Mercury retrograde is probably the most well-known astrology buzzword on the internet. People love to freak out about it, as it tends to throw us off center when we're not feeling balanced.
As astrologer Jessica Lanyadoo mentions in her podcast Ghost of a Podcast (which is fabulous and informative, I recommend it), Mercury retrograde is a transit that everyone feels. Its chaotic effects manifest in our tangible realms, especially because our society is dependent on technology to communicate and function.
But there's nothing inherently bad about this transit. Like any other retrograde period, it's an opportunity to learn and grow. Mercury retrograde's emphasis on reflection, particularly of the past, can bring to light negative patterns, circumstances, and even people. It's no fluke that your ex-best friend or partner reappears when Mercury is retrograde. Unresolved issues arise for the sake of acknowledgement and closure.
Since Mercury is retrograding through Pisces, our consciousness is colliding with our subconscious. Dreams, mysticism, and the Occult are wonderful ways to navigate any problem that may come to light during this period. Although be warned, solutions may not be as clear as you want them to be as Neptune's touch is clouding and confusing.
In the spirit of a Piscean Mercury retrograde, I've written a horoscope that is a bit unconventional. Call them poetic musings if you like, as they're more similar to the weekly horoscopes written by @astropoets on Twitter than the ones on Broadly. The point is not to tell you how your Mercury retrograde period will be like, as such an analysis requires a more in-depth reading (which you can purchase from me if you'd like). But rather, to inspire you to dwell on certain themes and concepts I implore you to pay attention to. In addition to this, I've attached a song for each sign to add another layer of consideration. Check your Sun and Mercury signs!
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Aries ♈
Your drive for self-definition will never be stagnant, dear Aries. Often times, who you are revolves around what you're doing and what you want. Have you ever considered the steadiness of trees? There is peace is staying still. Of letting life happen with you, rather than to you. How often do you consider the themes in your dreams? Even if you dreamt an imprint in the bedsheets, would you know what it means? Love is not always a chase; but rather, a fantasy worth waiting for.
Taurus ♉
A desire to alter your attitudes, even in the slightest sense, is a blessing dear Taurus. Values shift as new experiences are given room to flourish. Do you nurture your sense of belonging, your knowledge that you are one of many living things? Doors seem to open when you're off-kilter, as your growth has always been connected to instability. At least the illusion of it. What miracles are you willing to believe in? The flowers are shedding, making way for new life. A necessary sacrifice to move forward.
Gemini ♊
The shadows of your many selves seem to conjoin in the moments you let yourself feel. It's speaking, moving, dancing when you dissolve into nuance. Emotions are emblems of wholeness, even the ones that feel they can break you. If you listen to the wind in your heart, dear Gemini, you might spark a fire capable of lighting your mind. What are words if not held in the palm of your love? You never speak for clarity's sake anyway; communication is wild and capricious in your hands. As capable of shape-shifting as you are.
Cancer ♋
You are quick and fickle like a turning tide, dear Cancer. The Moon is your mother for good reason. But you are no longer a child. In moments of silence, can you catch a glimpse of your culmination? The path you've traveled is seeped in quicksand. Your feet are fast but your heart takes longer to catch up. What grounds you to withstand the chaos? Evolution occurs when there's a commitment to change. Are you connected to the rivers that lead you to the ocean?
Leo ♌
Even on a cloudy day, the Sun can still burn our skin. What invisible force is keeping you unhinged? Your self-loving demeanor won't always protect you from the passionate force of your heart, dear Leo. Do you allow the people you love to see the broken frenzy of your vulnerability? Strength can be conveyed in the gentlest moments. What keeps you tender is the source of your beauty. Recognition can feel hollow when it's based on external assumptions.
Virgo ♍
Structure is only your friend when you're not getting along with chaos, dear Virgo. Foundations are defined by their resistance to instability. You make sense of the senseless, defining yourself in the process. Do you pay attention to what's fluid and in flux? Perhaps it's best to follow the example of water. Take shape only when you're confined. Remain a stream of possibility. Your peace is encapsulated by the tension between opposites.
Libra ♎
It is a pleasure to be in your presence, dear Libra. Do you enjoy being with yourself? Consider the freedom that comes from dancing in an empty room. Nothing to be seen, only a body to be felt. You are excellent a moving to the beat of another rhythm, but rarely your own. Harmony is only understood by its opposition to cacophony. It's time to embrace the disjunction of your own mind, the fantastic symphony of an offbeat tempo.
Scorpio ♏
There is power in the simple exertions we make throughout the day, dear Scorpio. A simple decision can amount to something bigger than even ourselves. Mystery is where you thrive in the public eye; but have you considered you might be a puzzle to even yourself? Mirrors occupy a space between four corners, their vision structured by tangible constraints. Your depth cannot be measured, but focus always holds you steady. Consider the plummet of leaves in the fall. Their willingness to die for the sake of the seasons is an honorable sacrifice.
Sagittarius ♐
It's tempting to think progress can be measured by length, dear Sagittarius. Even you know all rulers have limits. Endings never seem to form a single moment. But rather a string of events or circumstances that blur the boundary between beginning and end. How often do you traverse the countries in your mind? Outward expansion snaps once the strings been stretched too far. Entire landmasses are stabilized by an underworld we cannot see. When was the last time you lent support to yourself? Results are not always as evident as we want them to be.
Capricorn ♑
You let the work define you, dear Capricorn, before you name yourself. How much fun can you actually have without a little mystery? You push forward for the sake of knowing how the light and wind feel once you've reached the top. But the same Sun watches from below as well. Have you ever wondered where you'd be if the Earth wasn't so sturdy? A mountain can be destroyed by water, even if they are just small specks of rain.
Aquarius ♒
You are not as unpredictable as you'd like people to believe, dear Aquarius. Your desire to swim upstream causes the chaos of water rapids. What would happen if you allowed yourself to flow rather than resist? Nature is as unpredictable as it is tangible. Life can be slow-moving, but it is always beautiful. If you allow yourself to watch the process, you will experience the euphoria of existing alongside something, rather than opposed to it.
Pisces ♓
Your mystic heart is in alignment with the stars, dear Pisces. Everyone is forced to reckon with their illusions, and you are no exception. The dreams of the mystic are clouded; intuition is the only guiding force we can trust. What path do you choose to follow, when possibilities fade quicker than they appear? Your expansion is becoming. Is it welcoming your growth, or unraveling it?
