Mercury Retrograde 2023 and 2024
If you are planning events far ahead, it helps to know when there will be rescheduling, cancellation or delay. My diary is 1-2 years ahead and perhaps yours is too. In this feature I will give you the dates of Mercury Retrograde in 2023 and 2024 and cover triggers to. your birth chart. I will also look at where the rescheduling and cancellation will come from, in the future.
I always cover Mercury Retrograde on Twitter (below) @jessicacadams but it’s good to have advance warning before it rolls.
Astrology and Novak Djokovic
This is a good example of how astrology can help. Novak Djokovic was cancelled in Australia on Thursday 6th January 2022 and the warning dates about world sporting events were published on my website back on 26th December 2020. Even as I publish this, there are questions about Novak Djokovic being uncancelled. That’s typical of Mercury Retrograde. This is the original prediction about sports event cancellations you read on my website in 2020. So, two years into the future.
Mercury Retrograde – What To Expect
Mercury rules bookings, flights, all travel and transport (for example, cruises – if they are even still running by 2024). Mercury rules the post office, the internet, traffic jams and queues, computer issues, and anything that hangs, or is suspended (like votes, for example, in an election).
Mercury is the messenger and our modern astrology, which is Roman in origin, still interprets this planet as ‘the messenger of the Gods’ although today he is likely to represent couriers and TV scheduling. There is no ‘One Way’ on Mercury Retrograde. The arrow points backwards. And forwards. And backwards. It is a traffic sign telling you to have a back-up plan.
What To Do On Mercury Retrograde
Rehearse, review, rethink, recap. Anything with the prefix ‘re’ usually works well. It’s a time for going over old ground. For going to a first and second draft. For beta-testing. Not for launch.
Why Some Astrology Websites Get It Wrong
Mercury Retrograde has a shadow period before and after the planet actually appears to hang, suspended, in one zodiac sign. It begins earlier and ends later than many astrology websites tell you.
Mercury Retrograde in 2023
Okay, we really need to begin this cycle of cancellation and rescheduling back in December 2022, so Christmas. Mercury moves backwards in Capricorn, the sign that rules your career, unpaid work or university/college degree, from 8 t0 24 degrees of the sign. Capricorn also rules the top 1% of men in power (it is usually men) so, your Prime Minister, President, Premier. Your CEO or boss. We often see reshuffles in your profession, or just a rethink of cabinets, or boards, for example, on this cycle.
Mercury Retrograde 2023 Starts in 2022
So, this 2023 period of chaos begins on Tuesday 13th December 2022 and ends on Tuesday 7th February 2023. Please consult an astrologer if you need precision timing as those start and end dates are averaged for world time zones, from Auckland to Los Angeles. Or, closer to the time, check my website for the daily changing planetary positions. Adjust for your city.
Read the Fine Print
Read the Fine PrintMercury moves like this, so if you have anything in Capricorn at these degrees, there will be rescheduling, even cancellation, at work. This may be because of extreme weather, COVID-19 variant outbreaks, strikes, global computer issues, and so on. Read the fine print. (Photograph: Dmitry Ratushny, Unsplash).
Mercury moves: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Capricorn – then 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 Capricorn. Then he repeats himself moving 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Capricorn.
He turns retrograde on Thursday 29th December 2022, and direct on Wednesday 18th 2023, which is an indicator of reversal. That’s all. This is not Mercury Retrograde, it’s just in the middle of it all.
Between December 13th 2022 and February 7th 2023 we will see travel cancellation, traffic chaos, extreme weather and infrastructure mess which affects our jobs, unpaid work or academic careers. Politicians and businessmen and the people at the top of power and fame, will resign, receive promotions, depart – or sign mergers – but it will be inconclusive and may come to nothing. Political party reshuffles will be changed later.
The mainstream (like the tennis world, see the case of Novak Djokovic in January 2022) ignores astrology but they could save a lot of time and money on pre-planning events between December 13th 2022 and February 7th 2023 if they had Plan B but also Plan C. Astrologers know the Titanic sank on Mercury Retrograde. That’s all you need to know too. Don’t plan your vacation on Mercury Retrograde. Not unless it’s going to pull you out of Mercury-ruled activities like – road trips, flights and the rest.
