What Does Mercury Retrograde Mean in Astrology?

In recent years, as people have been opening up to unconventional answers, they have become more attentive to the movements of the planets and the psychological energies they reflect. And the main "hyped" attention has been given to Mercury in retrograde motion. Simultaneously, the same retrograde Mercury has become a convenient excuse to blame for absolutely anything that does not work out in life.

Let's debunk the myths, understand this position, and learn how to use the energy of Mercury retrograde.

It is believed that during the retrograde motion of Mercury, everything falls out of your hands, nothing works out, negotiations fail, and the second sock inevitably disappears from the washing machine after the first one, which had disappeared during the previous Mercury cycle. However, this is a myth!

Time to slow down

So, first, let me reassure you. The retrograde motion does not mean that Mercury is literally moving backward. It only means that for an observer from planet Earth, Mercury has stilled for a while, and the other planets, thanks to their different orbits, continue to move forward.

Since in astrology Mercury is responsible for thinking, logic, movement, and communication, then during periods of frozen (retrograde) Mercury, it makes sense to slow down in thinking, not to rush into decisions, and not to jump to hasty conclusions, as well as rushed actions.

By the way, any retrograde planet suggests slowing down the topics that it denotes in astrology, and the topics for which it is responsible in your natal chart, depending on the house (sphere of life) it rules.

Hints from the past

When Mercury begins retrograde movement, people have the opportunity to gain knowledge from the past, which they can begin to use. This is the time to dig into yourself, rethink some things, and let the brain process them into skills, behavior, words, and thoughts. During Mercury retrograde, knowledge comes to you from the past—from what you already know and have learned before. Therefore, during Mercury retrograde, events may occur that will require working on and fixing past mistakes. If you believe in the celestial intention, it is done in order to help you avoid these mistakes in the future. And that is why, if during Mercury retrograde you start running ahead of yourself, ignoring the past, things may fall out of your hands and don't work out.

Fuss is redundant and unhelpful

During Mercury retrograde, it is counterproductive to rush and fuss. There is no point in being in 20 places at once in short periods of time—this way you will simply get exhausted, and the end will not justify the means. It makes sense to slow down, tread carefully, and look around. That is why at such periods household appliances might break down in a mystical fashion - this is a symbolic ritual to help you fix old things instead of initiating new brave ventures. Through the manipulations that we carry out around a burnt-out microwave, life invites us to carry out around ourselves, our thoughts, and our aspirations. After all, our thoughts determine our behavior and in this case Mercury in retrograde invites us to focus not on what we think, but on HOW we think.

In which sign is Mercury retrograde?

The retrograde movement of Mercury should always be interpreted in accordance with the sign in which it is currently located. For example, Mercury in Pisces (mutable water) is doubly retrograde, since the energy of the sign of Pisces by its nature reflects a powerful rethinking of things, slowing down, and meditative immersion in oneself and one psyche. Whereas the retrograde movement of Mercury in Aries (cardinal fire) is much less noticeable, since Aries is a very active sign, and it tends to turn any thoughts into action, while sweeping away doubts.

The connection of retrograde Mercury with the natal chart

Retrograde Mercury influences a person by highlighting the themes of the houses it governs in their natal chart - those associated with Gemini and Virgo, the signs it rules. During its retrograde motion, these areas of life will require deeper focus and attention. For instance, if Mercury rules the 2nd house in your chart, its retrograde effect will manifest in financial matters, while if it governs the 7th house, its influence will be more pronounced in relationships and partnerships.

People with strong Gemini or Virgo placements—particularly their Sun or rising sign—will feel Mercury retrograde more intensely, as it is their ruling planet. Additionally, women whose Moon (rather than their Sun) is in Gemini or Virgo may experience its effects strongly. This is why having some knowledge of your natal chart can be helpful. Ultimately, understanding your astrological chart allows you to make decisions that align with your deeper life path, rather than just act out short-term impulses.

Conclusion

The idea that nothing is allowed during Mercury retrograde because it is destined to fail—is a myth. Do what you must, just don’t rush. Many people are sensitive to Mercury retrograde, as it is a time when they become acutely aware of their mental burnout.

During this period, people often don’t want to think, reflect, or plan at all—and this is the psychological conflict of this position; the person is caught between magic and reality. In this state of mental overheating, one might wish for things to come to pass by themselves, without their active involvement: for a good hairdresser, cosmetologist, or a skilled computer technician to appear at your window, like Mary Poppins, flying in on an umbrella. Yet this is precisely why the retrograde position exists: so we don’t wait for miracles, but instead learn to take our lives into our own hands, making conscious changes—slowly and steadily.