Was I born during Mercury retrograde?
Enter your birthday to see if you were born during Mercury retrograde, in its shadow, or right on a station, which day of the retrograde it was, and when your progressed Mercury turns. All eight planets are checked too.
Example: born August 15, 1991 at 2:20 PM in New York. Enter your own birthday above.
Mercury at your birth
Yes.
Mercury was retrograde when you were born.
- Position
- ♍︎ 3° Virgo
- Day of the retrograde
- Day 8 of 24
- That retrograde
- Aug 7, 1991 – Aug 31, 1991
- Progressed Mercury
- turns direct at age 16 (around 2007)
5 planets were retrograde at your birth, like 5.3% of people.
All eight planets at your birth
- Mercury
Retrograde · day 8 of 24
♍︎ in Virgo
Progressed: turns direct at age 16 (2007)
- Venus
Retrograde · day 15 of 43
♍︎ in Virgo
Progressed: turns direct at age 29 (2020)
- Mars
Direct · no shadow
♍︎ in Virgo
- Jupiter
Direct · no shadow
♌︎ in Leo
- Saturn
Retrograde · day 91 of 141
♒︎ in Aquarius
- Uranus
Retrograde · day 120 of 154
♑︎ in Capricorn
- Neptune
Retrograde · day 119 of 160
♑︎ in Capricorn
- Pluto
Direct · post-shadow
♏︎ in Scorpio
By the AstroChart team · Updated October 30, 2026 · Stations from astronomy-engine, checked against the Swiss Ephemeris
What it means to be born during Mercury retrograde
Being born during Mercury retrograde means that, at the moment of your birth, Mercury appeared from Earth to move backwards through the zodiac. Your birth chart marks it with an R or ℞.
No planet ever reverses. Earth and Mercury both circle the Sun, Mercury faster and on the inside track, and about three times a year it overtakes us. For three weeks or so, seen from Earth, it drifts backwards against the stars. Astrologers call that stretch Mercury retrograde, and if you were born inside it, your natal Mercury is retrograde.
The question of whether you were born during Mercury retrograde has a precise answer, down to the hour, because the two turning points, the stations, are known to the minute. What it means is a matter of astrological reading, and the readings are calmer than the reputation: the traditional picture is a mind that turns things over, rehearses, revisits and edits.
Most tools that tell you whether you were born during Mercury retrograde stop at yes or no. This one also tells you where in the cycle you were born: in the shadow before the retrograde, on a given day of it, in the shadow after, or right on a station, when Mercury stands almost still. It checks the other seven planets the same way.
The stations come from the same table as our Mercury retrograde tracker, so the dates match to the minute. For the rest of your chart, the birth chart calculator shows every planet, sign and house.
How common is it to be born during Mercury retrograde?
Being born during Mercury retrograde is common enough to be ordinary. In 20,000 birth moments drawn at random from 1950 to 2009, Mercury was retrograde at 18.9%, a little under one birth in five. That matches the calendar: from 1900 to 2040, Mercury spends 19.1% of the time retrograde.
Count the shadows and the picture changes. Another 14.9% of births fell in the pre-retrograde shadow and 14.6% in the post-retrograde shadow, so 48.4% of people, nearly half, were born somewhere inside a Mercury retrograde window.
The other planets range widely. Venus is retrograde at only 7% of births and Mars at 9.1%, because they reverse rarely. The slow outer planets spend far more of their time backwards: Jupiter 30.7%, Saturn 36.2%, Uranus 41.3%, Neptune 43.6% and Pluto 42.9%.
Shadow, retrograde, station: the four phases
A Mercury retrograde is longer than the three weeks between its stations. Before it turns, Mercury first crosses the degree where it will later turn direct; from there to the retrograde station is the pre-shadow. After it turns direct, it needs a while to get back to the degree where it turned retrograde; that stretch is the post-shadow.
So a birth can fall in one of four phases: pre-shadow, retrograde, post-shadow, or none of them, and only the second makes you born during Mercury retrograde. Inside the retrograde, the day matters too. A birth on day 2 of 23 is close to the turn; a birth on day 12 sits near the middle, when Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun.
Between 19.8 and 24.2 days long, a Mercury retrograde lasted 22.2 days on average across the 444 of them from 1900 to 2040, and 15% of years held four of them rather than three.
