I begin with a few paragraphs about Mercury Retrograde in general and how you can work with the energy. The first Mercury Retrograde period of 2026 begins on February 25th PT.
You are encouraged to slow down during Mercury Retrograde. Mercury Retrograde invites you to pause and reflect on the choices, decisions, events, and circumstances that have unfolded since Mercury’s last retrograde. Mercury was last retrograde in November 2025. It’s time to recalibrate, revise, and realign.
Words and activities to focus on during Mercury Retrograde. REVIEW, revisit, reconsider, reassess, rectify, rearrange, remember, refine, REPEAT, rethink, research, reconnect, recycle, recuperate, RETURN, reinvent, rebuild, redo, revitalize, resolve, REACT, reward, reassure, rebound, rebuke, recall, receive, reclaim, recognize, RESCHEDULE, reconstruct, record, recover, recur, refinance, refer, RELEASE, refinish, reformulate, refurbish, refrain, refresh, rehearse, reject, resist.
Attention to detail slips during Mercury Retrograde; it’s easier to miss or overlook things. Messages may go unanswered or be lost, and appointments may be forgotten, missed, or rescheduled. Typos appear often, and you may wonder what happened to the editor, or find yourself dealing with endless do-overs.
Transportation issues are also common, traffic jams, car troubles, delays, cancellations, and long layovers. These disruptions remind you to slow down, stay flexible, and double-check your itinerary.
During Mercury Retrograde, focus on areas of your life that have become disorganized or have been neglected. It’s an ideal time to tackle the files lingering on your desk or the floor. Catch up with paperwork, insurance, tax papers, etc. Organize closets, cupboards, the garage, or the interior of your car.
During Mercury retrograde, you may feel called back to familiar faces and favorite places. Go and have fun. Just remember to double-check your travel plans before you leave and pack your patience in case of delays.
Mercury Retrograde in Water Signs
The fire and air elements are especially strong during the first half of 2026 and even more so once Jupiter enters Leo on June 29th or 30th, depending on your location and time zone.
This makes Mercury retrograde in water signs especially significant. It offers an opportunity to slow down, turn inward, and reflect on how you truly feel about the activity, movement, and decisions you’ve made over the past three months.
Trust your intuition and your instincts. When something feels off, pause and listen. Let that awareness guide you toward the changes that bring you back into alignment with what feels right in your heart.
What can you expect during Mercury Retrograde in Water Signs?
Expect to feel more sensitive and receptive now. The people and experiences around you may touch you more deeply, so allow yourself the time and space to process your emotions. Writing your thoughts down or sharing them with someone you trust can help you release what you’re carrying and gain clarity.
Your thoughts, ideas, and perspectives may be strongly colored by your emotions right now, so lean into your intuition and trust your gut instincts. They’re valuable guides during this period.
You may encounter people who are moody, overly sensitive, or quick to take things personally. Practice patience with yourself and with others. What can you learn about responding with compassion and steadiness?
Decision-making feels more challenging. You choose a course of action, and second-guess yourself. When possible, delay important decisions, especially those with long-term consequences, until Mercury resumes direct motion.
You may notice heightened sensitivity to your environment and surroundings. Let your feelings guide you as you explore what is unsettling you and what changes might be needed once Mercury resumes direct motion.
Explore “emotional word chains.” Start by writing down a single word, any word that evokes a feeling for you. Then list the emotion or sensation the word triggers. Follow each new emotion with the next word it brings up, allowing the chain to unfold naturally. This exercise reveals your deeper emotional associations with certain words. You may discover why specific words trigger a response or a reaction.
Mercury is typically retrograde for approximately 22 days. I have included the number of days Mercury is retrograde in each sign during 2026.
As mentioned earlier, the fire and air elements are especially strong throughout 2026. Neptune moved into Aries in late January, followed by Saturn’s shift into Aries in mid-February. On February 17th, the Lunar New Year ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse, and on that same day, we experienced a powerful Aquarius Solar Eclipse.
With this concentration of fire and air energy at the beginning of the year, you may find it a little more challenging to slow down and reflect during the first Mercury Retrograde of 2026. However, this is the perfect time to focus on unfinished projects and clear the decks before moving full steam ahead when Mercury resumes direct motion.
