Mercury retrograde 2004

4 periods, 73 days inside the year — 19.8% of 2004. Station times below are UTC and computed to the minute.

20 days · retreats 16.3° · crosses the year boundary

17 December → 6 January 2004 in Capricorn

Stations retrograde 17 Dec 2003, 15:53 UTC at 12.52° Capricorn
Stations direct 6 Jan 2004, 13:40 UTC at 26.22° Sagittarius
Shadow opens 30 Nov 2003 (18 days before)
Shadow closes 25 Jan 2004 (19 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in Capricorn

In Capricorn the retrograde hits career plans, authority and long-term structures. Deadlines slip, approvals are delayed and managers change their minds. It is traditionally used for reviewing goals and reorganising rather than for starting new ventures.

…and back into Sagittarius

In Sagittarius the retrograde affects travel, study and beliefs. Journeys are delayed, paperwork for visas or courses gets stuck, and opinions stated too confidently need walking back. It suits revisiting plans for the bigger picture before committing to them.

It begins in Sagittarius season and ends in Capricorn season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Saturn in Cancer — 17 Dec to 6 Jan 2004 (20 days of overlap)
  • Saturn in Cancer — 17 Dec to 6 Jan 2004 (20 days of overlap)
  • Jupiter in Virgo — 3 Jan to 6 Jan 2004 (3 days of overlap)

Read against Capricorn, and see that sign’s horoscope for the period.

24 days · retreats 10.81°

6 April → 30 April 2004 in Taurus

Stations retrograde 6 Apr 2004, 20:32 UTC at 1.87° Taurus
Stations direct 30 Apr 2004, 12:51 UTC at 21.06° Aries
Shadow opens 24 Mar 2004 (14 days before)
Shadow closes 18 May 2004 (18 days after)
Full window including shadows 55 days

Mercury retrograde in Taurus

In Taurus the retrograde lands on money, possessions and practical plans. Purchases get returned, payments are delayed, and decisions about property or savings are revisited. It is traditionally a good window for reviewing budgets rather than making large new commitments.

…and back into Aries

In Aries the retrograde tends to show up as hasty words and rushed decisions coming back for review. Messages sent in anger, plans launched without checking and arguments started on impulse are the classic material. The useful version is slower starts: finish the draft, reread it, then press send.

It begins in Aries season and ends in Taurus season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Jupiter in Virgo — 6 Apr to 30 Apr 2004 (24 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Sagittarius — 6 Apr to 30 Apr 2004 (24 days of overlap)

Read against Taurus, and see that sign’s horoscope for the period.

24 days · retreats 13.04°

10 August → 2 September 2004 in Virgo

Stations retrograde 10 Aug 2004, 00:28 UTC at 8.72° Virgo
Stations direct 2 Sep 2004, 13:02 UTC at 25.68° Leo
Shadow opens 21 Jul 2004 (19 days before)
Shadow closes 16 Sep 2004 (14 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in Virgo

In Virgo, Mercury's other home sign, the retrograde focuses on work routines, health and detail. Schedules unravel, small errors multiply, and systems that seemed fine reveal flaws. It is ideal for audits, decluttering and fixing processes before starting anything new.

…and back into Leo

In Leo the retrograde touches creative projects, self-expression and romance. Work you shelved asks to be finished, performances need rehearsing again, and an old flame may reappear. It is a good window for revising creative work rather than launching it.

It begins in Leo season and ends in Virgo season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Uranus in Pisces — 10 Aug to 2 Sep 2004 (24 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Aquarius — 10 Aug to 2 Sep 2004 (24 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Sagittarius — 10 Aug to 30 Aug 2004 (21 days of overlap)

Read against Virgo, and see that sign’s horoscope for the period.

20 days · retreats 16.3°

30 November → 20 December 2004 in Sagittarius

Stations retrograde 30 Nov 2004, 12:11 UTC at 26.68° Sagittarius
Stations direct 20 Dec 2004, 06:25 UTC at 10.38° Sagittarius
Shadow opens 12 Nov 2004 (18 days before)
Shadow closes 7 Jan 2005 (18 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius

In Sagittarius the retrograde affects travel, study and beliefs. Journeys are delayed, paperwork for visas or courses gets stuck, and opinions stated too confidently need walking back. It suits revisiting plans for the bigger picture before committing to them.

It begins in Sagittarius season and ends in Sagittarius season, inside a single month of the Sun's year.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Saturn in Cancer — 30 Nov to 20 Dec 2004 (20 days of overlap)
  • Saturn in Cancer — 30 Nov to 20 Dec 2004 (20 days of overlap)

Read against Sagittarius, and see that sign’s horoscope for the period.

Computed from the actual motion

The nearest Mercury retrogrades either side of 2004

Previous

2003 Ended 6 January 2004 after 20 days, moving back 16.3° through the zodiac.

Next

2005 Begins 20 March 2005 and runs 23 days.

Gap across 2004

1.2 years between the two — long enough for a whole calendar year to fall inside it with nothing to report.

Both dates are computed from the planet’s apparent motion, not taken from a table. A retrograde begins the moment its daily movement against the stars turns negative, and that moment is findable to the hour.

2004 at a glance

Every other retrograde in 2004

Saturn in Cancer 22 Nov 2003 – 7 Mar 2004 · 107 days
Jupiter in Virgo 3 Jan 2004 – 5 May 2004 · 122 days
Pluto in Sagittarius 24 Mar 2004 – 30 Aug 2004 · 159 days
Neptune in Aquarius 17 May 2004 – 24 Oct 2004 · 160 days
Venus in Gemini 17 May 2004 – 29 Jun 2004 · 43 days
Uranus in Pisces 10 Jun 2004 – 11 Nov 2004 · 154 days
Saturn in Cancer 8 Nov 2004 – 9 Feb 2005 · 94 days
← 2003 Mercury retrograde in 2003. All Mercury retrogrades Averages, shadow periods and the sign distribution over fifty years. 2005 → Mercury retrograde in 2005.