Mercury Retrograde 2028: exact dates, shadow periods and meaning
Author: Viktor Balakirev · Published
In 2028 Mercury is retrograde 3 times: January 24 – February 14; May 21 – June 14; September 19 – October 11. Below: exact station times, signs and degrees, and the shadow of each loop. All times are UTC.
Period 1: January 24 – February 14
- Retrograde
- — · 21 days
- Signs
- Aquarius
- Arc
- from 19°41′ Aquarius back to 3°59′ Aquarius
- Pre-shadow
- from · 16 days
- Post-shadow
- until · 20 days
- Whole loop with shadow
- 57 days
- Mercury — enters the pre-shadow (degree of the coming direct station)
- Mercury — stations retrograde in Aquarius (19°41′)
- Mercury — inferior conjunction with the Sun — the middle of the loop
- Mercury — stations direct in Aquarius (3°59′)
- Mercury — leaves the post-shadow (degree of the retrograde station)
Period 2: May 21 – June 14
- Retrograde
- — · 24 days
- Signs
- Gemini
- Arc
- from 16°18′ Gemini back to 7°45′ Gemini
- Pre-shadow
- from · 15 days
- Post-shadow
- until · 15 days
- Whole loop with shadow
- 54 days
Period 3: September 19 – October 11
- Retrograde
- — · 22 days
- Signs
- Libra
- Arc
- from 18°35′ Libra back to 3°28′ Libra
- Pre-shadow
- from · 20 days
- Post-shadow
- until · 15 days
- Whole loop with shadow
- 57 days
Next period: January 7, 2029 – January 27, 2029
- Retrograde
- — · 20 days
- Signs
- Aquarius → Capricorn
- Arc
- from 3°38′ Aquarius back to 17°32′ Capricorn
- Pre-shadow
- from · 16 days
- Post-shadow
- until · 20 days
- Whole loop with shadow
- 57 days
- Mercury — enters the pre-shadow (degree of the coming direct station)
- Mercury — sign change: Capricorn → Aquarius
- Mercury — stations retrograde in Aquarius (3°38′)
- Mercury — sign change: Aquarius → Capricorn (backwards)
- Mercury — inferior conjunction with the Sun — the middle of the loop
- Mercury — stations direct in Capricorn (17°32′)
- Mercury — sign change: Capricorn → Aquarius
- Mercury — leaves the post-shadow (degree of the retrograde station)
How often and how long
From the ephemeris 2000–2050: Mercury turns retrograde on average 3.16 times a year (a new period every 115 days on median); one period lasts 20–24 days, the whole loop with the shadow 54–57 days.
What Mercury retrograde means
Mercury retrograde is an optical illusion: three or four times a year, the planet appears to move backward in the sky for about three weeks. According to Sergey Vronsky, this is a time when misunderstandings, mistakes, and oversights become more frequent. People may feel less attentive, more forgetful, or distracted. Daily routines can be disrupted; meetings and agreements may fall through, and travel or communication delays are common. Letters, documents, keys, and small items can get lost. Computers, vehicles, and household appliances might malfunction. Calls from creditors or complainers become more frequent, and wrong connections increase. Information is more likely to be misinterpreted, and coordination between people can break down. However, Vronsky also notes that this period offers a chance to return to unfinished, forgotten, or unsuccessful matters. Decisions made during retrograde should only be implemented after Mercury turns direct and reaches the same degree where the retrograde began. Contracts signed during this phase often later reveal serious errors or omissions. Robert Hand points out that retrograde planets are not cursed or powerless; rather, their influence may operate more subjectively or indirectly, requiring a more reflective approach.
Mercury retrograde in 2028: dates and signs
In 2028, Mercury will be retrograde three times:
- • January 24, 11:02 UTC to February 14, 12:38 UTC — entirely in Aquarius (21 days). The inferior conjunction with the Sun (the midpoint of the retrograde) occurs on February 2 at 08:47 UTC, also in Aquarius.
- • May 21, 08:43 UTC to June 14, 06:06 UTC — entirely in Gemini (24 days). The inferior conjunction is on June 2 at 02:46 UTC, in Gemini.
- • September 19, 16:34 UTC to October 11, 10:28 UTC — entirely in Libra (22 days). The inferior conjunction is on October 2 at 10:37 UTC, in Libra.
The shadow periods
Before and after each retrograde, there are “shadow” phases when Mercury is still moving forward but has not yet passed the degrees it will revisit during the retrograde. These are times when the themes of the retrograde begin to emerge or slowly fade.
- • January 8 to March 5, 2028 — pre-shadow (16 days before the station) and post-shadow (20 days after the direct station); the entire loop lasts 57 days.
- • May 6 to June 29, 2028 — pre-shadow (15 days) and post-shadow (15 days); the entire loop lasts 54 days.
- • August 30 to October 26, 2028 — pre-shadow (20 days) and post-shadow (15 days); the entire loop lasts 57 days.
How to work with this period
- • Double-check everything — communications, travel plans, documents, and purchases. Avoid signing important contracts unless you can review them thoroughly after the retrograde ends.
- • Use the time for reflection — revisit old projects, reconnect with people from the past, and correct past mistakes. Vronsky notes that this is a favorable time to return to unfinished business.
- • Hold off on launching new initiatives — especially those involving communication, transport, or technology. If you must start something, expect to make adjustments later.
FAQ
When is Mercury retrograde in 2028?
Mercury retrograde dates 2028: from January 24 11:02 to February 14 12:38 (Aquarius); from May 21 08:43 to June 14 06:06 (Gemini); from September 19 16:34 to October 11 10:28 (Libra) (UTC).
When are the Mercury retrograde shadow periods in 2028?
from January 8 to March 5 (the whole loop 57 days); from May 6 to June 29 (the whole loop 54 days); from August 30 to October 26 (the whole loop 57 days). The pre-shadow starts when the planet passes the degree of its coming direct station; the post-shadow ends when it gets back to the degree of the retrograde station.
How long does Mercury retrograde last?
In 2028: 21 days, 24 days, 22 days. From the ephemeris 2000–2050: 20–24 days, on average 3.16 times a year; the whole loop with the shadow 54–57 days.
Where does this fall in your chart?
The dates are the same for everyone; the house and aspects are yours alone. A free natal chart and personal transits show which area of your life it touches.
- Вронский — Вронский, т.11 «Транзитология II»
- Robert Hand — Horoscope Symbols
Dates, times, signs and degrees are computed with the Swiss Ephemeris.