Mercury Retrograde in Aries and Pisces -- Here's What You Can Expect
See what happens when the planet of communication retrogrades.
By now, you've probably already heard about the pesky astrological event known as Mercury Retrograde. It's usually written about as a very chaotic time when communication goes awry, and while that's true, there's so much more to what goes on during this retrograde period! Many things can impact how you personally experience Mercury Retrograde -- including what sign and element Mercury is in, and where the retrograde occurs in your natal chart.
What is Mercury Retrograde?
Mercury Retrograde happens about three or four times each year, for a period of about three to four weeks at a time. Mercury slows down to the point that it appears to be moving backward, but it's really an optical illusion. The communication planet does still have forward momentum -- it just isn't moving at its usual speedy pace.
Planet Mercury rules communication, travel, and technology, so all of these things are often disrupted during Mercury Retrograde. Yes, things can get a bit chaotic, but there's also a lot of good that can come out of this time. This can be a time of reflection, reconsideration, and retreat. Just like the planet Mercury, we're being asked to slow down so we can revisit our beliefs, our thought patterns, and how we want to move forward in our lives
In 2025, every Mercury Retrograde period touches on a Fire sign -- Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. Fire signs are drawn to excitement and command attention. Because Mercury Retrograde is a time of reflection, this emphasis on potent Fire energy means we could come out of the retrograde period with a greater appreciation for passion and intensity than we had when we originally entered it.
When is Mercury Retrograde?
Mercury Retrograde dates for 2025 are:
• Mercury Retrograde beginning in Aries and ending in Pisces: March 15 - April 7, 2025
• Mercury Retrograde in Leo: July 18 - August 11, 2025
• Mercury Retrograde beginning in Sagittarius and ending in Scorpio: November 9 - November 29, 2025
Mercury Retrograde in Aries and Pisces
The next Mercury Retrograde period starts on March 15, 2025 in enthusiastic Aries and ends in contemplative Pisces on April 7, 2025.
Every Mercury Retrograde is a time when misunderstandings and mishaps are common. Because Mercury appears to be moving backward in the sky, things associated with Mercury -- conversations, negotiations, technology, travel -- tend to go haywire. When Mercury retrogrades through Aries and Pisces specifically, it targets the areas of life ruled by these signs -- personality and identity for Aries, along with secrecy and subconscious matters for Pisces. You may experience frustrations around being misunderstood, stress out over your sense of self, or struggle with the feeling that you don't understand your own motivations or desires.
But there’s always something good you can take from Mercury Retrograde, too! A retrograde in Aries and Pisces is a great time to think through parts of life where you'd like to take on a leadership role, for example, or ways in which your private inner world nourishes you. If you aren’t happy with your zest for life or your inner peace, this is the time to reflect deeply on how to make a change.
Mercury Retrograde often has a reputation for leading to chaos, but it's not all bad! This retrograde period could actually lead to profound clarity! It's all about how you navigate it, so discover how to