Mercury Retrograde and Plan B and C
You usually need two back-up plans for this period, not one. You may find your webmaster goes on holiday, for example, and your back-up person (Plan B) cannot be contacted. So Plan C is always a good idea. Even then Mercury Retrograde can be slippery. It’s just as you would expect from science class. Tricky!
Mercury Retrograde in Taurus 2023
This one is about your money, the sharemarket, banks, insurance, currency, trade, shopping, sales, charities, property, real-estate and so on. All ruled by Taurus. Taurus the bull also rules gold bullion and the bull market. Mercury Retrograde in Taurus, goes from Friday 7th April 2023 until Thursday 1st June.
An astrologer I used to know was outraged by the suggestion that Mercury Retrograde could be here for such a long time. “That’s half the year!” he huffed and puffed. This is perfectly natural. Nature does not keep chugging along, at a rapid pace, in a straight line. She has seasonal delay. So do we. These are very good times to stop the financial juggernaut or just accept that life is going to get in the way. And it happens for extended periods. That is life, astrology and nature.
Between April 7th 2023 and June 1st 2023 we will see rescheduling and cancellation affecting our banks and sharemarkets. Mercury moves like this –
Taurus 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 then 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 then 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
If you have anything in your chart at Taurus 5-15 then be aware of the potential for emails which go to spam, delayed post or couriers, and for people to go back on their word.
Sharemarket and shopping flux will unfold from April 7th to June 1st 2023 and we also have eclipses then, so expect a cover-up about cryptocurrency, the banks and the economy (all ruled by Taurus and Scorpio) on Friday 5th May on the Full Moon eclipse at 14 Scorpio and the New Moon in Taurus on 19th May 2023 will also be dramatic.
Mercury Retrograde in Virgo 2023
Virgo rules work and health. It is particularly associated with people who resign, are furloughed or take sick leave from their jobs, courses or unpaid work. As I write this on 6th January 2022 I am reading a lot of nonsense about ‘post-Covid’ but we will continue to see the virus variants throughout this period. It can be a big problem or a manageable problem. It depends on politicians and businessmen, and you, who votes for them – or buys their product.
It will not become a manageable problem until Prime Ministers, Presidents and Premiers control the airline and cruise industry, which as I write this on 6th January 2022 is out of control. That’s the astrology.
Okay, so this period is definitely worth planning for, with your Plan B and C, but also with an eye to going much earlier or later, if you have crucial launches, meetings, events – for example. This is a period of suspension as this image from Ashley Bean (Unsplash) shows in a clever way. Mercury is about being stranded in mid-air (often) or ‘hanging around’ (in a queue).
Mercury, which rules Virgo, goes from 8 to 21 degrees of that sign, backwards. If you have anything at 8-21 Virgo in your natal chart you will be affected.
Mercury moves through Virgo 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 then 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 – then 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Quite a loop.
Between Friday 4th August and Saturday 30th September we will see COVID-19 mismanagement, shipping delays, health insurance rescheduling and statements which will be retracted later. Remember the ‘re’ rule. It is a very good time to rehearse and research plans for your health and wellbeing. For example, looking into a vegetarian diet to see if it works for you.
It is not a good time to launch a health care scheme, changes to medical insurance, a new hospital and so on. Remember, Virgo is about working people too.
Between 4th August and 30th September 2023 we will see strike action, furloughing, resignation and extreme weather, transport or infrastructure issues altering the normal pattern of daily life for working people.
If you have Virgo factors at 8-21 in your natal chart in the Sixth House of lifestyle, wellbeing, housework, chores, paid employment, academia, volunteering, health – you can expect yourself or others to go back on your word – which is a classic outcome of Mercury Retrograde. Have a flexible diary.
Mercury Retrograde in December 2023
Here we have Mercury back in Capricorn, back to his old tricks, and more upheaval at the top. Remember we saw this as the year began, back in January 2023. Reshuffles, demotions, promotions, mergers, departures will all affect the corporate and business world, but also politics. This one runs from 0-8 Capricorn if you want to check your chart.
We will see rescheduling, chaos and cancellation affect our working lives and political rulers from December 2nd until 23rd, 2023 – just before Christmas Day.
The second chapter will come from January 15th t0 21st 2024. So this is going to be a period of not knowing/rethinking job interviews, university admissions, the new school year, promotions, retirement, resignations and so on. That’s two periods. The end of 2023 and start of 2024.