Born on a station
At each station Mercury slows to a near standstill before reversing, and astrologers have long read a planet that is stationary at birth as concentrated, its themes louder in the chart. This page calls a planet stationary when the birth falls within a set window of its station: 1 day for Mercury, 2 for Venus, 3 for Mars, 5 for Jupiter and Saturn, and 7 for Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
A stationary Mercury is rare: 3.3% of births. A stationary planet of any kind is not: 34% of people have at least one, usually a slow outer planet that lingers for weeks near its turning point.
A station also explains why two people born a day apart can get different answers. For 4.9% of calendar dates, some planet turns that day, 1.7% for Mercury alone, and only the birth time can say which side of the turn you are on.
- Mercury±1 day
- Venus±2 days
- Mars±3 days
- Jupiter±5 days
- Saturn±5 days
- Uranus±7 days
- Neptune±7 days
- Pluto±7 days
When a natal retrograde turns direct
Your natal Mercury never changes, but in secondary progressions, a classic timing method, each day after birth stands for a year of life. If Mercury turned direct 11 days after you were born, your progressed Mercury turns direct at about age 11.
For people born during Mercury retrograde, that turn came at a median age of 11.2 in our simulation. Astrologers who use progressions often describe it as the point where a habit of looking inward finds an outward voice: a change in how you speak, study or decide.
It works the other way too. If you were born with Mercury direct and it turned retrograde a few weeks later, your progressed Mercury turns retrograde at that age. Across all births, 96% see their progressed Mercury change direction before 90. If you were born during Mercury retrograde, the verdict shows the age of your turn; the cards show it for Venus and Mars.
How many retrograde planets is normal?
Two. That was the median across 20,000 random births, and three or more were retrograde for 44% of them. A chart with no retrograde planet at all, the one people tend to think of as normal, came up only 11.4% of the time.
Most of that count comes from the slow outer planets, which are retrograde for months at a stretch and so are shared by everyone born in those months. That is why astrologers weigh a retrograde Mercury, Venus or Mars more personally than a retrograde Uranus, Neptune or Pluto.
Mercury, Venus and Mars all retrograde at one birth is rarer still: it did not come up once in the 20,000 random births. The line under your verdict gives your own count and how many people share it.
What astrologers read into each natal retrograde
These are the traditional readings of a planet retrograde at birth, from being born during Mercury retrograde to a retrograde Pluto, as astrologers describe them. They are interpretations, not findings.
Mercury ℞
Thinking turned inward. A mind that rehearses before it speaks, revises what it writes, and learns best by going back over things. Often an unusual path through school, and a gift for research and editing.
Venus ℞
Values worked out privately. Slow to trust in love, careful with money, and drawn to revisit old relationships or old styles before choosing new ones.
Mars ℞
Drive that builds before it shows. Strategic rather than impulsive, slow to anger and slow to forget, with energy that is best spent on long efforts.
Jupiter ℞
Faith that has to be found within. A personal philosophy rather than an inherited one, and growth that comes from reflection more than from opportunities handed over.
Saturn ℞
An inner authority. High standards set by yourself, a tendency to be hard on yourself, and discipline that is built rather than imposed.
Uranus ℞
Independence that is quiet. Change that starts internally and often privately, and an inventiveness that does not need an audience.
Neptune ℞
Imagination turned inward. A rich inner life, strong intuition and a need to keep one's ideals real rather than borrowed.
Pluto ℞
Transformation from the inside. A habit of examining motives, one's own first, and change that comes through long private work.
About 62% of births have at least one of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto retrograde, so most astrologers read those three as a mark of a generation rather than a personal signature.
Every Mercury retrograde since 1900
The 444 Mercury retrogrades from 1900 to 2040, decade by decade, from the station retrograde to the station direct. Dates are in UTC, so a station close to midnight can fall on the next or previous day where you were born; the checker above uses your own time zone. If your birthday falls inside one of these ranges, you were born during Mercury retrograde.
