Retrogrades › Mercury › 2022
Mercury is retrograde four times in 2022: Jan 14 – Feb 3 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 10 – Jun 3 in Gemini and Taurus; Sep 9 – Oct 2 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 29 – Jan 18 in Capricorn.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 2021 | Jan 14, 2022, 6:42 AM ET | Feb 3, 2022, 11:12 PM ET | Feb 24, 2022 | 10°20′ ♒︎ Aquarius → ♑︎ Capricorn 24°23′ |
| Apr 26, 2022 | May 10, 2022, 7:54 AM ET | Jun 3, 2022, 3:54 AM ET | Jun 18, 2022 | 4°52′ ♊︎ Gemini → ♉︎ Taurus 26°05′ |
| Aug 20, 2022 | Sep 9, 2022, 11:36 PM ET | Oct 2, 2022, 5:12 AM ET | Oct 17, 2022 | 8°56′ ♎︎ Libra → ♍︎ Virgo 24°12′ |
| Dec 12, 2022 | Dec 29, 2022, 4:32 AM ET | Jan 18, 2023, 8:10 AM ET | Feb 7, 2023 | 24°21′ ♑︎ Capricorn 8°08′ |
Jan 14, 2022 – Feb 3, 2022 · 21 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 10°20′ Aquarius on Jan 14, 2022, 6:42 AM ET (2022-01-14 11:42 UTC) and direct at 24°23′ Capricorn on Feb 3, 2022, 11:12 PM ET (2022-02-04 04:12 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to friends, groups and future goals, then career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 29, 2021 – Feb 24, 2022.
May 10, 2022 – Jun 3, 2022 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 4°52′ Gemini on May 10, 2022, 7:54 AM ET (2022-05-10 11:54 UTC) and direct at 26°05′ Taurus on Jun 3, 2022, 3:54 AM ET (2022-06-03 07:54 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to everyday communication, siblings and short trips, then money, possessions and comfort.
Shadow: Apr 26, 2022 – Jun 18, 2022.
Sep 9, 2022 – Oct 2, 2022 · 22 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 8°56′ Libra on Sep 9, 2022, 11:36 PM ET (2022-09-10 03:36 UTC) and direct at 24°12′ Virgo on Oct 2, 2022, 5:12 AM ET (2022-10-02 09:12 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to partnerships, agreements and fairness, then work routines, health and details.
Shadow: Aug 20, 2022 – Oct 17, 2022.
Dec 29, 2022 – Jan 18, 2023 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 24°21′ Capricorn on Dec 29, 2022, 4:32 AM ET (2022-12-29 09:32 UTC) and direct at 8°08′ Capricorn on Jan 18, 2023, 8:10 AM ET (2023-01-18 13:10 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to career, authority and long-term plans.
Shadow: Dec 12, 2022 – Feb 7, 2023.
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 2022 · Mars retrograde 2022 · Jupiter retrograde 2022 · Saturn retrograde 2022 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde four times in 2022: Jan 14 – Feb 3 in Aquarius and Capricorn; May 10 – Jun 3 in Gemini and Taurus; Sep 9 – Oct 2 in Libra and Virgo; Dec 29 – Jan 18 in Capricorn.
About 69 days in total during 2022; each retrograde lasts 21 days, 24 days, 22 days and 20 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.