The Best 2022 Retrograde Calendar

Dear Magic Makers,

All planets will be retrograde at some point in 2022, marking a year of revision and transformation, especially in matters linked to communication, self-expression, and learning, but with a strong impact on professional and financial matters as well. 

Until January 29, Venus retrograde in Capricorn supports us to reconsider our commitments and build connections based on respect and long-term potential, while in the second part of the year Mars retrograde will help us realize what has been left unsaid or undone in our relationships. Starting from July, Jupiter’s retrograde in Aries is a wildcard transit that will bring up themes linked to self-assertion and power. 

Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto retrograde in the same signs that they transited in 2021, marking a continuation of old chapters in the areas that they occupy in the birth chart.

MERCURY RETROGRADES IN 2022

Mercury has been retrograding in air signs in 2021, prompting us to reflect on our way of communicating, and will retrograde in earth signs in 2023, marking a year of practical reconsiderations. 2022 will be the year in-between, when the messenger god will spin backward in both air and earth signs.

What we can expect: the usual tech mix-ups, miscommunication, and necessary introspection… with an extra dose of grounding (especially with the North Node, our collective purpose, in steady Taurus) and awareness when it comes to work, health, and finances. 

1st Mercury Retrograde In Aquarius/Capricorn:
January 14 – February 3

From January 14 to January 25, Mercury retrogrades in Aquarius, supporting us to reconsider our friendships, our allegiances, and our hopes for the future. The good part: by the end of the retrograde, we’ll have a much clearer picture of what we want our future to look like and who is included in it! The challenging part: wacky Mercury retrograding in Aquarius, the sign that rules technology, can bring some serious mix-ups or crashes linked to tech equipment, online systems, and virtual communication. Err on the side of caution and make sure you back up your data before January 14.

This is a time when old friends might come back into our lives, whether it’s for closure or for continuing a story from the past. We might also reencounter a business associate or reconnect to a group we’d previously been a part of. As always, it’s good to ask ourselves if our current lives still hold space for what has passed… or whether it’s better to move on.

Mercury conjuncts steady Saturn and squares rebellious Uranus during this transit, making it a difficult time for communication. Many of us will want to speak our truth and to move forward with a plan to be more independent, but external circumstances might limit us, reminding us that there are rules and steps to be followed. It might be frustrating, but patience is the best approach at this time. 

From January 25 to February 3, Mercury retrogrades in Capricorn, putting a strain on our relationship with authority and prompting us to be grounded and practical about our goals. We might reconsider our career decisions or improve a business plan at this time; it’s a great transit for reshaping, restructuring, and consolidating what we’ve started in the past. On a personal level, Mercury’s conjunction with heavy Pluto can bring past fears and traumas to the surface, making it easier to see the truth and challenging us to develop resilience as we grow healthier ways of thinking and interacting with others. 

2nd Mercury Retrograde in Gemini/Taurus:
May 10 – June 3

From May 10 to May 22, Mercury retrogrades in Gemini, its home sign, putting a damper on the usual chattiness and curiosity brought by this transit. We’re still going to feel inquisitive and we’ll want to look at things from a rational perspective, but it will be harder to express our thoughts or to see things as clearly as we’d like. 

This transit will bring communication and tech mix-ups, prompting us to double-check any information and to keep a wide window of tolerance when we interact with others. All of us might struggle with finding the right words at this time. We might also have to pay special attention to documents of any kind, since making decisions based on the first impression can lead to misunderstandings or errors. Transport can also be unreliable, so don’t expect trains or buses to be on time and make sure to take your car in for a check-up before mid-May. 

The bright side is that we can use Gemini’s wit and curiosity to think about Mercury retrograde’s favorite subject: the past. We can revisit or relearn old info, meet up with an ex-classmate or an old friend, appreciate how much we’ve learned until now, and pause before moving forward on our quest for more info. This transit is here to remind us that we can’t always rely on reason to dissect reality; subjectivity and intuition are valuable tools as well.

From May 22 to June 3, Mercury retrogrades in Taurus, bringing reconsiderations and reflections of a more practical nature. It’s a great time for thinking about our finances, our approach to business, and our spending habits. Avoid making a major investment at this time – you might see it in a different light when Mercury goes direct – and focus on the simple pleasures of life, showing gratitude and trusting that you’re preparing yourself for future abundance.

During this retrograde, Mercury will form easy aspects with expansive Jupiter and transformative Pluto, supporting us to find new ways of seeing old problems, and a tense aspect with rule-bound Saturn, imposing some temporary limitations (a possible tendency toward pessimism in the first part of May or a need to be more conservative with money after May 22) that support us to become more realistic and responsible.