1900s31
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 15 – Apr 7, 1900 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 18 – Aug 11, 1900 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 9 – Nov 29, 1900 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 26 – Mar 21, 1901 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jun 30 – Jul 24, 1901 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 24 – Nov 13, 1901 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 9 – Mar 3, 1902 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 11 – Jul 5, 1902 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 7 – Oct 28, 1902 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 24 – Feb 14, 1903 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 22 – Jun 15, 1903 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 20 – Oct 12, 1903 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 8 – Jan 28, 1904 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 20 |
| May 2 – May 26, 1904 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 2 – Sep 25, 1904 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 22 – Jan 11, 1905 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 13 – May 7, 1905 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 16 – Sep 8, 1905 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 6 – Dec 26, 1905 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 26 – Apr 18, 1906 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 29 – Aug 22, 1906 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 20 – Dec 9, 1906 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 8 – Mar 31, 1907 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 11 – Aug 4, 1907 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Nov 3 – Nov 23, 1907 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 20 – Mar 13, 1908 | ♓︎ | 22 |
| Jun 21 – Jul 16, 1908 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 17 – Nov 6, 1908 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Feb 2 – Feb 24, 1909 | ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 2 – Jun 26, 1909 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 30 – Oct 21, 1909 | ♎︎ | 21 |
1910s32
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 17 – Feb 7, 1910 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 14 – Jun 7, 1910 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 13 – Oct 5, 1910 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Jan 1 – Jan 21, 1911 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 24 – May 18, 1911 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 27 – Sep 18, 1911 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 16 – Jan 5, 1912 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 5 – Apr 29, 1912 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 8 – Sep 1, 1912 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 18, 1912 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 18 – Apr 10, 1913 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 21 – Aug 14, 1913 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 12 – Dec 2, 1913 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 1 – Mar 24, 1914 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 3 – Jul 27, 1914 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 27 – Nov 16, 1914 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 12 – Mar 6, 1915 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 14 – Jul 8, 1915 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 10 – Oct 31, 1915 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 27 – Feb 17, 1916 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 25 – Jun 18, 1916 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 22 – Oct 14, 1916 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 10 – Jan 30, 1917 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 5 – May 29, 1917 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 5 – Sep 28, 1917 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 25 – Jan 14, 1918 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 16 – May 10, 1918 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 19 – Sep 11, 1918 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 9 – Dec 28, 1918 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 29 – Apr 21, 1919 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 1 – Aug 25, 1919 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 22 – Dec 12, 1919 | ♐︎ | 20 |
1920s31
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 10 – Apr 2, 1920 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 13 – Aug 6, 1920 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Nov 5 – Nov 25, 1920 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 21 – Mar 16, 1921 | ♓︎ | 22 |
| Jun 25 – Jul 19, 1921 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 20 – Nov 9, 1921 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 5 – Feb 27, 1922 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 5 – Jun 29, 1922 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 3 – Oct 24, 1922 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 20 – Feb 10, 1923 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 17 – Jun 10, 1923 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 16 – Oct 8, 1923 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Jan 4 – Jan 24, 1924 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 27 – May 21, 1924 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 29 – Sep 20, 1924 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 18 – Jan 6, 1925 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 8 – May 2, 1925 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 11 – Sep 4, 1925 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 23 |
| Dec 1 – Dec 21, 1925 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 21 – Apr 13, 1926 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 24 – Aug 17, 1926 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 15 – Dec 5, 1926 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 4 – Mar 27, 1927 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 6 – Jul 30, 1927 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 30 – Nov 19, 1927 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 15 – Mar 8, 1928 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 16 – Jul 10, 1928 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 12 – Nov 2, 1928 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 29 – Feb 19, 1929 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 28 – Jun 21, 1929 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 25 – Oct 17, 1929 | ♎︎ | 21 |
1930s32
