Mercury retrograde 2009

4 periods, 72 days inside the year — 19.8% of 2009. Station times below are UTC and computed to the minute.

21 days · retreats 16.01°

11 January → 1 February 2009 in Aquarius

Stations retrograde 11 Jan 2009, 16:39 UTC at 7.63° Aquarius
Stations direct 1 Feb 2009, 07:09 UTC at 21.61° Capricorn
Shadow opens 26 Dec 2008 (16 days before)
Shadow closes 21 Feb 2009 (20 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in Aquarius

In Aquarius the retrograde falls on technology, groups and future plans. Software glitches, group chats full of misunderstandings and stalled community projects are typical. It suits updating systems, reconnecting with old friends and rethinking long-range ideas.

…and back into 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.

It begins in Capricorn season and ends in Aquarius season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Saturn in Virgo — 11 Jan to 1 Feb 2009 (21 days of overlap)

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

24 days · retreats 8.88°

7 May → 31 May 2009 in Gemini

Stations retrograde 7 May 2009, 05:06 UTC at 1.61° Gemini
Stations direct 31 May 2009, 01:14 UTC at 22.73° Taurus
Shadow opens 23 Apr 2009 (14 days before)
Shadow closes 15 Jun 2009 (16 days after)
Full window including shadows 54 days

Mercury retrograde in Gemini

In Gemini, one of Mercury's own signs, the retrograde is at its most talkative and scattered: crossed wires, double-booked diaries, lost chargers and conversations that go round in circles. It rewards editing, rereading and catching up with people you lost touch with.

…and back into 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.

It begins in Taurus season and ends in Gemini season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Saturn in Virgo — 7 May to 16 May 2009 (10 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Capricorn — 7 May to 31 May 2009 (24 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Aquarius — 28 May to 31 May 2009 (2 days of overlap)

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

22 days · retreats 14.61°

7 September → 29 September 2009 in Libra

Stations retrograde 7 Sep 2009, 04:45 UTC at 6.08° Libra
Stations direct 29 Sep 2009, 13:04 UTC at 21.47° Virgo
Shadow opens 17 Aug 2009 (20 days before)
Shadow closes 14 Oct 2009 (15 days after)
Full window including shadows 57 days

Mercury retrograde in Libra

In Libra the retrograde centres on relationships, agreements and contracts. Negotiations stall or reopen, misunderstandings arise in partnerships, and people from the past reappear. It favours renegotiating terms and clarifying what was assumed rather than signing new deals.

…and back into 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.

It begins in Virgo season and ends in Libra season.

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Jupiter in Aquarius — 7 Sep to 29 Sep 2009 (22 days of overlap)
  • Uranus in Pisces — 7 Sep to 29 Sep 2009 (22 days of overlap)
  • Neptune in Aquarius — 7 Sep to 29 Sep 2009 (22 days of overlap)
  • Pluto in Capricorn — 7 Sep to 11 Sep 2009 (4 days of overlap)

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

20 days · retreats 16.24° · crosses the year boundary

26 December → 15 January 2010 in Capricorn

Stations retrograde 26 Dec 2009, 14:30 UTC at 21.65° Capricorn
Stations direct 15 Jan 2010, 16:57 UTC at 5.41° Capricorn
Shadow opens 9 Dec 2009 (17 days before)
Shadow closes 4 Feb 2010 (20 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.

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

Also retrograde at the same time

  • Mars in Leo — 26 Dec to 15 Jan 2010 (20 days of overlap)
  • Saturn in Libra — 13 Jan to 15 Jan 2010 (2 days of overlap)

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

Computed from the actual motion

The nearest Mercury retrogrades either side of 2009

Previous

2008 Ended 15 October 2008 after 22 days, moving back 15.27° through the zodiac.

Next

2010 Begins 26 December 2009 and runs 20 days.

Gap across 2009

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.

2009 at a glance

Every other retrograde in 2009

Saturn in Virgo 31 Dec 2008 – 16 May 2009 · 136 days
Venus in Aries 6 Mar 2009 – 17 Apr 2009 · 42 days
Pluto in Capricorn 4 Apr 2009 – 11 Sep 2009 · 160 days
Neptune in Aquarius 28 May 2009 – 4 Nov 2009 · 160 days
Jupiter in Aquarius 15 Jun 2009 – 13 Oct 2009 · 120 days
Uranus in Pisces 1 Jul 2009 – 1 Dec 2009 · 154 days
Mars in Leo 20 Dec 2009 – 9 Feb 2010 · 51 days
← 2008 Mercury retrograde in 2008. All Mercury retrogrades Averages, shadow periods and the sign distribution over fifty years. 2010 → Mercury retrograde in 2010.