Today, August 23rd 2023, Mercury will go retrograde in the sign of Virgo for the next 3 weeks. It will end its retrograde journey just as the New Moon in Virgo occurs on September 14th. This makes the work over the next 3 weeks even more important for you. This is a time of inner reflection, every planet retrograde causes us to go within. But this one will help you create something new, based on what you learn during this retrograde. During the New Moon in Virgo, the Sun and Moon meet at almost the exact degree where Mercury retrograde begins today, at 21 degrees of Virgo, marking this opportunity for a new beginning an auspicious one. There are no coincidences in astrology, so when events happen at the same degree it is important to note. The message is loud and clear, you will apply what you learn from this Mercury retrograde, and it will create a major new beginning in your life. I describe further below what that may look like for you based on your Sun, Moon and Rising signs.
If you were ever going to journal, now is the time. Journal every little thought and detail, which Virgo loves. You never know which one will end up being the one you need to launch something new. Between now and September 14th really allow yourself to slow down and pay attention to the details. Rushing is not advised during any Mercury retrograde, but especially while in the sign of Virgo. What exactly is Mercury retrograde you ask?
Mercury retrograde is an astrological phenomenon that occurs when the planet Mercury appears to be moving in reverse in its orbit around the Sun. It's important to note that this apparent retrograde motion is an optical illusion caused by the varying speeds of Earth and Mercury in their orbits. From an astronomical perspective, planets don't actually reverse their orbits of course.
In astrology, Mercury is associated with communication, travel, technology, contracts, and intellectual activities. When Mercury goes into retrograde, it is commonly believed that the areas of life governed by Mercury can be affected in certain ways. The retrograde period is often associated with challenges, miscommunications, and disruptions in these areas. Expect to have some difficulties in these areas, and just maybe they won’t bug you as much.
Virgo is one of the twelve zodiac signs, and each sign has its own characteristics and influences. Virgo is an earth sign and is associated with qualities such as practicality, attention to detail, analytical thinking, and a focus on health and wellness. Mercury is the ruler of Virgo. When Mercury goes retrograde in the sign of Virgo, the typical effects of Mercury retrograde are influenced by Virgo's energies. You can get directly in touch with that Virgo energy with my article about the sign, and a hypnosis session here.
Here are some general themes and tendencies that can be associated with Mercury retrograde in Virgo:
Communication and Detail: Virgo is known for its attention to detail, and when Mercury is retrograde in this sign, there might be an increased focus on finding errors or flaws in communication, plans, or projects. This could lead to a heightened awareness of mistakes or misunderstandings. This can even be directed towards the self, or others, by nit picking yourself, or them. When you catch yourself being too critical pause, thank Mercury for the information, but don’t use it in a way that is harmful to yourself or others. Do use it to catch mistakes that are beneficial, however.
Analytical Challenges: While Virgo's analytical nature can be helpful, during this period, it might lead to overthinking or excessively critiquing situations, making decisions more difficult. When you catch yourself overthinking, pause, move onto a different task, and then come back to the task at and. Maybe direct your OCD to cleaning that pile of laundry you have been ignoring instead.
Health and Routine: Virgo is also linked to health and routines. During this retrograde, disruptions or changes in routines related to health, fitness, or daily activities might be more noticeable. It could be a good time to reevaluate and make adjustments to your well-being routines. Was there a sport, or exercise routine you enjoyed in the past? This is a good time to give it another try.
Technology and Work: Virgo's practicality aligns with work-related matters. Issues with technology, office systems, and workplace communication could be more prevalent. Double-checking your work and ensuring clear communication may be important. In fact, triple checking your work, and getting another set of eyes to review, it will be most beneficial.
Self-Care and Reflection: Virgo's focus on health and self-improvement could encourage introspection during this retrograde. It might be a good time to reflect on your goals, habits, and ways to enhance your overall well-being. This is a great time to try meditation, hypnosis or yoga. And again, journaling your thoughts to get them down on paper instead of swirling in your head, will be really helpful.
Below are some common recommendations for navigating any Mercury retrograde:
Dos:
Double-Check Communications: Be extra careful with your communication—both written and spoken. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations are more likely during this time, so double-check emails, texts, and conversations for clarity.
Back Up Important Data: Given Mercury's association with technology, it's wise to backup important digital files and documents to avoid potential data loss. Plan for internet outages.
Review Contracts and Agreements: If possible, avoid signing new contracts, making major purchases, or initiating important agreements during this time. If you must, make sure to read the fine print thoroughly.
Revisit and Reflect: Mercury retrograde can be a good time for reviewing and revising existing projects, plans, and ideas. Take advantage of this reflective period to refine your strategies. Re-anything is good during this time. Remodel, restructure, re-design. It is about going back over something you already did, instead of trying new things.
Practice Self-Care: Since communication and technology disruptions can be stressful, prioritize self-care and stress-reduction techniques to help you navigate any challenges that arise.
Don'ts:
Avoid Starting New Ventures: Traditional advice suggests that starting new projects, launching new businesses, or making significant changes during Mercury retrograde may lead to unexpected complications.
Refrain from Making Hasty Decisions: Mercury retrograde can be associated with confusion and miscommunication, so it's best to avoid making impulsive decisions that you might regret later.
Minimize Travel Plans: Reconsider making extensive travel plans during Mercury retrograde due to the potential for transportation delays and communication issues.
Hold Off on Major Purchases: Postpone making big purchases, especially those involving technology or communication devices, as they might be prone to glitches or malfunctions. Since Mercury also rules transportation, this is not the best time to purchase a vehicle, unless absolutely necessary.