This is a dramatic period for the royal family and politics. Why? Capricorn rules the people at the top. Between December 2nd and 23rd 2023, and January 15th and 21st 2024, we will see chaos affecting the top 1%, particularly around the Full Moon in Cancer on 27th December 2023, the New Moon in Capricorn on January 11th 2024 and the Pluto-Sun conjunction on Saturday 20th January.
Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius 2023
This actually begins, in the sign ruling airlines and cruises, when Mercury moves 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 Sagittarius from November 26th 2023 until around 30th November. Be very wary with airline sales, big announcements about cruise ships, COVID-19 passports and emigration, foreign relations and other Sagittarius-ruled matters from November 26th until the 30th .
The pattern is repeated Christmas Eve, December 24th 2023 until January 13th 2024.
This is classically holiday or vacation time we are going to see COVID-19 or other epidemic outbreaks, extreme weather, strike action or airline/cruise company collapse from November 26th until 30th 2023, then December 24th 2023 until January 13th 2024. Read the fine print on the paperwork and have Plan B, C. In your natal chart you are looking for anything at Sagittarius 22-28 in your Ninth House of foreigners and foreign countries then.
2024 and Mercury Retrograde
So the New Year, 2024, begins with Mercury Retrograde moving backwards through two signs, Sagittarius (foreign travel) and then Capricorn (career). Mercury then goes backwards through Aries. Between 15 and 27 degrees of Aries, in the First House of self-promotion, weight loss, cosmetic surgery, public relations, publicity, branding and wardrobe. Hair plugs and teeth whitening are also First House matters, if you do have anything at 15-27 Aries.
More seriously this is about Facebook. Aries rules the face. Expect chaos at Facebook and other social media from Tuesday 19th March 2024 until Tuesday 14th May. Aries also rules your passport (perhaps a vaccine passport by this stage – I am looking two years into the future). Certainly your name, online identity, profile and so on. Perhaps another website will be chaotic during this time – Linked In, Twitter and the rest are all vulnerable. Instagram, particularly, as it is a place for self-promotion.
Mercury Retrograde in Virgo 2024
This is how you can predict that COVID-19 will not go away. Again, for the second year in a row, we have Mercury Retrograde in Virgo, the sign ruling health and work, at the same time that we have Saturn in Pisces, in opposition to the Virgo placements of billions in the Sixth House of wellbeing and lifestyle. Job and fitness to serve. This one is 0-4 Virgo and runs from July 26th until August 15th 2024. Then again, from September 10th to 12th, a few weeks later. This falls right in the holiday period for Europe, America and Canada. Be really careful when planning your vacation dates then, in terms of replacement or support staff. Virgo is ruled by Mercury the messenger of the Gods, so when retrograde – actually in Virgo – it’s extreme rescheduling.
Mercury Retrograde in Leo 2024
This is about children, so we can bracket school with work, in the summer of 2024 in the Northern Hemisphere. Of course, this is winter and cold season in Australia, New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere. Leo has always ruled sons and daughters, young relatives – heirs to the throne and pretenders to the throne. It also rules parents and teachers. The dates to be careful with are July 17th to 25th, then August 16th to September 9th. If you have anything in Leo in your Fifth House at 21-29 degrees expect rescheduling or cancellation.
This period directly affects the Royal Family, because Leo rules the throne, as well as its heirs. Between July 17th and 25th, then August 16th to September 9th 2024 chaos will affect the Royal Family. They should have Plan B and C at this time.
Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius 2024
Another long period of holiday and vacation rescheduling and cancellation. There is again another risk of airline and cruise company collapse. It is an excellent time to research Sagittarius matters – foreign countries, foreign translation, emigration – but also publishing and academia, ruled by Sagittarius. As this period takes Mercury through 6-22 degrees of backwards traction at the end of 2024 and start of 2025, it coincides with holiday travel and also the new university/college year. Expect the usual rethinking. Have Plan B and C. From November 7th 2024 until January 3rd 2025 we will see airline, cruise, university, college, publishing reversals and rescheduling.
