2025 Summer Retrogrades: Neptune, Saturn, Mercury, Chiron Retrograde and Why this is so Pivotal

Summer 2025 - Trying Things On

We have some really pivotal astrology right now, as quite a few planets are turning retrograde, and we’re just in big moment generally!

If you have been following along with the updates, you’ll know that this Summer is a really unique time for us to be tuning into the new versions of us that is wanting to come through. To be our most ‘authentic self’ I guess (even though I know that sounds SO cliche - it’s just where we are at right now).

Remember we have this “dress rehearsal” or “trial run” in who we are becoming. Now that SOUNDS really ‘sweet and nice’, but it’s also going to take work, refining and bringing stuff up for us.

If it was that EASY we’d all already be the most authentic versions of us right? But we get stuck in “shoulds”, feeling less than, doing what feels easy or safe (but it’s not really ever that). So some examples might being stuck in jobs that feel safe but you hate and dream of doing something else but feel ‘stuck’, friendships that you keep because you’ve known each other forever but have nothing in common with now, relationships that feel familiar or financially safe but really the love has been lost, situations like this might feel comfortable and your ‘normal’  - but it’s not really you…not anymore…

This is partly because we have Saturn and Neptune both moving into Aires - the sign that is I AM, independence, authenticity, confidence, pioneering (well they are the embodied traits anyway!!) and so it feels like old versions are being faded away and something new is being built. 

The period where we’re at now, we have Neptune and Saturn quite close together. They’re not completely conjunct (that is going happen in February 2026) but they’re already very close. Saturn has just turned retrograde and Neptune a little bit before, this week. We also have Mercury Retrograde so let’s unpack what some of these things mean…

When planets go retrograde, in psychological astrology especially, it means that the energy is becoming more inward or internal, so this is a time for us to be doing in a work in reflections and working on our inner spirituality.

Neptune Retrograde

Neptune is Retrograde from 4 July 2’10 Aries and goes direct on 10 December 29’22 Pisces

Neptune retrograde we can have a look at our inner relationship with dreams, other dimensions, our inner space and where we might be experiencing the shadow sides of Neptune within us - so things like delusion, or unhealthy escapism whether that be through drugs, alcohol food, Netflix or social media. A healthier side of Neptune can be daydreaming in nature, taking Conscious time to actually space out, or even better to meditate and access Altered States. In this way, it allows us a higher intuition which is so important at this time where we really tuning into “what is the most authentic path for me?” Again with this being in tandem with Saturn, it’s an opportunity to be radically honest AND to also really work on our meditation and spiritual practices. We’ll look to Saturn Retrograde next (of which there’s a big overlap time wise).

Saturn Retrograde

Saturn is Retrograde from 13th July 1’56 Aries and turns direct 28 November at 25’9 Pisces.

If we start with Saturn Retrograde in the sense of internal work I feel it’s kind of like if you have a vision of what you think this “future” self is, or you have an inner knowing of it, but you feel you’re not quite there yet - what 'inner work’ and restructuring do you have to do? Do this from a very pragmatic point of view and be compassionately honest. Often being honest in this way is seen as being ‘harsh’, but in higher spirituality it’s been kind, As we can only travel from where we REALLY are. So if we are having a very honest and real (not mean or over judging) view of ourselves then we can make a plan of what actions we need to do.

It’s good to be factual and not cheat ourselves so there’s nothing wrong in saying, “wow I currently feel like I’m not growing because of “xyz” or  I’ve reached an edge. It’s when we reach those edges and keep going that REAL growth happens, so that’s something to reflect on at this time. If you feel like there is this new version of you, that’s more authentic, whether it is just about who you are as a person or a relationship home, career, friendships, whatever area of life it’s happening - this Saturn retrograde as a time to have a real reality check of like where am I now? Because if we kid ourselves, it’s going to be harder to do the work. It’s actually better to have the check-in and be honest with ourselves about where we’re at and that makes it easier to make the plan and do the work going forward.

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury is Retrograde from 18 July 5:45am BST 15’34 Leo and stations direct on 11 August 8:29pm BST at 4’14 Leo

So, we also have Mercury retrograde, which of course happens for three weeks. This is a brilliant time to be having a look at our lives and just going over the details of life. What have we been focusing on in the three weeks prior to Mercury stationing retrograde? Often, there are themes that arise during this time that then come into greater awareness during Mercury retrograde; and this is often where we see the lessons unfold.

So, this is a great time to mentally reflect: Where can I slow down to go over the details of life? Are there mistakes coming up? What are my belief systems? The way that Mercury retrogrades in this little zigzag motion offers an opportunity for increased awareness - especially around things like communication, but also around creating mental space so we can receive intuition.

It’s actually a time for this inward focus of Mercury, which is more about concentration and receiving information, rather than doing lots of new things. Mercury is retrograding in Leo - so see where that falls in your chart and what planets you have been 4-15 Leo as that area will be highlighted. Leo is a lot about playfulness, passion, the inner child, courage, radiance, and so internally there maybe some themes around these areas coming up.

Chiron Retrograde

Chiron is Retrograde 30 July 27’09 Aries to 2nd Jan 2026 22’35 Aries

Authenticity and wounding can go hand in hand, so Chiron Retrograde is a time for us to have an inner pep talk with ourselves when all our doubts and insecurities come up (and they will). Any big change in life is often met with some kind of resistance. When we overcome that, it makes the transformation all the more sweeter.

So even as an overview, it’s a lot, but with the bigger picture vision of the astrology of 2025, these retrogrades are really pivotal. This is a year like no other we’ve seen, or will see again. I’m seeing SO much out in the world of people stepping up, changing career, moving country, following their dreams and it’s so just soooo inspiring literally seeing this astrology MOVE people.