Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn -- 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.
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 2023, every Mercury Retrograde period take place while Mercury occupies an Earth sign -- Capricorn, Taurus, or Virgo. Earth signs are rooted in reality and focused on practical matters. Because Mercury Retrograde is a time of reflection, this emphasis on productive Earth means we could come out of the retrograde period with more solid plans than we had when we originally entered it.
When is Mercury Retrograde?
Mercury Retrograde dates for 2023 are:
• Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn: December 29, 2022 - January 18, 2023
• Mercury Retrograde in Taurus: April 21 - May 14, 2023
• Mercury Retrograde in Virgo: August 23 - September 15, 2023
• Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn: December 13, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn
The next Mercury Retrograde period starts on December 13, 2023 in ambitious Capricorn and continues through January 1, 2024.
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 Capricorn specifically, it targets the areas of life Capricorn rules: our professional lives, reputations, and long-term goals. You may experience frustrations around your career path, stress out over how other people see you, or struggle with the sense that you're not achieving as much as you'd like.
But there’s always something good you can take from Mercury Retrograde, too! A retrograde in Capricorn is a great time to look at your approach to work-life balance, for example, and assess where changes are needed. If you aren’t happy with the direction you’re headed, this is the time to revisit plans or paths you experimented with in the past to see if they make more sense.
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
