Why Retrogrades Matter in Astrology
Have you ever noticed the Moon or planets appearing to move backward across the night sky? These moments are known as lunar and planetary retrogrades. Astronomically, it’s an optical illusion caused by Earth’s orbit, but in astrology, retrogrades are powerful pauses in the cosmos that encourage reflection, review, and inner growth.
These periods aren’t “bad luck”—they’re opportunities to slow down, revisit old projects, and realign your energy. In this guide, we’ll cover six months of retrogrades and lunar events, plus tips to handle them, with calendars you can download directly to your phone.
Table of Contents
1. What Does “Retrograde” Actually Mean?
2. The Moon and Retrograde Motion
3. Six-Month Lunar and Planetary Retrograde Calendar
4. How to Navigate Current Retrogrades
5. Astrological Patterns During Overlapping Retrogrades
6. Rituals, Reflection, and Journaling Ideas
7. FAQ: Lunar & Planetary Retrogrades (Oct 2025–Mar 2026)
1. What Does “Retrograde” Actually Mean?
Imagine you’re on a merry-go-round and another kid on a faster one appears to move backward. That’s retrograde motion. It’s not real—it’s your perspective on Earth’s orbit.
When planets are direct, energy moves forward smoothly. During retrogrades, astrologers see it as a chance to review lessons and slow down. For instance, Mercury retrograde signals double-checking messages, travel plans, or contracts.
2. The Moon and Retrograde Motion
Good news: the Moon never goes retrograde. It moves quickly, about every two days through a sign. But the Moon does have void-of-course (VOC) periods, short moments when it isn’t strongly interacting with other planets.
During VOCs, energy feels inward and reflective—great for rest, meditation, or journaling, not for launching new projects.
Also, the lunar nodes—points of destiny—move backward all the time. In 2025, the North Node is in Pisces, encouraging us to release old habits and dream bigger, adding retrograde energy to our spiritual lessons.
3. Six-Month Lunar and Planetary Retrogrades Calendar
We’ve compiled six months of key astrology events—retrogrades, void-of-course moons, eclipses, and solstices—so you can track planetary energy. Each month has a placeholder for charts and a downloadable calendar for your phone.
Times in UTC—check your local time for exact figures for your area. Click a Calendar Month below to see the retrograde times
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