Physically retrogrades are when a planet appears to be moving backwards through the sky. Though all planets, and asteroids only move in one direction, from Earth, because we are all moving at different speeds planets sometimes appear to go backwards. 

All planets and asteroids go through a retrograde period, Mercury generally goes retrograde 3 - 4 times per year.  The outer planets and asteroids generally go retrograde for one several month period once a year. Venus generally is retrograde every two years. This is a huge over simplification, but will help just for some ballpark information.

When going retrograde each planet will go over the degrees of the zodiac it has just been through.

For example this current  (Jan 10, 2022) Venus retrograde started on Dec 19, 2021 at  26° Capricorn and will go direct at 11° Capricorn on Jan 29, 2022. However to understand the impact of any retrograde you have to go back to when it first hit the degree it will eventually go direct at.

Continuing with this Venus retrograde as an example. This process began on November 17, 2021, when Venus first went by 11° Capricorn.

Energetically what is happening is we are doing something in the initial transit, re-examining it during the retrograde, then finally redoing it as it goes back over those degrees for a third time.

This re-examining during the retro phase is what sometimes makes us feel stuck as we get a closer look at things that aren't working for us. With Venus this means we get an opportunity to look closer at struggles in our relationships. You'll want to look at which house this is happening in for you to get the most our of understanding it. Often it will cross 2 signs and houses, you will also want to look to see what planets in your chart it makes a connection to. Especially at either end of the retrograde. So again with this Venus retrograde any thing close to 11 or 26 degrees Capricorn are going be the most influenced. 

The reason the ends are so important is that the planets appear to slow down as they stop and turn around so we will be hyper-focused as the planet or asteroid stations to move retrograde or stations to move direct.

You will also notice that with Uranus, Neptune & Pluto we are almost always somewhere in the retrograde zone. This constantly going back and forth over the same area, taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back is part of the reason they take so long to move around the zodiac. It is also why these planets are transformational in whatever area they are influencing as we sit with them for a while integrating and fully processing. Mercury, Venus, and Mars have less of a long term impact and are more about tweaks in our everyday lives.

2022 Retrogrades 

Mercury is at the end, because it goes through 4 cycles

Venus 

Key concepts relationships, self-care, responsibility and maturity in determining how we connect

Venus shadow period begins, it's first move over the retrograde area, the "do" period: November 17, 2021, at 11° Capricorn 

Venus stations and turns retrograde/ begin the examine period: December 19, 2021, at 26° Capricorn

Venus stations and turns direct beginning the redo period: January 29, 2022, at 11° Capricorn

Venus retrograde cycle completes: March 1, 2022, at 26° Capricorn 

Mars

Key concepts: asserting yourself, following your individual passions and curiosity 

Mars enters the retrograde zone, do phase, September 3, 2022, at 8° Gemini 

 Mars stations and turns retrograde, examine phase,  October 30, 2022, at 25° Gemini 

Mars stations and turns direct, redo phase begins, January 12, 2023, at 8° Gemini 

Mars leaves the retrograde zone, completes cycle,  March 15, 2023, at 25° Gemini 

Jupiter

Jupiter enters retrograde zone, do phase, May 4, 2022, at 28° Pisces

Jupiter stations and turns retrograde, begin examine phase, July 28, 2022, at 8° Aries

Jupiter stations and turns direct , begin redo, November 23, 2022, at 28° Pisces

Jupiter leaves retrograde zone, completes cycle on February 14, 2023, at 8° Aries 

Saturn

Saturn enters the retrograde zone, do phase February 26, 2022, at 18° Aquarius

Saturn stations and turns retrograde, begin examining phase June 4, 2022, at 25° Aquarius

Saturn stations and turns direct, begin redo October 22, 2022, at 18° Aquarius

Saturn leaves the retrograde zone complete cycle on January 26, 2023, at 25° Aquarius

Chiron

Chiron enters retrograde zone, do phase, March 26, 2022, at 11° Aries

Chiron stations and turns retrograde, begin examine phase, July 19, 2022, at 16° Aries

Chiron stations and turns direct , begin redo, December 23, 2022, at 11° Aries

Chiron leaves retrograde zone, completes cycle on April 15, 2023, at 16° Aries 

Uranus

Key concepts: Authenticity and Sudden Changes 

Returning to our connection with nature, distilling down to our most authentic self

If you are experiencing you Uranus Opposition (around age 42) you will have an extra jolt from these. 

