Beyond the more famous Mercury Retrograde, both Venus and Mars have their own retrograde cycles with distinct themes. This guide filters what each type generally means by your zodiac sign — check an up-to-date astrological calendar for the exact current dates.
💘 Venus retrograde occurs roughly every 18 months, lasting about 40-43 days, and centers on love, relationships, money, and self-worth.
⚔️ Mars retrograde occurs roughly every 26 months, lasting about 58-81 days, and centers on drive, assertion, conflict, and momentum.
Venus retrogrades roughly once every 18 months, for about 40-43 days each time — far less often than Mercury, which retrogrades three to four times a year.
Mars retrogrades roughly once every 26 months (about every 2 years and 2 months), for around 58-81 days each time — the least frequent of the three personal/social planets commonly tracked for retrograde effects.
Exact retrograde windows shift from cycle to cycle and require precise ephemeris data to state reliably. Rather than risk out-of-date or approximate dates, this guide focuses on the reusable theme of each retrograde type by sign — check an up-to-date astrological calendar for the exact current dates, or see our Mercury Retrograde Impact Planner for that planet's specific guidance.