3rd Mercury Retrograde In Libra/Virgo:
September 9 – October 2

From September 9 to September 23, Mercury retrograde in Libra revisits a favorite theme of 2021: relationships, contracts, and commitments. This is a time when old relationship issues can resurface and old contracts can be reconsidered, depending on how much they’re based on respect and reciprocity.

Mercury’s opposition with Jupiter, the planet of justice, will help us see with more clarity where we’ve been either giving or taking too much. Unbalanced situations will be harder to ignore, but efforts to communicate clearly might be thwarted until Mercury goes direct again. This is a time to reflect on our relationships, write down our values, and spot any vicious cycles that have been making it difficult to relate to others in a healthy way. 

Some of us might reconnect with an ex or reconsider an old business partnership at this time, while others might reflect on a break-up and find closure. By the end of this transit, we’ll have a clearer picture of where we stand, how we can speak up, and how we can define ourselves in contrast, but also in togetherness with others.

From September 23 to October 2, Mercury retrograde in Virgo will bring practical reconsiderations linked to lifestyle and work. It’s the perfect time to resume an exercise routine, start eating healthy again, clean the house and get rid of unwanted items, or reconsider a work decision that we might no longer resonate with. 

Mercury’s trine with powerful Pluto can sharpen our intuition and support inner transformation at this time, while a tricky Mercury – Neptune opposition deepens compassion and inspiration, but warns us against believing all we hear or depleting ourselves by giving too much.

4th Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn:
December 29 – January 18, 2023

Starting from December 29, Mercury retrograde in Capricorn will revisit themes around work, responsibility, long-term planning, and authority that were active at the end of January, supporting us to set better boundaries and to prepare for a new level of commitment in the relationships and the contexts that we vibe with. In 2023, Mercury will only retrograde in earth signs – Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn –, bringing an increased need to focus on how we relate to the material world, from Mother Earth and her resources to our physical health and our skills.

MARS RETROGRADE 2022

Mars Retrograde in Gemini:
October 30 – January 12, 2023

Mars, the planet of instinct and aggression, retrogrades for about 80 days every two years, marking a time when straightforward action and initiatives are less likely to succeed and the focus is on inner work around instinct, anger, and assertiveness. If you’re planning on starting a new job or a major project in 2022, try to schedule it before November, reserving the last part of the year for rest, reflection, and reassessment.

When Mars is retrograde, tempers are more likely to flare. In the intellectual sign of Gemini, Mars can amplify verbal conflicts, making us more prone to saying things that we might regret later. In typical retrograde manner, we might react to present difficulties as if we were a past version of ourselves – small and hurt by a similar event.  We might get more easily triggered in conversations and we’re going to need an extra dose of awareness and self-control to act consciously instead of following our gut instinct, which might be a little off during Mars retrograde. 

We might feel a pressing need to initiate a new project – especially if it’s linked to knowledge or communication of any kind – and to speak our minds with courage, making up for all the times when we stayed silent in the past. However, if we march forward with a warrior’s courage, it’s less likely to get the expected results.

We might come off as brash or thoughtless; don’t forget that everyone is fighting their own inner battles during Mars retrograde. It’s best to look within, to heal wounds linked to speaking up, staying silent, or seeking more information (especially if being outspoken or curious was punished in your family), and to recharge before speaking up and taking action.

Mars square Neptune might bring up themes linked to self-confidence and courage during this transit, revealing situations where we’ve been staying silent or inactive to avoid bothering others or to prevent failure. Feelings of powerlessness might arise, supporting us to take back our inner strength from draining situations.

At the same time, a beautiful trine between Mars and self-controlled Saturn will give us the grit to discipline our thoughts and to reconsider our plans with more attention to detail and applicability. 

Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces will be the most impacted signs, with a focus on how they assert themselves and manage their energy levels, but all of us will go through important reconsiderations in the life area ruled by Gemini in the birth chart.

JUPITER RETROGRADE 2022

Jupiter Retrograde in Aries and Pisces:
July 28 – November 23

From July 28 to October 28, Jupiter retrogrades in the impulsive sign of Aries. These three months will prompt us to refine the way we assert ourselves and follow our instincts, slowing down a tendency to operate on fast forward and showing us that a slower pace can still lead to growth, despite possible moments of frustration.

In direct motion, Jupiter in Aries amplifies the ego’s desires… and its wounds, depending on our level of self-knowledge and our commitment to a healing path.

During retrograde season, Jupiter prompts us to look within and to realign with our values, spotting situations where we might have blown things out of proportion or, on the contrary, where we’ve been avoiding self-assertion and following other people’s values excessively. Some questions to ask yourself during this transit: What do I really want? What’s my usual manner of pursuing my desires? Am I risking too much or not enough? 

If you’re planning on starting something new during Jupiter retrograde, make sure you don’t get carried away by the heat of the moment when it happens; moderation is an important key with Jupiter in Aries. What might seem like a good idea in the present could end up being an exaggeration in the long term if we bite more than we can chew. For now, take things slowly. When Jupiter goes direct again, success will come naturally as it gets easier to manifest what you’ve been reflecting on!

