Mercury Retrograde 2025 Dates: Complete Guide

Three times a year, Mercury retrograde disrupts communication, travel, and technology, creating what astrologers call a cosmic hiccup. In 2025, the exact retrograde windows are March 14–April 7, July 17–August 11, and November 9–29, each affecting specific zodiac signs in distinct ways.

Mercury retrograde periods in 2025: 3 ·
First period dates: March 14 – April 7, 2025 ·
Second period dates: July 17 – August 11, 2025 ·
Third period dates: November 9 – November 29, 2025 ·
Total duration in 2025: Approximately 68 days

Five key dates define the 2025 Mercury retrograde calendar, each anchored to a specific zodiac transition.

What are the exact Mercury retrograde dates in 2025?

All three periods have been verified by multiple established astrological sources. The first begins March 14 in Aries and ends April 7 in Pisces, according to Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller. The second runs entirely in Leo from July 17 to August 11, as per CHANI, modern astrology app. The third starts November 9 in Sagittarius and ends November 29 in Scorpio, confirmed by Farmers’ Almanac, longstanding almanac publication.

Mercury retrograde March 14 – April 7, 2025

• Pre-shadow began February 28 (CHANI, modern astrology app)
• Station retrograde in Aries (CHANI, modern astrology app)
• Stations direct in Pisces (Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller)
• Post-shadow ends April 26 (CHANI, modern astrology app)

Mercury retrograde July 17 – August 11, 2025

• Pre-shadow began June 29 (CHANI, modern astrology app)
• Station retrograde in Leo (CHANI, modern astrology app)
• Stations direct in Leo (Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller)
• Post-shadow ends August 25 (CHANI, modern astrology app)

Mercury retrograde November 9 – November 29, 2025

• Pre-shadow began October 21 (CHANI, modern astrology app)
• Station retrograde in Sagittarius (CHANI, modern astrology app)
• Stations direct in Scorpio (Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller)
• Post-shadow ends around December 16–17 depending on timezone (Astrology Horoscope Readings, astrology blog)

What signs are heavily affected by Mercury retrograde?

Each retrograde period concentrates its effect on the signs where Mercury stations — the slower the planet moves, the stronger the impact on that sign’s themes. Farmers’ Almanac, longstanding almanac publication notes that the signs where Mercury begins and ends its retrograde journey feel the most disruption.

Signs most affected in each 2025 retrograde

• March retrograde: Aries (where it goes retrograde) and Pisces (where it goes direct) are the prime focuses (Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller)
• July retrograde: The entire retrograde stays in Leo, making this fixed fire sign the sole focus (CHANI, modern astrology app)
• November retrograde: Sagittarius (retrograde start) and Scorpio (direct station) carry the weight (Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller)

Effects on mutable signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces

Mutable signs rule communication and adaptation — the areas Mercury retrograde famously muddles. Farmers’ Almanac, longstanding almanac publication points out that Pisces (March retrograde) and Sagittarius (November retrograde) are mutable, making them especially sensitive to scheduling reversals and miscommunication. Gemini and Virgo, ruled by Mercury itself, often feel the retrograde across all periods, but more diffusely.

Effects on fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius

Fixed signs resist change, so when Mercury retrogrades through them (Leo in July, Scorpio in November), the friction can feel more stubborn. Vogue’s astrology guide, lifestyle and culture publication suggests that fixed signs should expect delays in areas they usually control — career for Leo, shared resources for Scorpio.

What should you not do during Mercury retrograde?

Conventional wisdom from Farmers’ Almanac, longstanding almanac publication and Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller agrees: avoid actions that rely on perfect information the first time. Retrograde energy rewards review, not fresh starts.

Signing contracts and making major purchases

• Legal documents signed during retrograde often need revisions later (Farmers’ Almanac, longstanding almanac publication)
• Wait until a few days after the post-shadow ends for big-ticket items like cars or appliances

Starting new projects or launches

• New initiatives often hit communication delays or technical glitches (Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller)
• Instead, use the period to refine existing plans

Traveling without backup plans

• Allow extra time for connections and confirm itineraries twice (Vogue’s astrology guide, lifestyle and culture publication)
• Backup digital copies of tickets and reservations

Making important decisions without review

• Decisions made in haste often need to be unmade later (Farmers’ Almanac, longstanding almanac publication)
• Sleep on it — literally — before accepting a job offer or ending a relationship

How many times has Mercury been in retrograde in 2025?

Three retrograde periods, confirmed by Astro-Seek, astronomical database, Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller, and CHANI, modern astrology app. That’s the standard annual cadence — Mercury goes retrograde three to four times each year, each lasting about three and a half weeks. In 2025, the total retrograde days add up to approximately 68, roughly 18.6% of the year.

• March 14 – April 7: 24 days
• July 17 – August 11: 25 days
• November 9 – November 29: 20 days

Between periods there are roughly 10 to 14 weeks of direct motion — enough time to reset before the next cycle.

What are good things to do during Mercury retrograde?

Rather than hiding from retrograde, Vogue’s astrology guide, lifestyle and culture publication frames it as a seasonal “pause button” — ideal for activities that benefit from a slower rhythm.

Reviewing and revising plans

• Re-examine quarterly goals, edit content, or restructure workflows (Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller)
• Perfect for debugging software, fact-checking articles, or updating budgets

Reconnecting with old contacts

• Reach out to former colleagues or friends you’ve lost touch with (Vogue’s astrology guide, lifestyle and culture publication)
• Old conversations tend to resurface naturally — use the energy to complete unfinished exchanges

Double-checking details and backup data

• Back up phones, laptops, and cloud accounts (Farmers’ Almanac, longstanding almanac publication)
• Review travel itineraries, warranty expiry dates, and insurance policies

Practicing patience and reflection

• Use journaling or meditation to process emotions (Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller)
• Consider this the universe forcing you to slow down — which might be exactly what you needed

“Mercury retrograde is a time for reflection, not action. The March 2025 retrograde, starting in Aries and ending in Pisces, asks us to reconsider our identity and spiritual boundaries.”

— Astrology Zone, founded by astrologer Susan Miller

“The November 2025 Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius and Scorpio is especially potent for reassessing your beliefs and your shared resources. Don’t rush through it — let it transform you.”

— Vogue’s astrology guide, lifestyle and culture publication

“During Mercury retrograde, communication is prone to misunderstanding. Double-check your emails, allow extra travel time, and avoid signing contracts until the retrograde has passed.”

— Farmers’ Almanac, longstanding almanac publication

For anyone planning important meetings, travel, or major purchases in 2025, the choice is clear: schedule those events in the clear space between retrogrades — ideally at least a week after the post-shadow ends — or be ready to pivot. The March and November windows carry the most sign-specific disruption; the July retrograde, while confined to Leo, still demands a slower pace for all of us. Mark your calendar, back up your files, and treat each retrograde as a built-in review period rather than a cosmic punishment.

Editor’s note: This article was fact-checked using multiple astrological sources including CHANI, Astrology Zone (Susan Miller’s platform), Farmers’ Almanac, and Vogue’s astrology guide. Shadow period dates are based on Chani Nicholas’s calculations and may vary slightly by source timezone.