Especially those with their natal Uranus at 14° Scorpio

Uranus enters the Retrograde Zone, the do phase on May 3, 2021, at 10° Taurus 

Uranus stations and turns retrograde, examine phase begins on August 19, 2021, at 14° Taurus 

Uranus stations and turns direct, redo on January 18, 2022, at 10° Taurus 

Uranus leaves the Retrograde Zone on May 5, 2022, at 14° Taurus 

Uranus enters the retrograde zone, the do phase on May 7, 2022, at 14° Taurus

Uranus stations and turns retrograde, examine phase begins on August 24, 2022, at 18° Taurus

Uranus stations and turns direct, redo on January 22, 2023, at 18° Taurus

Uranus leaves the retrograde zone on May 9, 2023, at 14° Taurus 

Neptune

Key concepts Spirituality, dreams, higher-consciousness, addiction/escapisms

Neptune enters the Retrograde Zone, the "do" phase on March 4, 2021, at 20° Pisces

Neptune stations and turns retrograde, begins examine phase on June 25, 2021, at 23° Pisces′

Neptune stations and turns direct begins redo phase on December 1, 2021, at 20° Pisces

Neptune leaves the Retrograde Zone on March 21, 2022, at 23° Pisces

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As you can see the end of the previous retrograde cycle and beginning of the next one over lap. If you have anything around 22/23 degrees Pisces, this will be super impactful, as we will also have Jupiter retrograding over the area at the end of the year.

Neptune enters retrograde zone, do phase, March 7, 2022, at 22° Pisces

Neptune stations and turns retrograde, begins examine phase, June 27, 2022, at 25° Pisces

Neptune stations and turns direct, begins redo, December 3, 2022, at 22° Pisces

Neptune leaves retrograde zone, completes cycle, March 24, 2023, at 25° Pisces

Pluto

Key concepts: control and transformation, breaking down of old structures

Pluto enters retrograde zone begin do phase on January 6, 2022, at 26° Capricorn

Pluto stations and turns retrograde, begin examine phase on April 29, 2022, at 28° Capricorn 

Pluto stations and turns direct, redo phase, October 8, 2022, at 26° Capricorn 

Pluto leaves retrograde zone completes cycle on January 29, 2023, at 28° Capricorn

FYI this will encompass the US's natal return at 27°32' Capricorn, which will be exact February 20th, July 11th, and December 28th.

Mercury

Key concepts: Communication, technology

Mercury enters the Retrograde Zone, do phase December 29, 2021, at 24° Capricorn 

Mercury stations and turns retrograde, begin examining phase January 14, 2022, at 10° Aquarius 

Mercury stations and turns direct, begin redo February 3, 2022, at 24° Capricorn 

Mercury leaves the Retrograde Zone complete cycle on February 24, 2022, at 10° Aquarius

Moving between Taurus and Gemini Key concepts: will be around meeting our needs and feeding our curiosity,

Mercury enters the Retrograde Zone, the initial do phase on April 26, 2022, at 26° Taurus 

Mercury stations and turns retrograde, the examine phase on May 10, 2022, at 4° Gemini 

Mercury stations and turns direct, begin redo on June 3, 2022, at 26° Taurus

Mercury leaves the Retrograde Zone complete cycle on June 18, 2022, at 4° Gemini 

Key concept communication in service and in relationships, justice

Mercury enters the retrograde zone, do phase,  August 20, 2022 at 24° Virgo

Mercury stations and turns retrograde, examine, September 9, 2022, at 8° Libra 

 Mercury stations and turns direct, begin redo October 2, 2022, at 24° Virgo

Mercury leaves the retrograde zone, completes cycle, October 16, 2022, at 8° Libra 

Mercury enters the retrograde zone, do phase, December 12, 2022, at 8° Capricorn

Mercury stations and turns retrograde, begin examine phase, December 29, 2022, at 24° Capricorn 

Mercury stations and turns direct at, begin redo, January 18, 2023,  at 8° Capricorn

Mercury leaves the retrograde zone, complete cycle February 7, 2023,  at 24° Capricorn