Mercury Retrograde in Pisces -- Here's What You Can Expect
See what happens when the planet of communication retrogrades.
By now, you've probably already heard about the pesky astrological event known as Mercury Retrograde. It's usually written about as a very chaotic time when communication goes awry, and while that's true, there's so much more to what goes on during this retrograde period! Many things can impact how you personally experience Mercury Retrograde -- including what sign and element Mercury is in, and where the retrograde occurs in your natal chart.
What is Mercury Retrograde?
Mercury Retrograde happens about three or four times each year, for a period of about three to four weeks at a time. Mercury slows down to the point that it appears to be moving backward, but it's really an optical illusion. The communication planet does still have forward momentum -- it just isn't moving at its usual speedy pace.
The planet Mercury rules communication, travel, and technology, so all of these things are often disrupted during Mercury Retrograde. Yes, things can get a bit chaotic, but there's also a lot of good that can come out of this time. This can be a time of reflection, reconsideration, and retreat. Just like the planet Mercury, we're being asked to slow down so we can revisit our beliefs, our thought patterns, and how we want to move forward in our lives
In 2026, every Mercury Retrograde period touches on a Water sign -- first Pisces, then Cancer, and finally Scorpio. Water signs are drawn to emotion and direct energy to relationships and self-understanding. Because Mercury Retrograde is a time of reflection, this emphasis on compassionate Water energy means we could come out of the retrograde period with a greater sense of clarity about the people we're connected to and our own inner worlds.
When is Mercury Retrograde?
Mercury Retrograde dates for 2026 are:
• Mercury Retrograde in Pisces: February 26 - March 20, 2026
• Mercury Retrograde in Cancer: June 29 - July 23, 2026
• Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio: October 24 - November 13, 2026
Mercury Retrograde in Pisces
The next Mercury Retrograde period starts on February 26, 2026 and ends on March 20, all in empathetic Pisces.
Every Mercury Retrograde is a time when misunderstandings and mishaps are common. Because Mercury appears to be moving backward in the sky, things associated with Mercury -- conversations, negotiations, technology, travel -- tend to go haywire.
When Mercury retrogrades through Pisces specifically, it targets the areas of life ruled by this sign, including the subconscious, fantasy, dreams, and spirituality. You may experience frustrations around your religious community, stress out over nightmares that seem to mean something (but what?!), or struggle with the feeling that you just can't get tell what's real and what's imagined.
But there’s always something good you can take from Mercury Retrograde, too! A retrograde in Pisces is a great time to think through parts of life where you'd like to exercise your intuition, for example, or ways in which you're beholden to something addictive. If something about your spiritual life is leaving you unsatisfied, this is the time to think about how you can make a change.
Mercury Retrograde often has a reputation for leading to chaos, but it's not all bad! This retrograde period could actually lead to profound clarity! It's all about how you navigate it, so discover how to
