The planet Mercury rules both the quick-witted Gemini and the practical Virgo so we know that these two signs will be greatly affected. It is also important in which sign and in which houses of your natal chart the retrograde cycle arises.
For example, if it is in a water or air sign, as it is for most of 2020, these signs will be most affected. Although they may vary from one retrograde period to another, the basic confusion and slowdowns of a retrograde Mercury cycle remain the same. To see how you can expect your zodiac sign to respond, see the information below.
In 2020, Mercury will be in apparent retrograde motion during the following ranges of dates:
- February 17 to March 10
- June 18 to July 12
- October 14 to November 3
How the Mercury retrograde usually affects the zodiac signs:
Table of Contents
Aries:
You like stepping on the gas and moving at high speed to your destination, so what happens when you can’t? When an Aries hits a sign that says “Road closed”, their mood skyrockets.
You can be exasperated to the point where you even want to hit something. But violence is not the answer during retrograde Mercury, patience is. With Mercury retrograde, it’s a time when you can’t use your pure strength to get what you want. The more you push, the worse you fail.
Taurus:
As a Taurus, your firm attitude can be thrown for a loop during this period. Not only are things not going well, but now your generally calm demeanor is also gone. Frustrating, right? Usually careful and thoughtful, you make impulsive decisions during retrograde Mercury that do not fit your rational way of being.
One of the biggest disappointments? You miss this close and personal communication with the people who are dear to you. When scheduled meetings go wrong, you can blame the wrong people or the wrong things. Avoid misplaced anger.
Gemini:
Mercury is your governing planet, Gemini, so when it becomes retrograde, your whole world is rejected. On a positive note, you are a mutable sign that sees change (even bad) as a chance to make improvements.
When Mercury retrograde sets up a roadblock, all you have to do is find an alternative route to get to where you need to go. To be honest, when you are not in a rush, you are happy with the challenge. Prepare for your precious social media apps to crash.
Cancer:
Prepare for an emotional overload, Cancer. The more you are bombarded with information (or misinformation), the more you are tempted to retreat into your shell, but that only prolongs the inevitable. Moody doesn’t even begin to describe how you will feel when you try to deal with the chaos that can be caused by retrograde Mercury.
And when things in your beloved home go down, you can start to turn. Your attempts to isolate yourself from the effects could backfire. You want to stay sweet, nourished and loving, but it’s a difficult time for you.
Leo:
While it’s no secret that Leos love to be the center of attention, your worst fear is of being around a group of people and being wrong. Enter: Mercury retrograde. This can cause presentations to collapse and meetings to go haywire, all due to things that are not even under your control.
The signal is lost or your phone decides to restart for no reason. Contacts can also be lost, annoying when you have to get in touch with friends or colleagues. Save everything and think carefully about your plans.
Virgo:
You hate clutter, so this can be a lousy scenario for you, Virgo. When your governing planet, Mercury, is retrograde, it looks like betrayal from within. The things you can normally count on to help you get through the day – order, routine, etc. – are replaced by chaos and uncertainty.
Without organization, reliability and careful analysis, what are your options? Lean towards the adaptability of your mutable sign and the talent of your earthly sign to stay grounded.
Libra:
Most Libras value their relationships above all else, but retrograde Mercury can cut you off from people. Now what?! The way you are used to communicating (social media, SMS, phone, etc.) may not work, so you will need to find other ways to stay in touch.
Since negotiations of all kinds can also be interrupted, pay close attention to contracts and agreements. All of the old friends, former colleagues, and exes who appear now can be good or bad news, depending on how you ended it the first time.
Scorpio:
As a fixed sign, you don’t really like the ups and downs that life can throw at you. You’re not going to be the first to ride the retrograde Mercury roller coaster, but if you have no choice, you’re clever enough to take each curve as you go.
You are also wise enough to know that while it may be unpleasant, it must end one day. Scorpio the patient can endure almost anything (yes, even giving up that beloved feeling of control) as long as you know it will finally stop.
Sagittarius:
This retrograde cycle takes you where it really hurts, Sagittarius: your ability to go, go, go. Mercury retrograde is known to play with anything that can help you get where you want (or really want) to go.
Bicycles, buses, cars, planes, and trains can experience mechanical breakdowns and other general difficulties, resulting in lost time and missed connections. Public transportation, traffic, and travel apps can be wrong, so make alternative plans and get ready to slow down for once.
Capricorn:
Oh, oh, progress has slowed and your blueprint has broken down. You’d rather do just about anything than sit around and twitch when there is real work to be done. Having to depend on other people (like computer scientists) to finish their work before you can restart yours is excruciating.
Also, as a cardinal sign, you are used to taking the reins and doing it yourself, so not controlling your own success or failure drives you crazy. Find some zen by pressing reset, Capricorn.
Aquarius:
As a high-tech junkie and astrology guru, this retrograde cycle is a particularly boring moment for you. When your reference devices are down, you may just be forced to * gasp * to find other ways to find your information.
Fortunately Aquarius, you are an outgoing innovator who likes challenges, so you can get out of retrograde Mercury with great new contacts or skills to help you move forward. Making adjustments and adaptations is all for the moment, and you excel in this area.
Pisces:
Your intuition is generally good, Pisces, but during retrograde Mercury, your assumptions and “feelings” are right next to it. With your psychic and intuitive capacities out of control, the confusions which can result from it leave you confused and disorderly.
After all, if you can’t trust your gut, what can you trust? Escaping, whether it’s to your happiest dreams, to your favorite secluded beach or to your beautifully organized Instagram feed, won’t be easy either. This troubling period will require all of your creative abilities to find real solutions.
