What Is Mercury Retrograde, and How Will It Affect You?
Updated: Jul. 14, 2024
Mercury retrograde might fuel mishaps, but you can thrive through the notorious event with these astrologer-backed tips
When we hear the phrase Mercury retrograde, we can’t help but fear the worst. The astrological event, which occurs about three to four times a year, has become the ultimate scapegoat for everything that could possibly go wrong: miscommunications, transportation delays and technology glitches galore. And there is plenty of truth to this. I could regale you with stories about calling AAA to tackle car troubles, contending with travel delays or coping when miscommunications lead to high-stakes mistakes (like the misprinted contract that caused chaos ahead of my wedding last year), all thanks to Mercury retrograde.
But as a professional astrologer of more than a decade and the author of the astrology book Mercury Magic: How to Thrive During Retrogrades and Tap Into the Power of the Messenger Planet All Year Long, I’m passionate about setting the record straight and shedding light on the truth about this astrological event. After all, planetary transits present us with potential lessons and opportunities for personal growth—yes, even Mercury retrograde!
During the planet of communication’s regular backspins, you could benefit the most when you embrace its key message: Slow down, reflect, revise and tie up loose ends before plunging into the future. Hitting the brakes and making time for anything other than forward motion can be frustrating, to be sure, but it can also lay the groundwork for even better results in the long run.
Ahead, I’m laying out the basics of what Mercury retrograde means for you and your zodiac sign, when Mercury is retrograde in 2024 and tips for thriving through this seemingly nerve-racking transit.
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What is Mercury retrograde?
Three to four times a year, Mercury goes retrograde, which means the planet’s zippy pace seemingly slows to almost a full pause before it appears to move backward from our vantage point here on Earth. In fact, the word retrograde means “moving in a backward direction.” Scientifically speaking, the planet isn’t slowing or moving in reverse. It’s an optical illusion—the motion just appears backward from our perspective.
Each Mercury retrograde lasts about three weeks. That means Mercury is retrograde about 18% of the year. But according to astrology, you’ll feel Mercury retrograde’s effects the most on the days that the messenger planet comes to nearly a full pause before it reverses course or “stations” either retrograde or direct.
Pro tip: Astrologers would never say “Mercury is in retrograde.” It’s more accurate to say, “Mercury is retrograde” or “Mercury is going retrograde.”
When is Mercury retrograde in 2024?
By the time this year wraps up, we’ll have gone through three full retrograde phases. Here’s when to expect Mercury retrograde in 2024:
- April 1 to April 25: Mercury retrograde in Aries
- Aug. 4 to Aug. 28: Mercury retrograde in Virgo and Leo
- Nov. 25 to Dec. 15: Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius
What happens when Mercury is retrograde?
When Mercury is retrograde, all of the areas of life that the planet oversees—communication, transportation and technology—tend to get a bit wonky. Your brand-new laptop will freeze up, your colleagues will struggle to get their audio to work on Zoom or it will feel like rush hour all day long.
Depending on how a given Mercury retrograde is affecting your unique birth chart, you could experience more interpersonal problems versus issues with tech or travel. You might feel like wires are getting crossed more readily with friends, colleagues, family members or your partner. Or you have to contend with an emotional issue from the past that you thought had been laid to rest but was actually unresolved.
Sometimes, these Mercury retrograde mishaps are happening for a good reason. Maybe you’ve been pursuing a business strategy that’s not working as well as you had hoped; Mercury retrograde could give you an opportunity to slow your typically frenzied pace to see things from a new perspective and rethink your approach. At other times, you don’t need to read into eyebrow-raising incidents that much. For instance, you might hear from an ex-friend or former significant other out of the blue, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should pick back up where you left off—or even have a conversation. One of Mercury’s nicknames is “the trickster planet,” after all.
On the brighter side, because cerebral Mercury oversees our thought processes, and because all planetary retrogrades encourage us to go inward, you could find that you’re compelled to prioritize more introspective and restful activities while Mercury is retrograde. This transit lends itself to practicing mindfulness, honing your deep breathing or restorative yoga skills, or journaling.
Does Mercury retrograde affect relationships?
Mercury retrograde absolutely influences relationships, given that the messenger planet rules not only communication but also technology, which we rely on to connect with others. When the messenger planet is seemingly moving backward, you could find that it’s far more common for misunderstandings to pop up—even with people you tend to click with. You might also struggle to get on the same page as a friend or loved one, thanks to dropped phone calls, missed texts or someone running inexplicably late. It may simply feel like you two are speaking different languages.
In the midst of Mercury retrograde–fueled headaches like these, it can help to remember that the transit is often an opportunity to nurture your bonds and gain more clarity around underlying dynamics. If you have a miscommunication with your siblings about a family vacation, the incident could lead to a helpful chat that boosts your awareness of one another’s budgets or schedules. Or you might be inspired to dive in to useful self-work and self-reflection that empowers you to speak up about your needs and weed out toxic bonds.