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 13 – Feb 2, 1930 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 8 – Jun 1, 1930 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 8 – Sep 30, 1930 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 27 – Jan 17, 1931 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 19 – May 13, 1931 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 22 – Sep 14, 1931 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 11 – Dec 31, 1931 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 31 – Apr 24, 1932 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 3 – Aug 27, 1932 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 24 – Dec 14, 1932 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 13 – Apr 5, 1933 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 16 – Aug 9, 1933 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 8 – Nov 28, 1933 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 24 – Mar 19, 1934 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jun 28 – Jul 22, 1934 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 22 – Nov 12, 1934 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 8 – Mar 2, 1935 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 9 – Jul 3, 1935 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 6 – Oct 27, 1935 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 23 – Feb 13, 1936 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 19 – Jun 12, 1936 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 18 – Oct 10, 1936 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 5 – Jan 26, 1937 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 30 – May 24, 1937 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 23, 1937 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 20 – Jan 9, 1938 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 11 – May 5, 1938 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 14 – Sep 6, 1938 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 23 |
| Dec 4 – Dec 24, 1938 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 24 – Apr 16, 1939 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 27 – Aug 20, 1939 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 18 – Dec 8, 1939 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
1940s31
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 6 – Mar 29, 1940 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 8 – Aug 1, 1940 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Nov 1 – Nov 21, 1940 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 17 – Mar 11, 1941 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 19 – Jul 14, 1941 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 15 – Nov 5, 1941 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Feb 1 – Feb 22, 1942 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 31 – Jun 24, 1942 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 28 – Oct 20, 1942 | ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 15 – Feb 5, 1943 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 12 – Jun 5, 1943 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 11 – Oct 3, 1943 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 30 – Jan 19, 1944 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 22 – May 15, 1944 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 24 – Sep 16, 1944 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 2, 1945 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 3 – Apr 27, 1945 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 6 – Aug 30, 1945 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 27 – Dec 17, 1945 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 16 – Apr 9, 1946 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 19 – Aug 12, 1946 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 11 – Dec 1, 1946 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 27 – Mar 22, 1947 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 1 – Jul 25, 1947 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 25 – Nov 15, 1947 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 11 – Mar 4, 1948 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 11 – Jul 5, 1948 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 8 – Oct 28, 1948 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 24 – Feb 14, 1949 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 23 – Jun 16, 1949 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 21 – Oct 12, 1949 | ♎︎ | 22 |
1950s32
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 8 – Jan 29, 1950 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 3 – May 27, 1950 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 4 – Sep 26, 1950 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 23 – Jan 12, 1951 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 14 – May 8, 1951 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 17 – Sep 9, 1951 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 7 – Dec 27, 1951 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 26 – Apr 19, 1952 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 29 – Aug 22, 1952 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 20 – Dec 10, 1952 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 9 – Apr 1, 1953 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 11 – Aug 4, 1953 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Nov 3 – Nov 23, 1953 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 20 – Mar 14, 1954 | ♓︎ | 22 |
| Jun 23 – Jul 17, 1954 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 18 – Nov 7, 1954 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Feb 3 – Feb 25, 1955 | ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 3 – Jun 27, 1955 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 1 – Oct 22, 1955 | ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 18 – Feb 8, 1956 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 14 – Jun 7, 1956 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 13 – Oct 5, 1956 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Jan 1 – Jan 21, 1957 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 25 – May 19, 1957 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 27 – Sep 19, 1957 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 16 – Jan 5, 1958 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 6 – Apr 30, 1958 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 9 – Sep 2, 1958 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 30 – Dec 20, 1958 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 19 – Apr 12, 1959 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 22 – Aug 15, 1959 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 14 – Dec 3, 1959 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
1960s31
