By Catherine Carlson
So far 2026 may have felt like being a backseat passenger in a car driving on the most uneven terrain. We’ve had long orbital planets changing signs, and some of them clustered together in Aries, making the world stage feel edgy. We had a mercurial summer requiring us to adjust to last-minute changes. On the plus side, this may have included revisiting comforting places we haven’t been in years. To top it off, we just had the lunar eclipse on August 28 in dreamy Pisces, so it’s completely understandable if you feel unsettled. I wish I could tell you it is smooth sailing here on out, but there’s more to come.
A lot of the ups and downs can be attributed to so many planets going through retrograde periods at the same time. This year they are as unavoidable as potholes on a Michigan road. This season begins with four planets in retrograde with two more to follow. We are seriously being asked to review all facets of our lives.
Be patient, go over things with a fine-tooth comb and don’t take anything personally. Retrograde periods rise and set like the sun, so they have shadow periods in the weeks before and after where the energy is felt approaching and receding, respectively. October will have the heaviest concentration of planets in retrograde.
Mercury and Venus retrograde in Scorpio & Libra
Venus retrograde: October 3 – November 3
Lovely Venus, a beneficial planet representing beauty, love, fertility, and finances, retrogrades in the signs of Libra and Scorpio. Wearing something you found deep in your closet, reaching out to a past partner, seeking financial advice, or receiving an inheritance are all fitting. If you have plans for home updates, you should be happy with the results. Specifically, this is a time to revisit legalities that relate to relationships including marriages, divorces, deaths, or custody cases: look for balance and harmony and you will find it. Avoid new hairstyles and impulse purchases. Blessings of this retrograde can include long desired pregnancy or life partnership.
Mercury retrograde: October 24 – November 13
Mercury returns for its final retrograde of the year, re-evaluating communication, transportation, and legal activities. Libra’s sign is the scales of law so double check legal documentation, including real estate, loans, trusts, licenses, or passports. This can be a great time to find and finally sign papers on something you’ve been waiting for such as a new car.
Scorpio is a master of what lies beneath the surface. This time means things can go missing, at the same time, long forgotten information can come forth. This is the perfect stage for heirlooms or lost letters surfacing and cold cases being solved. This is also a time when keeping secrets might not be ideal.
The best thing about this Mercury retrograde period is it will be long over by the time December arrives making the forecast for end-of-year holiday travel look extremely good. (At least from the perspective of the stars!) In fact, it has not been this clear in years. This bodes well for holiday shopping and celebrations, too.
Saturn and Neptune retrograde in Aries
Saturn retrograde: July 26 – December 10
Saturn, the taskmaster planet, retrogrades in Aries, a sign that likes to take the initiative. This means that push-forward energy may be held back a bit offering a chance to look before you leap. As the planet of karma, it’s an opportunity to look at the aftereffects or outgrowth of our past actions. Collectively, we are re-examining structures and authorities that govern our world along with military agendas. This retrograde energy can make us feel depleted of strength and courage.
Neptune retrograde: July 7 – December 12
With wistful Neptune in Aries, this retrograde period is a time to take a breath, revisit our creativity, and connect to our spirit both personally and globally. Re-considering religious observances or other spiritual practices may occur. Those in the fields of art and music may feel out of sync creatively or experience a unification of ideas. Neptune’s energy can reveal things that are quite unbelievable and make us question reality. Having Saturn nearby offers us an invitation to literally dream the future we want into existence. With a pause, our imaginations have a chance to incubate.
Uranus Retrogrades in Taurus and Gemini
Uranus retrograde: September 3 – January 30
With rebel Uranus in retrograde, anything can happen! Its unpredictable nature forces us to bend, set ourselves free, and weather breakdowns with grace. This can also be a time where some amazing inventions appear. Humanitarian and revolutionary efforts can seem blocked. Uranus retrograde will be at its most extreme when it overlaps with Mercury (above) in October and November. At this time technology will be very vulnerable to disruption. The end of the year is a time to brainstorm how we may all find security independent of the structures that have provided it for us up until now.
Pluto retrogrades in Aquarius
Pluto retrograde: May 6 – October 15
Far flung Pluto will complete its annual retrograde. In addition to having themes similar to Uranus retrograde (above), Pluto asks us to take stock of how the grand scale transitions are affecting us. How are they shaping our personal transformations? In what ways are we experiencing the cycles of death and rebirth and how is this reshaping us. Power is another theme. In what ways are the theatrics of power out there in the world reflected in our own lives and where can we find the balance?
The only planet not having a retrograde period this year is red hot Mars, the planet of war, ruler of Aries. This same energy matches up perfectly with 2026 being the Chinese year of the Fire Horse. In spite of all the hiccups, we keep galloping forward.
Ann Arbor native Catherine Carlson is an astrologer who offers consultations for adults and children. She can be reached at catherine-carlson.com or catenka@mac.com.
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So far 2026 may have felt like being a backseat passenger in a car driving on the most uneven terrain. We’ve had long orbital planets changing signs, and some of them clustered together in Aries, making the world stage feel edgy. We had a mercurial summer requiring us to adjust to last-minute changes. On the plus side, this may have included revisiting comforting places we haven’t been in years. To top it off, we just had the lunar eclipse on August 28 in dreamy Pisces, so it’s completely understandable if you feel unsettled. I wish I could tell you it is smooth sailing here on out, but there’s more to come.