A personal planet, a social planet, and two generational giants turn inward. Here’s what that means for you and the world.

Uranus ingressing on July 7th from Taurus into the zodiac sign of Gemini is getting a lot of fanfare, but we can’t ignore the significance of the upcoming retrogrades. The retrogrades happening

in July involve a personal planet, a social planet and one of the outer, generational planets.

So what planets are going into retrograde and when?

• Neptune: Enters Retrograde on July 4th and will go direct on December 10th, 2025
• Saturn: Enters Retrograde on July 12th and will go direct on November 28th, 2025
• Mercury: Enters Retrograde on July 17th and will go direct on August 11th, 2025

It is important to know that Pluto is also in retrograde, and has been in retrograde since May 4th and will go direct on October 13th, 2025. Within a few weeks, four of the eight planetary placements will be in retrograde.

Retrogrades happen often and this is due to our perspective from Earth. As the planets orbit the sun, occasionally some planets will appear to go backwards. During retrogrades, the planet’s influence changes, and becomes more reflective than active in nature. This does not mean that events don’t happen, far from it! But instead, it is about being more conscientious to the energy associated with the planet in retrograde.

Neptune and Pluto retrogrades are common, due to their distance from Earth and the slowness of their orbit. These two placements are in retrograde anywhere from 5 to 6 months each year. When it comes to the outer planets of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, we tend to see the actions more collectively, such as what is happening with the world as opposed to ourselves. This does not mean they don’t impact us, but it is more subtle and less direct.

For instance, the No Kings protest occurred on June 14th, 2025, a month and a half after Pluto went into retrograde. It is estimated that 5 million people took part in the activity. This was a group action but it did impact the individuals who chose to participate or support the event. Though protest occurred prior to the retrograde, the scale of No Kings event does relate back to Pluto’s current zodiac sign and state (as well as other planetary placements of the day- nothing is singular when it comes to astrology.)

Pluto in retrograde is about revisiting the dark side of power and transformation. In Aquarius, humanitarian themes will come to the surface. However, if you look at the signs, individualism of sentiment was on display. On a personal level, some people may engage in some shadow work, and reflect on their point of view when it comes to humanity. Not everyone taps into Pluto in retrograde, so don’t expect the whole world to wake up and join together. Much depends on the individual’s chart and their own awareness of what lies outside of their inner world.

Pluto at its core is about power and control. While in retrograde, you could see more people questioning power dynamics and examine why there are struggles in their community, country or the world. The energy is introspective, but through insight, action can be taken, or an attempt to rectify past unbalanced dynamics. Now that we’ve covered Pluto, let’s go into the retrogrades that begin in July.

Neptune Retrograde: July 4th

Like Pluto, Neptune is also a generational, outer planet that impacts the world more than the individual. When Neptune retrogrades on the 4th, expect over the next five months for clarity in the arenas that have seemed confused or blurred. Neptune will change signs during its retrograde, entering the sign of Pisces on October 22nd. Neptune has been in the sign of Aries since March 30th.

You could look at Neptune’s retrograde (and Saturn’s as well, which will be discussed next) as two retrogrades. The first part will be about revisiting the hopes, dreams and idealism of the past few months in regards to individualistic matters. For instance, just two days after Neptune went into the sign of Aries, Trump announced his Liberation Day on Tariffs, which had a ripple effect on the United States relationship with other countries and economic concerns in the United States. Most likely, tariffs will be revisited as well as the dynamic between nations and their independence and interdependence over the next 4 months.

Besides politics, other themes could arise, such as scrutiny of drug or alcohol use or matters revolving around AI, especially in regards to what is deception and what is an illusion.

On a personal level, for some this could be a time of spiritual reflection. Some may get more clarity in their dreams or could be more sensitive to the sacrifices that have been made. There could be an internal wake up call for some, where their choices that only served the self comes into question.

When Neptune reenters the sign of Pisces, the world most likely will revisit past themes. The narratives in news cycles and on social media most likely will revisit sacrifice, moral righteousness, or blurred truths in regards to global conflicts. Renegotiations surrounding the wars in Ukraine and Gaza may be revisited in the collective sphere, but full resolution may take much longer.

Individually, when Neptune retrogrades back into Pisces, you may feel more sensitive to the world around you and may need to retreat into a protective bubble. Neptune will be at the anaretic degree, possibly creating an intense awakening for some. It may be your karma to revisit the decisions you made over the 12 years prior, or try to figure out why the world had to change and what it means for not only you, but how it impacts everyone and everything.

Saturn Retrograde - July 12th

Saturn and Neptune have been making a conjunction, though it won’t be exact until next year. Saturn Neptune conjunctions are associated with illnesses, disillusionment, dissatisfaction, economic issues, conflicts and sacrifice. Needless to say, the retrogrades will have us rethinking these themes, looking for root causes and possibly, taking off our blinders to see what controls are in place that create the uneasiness in our lives.