If you have anything at 6-22 Sagittarius in your Ninth House of academia, books, digital publishing (the worldwide web), foreigners and foreign countries – expect a long period of issues with paperwork, negotiations, plans. Thus ends 2024 and begins 2025. I hope this Mercury Retrograde forward planner is useful. It’s a terrific time for a director’s first take. It’s not the best time for a final director’s cut. Unfortunately not everybody understands it, so if you do find yourself with staff, colleagues, employers, family, friends, partners who are busily organising Mercury activities (travelling, launching, announcing, negotiating) on Mercury Retrograde you may have to work around with Plan B and C.
Main image: Rob Wicks, Unsplash.
27 Responses
Hi Jessica ,
Happy New Year!!!
Thank you for this article .
Would you be able to highlight a few things that I should be aware during this year, please?
Thank you
Yes, take the project or plan and make it happen, in a location far away from your current town/city – perhaps your country. The environment is not right for your concept or brainwave, but with enough research and effort you can find somewhere that is. This will make a fantastic long-term difference to your life.
Hi Jessica,
You had been a great comfort to me earlier in the summer in a time of the greatest sorrow. THANK YOU.
I wish the best of health and serenity of mind and spirit! HNY to you and yours.
I am now pretty concerned, panicky and fearful about my family. Your January 2 prediction for Taurus states, “Foreigners and foreign countries are at the heart of the most deceptive new beginning now. You will see grand declarations made which then change substantially or come to nothing later.” So, could you please tell me when this deception will end? How to know which foreigner is true and can be trusted and will lead to success for me? Is this because of Mercury Retrograde? I ask this because I want to relocate my family from a very dangerous country and I am completely dependent on foreigners in the US…
Blimey, astrology is supposed to put off panic. When you know what is coming you can prep for it to lower the stakes and reduce the impact. That is why I publish predictions about things we don’t want (a virus) a year before they happen and date-stamp it. You want to move your family from a dangerous country and have to trust foreigners in America to help you. Okay I am going to send you straight to the Tarot, which is free on my website. Just follow the instructions. The problems for Taurus with foreigners and foreign countries in January 2022 (now) are Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn in the Ninth House of your solar chart, which rules other faces, with other passports, from other places. It depends who or what you call ‘foreign’ but it sounds as if Americans are, to you. Okay, so Mercury is paperwork, emails, verbal promises and negotiation. He is going backwards from January 27th 2022 until February 14th 2022, in that zone of your chart. People do go back on their word when this happens. The internet, or extreme weather, or Covid outbreaks, do get in the way of normal processes. Please use the Tarot to check out this period. Further on, note those Mercury Retrogrades in Capricorn (same thing) 2023.
Hi Jessica
So with my fortuna 27 Aries i am imagining the wheel of fortune on the downswing in this retrograde event? Will Jupiter 18 Aries help. Or….am I getting all of this wrong? I so appreciate all of this information and I just wish I could figure it all out. You are so so good at this!!! Thanks for helping the confused (me) try to make sense of things!!
Fortuna is known in Shakespeare and also in some great art, and she turns the wheel of fortune for other people, blindfolded. They go high and low in life and she is never conscious of what she does. Just sort this out when the time comes. 2022 is far too early, but I post these dates far in advance so that if you were planning an Aries/First House matter (say, weight loss) you would pick an easier time.
Hi Jessica,
Hello from Maryland! Thank you for always sharing your wisdom with us! I’ve been working on different personal new projects that are giving me great joy but that I’m thinking of launching at different stages of the year. I’m wondering if you could kindly share with me anything that it’s coming through my chart that I should be aware or cautious about during this year?
As always I appreciate your articles so much!
Thank you!
Thank you. As a Sun Taurus you have your eye on projects and plans ahead, which is appropriate, as you have Pluto (power) in Capricorn (ambition) in your Ninth House of study and teaching. Education and academia. If you do not already have a mentor or teacher, you will acquire one (a superb source of wisdom, expertise and knowledge) in 2022 and gain from it. You may also think about qualifications.
Hi, what is 2022 got in store for me date birthday 01/09/55
I’m not sure if you are born on 1st September 1955 or 9th January 1955 – it helps if you spell the date out, as Americans put dates back to front. Thank you.
