Retrogrades › Mercury › 1984
New to shadow dates? Read how Mercury’s pre-shadow and post-shadow are calculated.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1984: Apr 11 – May 5 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 14 – Sep 6 in Virgo; Dec 4 – Dec 24 in Capricorn and Sagittarius.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 1983 | Dec 21, 1983, 7:52 PM ET | Jan 10, 1984, 7:37 PM ET | Jan 30, 1984 | 16°39′ ♑︎ Capricorn 0°23′ |
| Mar 28, 1984 | Apr 11, 1984, 3:18 PM ET | May 5, 1984, 10:10 AM ET | May 22, 1984 | 6°42′ ♉︎ Taurus → ♈︎ Aries 26°18′ |
| Jul 26, 1984 | Aug 14, 1984, 3:35 PM ET | Sep 6, 1984, 11:57 PM ET | Sep 21, 1984 | 13°24′ ♍︎ Virgo 0°02′ |
| Nov 16, 1984 | Dec 4, 1984, 4:43 PM ET | Dec 24, 1984, 11:13 AM ET | Jan 12, 1985 | 0°49′ ♑︎ Capricorn → ♐︎ Sagittarius 14°30′ |
Dec 21, 1983 – Jan 10, 1984 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 16°39′ Capricorn on Dec 21, 1983, 7:52 PM ET (1983-12-22 00:52 UTC) and direct at 0°23′ Capricorn on Jan 10, 1984, 7:37 PM ET (1984-01-11 00:37 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 4, 1983 – Jan 30, 1984.
Apr 11, 1984 – May 5, 1984 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 6°42′ Taurus on Apr 11, 1984, 3:18 PM ET (1984-04-11 20:18 UTC) and direct at 26°18′ Aries on May 5, 1984, 10:10 AM ET (1984-05-05 14:10 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to money, possessions and comfort, then impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 28, 1984 – May 22, 1984.
Aug 14, 1984 – Sep 6, 1984 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 13°24′ Virgo on Aug 14, 1984, 3:35 PM ET (1984-08-14 19:35 UTC) and direct at 0°02′ Virgo on Sep 6, 1984, 11:57 PM ET (1984-09-07 03:57 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Jul 26, 1984 – Sep 21, 1984.
Dec 4, 1984 – Dec 24, 1984 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 0°49′ Capricorn on Dec 4, 1984, 4:43 PM ET (1984-12-04 21:43 UTC) and direct at 14°30′ Sagittarius on Dec 24, 1984, 11:13 AM ET (1984-12-24 16:13 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans, then travel, education and beliefs.
Shadow: Nov 16, 1984 – Jan 12, 1985.
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 1984 · Jupiter retrograde 1984 · Saturn retrograde 1984 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 1984: Apr 11 – May 5 in Taurus and Aries; Aug 14 – Sep 6 in Virgo; Dec 4 – Dec 24 in Capricorn and Sagittarius. The year also opens with the retrograde that began on Dec 21, 1983, ending Jan 10, 1984.
About 77 days in total during 1984; 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.