The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Mercury Retrograde

It’s that time of the year again: Mercury is retrograde. This happens and you’re wondering if that means you have to cancel those travel plans or get a new smart phone?

You’ve probably heard wacky stories of how technology goes bonkers and planes get lost in the Bermuda Triangle. There are enough conspiracy theories floating around regarding Mercury Retrograde, but this article was written to help give you clarity and a practical understanding for how to navigate this and all future Mercury Retrograde cycles.

So, what is Mercury Retrograde?

It’s simply the illusion that Mercury is going backwards. It’s not really going backwards but it will cosmically feel like it’s backtracking.

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Because of this illusion, this retrograde period is a great time to lean into the past. Mercury Retrograde is known as a time for the “RE’s” which I classify as “reassess,” “revisit,” “reminisce,” “reflect,” and “research.” This is a time for going inward and doing some personal development work.

One thing many mainstream articles leave out is that Mercury Retrograde is a time to focus on the house which Mercury is retrograding in. Beyond the surface understanding of Mercury Retrograde, it works to your advantage to delve into more advanced research so that you can really leverage the next three weeks to your advantage.

First you want to identify the details for your natal chart. This will outline what signs are placed in your houses. There are 12 houses in total.

1st House: This is the house of YOU. This is also known as the ascendant which is how you express to the world. The first house deals with how you identify, your personality, how you look, self-awareness, and how you initiate. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 1st house, then perhaps this is the time to re-evaluate how you are showing up in the world.

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2nd House: This is the house of your VALUE & WORTH. The 2nd house deals with your view on money and wealth, your self-esteem, your bankable skills, what you value, and how you value yourself. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 2nd house, then perhaps this is the time to reflect on how you value your self-worth.

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3rd House: This is the house of COMMUNICATION & INTELLECT. The 3rd house deals with your thinking patterns, your lower mind, as well as your immediate surroundings such as siblings and neighbors, and transportation. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 3rd house, then perhaps this is the time to reimagine how you think.

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4th House: This is the house of HOME & FAMILY. The 4th house deals with your emotions, your familial relationships such as your parents, your subconscious, and the karmic lessons you are here to learn. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 4th house, then perhaps this is the time to reconnect with people from your past.

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5th House: This is the house of CREATIVITY & PLEASURE. The 5th house deals with what and how you enjoy things such as hobbies as well as your creative expression, dating, sexual relationships, and love. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 5th house, then perhaps this is the time to relax and embrace your playful side.

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6th House: This is the house of WORK & SERVICE. The 6th house deals with your career, the quality of your work, the day-to-day hustle, physical health, and how you respond to stress. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 6th house, then perhaps this is the time to renew your commitment to health.

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7th House: This is the house of PARTNERSHIPS. The 7th house deals with your long term and binding relationships such as business partnerships, marriages, contracts, and law suits. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 7th house, then perhaps this is the time to reassess the partnerships in your life and business.

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8th House: This is the house of TRANSFORMATION. The 8th house is like a smorgasbord of various areas that deal with healing. This house deals with death, taxes, inheritances, bankruptcy, alimony, as well as the occult. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 8th house, then perhaps this is the time to release emotional baggage.

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9th House: This is the house of UNDERSTANDING. The 9th house deals with religion, higher education, ethics, dreaming, higher consciousness, ideas, philosophy, spirituality, and journeys as they relate to traveling for the sake of discovering yourself. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 9th house, then perhaps this is the time to read and research.

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10th House: This is the house of REPUTATION. The 10th house deals with your professional career, responsibilities, status, authority, success, public life, and social status. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 10th house, then perhaps this is the time to revisit your professional ambitions.

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11th House: This is the house of COMMUNITY. The 11th house deals with friendships, your social connections, ambitions for life, self-realization, and social responsibility. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 11th house, then perhaps this is the time to reach out to others for help and guidance.

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12th House: This is the house of your HIDDEN SELF. The 12th house deals with your subconscious mind and can include mental health, karmic debts, limiting beliefs, anxiety, self-sabotaging behaviors, as well as the institutions that deal with these areas such as hospitals and prison. If Mercury goes retrograde in your 12th house, then perhaps this is the time to rewrite your story.

This Mercury Retrograde cycle starts in Virgo and ends in Leo, so when you get your natal chart details, look for which houses these two signs are placed. For myself, Mercury will retrograde in my 7th house so I am using this time to reassess the partnerships I have and reflecting on the relationship I want with my clients. You got this!