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1 – Mar 24, 1960 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 3 – Jul 27, 1960 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 27 – Nov 16, 1960 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 12 – Mar 6, 1961 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 14 – Jul 8, 1961 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 10 – Oct 31, 1961 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 27 – Feb 17, 1962 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 26 – Jun 19, 1962 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 24 – Oct 15, 1962 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 11 – Feb 1, 1963 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 6 – May 30, 1963 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 6 – Sep 29, 1963 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 26 – Jan 15, 1964 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 16 – May 10, 1964 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 19 – Sep 11, 1964 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 9 – Dec 29, 1964 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 29 – Apr 22, 1965 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 1 – Aug 25, 1965 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 23 – Dec 12, 1965 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 12 – Apr 4, 1966 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 14 – Aug 7, 1966 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 6 – Nov 26, 1966 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 23 – Mar 17, 1967 | ♓︎ | 22 |
| Jun 26 – Jul 20, 1967 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 21 – Nov 10, 1967 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 6 – Feb 28, 1968 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 6 – Jun 30, 1968 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 3 – Oct 24, 1968 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 20 – Feb 10, 1969 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 17 – Jun 10, 1969 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 16 – Oct 8, 1969 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
1970s32
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 4 – Jan 24, 1970 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 28 – May 22, 1970 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 30 – Sep 22, 1970 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 8, 1971 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 9 – May 3, 1971 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 12 – Sep 5, 1971 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 23 |
| Dec 3 – Dec 22, 1971 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 21 – Apr 14, 1972 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 24 – Aug 17, 1972 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 15 – Dec 5, 1972 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 4 – Mar 27, 1973 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 6 – Jul 30, 1973 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 30 – Nov 19, 1973 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 15 – Mar 9, 1974 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 17 – Jul 12, 1974 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 13 – Nov 3, 1974 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 30 – Feb 20, 1975 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 29 – Jun 22, 1975 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 26 – Oct 18, 1975 | ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 14 – Feb 3, 1976 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 9 – Jun 2, 1976 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 8 – Oct 1, 1976 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 28 – Jan 17, 1977 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 20 – May 13, 1977 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 22 – Sep 14, 1977 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 12 – Dec 31, 1977 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 1 – Apr 25, 1978 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 4 – Aug 28, 1978 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 25 – Dec 15, 1978 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 15 – Apr 7, 1979 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 17 – Aug 11, 1979 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 9 – Nov 29, 1979 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
1980s32
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 26 – Mar 19, 1980 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jun 28 – Jul 22, 1980 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 23 – Nov 12, 1980 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 8 – Mar 2, 1981 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 9 – Jul 3, 1981 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 6 – Oct 27, 1981 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 23 – Feb 13, 1982 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 21 – Jun 13, 1982 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 19 – Oct 11, 1982 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 7 – Jan 27, 1983 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 20 |
| May 1 – May 25, 1983 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 2 – Sep 24, 1983 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 22 – Jan 11, 1984 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 11 – May 5, 1984 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 14 – Sep 7, 1984 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 4 – Dec 24, 1984 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 24 – Apr 17, 1985 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 28 – Aug 20, 1985 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 18 – Dec 8, 1985 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 7 – Mar 30, 1986 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 9 – Aug 3, 1986 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Nov 2 – Nov 22, 1986 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 18 – Mar 12, 1987 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 21 – Jul 15, 1987 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 16 – Nov 6, 1987 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Feb 2 – Feb 23, 1988 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 31 – Jun 24, 1988 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 28 – Oct 20, 1988 | ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 16 – Feb 5, 1989 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 12 – Jun 5, 1989 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 11 – Oct 3, 1989 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 30 – Jan 20, 1990 | ♑︎ | 20 |
1990s31
