Around three times a year, for about three weeks, Mercury appears to move backwards through the zodiac. It is an optical effect of Earth overtaking a faster inner planet — and astrologically it is one of the most misunderstood events in the calendar.
What it is good for
Retrograde periods favour the "re" words: review, revise, return, repair. Finishing an old project, reconnecting with someone or rereading a contract all fit the energy well.
A practical checklist
- Back up your phone and laptop before it starts.
- Read the small print twice and leave room in travel plans.
- Expect old messages and old faces to resurface.
- Launch new things before or after, if you have the choice.
What it is not
It is not a reason to cancel your life. People sign leases, start jobs and get married during retrogrades every year. The point is simply to slow down and double-check.