Mercury Retrograde in Pisces – February 25th – March 20th (24 Days)
22 degrees Pisces – 8 degrees Pisces
You’ll likely be looking for an escape from the daily grind. This is an ideal time to revisit a spiritual practice, such as meditation, yoga, or breathwork, to nurture inner peace, strengthen your connection with the divine, and support your overall well-being. Spending time in nature, listening to music, reading, or playing with your pet, are also great stress reducers.
If you’ve explored Astrology, Tarot, Runes, palmistry, or I Ching in the past, Mercury Retrograde in Pisces is a good time to reconnect with these ancient divination systems. Review your astrological chart, pull a Tarot card in the morning to get a sense of the day. Consult the Runes or I Ching to see what messages the Universe has for you. Study your old palmistry books and practice reading palms for friends or family. This period encourages reflection, intuitive insight, and rediscovering the spiritual tools that once inspired you.
Help a local charity rewrite or refine their mission statement, assist with researching grant opportunities and eligibility requirements, or prepare a proposal. Your skills and compassion can make a meaningful difference wherever and however you choose to give back.
Therapy can be a highly effective resource in dealing with a repetitive cycle of addiction and overcoming self-destructive behaviors.
Mercury Retrograde in Cancer – June 29th – July 23rd (25 Days)
26 degrees Cancer – 16 degrees of Cancer
Reconnect with family and friends you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while. Share memories of past adventures, current changes, and milestones.
A family member may need your attention, time, or energy, possibly with something you’ve assisted them with before. Offer help where you can, but stay mindful of your boundaries and those of others.
You might find yourself noticing little projects or unfinished tasks at home. It’s a great time to tend to those details, but consider holding off on major renovations until Mercury moves direct.
This is a great time to dust off your old cookbooks and recreate the comfort-food recipes that revive cherished memories. Invite family or friends over for a delicious and nurturing meal.
Therapy can be a valuable tool in dealing with recurring family patterns connected to unresolved trauma or codependency, and or addressing feelings of abandonment.
Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio – October 24th – November 13th (21 Days)
20 degrees Scorpio – 5 degrees Scorpio
Venus will also be retrograde during this time. Venus Retrograde begins on October 3rd, and both Venus and Mercury resume direct motion on November 13th.
You may feel compelled to get to the bottom of an issue and uncover what’s been hidden.
This is an excellent time to sharpen your observational skills and study nonverbal communication, body language, facial expressions, eye movements, and tone of voice. Nonverbal communication reveals much more than the spoken word.
If you’ve been denied a loan or credit card in the past and your credit score has improved or your income is higher, consider applying again. Or seek guidance with managing burdens such as high tax bills, high-interest loans, or credit card debt.
Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio may help you discover the root cause of a recurring health issue. Consider alternative therapies or revisit a treatment or protocol that previously helped you manage repetitive health challenges. The regenerative energy of Scorpio is also beneficial for releasing difficult emotions associated with physical ailments.
Therapy can be a powerful step in processing and healing childhood sexual abuse and related depression or anxiety.
Dates to remember during Mercury in Pisces
The following are simply examples of how each aspect could express; your experience may be entirely different. Note the dates and pay attention to how these energies show up in your life.
March 8th Mercury in Pisces trine Jupiter in Cancer – (Daylight savings time begins)
You’re looking at old family pictures, reviewing your family lineage, and pondering your family’s country of origin. Lost in a daydream, you find yourself imagining what it might be like to visit the homeland of your ancestors.
March 15th Mercury in Pisces conjunct Mars in Pisces
This is a great day to update your vision board or to do a ritual to remind yourself, your guides, and the Universe of what you want to manifest in your world.
March 17th Mercury in Pisces conjunct the North Node
A conversation today may inspire you to revisit a vision that once felt deeply connected to your destiny. Take time to reflect on your path and contemplate your life purpose.
Dates to remember during Mercury in Scorpio
October 30th Mercury in Scorpio square Mars in Leo –
You have just discovered someone has been untruthful with you again! You feel angry and betrayed. You will never give them a chance to lie to you again!
November 6th Mercury in Scorpio inconjunct Saturn in Aries
You need to present the second of two research projects for a particular client, but you feel like you need more information. Your boss is standing next to you, drumming his fingers on the desk, and saying, “The client will be here in half an hour, what do you mean you’re not finished??!!
If you would like to read more about Mercury Retrograde go to the Mercury Retrograde page on my website.