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 23 – May 17, 1990 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 25 – Sep 17, 1990 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 14 – Jan 3, 1991 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 4 – Apr 28, 1991 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 8 – Aug 31, 1991 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 28 – Dec 18, 1991 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 17 – Apr 9, 1992 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 20 – Aug 13, 1992 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 11 – Dec 1, 1992 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 27 – Mar 22, 1993 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 1 – Jul 25, 1993 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 25 – Nov 15, 1993 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 11 – Mar 5, 1994 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 12 – Jul 6, 1994 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 9 – Oct 30, 1994 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 26 – Feb 16, 1995 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 24 – Jun 17, 1995 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 22 – Oct 14, 1995 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 9 – Jan 30, 1996 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 3 – May 27, 1996 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 4 – Sep 26, 1996 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 23 – Jan 12, 1997 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 14 – May 8, 1997 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 17 – Sep 10, 1997 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 7 – Dec 27, 1997 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 27 – Apr 20, 1998 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 31 – Aug 23, 1998 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 21 – Dec 11, 1998 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 10 – Apr 2, 1999 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 12 – Aug 6, 1999 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Nov 5 – Nov 25, 1999 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
2000s32
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 21 – Mar 14, 2000 | ♓︎ | 22 |
| Jun 23 – Jul 17, 2000 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 18 – Nov 8, 2000 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Feb 4 – Feb 25, 2001 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 4 – Jun 28, 2001 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 1 – Oct 23, 2001 | ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 18 – Feb 8, 2002 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 15 – Jun 8, 2002 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 14 – Oct 6, 2002 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Jan 2 – Jan 23, 2003 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 26 – May 20, 2003 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 28 – Sep 20, 2003 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 17 – Jan 6, 2004 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 6 – Apr 30, 2004 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 10 – Sep 2, 2004 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 30 – Dec 20, 2004 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 20 – Apr 12, 2005 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 23 – Aug 16, 2005 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 14 – Dec 4, 2005 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 2 – Mar 25, 2006 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 4 – Jul 29, 2006 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 28 – Nov 18, 2006 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 14 – Mar 8, 2007 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 15 – Jul 10, 2007 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 12 – Nov 1, 2007 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 28 – Feb 19, 2008 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 26 – Jun 19, 2008 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 24 – Oct 15, 2008 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 11 – Feb 1, 2009 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 7 – May 31, 2009 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 7 – Sep 29, 2009 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 26 – Jan 15, 2010 | ♑︎ | 20 |
2010s31
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 18 – May 11, 2010 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 20 – Sep 12, 2010 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 10 – Dec 30, 2010 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 30 – Apr 23, 2011 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 3 – Aug 26, 2011 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 24 – Dec 14, 2011 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 12 – Apr 4, 2012 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 15 – Aug 8, 2012 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 6 – Nov 26, 2012 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 23 – Mar 17, 2013 | ♓︎ | 22 |
| Jun 26 – Jul 20, 2013 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 21 – Nov 10, 2013 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 6 – Feb 28, 2014 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 7 – Jul 1, 2014 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 4 – Oct 25, 2014 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 21 – Feb 11, 2015 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 19 – Jun 11, 2015 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 17 – Oct 9, 2015 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 5 – Jan 25, 2016 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 28 – May 22, 2016 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 30 – Sep 22, 2016 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 19 – Jan 8, 2017 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 9 – May 3, 2017 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 13 – Sep 5, 2017 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 23 |
| Dec 3 – Dec 23, 2017 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 23 – Apr 15, 2018 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 26 – Aug 19, 2018 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 17 – Dec 6, 2018 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 5 – Mar 28, 2019 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 7 – Aug 1, 2019 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 31 – Nov 20, 2019 | ♏︎ | 20 |
2020s32