While Saturn, the planet of restriction, limitations, responsibility and time, retrogrades in Aries, expect pushback on the governments and how those in charge are handling current affairs. There could be more protests, which is not exclusive to the United States. The populace could be asking, what is in it for me and my family? There is a chance of unity here between the divided, but since Neptune is also involved, I wouldn’t get your hopes up. However, you could have conversations with your neighbor and realize you have more in common than you thought.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that everyone will see things the same or that the governments will shift their perspective and act in the public’s best interest. I am not trying to be a downer here- but change, even in the sign of Aries which tends to be quick and sudden, takes time. And sometimes when change occurs, we need to take a couple of steps back in order to create a new path.

With that said, understand that historically, Saturn in Aries coincides with sharp escalations in military conflict and national assertion. While in retrograde, Saturn asks us collectively to reckon with the consequences of forceful action, such as when to draw a line, when to retreat, and how to lead with maturity rather than domination. The retrograde may just be what we need right now, as tensions are high worldwide.

In regards to your personal life, understand that Saturn is in its fall when in the sign of Aries. Aries wants us to take action yesterday. It is quick and decisive whereas Saturn is slow and strategic. The retrograde may feel jarring but it can give you an opportunity to reexamine your plans and find the possible pitfalls or areas that need retooling.

Just like Neptune, Saturn will also retrograde back into Pisces. This occurs on September 1st. Saturn in Pisces could cool some escalations down, but it could also make reality somewhat murky and unclear. Confusion in media and events most likely will happen during this time. However, there is a possibility of scrutiny on past actions, and when Neptune retrogrades into Pisces, some past truths may be revealed.

On a personal level, you may be called to take responsibility for your beliefs. You may go through your own FAFO phase, where the parts of your life that you have neglected are now revisited. This can be a time of spiritual empowerment, and you could gain a deeper insight into your own psyche. Keep in mind, this is the last time that Saturn will be in Pisces for 28 years- so engaging in meditation or other spiritual practices can open you up to the parts of your life that you keep hidden, even from yourself.

Mercury Retrograde - July 17th

Mercury will be in retrograde in the sign of Leo from July 18 to August 11, 2025. At the start of the retrograde, Mercury will be at 15 degrees and in sextile to Venus in Gemini also at 15 degrees. Though the recent Venus - Uranus conjunction could have caused some shake ups or break up, there could be a reversal for some when it comes to their romantic connections. This does not mean every ex will call you, but you or they may be contemplating their choices and reviewing what worked and didn’t work in the relationship.

But before I go into how the Mercury Retrograde can impact you personally, let’s see how it could play out on the world stage.

Four days ago, when Mercury entered its shadow period of the retrograde, Elon Musk sent out tweets bashing the Big, Beautiful Bill, reengaging in the feud between him and Trump. Could there be a reconciliation during the retrograde between these two? Yes. But it most likely won’t last. We most likely will see among world leaders power moves based on pride, words of admiration or admonishment, and communication based on reconciliation or ego. Some global partnerships could be friends on one day, enemies the next, and then a dizzying make up session. Take whatever happens during the retrograde with a grain of salt, especially if it is something new or something that revisits the past.

Keep in mind, once Mercury goes into retrograde, three other planets will also be in the same state. World events, and examining the impacts and consequences will not be through a single lens.

In regards to your life, this is a good time to examine your communication, especially when it comes to relationships. Past conversations may be revisited in your head. With those in your life, an old theme may come back into the fold. You may navigate discussions on loyalty, parenting, or recent dramas. However, with Mercury in Leo, you could come up with creative solutions, just be careful on implementing, since the solution could be more performative than something that gets into the root cause of the situation. You may want to wait to take action until after the retrograde is over, to ensure that the solution sticks and you’ve tend any rework ahead of time.

The Energy of Retrogrades

Having the retrogrades in the summer months can be beneficial. In the heat, we tend not to think as clearly and may be rash in our decisions. The retrogrades, including Mercury, can give us pause and a chance to examine what happened, why it happened, what could have been done differently, and what are the solutions to engage in the future.

Just know in July, if life feels intense, uncertain or surreal, you are not imagining it. But this does not mean that we are in a retrograde slumber. Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus are direct, creating opportunities for love, action, luck and surprises.

The key here is not to force anything, but to get with the rhythm of the times. Slowdown enough to consider what life is revealing. Retrogrades are not punishments, but instead they are opportunities to correct the course you are on. They allow you to analyze and to make changes that allow you to reconnect, rediscover or recalibrate. This is a time of growth through learning and introspection while also living your life. It is about balance, something we all need in these trying times.

Retrogrades invite us to slow down, reflect, and reconnect, with ourselves and each other.

If you need help reading your chart or understanding how this energy may be showing up in your life, consider scheduling a reading with someone you trust. If you'd like to work with me, you can book a session at GrandTrineAstrology.com.

Received via email from Theresa Touhey, with her request and permission to publish on CrystalWind.ca.

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