A pen and notepad with the astrological symbol for Mercury, the planet of writing and communication.
Mercury is the planet most people blame and least understand. Before the next retrograde turns into an excuse for every lost email, it helps to know what Mercury actually stands for, because this one has a particular flavor. Mercury turned retrograde on October 23, 2026 at 8:59 PM in Hawaii and turns direct on November 13. If you want the basics of why planets appear to move backward, I covered that in What Retrograde Means (And Why It’s Not All Bad). This article is about Mercury itself and about this particular retrograde.
What Mercury Governs
Named for the Roman messenger of the gods, Mercury rules the way information moves: speaking, writing, listening, reading, learning, negotiating, and getting from one place to another. It is the planet of the everyday mind. It rules two signs, Gemini and Virgo, which is why Gemini is associated with curiosity and conversation and Virgo with detail, analysis, and fixing what is not quite right.
That is a useful clue. A Mercury retrograde is not about dramatic events. It is about the small machinery of daily life: the email you meant to answer, the contract you skimmed, the plan you never wrote down, the conversation you keep having in your head instead of out loud.
The Scorpio Setting
Mercury is in Scorpio for this entire retrograde. It entered the sign on September 30, stations retrograde at about 21 degrees of Scorpio, backs up to about 5 degrees, and turns direct there. It does not leave Scorpio until December 5.
Scorpio is the sign of depth, research, secrets, and trust. A Mercury in Scorpio does not chat about the weather. It asks what is underneath. So this retrograde leans toward the conversations you have been avoiding, the facts you have been glossing over, and the questions you have been too polite to ask. In practice that can mean sorting out shared finances, rereading the fine print, or finally saying something that has needed to be said. Scorpio also rewards patience and discretion, so the invitation is to be honest without being harsh.
Three Phases, With Dates
Astrologers often describe a retrograde as three stages. Times below are Hawaii time.
The pre-shadow (October 3 to October 23). On October 3, Mercury reached the degree where it will later turn direct. Astrologers call the weeks that follow the “pre-shadow”, and some people notice the theme building before the official start.
The review (October 23 to November 13). Mercury appears to move backward. Around Wednesday, November 4 (about 4:59 AM in Hawaii), Mercury lines up almost directly between Earth and the Sun. This is the midpoint of the retrograde, and in the symbolism it is the deepest point of the review. Mercury is lost in the Sun’s glare and cannot be seen. Mercury turns direct on Friday, November 13 (about 5:59 AM in Hawaii), at about 5 degrees of Scorpio.
The shadow (November 13 to November 29). Mercury moves forward again but spends about two more weeks retracing the ground (space) it covered whilst it was going backward. It clears the shadow at about 8:59 PM in Hawaii on November 29. Astrologers read this as the time to put what you reviewed into practice.
A Shared Finish Line
One detail that makes this one unusual: Venus also turns direct on November 13 (about 3:59 PM Hawaii), the same day as Mercury. I wrote about that in Venus Retrograde 2026. With Mercury (how we communicate) and Venus (what we value) both going direct together, mid-November has a “clearing the table” feel in astrological terms. The two planets have been working on related questions from different angles: what do I value, and am I saying it clearly?
What This Doesn’t Mean
It does not mean you have to stop living. Astrologers who take retrograde seriously rarely tell people to stop working or traveling. The traditional advice is narrower: be careful when starting things that depend on perfect communication, such as signing a major contract in a hurry, launching something important, or buying a major new device. Re-reading, re-checking, and revising are favored. Finishing old projects goes well. Starting from scratch is the part to slow down.
I should also be honest about the evidence. Astrology is a symbolic language, and I’m not aware of a controlled study showing that Mercury retrograde causes mix-ups. What I can say is that the habits it encourages are good ones whether or not you credit the planets: read it twice, confirm the appointment, keep a copy.
A Few Practical Ideas
Reread before sending. Especially anything involving money or an important relationship.
Confirm plans in writing. Travel, meetings, deliveries.
Back up what matters. Photos, documents, anything you would hate to lose.
Return to unfinished business. An old letter, a project set aside, a conversation left half finished.
Have the honest conversation, kindly. This is the Scorpio part. If something has been left unsaid, this is a gentle window to say it.
Where to Look in the Sky
Mercury disappears into the Sun’s glare around November 4 and then returns to the morning sky. On November 13, from Kamuela it rises about an hour before the Sun, and it grows brighter and climbs higher over the following week, reaching its farthest point from the Sun on November 20. If you are up before dawn, look low in the east-southeast.
Questions to Carry Through to November 13
What have I been saying vaguely that I could say clearly? What is one thing I have been avoiding reading, signing, or asking? What unfinished project would feel good to close out?
Mercury retrograde isn’t a curse. It’s about three weeks of invitation to slow your words down and mean them.
As always, astrology is a symbolic language for reflection, not a forecast.