From October 28 to November 23, Jupiter retrogrades in Pisces, mirroring a similar transit that took place in 2021, between June 20 and July 28. This month, our need to expand emotionally and to give unconditionally to those around us will ideally be tempered by clearer boundaries.

This transit supports us to see things realistically and to avoid the traps of people-pleasing, falling for unrealistic promises, or excessive self-sacrifice. After April’s conjunction between expansive Jupiter and dreamy Neptune, this autumn is great for integrating past insights, appreciating how we’ve grown emotionally, spiritually, and artistically, and reflecting on the next steps for personal and collective healing.

SATURN RETROGRADE 2022

Saturn Retrograde In Aquarius:
June 4 – October 23

2022 mirrors last year’s Saturn retrograde in Aquarius, this time with more tolerance and wisdom as the Lord of Karma is nearing the end of this unpredictable, experimental sign. 2021’s retrograde has brought social (Aquarius) restrictions (Saturn), wide-spread and global (Aquarius) solutions to current problems (Saturn), and strong reactions (Saturn) against social injustice (Aquarius). We’ve had our fair dose of heaviness around themes of freedom and oppression. How will the 2022 Saturn retrograde keep the story going?

On a personal level, the months between June and October will bring a need to reconsider and to slow down our projects, especially if they’re linked to tech, science, innovation, astrology, or community. We’ll be going through a natural process of refining and redefining our responsibilities and the necessary efforts required for success. Our circle of friends or our group allegiances can also go through slow, long-term changes. As usual, if you feel like you’re not progressing at all during this time, stay patient – it’s just the Saturn effect, making sure that everything is aligned before you move forward.

On a global level, we might either see a continuation of pandemic restrictions during these months or a call to reflect on the difficult experiences that we’ve all been going through in the past years. We might need to reconsider how the pandemic has affected our jobs and our long-term plans, finding innovative, but realistic solutions. New themes around social justice, oppression, and minority rights can come to the surface. 

With Saturn in the last segment of Aquarius, ruled by Venus (the planet of love and money), we might have to deal with the financial consequences of the pandemic, but we might also find it easier to reach out to one another across everything that separates us and to find strength in community.

URANUS RETROGRADE 2022

Uranus Retrograde In Taurus:
August 24 – January 22, 2023

Eccentric Uranus stays in the practical sign of Taurus for 2022, supporting us to continue a process of reconsidering our values and our resources during its yearly retrograde. Especially around August 24 and January 22, 2023, expect financial changes or shifts in the way we manage material resources. 

On a global level, we’re going through another phase that gives us the chance to deepen our understanding of how our actions are affecting the planet and to start taking action, while on a personal level we’re supported to keep nurturing our financial independence and stay open to change. During this transit, more of us are supported to earn money (Taurus) through online work or innovative activities (Uranus) and to reconsider (Uranus) traditional values (Taurus). 

Those of us with strong Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius placements will feel the strongest need to reflect on practical changes in their lives during the retrograde, but all of us can go through inner shifts in the life area ruled by Taurus in the birth chart. Especially on July 31, when Uranus conjuncts the North Node of dharma and evolution, we can be shaken out of our comfort zones and pushed toward change!

NEPTUNE RETROGRADE 2022

Neptune Retrograde in Pisces:
June 28 – December 3

Neptune’s annual retrograde marks a time of introspection when we’re guided to see beyond shadows and illusions and to weave our dreams with more openness to the unknown.

The challenge? Staying realistic, especially if something seems too good to be true, and noticing where we’re trying to cover up past wounds with present addictions. The gift? Intuition, psychic abilities, compassion, and an extra dose of inspiration. 

Especially around June 28 and December 3, we might feel more receptive to the energy around us and we might go through important shifts linked to our spiritual path, our artistic activities, and the way we offer and receive unconditional love (Where are your boundaries too strong? Where are they too permissive?). 

For an extra dose of clarity, look at where you have Pisces in your birth chart to see where you’re supported to believe in magic, yet to stay grounded during this year’s Neptune retrograde.

PLUTO RETROGRADE 2022

Pluto Retrograde In Capricorn:
April 29 – October 8

2022 brings another Pluto retrograde season in the industrious sign of Capricorn, continuing a process of revealing secrets about corrupt power systems and supporting us to connect to our inner authority with more confidence.

Especially around April 29 and October 8, stay mindful of important transformations in your life, because these are moments that confront us with the deepest layers of life: suffering, ecstasy, endings, and rebirths. Take a look at where Capricorn is in your birth chart to see where Pluto retrograde is writing a new chapter in your life this year!

Tune In To Our Blog To Learn More About Retrogrades In 2022