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 17 – Mar 10, 2020 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 18 – Jul 12, 2020 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 14 – Nov 3, 2020 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 30 – Feb 21, 2021 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 29 – Jun 22, 2021 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 27 – Oct 18, 2021 | ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 14 – Feb 4, 2022 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 10 – Jun 3, 2022 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 10 – Oct 2, 2022 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Dec 29 – Jan 18, 2023 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 21 – May 15, 2023 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 23 – Sep 15, 2023 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 13 – Jan 2, 2024 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 1 – Apr 25, 2024 | ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 5 – Aug 28, 2024 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 26 – Dec 15, 2024 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 15 – Apr 7, 2025 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 18 – Aug 11, 2025 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 9 – Nov 29, 2025 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 26 – Mar 20, 2026 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jun 29 – Jul 23, 2026 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 24 – Nov 13, 2026 | ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 9 – Mar 3, 2027 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 10 – Jul 4, 2027 | ♋︎ → ♊︎ | 24 |
| Oct 7 – Oct 28, 2027 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 24 – Feb 14, 2028 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| May 21 – Jun 14, 2028 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 19 – Oct 11, 2028 | ♎︎ | 22 |
| Jan 7 – Jan 27, 2029 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 20 |
| May 1 – May 25, 2029 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 2 – Sep 25, 2029 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 22 – Jan 11, 2030 | ♑︎ | 20 |
2030s31
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 13 – May 6, 2030 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 16 – Sep 8, 2030 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 6 – Dec 25, 2030 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 26 – Apr 18, 2031 | ♈︎ | 23 |
| Jul 29 – Aug 22, 2031 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 19 – Dec 9, 2031 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 7 – Mar 30, 2032 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 10 – Aug 3, 2032 | ♌︎ → ♋︎ | 24 |
| Nov 2 – Nov 22, 2032 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Feb 18 – Mar 13, 2033 | ♓︎ | 22 |
| Jun 21 – Jul 15, 2033 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 16 – Nov 6, 2033 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
| Feb 2 – Feb 23, 2034 | ♒︎ | 21 |
| Jun 2 – Jun 26, 2034 | ♊︎ | 24 |
| Sep 30 – Oct 21, 2034 | ♎︎ | 21 |
| Jan 17 – Feb 7, 2035 | ♒︎ → ♑︎ | 21 |
| May 13 – Jun 6, 2035 | ♊︎ → ♉︎ | 24 |
| Sep 13 – Oct 5, 2035 | ♎︎ → ♍︎ | 22 |
| Jan 1 – Jan 21, 2036 | ♑︎ | 20 |
| Apr 23 – May 17, 2036 | ♉︎ | 24 |
| Aug 25 – Sep 17, 2036 | ♍︎ | 23 |
| Dec 15 – Jan 3, 2037 | ♑︎ → ♐︎ | 20 |
| Apr 5 – Apr 28, 2037 | ♉︎ → ♈︎ | 24 |
| Aug 8 – Aug 31, 2037 | ♍︎ → ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 28 – Dec 18, 2037 | ♐︎ | 20 |
| Mar 18 – Apr 10, 2038 | ♈︎ → ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 21 – Aug 14, 2038 | ♌︎ | 24 |
| Nov 12 – Dec 2, 2038 | ♐︎ → ♏︎ | 20 |
| Mar 1 – Mar 23, 2039 | ♓︎ | 23 |
| Jul 2 – Jul 27, 2039 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 27 – Nov 16, 2039 | ♏︎ | 20 |
2040s3
| Retrograde | Signs | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040 | ♓︎ → ♒︎ | 22 |
| Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040 | ♋︎ | 24 |
| Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040 | ♏︎ → ♎︎ | 21 |
Does your birth time matter?
Usually not. A Mercury retrograde lasts three weeks, so for almost everyone the birth date alone settles whether they were born during Mercury retrograde. The birth time only matters on the day of a station, and for the day-of-the-retrograde count.
If you leave the time blank, the checker uses noon on your birth date in your birthplace's time zone, and it warns you on any card where a planet turned that day. Add the time, even an approximate one, and it reads the exact moment.
The birthplace matters only for the time zone. If you were born in Sydney on the day Mercury turned direct at 22:00 UTC, it was already the next morning there, and your local date and the station's UTC date differ.
How to check if you were born during Mercury retrograde
- 1
Enter your birth date
The day is enough for most people. Add the time and birthplace if you have them.
- 2
Read the verdict
Yes, no, or one of the two shadows, with the dates of that retrograde and Mercury's sign.
- 3
Look at the station
If Mercury was within a day of turning, the page says so, and says if your birth time decides it.
- 4
Check the other planets
Each card shows the planet's direction, phase and sign, and when its progressed motion turns.
Born during Mercury retrograde: questions
Was I born during Mercury retrograde?
Enter your birth date above and the checker answers from the exact stations: yes, no, or in the shadow before or after. About 18.9% of people were born during Mercury retrograde, and 48.4% inside a retrograde window if you count the shadows.
How rare is being born during Mercury retrograde?
Not rare: a little under one birth in five. Mercury turns retrograde three or four times a year for about three weeks, which adds up to 19.1% of the time.
What does natal Mercury retrograde mean?
In astrological tradition, being born during Mercury retrograde points to a mind that works inward first: reflective, revising, careful with words and often slow to speak until sure. It is read as a different style of thinking, not a weakness.
Does a natal Mercury retrograde ever turn direct?
Not in the birth chart, but in secondary progressions it does, at the age equal to the number of days between your birth and Mercury's station direct; a median of 11.2 for people born during Mercury retrograde.
Do I need my birth time?
Only if a planet turned on your birthday, which happens on 4.9% of dates. Without a time the checker uses noon and flags any planet that turned that day.
How many retrograde planets is normal?
Two is the median. 11.4% of people have none, and 44% have three or more, mostly slow outer planets shared by everyone born in the same months.
Is being born in the shadow the same as being born during Mercury retrograde?
No. In the shadow Mercury moves forward, over the degrees it is about to retrace or has just retraced. Many astrologers read the shadow as a softer echo of the retrograde; your chart shows Mercury direct.
Can the Sun or Moon be retrograde?
No. Seen from Earth, the Sun and Moon always move forward through the zodiac. Only the planets from Mercury outwards have retrograde periods.