Mercury, our trickster planet of the mind and the mouth, is going retrograde from February 26 to March 20 in the perennially messy and misunderstood sign of Pisces.
At its highest expression, Mercury worships at the altar of reason and clarity; Pisces, by nature, does not.
What does Mercury retrograde mean?
Mercury is the planet of communication, connection, expression, media, technology, travel, and commerce. It is the fastest-moving celestial body in our sky, second only to the moon.
Contrary to the terminology, Mercury and other planets do not ever move backward in space; they merely slow down, a deceleration that appears to be a reversal from our vantage point on Earth.
When a planet is retrograde, its energy works in the opposite direction, not necessarily against us, but certainly not as a trusted sidekick.
As Mercury rules the mind, its retrograde signifies a period of challenge in organizing, expressing, and creating order in our lives
Is Mercury in retrograde?
“In astrology, Mercury is in both its detriment and its fall in Pisces. Translation? The planet of communication is currently drunk in a basement, crying over a poem it wrote in 2006,” astrologer Babs Cheung, aka The Astro Translator, told The Post.
Cheung notes that amid this emo mud, we cannot fully trust our instincts or our inner narrative.
Mercury retrograde 2026
“This isn’t just a tech glitch; it’s a total reality glitch. Communication has gone haywire, requiring fifty check-ins just to confirm that “Yes” still means “Yes,’ she said.
“Every email and group chat will feel like a social experiment designed to break your spirit.”
But wait… there’s more, and it gets worse.
Mercury retrograde in Pisces
“Because Pisces is such a dreamy and romantic sign with a lack of clarity and boundaries, you can expect every ex to come crawling out because they can sense the hole in your defenses. Lock in, things are about to get even messier,” she promised
“The planet of communication is currently drunk in a basement, crying over a poem it wrote in 2006.”
Babs Cheung
While we’ll all be under the heady influence of Mercury retrograde in Pisces, four signs will be feeling the effects of this transit most acutely.
Mercury retrograde dates
Mercury will be retrograde from February 26 to March 20 and will clear its post-retrograde shadow on April 9th.
Next Mercury retrograde
After this cycle, Mercury will go retrograde in the sign of Cancer on June 29th.
“The Existential Crisis”
Cheung notes that for Pisces folk, this retrograde is going down and back in their sign, in their first house of identity. Gentle, it ain’t.
“Expect every goal, promise, and ‘new year, new me’ manifestation you made to crumble. There is a full-blown rebrand taking place that no amount of vision-boarding can fix,” shared Cheung.
“You’re trading your delusions for a cold plunge into harsh reality. Expect existential headaches and a level of anxiety that even a weighted blanket and a 12-hour Real Housewives binge can’t cure.”
Yikes.
To add to the intrigue and upset, Cheung said exes will be surfacing en masse and should be avoided at all costs.
“Since it’s your birthday season, do not be surprised if all your exes (this includes situationships, hookups, and even a person you smiled at once) come back for that ‘HBD’ soft bid. It’s most definitely a trap.”
“The Conspiracy Theorist”
For Virgos, this retrograde is a one-two punch. Not only is Mercury your ruling planet, but its tenure in Pisces means it’s stalking the halls of your seventh house of partnerships.
“Your signature analytical mind has officially become part of a top-tier paranoia machine. You’ll go from ‘Hmm, it’s a quiet day’ to ‘Everyone is conspiring to ruin me’ in the time it takes to send a text,” shared Cheung.
“You are one ambiguous emoji away from a full-blown crash-out or a confrontational PowerPoint presentation for your friends.”
She warns that while all signs run the risk of an ex coming back into their lives during this retrograde, the threat is higher for Virgos.
“It’s your choice to lean into the nostalgia or hit delete forever, but word to the wise: go full hermit mode, put your phone in a block of ice, and take that long-overdue sabbatical.”
“The Career Dumpster Fire”
A Mercury-ruled sign, Geminis will feel the effects of this retrograde in their tenth house of career, legacy, and public reputation.
“Every email from your boss feels like a personal slight, and every passive-aggressive, royal ‘we’ used in a Slack thread will make you want to rage-quit on the spot. If you’re self-employed, prepare for ‘Slippery Client Season.’ Expect late payments accompanied by sob stories that would make a soap opera writer roll their eyes,” said Cheung.
She notes that for the people of the twins, old bosses, former colleagues, and long-forgotten clients could come a-knockin’.
“If you’re job searching, don’t be afraid to reach out to old recruiters who are likely thinking of you, too. But for the love of God, do not sign on the dotted line until after March 21 (or even better, wait until the shadow period ends).”
“The Descent into Madness”
“Aries, a 12th-house Mercury Retrograde is the ultimate ‘I know something is wrong, but I can’t catch it’ nightmare. It’s like hearing a mosquito’s high-pitch hum in a room but never being able to find it,” said Chung.
“This leads to a quick, aggressive descent into madness. If you see an Aries friend talking, laughing, or yelling to themselves in the street, just keep walking. They are currently battling the ghosts of every impulsive decision they’ve made since 2019.”
Cheung shared that in the realm of exes, rams will be visited not by people but concepts.
‘Imagine all the old traumas or fears you have refused to face finally getting their time in the spotlight of your mind. It’s truly the stuff of sleepless nights and deeply aggravating nightmares.”
Mercury retrograde dates 2026
- June 29, 2026 – July 23, 2026. It swims through Cancer.
- October 24, 2026 – November 13, 2026. It stirs the depths of Scorpio
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
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