Avoid Overloading Your Schedule: Since Mercury retrograde can create unexpected delays and detours, it's a good idea to give yourself some extra time and flexibility in your schedule.
Mercury retrograde influences the entire astrology chart, and each sign will have a slightly different experience during the retrograde. Below are some suggestions for where you might want to focus your re-work, in order to make good use of this time of inner reflection. Read this for your Sun, Moon and Rising sign. If you don’t know what those are, create a free chart on a site like Astro.com. The below is based on whole sign houses, where the sign starts at 0 degrees, which is not typical. Knowing the actual house where this happens for you will make the following information more applicable.
Aries. This is happening in your 6th house, which is the house ruled by Virgo. That makes this the perfect time to re-focus on your health and well-being. Do you have a good healthy routine? Do you schedule in exercise? Follow a good eating plan? Now is a great time to research and test things out so when the New Moon happens you are ready for a healthy new beginning.
Taurus. The 5th house is about getting back to something you used to be really passionate about. Word of caution, if you try to revive a past romance, once Mercury moves forward again you may not feel the same. But, if you have unfinished business with someone, this might be a good time to work things out. Maybe you are more interested in getting back to a hobby that you let slip away instead.
Gemini. The 4th house rules over home, family, your mother, even motherhood. Have you let compassion for others slip away? This house rules over caring and nurturing others. Perhaps your house needs a bit of attention. Now is a good time to go about creating a cozy environment for yourself. If things have been strained with your family, now might be a good time to be working to clear the air. You are ruled by the planet Mercury, so you truly need to bide by all the do’s and don’ts mentioned above. You are affected more than others.
Cancer. The 3rd house is all the Mercury themes, communication, transportation, even schoolwork. This would be a great time to take a class, that isn’t too technical in nature, where you are refreshing your skills. You could potentially get some repair work done on your car, but don’t get a new one now, it will be riddled with problems. But if you do need a new car, do the research now, and wait to buy it at the new moon in Virgo.
Leo. The 2nd house rules over the money you make, so while this isn’t a time to start a brand-new job, you could go back to one you had in the past. Just make sure you look over all the details very carefully. These next 3 weeks would be about researching the opportunity very thoroughly. And don’t start until Mercury is moving forward. But a new job with the new moon on the 14th of September is ideal. If you don’t love where you work, now is the time to start doing the research and planting the seeds for your next dream job.
Virgo. This is your Mercury retrograde, time to shine. This happens in your 1st house, the house of self. It’s time for a personal remodel. The 1st house is how we show ourselves to others. Mercury is your ruling planet, like Gemini. This means the retrograde impacts you more. Taking your time reinventing yourself is called for. Rushing will just leave you feeling very foggy brained. I don’t recommend doing anything too extreme during this time, but start experimenting with new looks. By the time the retrograde is done you will have a new way of showing yourself to the world. Perhaps most importantly you want to spend this time appreciating yourself as you are right now.
Libra. When you have things to work on in the 12th house that means you are cleaning all those negative thoughts out of your subconscious mind. You know the ones that keep you taking care of everyone else’s needs instead of focusing on your own. People like you for who you are, not for what you can do for them. This is a great time to re-invest in self-care and self-reflection. It’s the ideal time to do meditation and self-hypnosis work. By the time you are done, you will have a clear mind and be ready to restore balance in your life.
Scorpio. The 11th house rules over your friends and your networking groups. You may be taking a look at them and deciding it’s time for some changes. Where are you giving time and attention to that isn’t bringing you emotional fulfillment? What has gotten so routine that you no longer feel inspired? Now is the time to get back to hanging out with people you love, and giving your time to causes that inspire you. If you have been too isolated, now is the time to make the effort to reconnect with old friends.
Sagittarius. The 10th house rules over our fame and notoriety, most often this is associated with our career. This would be a great time to take some sort of certification course that will help you elevate your career. You definitely need to pay close attention to the details of any presentation you need to do at work. Someone from the past might be reaching out to you about a career change. Of course, you will have to think about it for the next 3 weeks before you decide to make a big change.
Capricorn. In the 9th house you may be dreaming about traveling to a foreign country. If you plan to travel during this time, you have to pack your patience. This is the house that rules over growth and expansion, so the time might be better spent enrolling in a self-help course of some kind. Or, researching a retreat that you will want to attend after the retrograde ends.
Aquarius. In the 8th house you are focused on some major transformation. This is the house that rules our debts, money we receive from others, versus the money we make on our own. If you have been wanting to get better organized as far as finances go this can be a good time to do that type of work. This is the time to research financial planners, loans, even doing taxes that you fell behind on. This house also rules our intimate partnerships, so one from the past may pop up again. As usual, don’t jump off the deep end where relationships are concerned. You will likely change your mind once Mercury moves forward again. But you could work on your communication skills together and build a stronger bond.
Pisces. There are things to work on in your marriage, or serious relationships. The 7th house rules our marriage partner, business partners, and very close friends. Communication could be an issue and it’s time to sit down and get clear on a few things. Are you too critical of your partner? Or are you letting too many things slide and not holding your partner accountable? It may be time to sit down and build some better structure between the two of you going forward. Touchy feely is all good and well, but sometimes you have to focus on the practical things.
If you want to know more specifically what this time period is all about for you, come book a session with me. Just a half-hour one will do, also known as a follow-up session. Check out your options here.
Let me know in the comments section how the retrograde is showing up for you!
Thanks for sharing!
Love and Light,
Maralee