How will your sign be affected by Mercury retrograde?
When Mercury goes retrograde, it backs up through one—sometimes two—of the 12 zodiac signs. For instance, in 2024, Mercury was retrograde in Aries in the spring, and it’ll be retrograde in Virgo and Leo this August.
That said, Mercury retrograde affects each sign differently every time it happens because retrogrades occur at different spots in your birth chart every time. Let’s say your rising sign (aka ascendant) is Leo. The August retrograde might kick off in your second house of income before moving back into your first house of self, so the themes of those zones in your chart will be highlighted during the retrograde.
But even just knowing more about your sun sign (like the zodiac element it falls under) can help you better navigate any Mercury retrograde. After all, your sun sign speaks to your core identity, self-image and purpose, all of which come into play when you’re facing any of the potentially stressful or advantageous moments that Mercury retrograde can bring about.
What to know if you’re a Gemini or Virgo
Every zodiac sign is ruled by one (or two) planets, and Gemini, the mutable air sign, and Virgo, the mutable earth sign, are both ruled by Mercury. In turn, people whose sun sign and/or other personal placements—their rising, moon, Mercury, Mars or Venus signs—are in Gemini or Virgo tend to be supercommunicators who rely even more on Mercury-ruled areas of life in their daily routines.
Geminis and Virgos are more likely to be drawn to working with technology and/or people (think: having a career in computer engineering, therapy or journalism), so they’re bound to feel the effects of every Mercury retrograde more acutely than other signs.
What to know if you’re a fire sign
Fire signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius
If you were born with your sun (and/or other personal placements) in a fire sign, you’re likely action-oriented, dynamic and passionate, and you absolutely hate to sit on your hands and wait for something to happen. You’d rather go out and actively pursue it. But Mercury retrograde often throws a wrench in your ability to do that. Slowing down isn’t your forte, so you could struggle with that aspect of the astrological event.
Hope to cope: A little bit of reframing can go a long way. You can feel like you’re still building momentum by continuing to take action in a more mindful, self-reflective (versus external) way. Itching to send a crucial email? You can use this time to reflect on the best approach, but wait until Mercury retrograde is over before hitting “send.”
What to know if you’re an earth sign
Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
Born with your sun (and/or other personal placements) in an earth sign, you’re pragmatic, rational and most content when you’re creating and following a step-by-step game plan to reach your goals. But it can be tougher to move the ball forward on even the most reasonable strategy when Mercury retrograde leads to signals getting crossed.
The trickster planet isn’t concerned with what “makes sense,” instead drumming up chaos and confusion that can make it downright impossible to find a logical explanation.
How to cope: When Mercury mahem unfolds, lean in to one of your greatest strengths, which is staying levelheaded and grounded in reality. Sticking with old business—a fantastic Mercury retrograde rule of thumb—can be an easy way to stay on track and continue to feel productive even if you’re facing one setback after the next.
What to know if you’re an air sign
Air signs: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius
Because you were born with the sun (and/or other personal placements) in an air sign, you’re innately cerebral, social, curious and eager to flit from one activity, environment or project to the next. You could be aggravated when Mercury retrogrades prevent you from moving through the world or connecting with other people at the lightning-fast pace that you prefer. You may also resent that this moment is more tailored to introspection versus lively interactions.
How to cope: You’re the consummate people person, so you can effortlessly manage Mercury retrograde miscommunications by being up for talking things through and clarifying the situation. Because you tend to be more intellectual than emotional, you can also be quite open-minded and identify the silver lining of any given retrograde-related frustration.
What to know if you’re a water sign
Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces
Born with the sun (and/or other personal placements) in a water sign, you are intuitive, compassionate, sensitive and capable of feeling deeply. So Mercury retrograde can ruffle your feathers if you’re not seeing eye to eye with a loved one or you’re being nudged to revisit a difficult emotional situation from the past. Aggravations, crossed wires and delays could also whip up deep-seated emotions that can feel overwhelming.
How to cope: You’re so emotionally intelligent, capable of reading between the lines and picking up on how other people are feeling. This can really come in handy when Mercury retrograde makes it more challenging to have a clear-cut conversation. You also excel at going inward, tuning in to what’s truly on your mind and in your heart in order to boost your self-awareness—a practice every sign could benefit from whenever the messenger planet moves backward.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experience where appropriate. For this piece on Mercury retrograde, Maressa Brown tapped her experience as a professional astrologer and the author of Mercury Magic: How to Thrive During Retrogrades and Tap Into the Power of the Messenger Planet All Year Long to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Mercury Magic by Maressa Brown
- Raising Baby by the Stars by Maressa Brown
Originally Published: January 11, 2021
