM ET | Jul 3, 1981, 8:57 AM ET | Jul 17, 1981 | 5°13′ ♋︎ Cancer → ♊︎ Gemini 26°20′ |
| Sep 15, 1981 | Oct 6, 1981, 5:18 AM ET | Oct 27, 1981, 4:11 AM ET | Nov 11, 1981 | 3°52′ ♏︎ Scorpio → ♎︎ Libra 18°15′ |
Feb 8, 1981 – Mar 2, 1981 · 22 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 4°55′ Pisces on Feb 8, 1981, 7:29 AM ET (1981-02-08 12:29 UTC) and direct at 19°51′ Aquarius on Mar 2, 1981, 2:08 AM ET (1981-03-02 07:08 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to intuition, dreams and endings, then friends, groups and future goals.
Shadow: Jan 24, 1981 – Mar 22, 1981.
Jun 9, 1981 – Jul 3, 1981 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 5°13′ Cancer on Jun 9, 1981, 7:39 AM ET (1981-06-09 11:39 UTC) and direct at 26°20′ Gemini on Jul 3, 1981, 8:57 AM ET (1981-07-03 12:57 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to home, family and old memories, then everyday communication, siblings and short trips.
Shadow: May 24, 1981 – Jul 17, 1981.
Oct 6, 1981 – Oct 27, 1981 · 21 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 3°52′ Scorpio on Oct 6, 1981, 5:18 AM ET (1981-10-06 09:18 UTC) and direct at 18°15′ Libra on Oct 27, 1981, 4:11 AM ET (1981-10-27 09:11 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to shared money, secrets and emotional depth, then partnerships, agreements and fairness.
Shadow: Sep 15, 1981 – Nov 11, 1981.
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: Venus retrograde 1981 · Jupiter retrograde 1981 · Saturn retrograde 1981 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1981: Feb 8 – Mar 2 in Pisces and Aquarius; Jun 9 – Jul 3 in Cancer and Gemini; Oct 6 – Oct 27 in Scorpio and Libra.
About 67 days in total during 1981; each retrograde lasts 22 days, 24 days and 21 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 57 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.