You may have heard friends say, “Oh, no – Mercury is about to retrograde again!†If you don’t know astrology, you may have wondered what they were talking about. Of all planetary aspects, this one seems to garner the most attention from readers, and it certainly generates the most mail.
The reason for their interest is clear – this phenomenon is one of the few that affects everyone in a fairly uniform way, and its effects are always obvious. Once you begin to pay attention to how events in your life change during these phases, you will soon see how important it is to take note of them.
Keeping track of Mercury retrograde periods can allow you to increase your productivity and avoid at least some of the frustration they can bring about. Let’s look closely at Mercury retrograde and what it means to you.
Mercury Retrograde Periods from 2016 to 2030
2016
| January 5 – January 25, 2016 in Aquarius, ends in earth-sign Capricorn |
| April 28 – May 22, 2016 in earth-sign Taurus |
| August 30 – September 22, 2016 in earth-sign Virgo |
| Dec 19 2016 – Jan 8, 2017 in earth-sign Capricorn, ends in fire-sign Sagittarius |
2017
| Dec 19, 2016 to Jan 8, 2017 earth-sign Capricorn, to fire-sign Sagittarius |
| April 9 – May 3, 2017 earth-sign Taurus, to fire-sign Aries |
| August 12 – Sept 5, 2017 in earth-sign Virgo, ends in fire-sign Leo |
| December 3 – December 22, 2017 in fire-sign Sagittarius |
2018
| March 22 – April 15, 2018 in fire-sign Aries |
| July 26 – August 18, 2018 in fire-sign Leo water-sign Scorpio |
| November 16 – December 6 in fire sign Sagittarius, ends water sign Scorpio |
2019
| March 5 – 28, 2019 in water-sign Pisces |
| July 7 – 31, 2019 starts in fire-sign Leo, ends in water-sign Cancer |
| October 31 – November 20, 2019 in water-sign Scorpio |
2020
| February 18 – March 9, 2020 in water-sign Pisces, ends in air-sign Aquarius |
| June 17 – July 12, 2020 in water-sign Cancer |
| October 13 – November 3, 2020 in water-sign Scorpio, ends in air-sign Libra |
2021
| January 30 – February 20 in air-sign Aquarius |
| May 29 – June 22 in air-sign Gemini |
| September 27 – October 18 in air-sign Libra |
2022
| January 14 – February 3 starts in air sign Aquarius, ends in earth-sign Capricorn |
| May 10 – June 2 starts in air sign Gemini, ends in earth-sign Taurus |
| September 9 – October 2 starts in air-sign Libra, ends in earth-sign Virgo December 29 – January 18 in earth-sign Capricorn |
2023
| See above, Dec 29, 2022 – Jan 18, 2023- goes direct in earth sign Capricorn |
| April 21 – May 14 in earth sign Taurus |
| August 23 – September 15 in earth sign Virgo |
| December 13, 2023 – January 1, 2024 in fire-sign Sagittarius |
2024
| See above, January 1, 2024 goes direct in fire-sign Sagittarius |
| April 1- April 25 in fire-sign Aries |
| August 4 – August 28 in earth-sign and ends in fire-sign Leo |
| November 25 – December 15 in fire-sign Sagittarius |
2025
| March 14 – April 7 starts in fire-sign Aries, ends in water-sign Pisces |
| July 17 – August 11 in fire-sign Leo |
| November 9 – November 29 starts in fire-sign Sagittarius, ends in water-sign Scorpio |
2026
| February 25 – March 20 in water-sign Pisces |
| June 29 – July 23 in water-sign Cancer |
| October 24 – November 13 in water-sign Scorpio |
2027
| February 9 – March 3 starts in water-sign Pisces, ends in air-sign Aquarius |
| June 10 – July 4 starts in water-sign Cancer, ends in air-sign Gemini |
| October 7 – October 28 starts in water-sign Scorpio, ends in air-sign Libra |
2028
| January 24 – February 14 in air-sign Aquarius |
| May 21 – June 13 in air-sign Gemini |
| September 19 – October 11 in air-sign Libra |
2029
| January 7 – January 27 starts in air-sign Aquarius, ends in earth-sign Capricorn |
| May 1 – May 25 in earth-sign Taurus |
| September 2 – September 24 starts in air-sign Libra, ends in earth-sign Virgo |
| December 21 – January 10, 2030 in earth-sign Capricorn |
2030
| See above, December 21, 2029 – January 10, 2030 in earth-sign Capricorn |
| April 12 – May 6 starts in earth-sign Taurus, ends in fire-sign Aries |
| August 15 – September 8 in earth-sign Virgo |
| December 5 – December 25 starts in earth-sign Capricorn, ends in fire-sign Sagittarius |