Hi Jessica, thanks very much for the blogs, they are very informative. I drew The Tower for life this year and the 10 of Cups on business. When I drew the Tower, I paniced because i aligned it with destruction, but then the 10 of cups is the total opposite. Any thoughts – I am a Capricorn
The Tower is Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration of a Uranus transit. The lightning strike at the top is sudden, and Uranus is associated with lightning, electricity and shock. You really do not want that in your life. So use the Tarot to go back and find out what you are doing/planning to do in 2022 that is inviting Uranus in Taurus into your life with such a wallop. It can be avoided. You have Neptune at 12 Scorpio in your Eighth House of sex, death and money. It is usually the family legacy, any will you make out to other people, a marriage and mortgage, tied to the bank – or life insurance. Uranus at 12 Taurus opposes that. One way or another, you will have to reshape and rethink your property, business or economic bubble (Neptune in Scorpio) once you reach March-April 2022 as that rare opposition unfolds. Lower the stakes. Use the Tarot, and I would add the other two oracles on this site, to find out what is going on. Leave the business question alone as you may be confusing the issue, or the timelines, in some way. Frame really clear questions and pre-empt any issues. Astrology and Tarot are about navigation!
Hi Jessica, can you tell how Mercury retrograde effects people like myself who have natal Mercury retrograde? Also any light on my Aries ex partner (father of my Aries daughter) who still is super involved in my life helping me and organising me and planning holidays together so but also wants to remain separated (I guess against my wishes) but basically gives me zero space to heal and get over him. What am I missing here? Confusing
Mercury Retrograde at 6 Pisces in the Twelfth House of your chart is dormant until you experience transits at 6 Pisces from other passing planets. Mercury Retrograde as such, won’t really result in much, unless it goes over 6 Pisces (which it does not, in 2023 and 2024). Mercury is the internet, publishing, media and education. In Pisces it is about religion, Tarot, mediumship, therapy, hypnosis, dreams. In the Twelfth House it is solitary and private. Whenever you have transits to natal Mercury your plans go backwards, or you go back on your word, or you have computer problems with (say) your online meditation group. As for the Aries ex and the Aries daughter – this is about money and property for both of them – and his legacy made out to her – in 2023, 2024. They both have the South Node of karma in Scorpio transiting the Eighth House of death and finance. Usually, a marriage and mortgage (in translation) or a family inheritance. You make or save money as a result, May-October 2022 and January-May 2023. The karma that bound you and the family will vanish on 19th January.
Hi Jessica,
2022 is full of mercury retrogrades. What is your opinion of good dates for a surgery this year? Thank you for all your insights!
Surgery is Virgo and the Sixth House. It is also personal so we look to your chart for Virgo factors. You have 3-25 degree Virgo placements, so practically the whole sign and Sixth House. Avoid Mercury Retrograde in Virgo, August-October, if only because the chance of rescheduling is higher then. Ceres in Virgo trine Uranus in Taurus, trine the North Node in Taurus and trine Pluto in Capricorn is useful. Ceres is in a flow pattern on 31st October, November 8th and 9th, then December 6th, 7th, 8th. Use the Tarot and Oracles on this site to validate for yourself, as this is your decision, not mine. Yet – those are useful astrological dates.
Hi Jessica,
Happy New year. My original question has vanished and I have a about money, property and possessions. I’m being strong armed into signing an agreement offer by my ex as we are separating. I’m wondering if I should pursue the matter in court as he cant or won’t negotiate. It’s an emotional time just now. Part of me wants to walk away as quickly as possible for a clean slate but then I have to think about the future and security for myself and my son. Is there a happy ending in sight? I’ve had such a rough time over the last years, I need a break.
As a Sun Libra you have Mercury Retrograde (don’t sign, don’t buy, as Debbi Kempton-Smith used to say) in Capricorn going back and forth, in and out of the sign, until February 24th. Capricorn rules the family, the house and/or flat. I am sure he cannot or will not negotiate. Mercury rules negotiation. I bet you want to walk away but wait until at least the final week of February to start talking seriously. This does end well for you. In fact, from May this year you will see solutions with your ex that are downright lucky. Right time, right place, from May 11th until October 28th. His timing is wrong. Yours will be right. Validate this with the Tarot on this website.
Hi Jessica,
What do you see for me as a Leo in 2022. Will I be staying with Virgo partner? Does my job change? Any insight is appreciated.
I don’t see a chart here I’m afraid so I can’t answer these very big questions. In general, as a Sun Leo, you are in the biggest change cycle for work in years, in 2022 and most of 2023, with Pluto (transformation) in Capricorn (ambition) in your Sixth House (workload) as well as Uranus (revolution) in Taurus (salary/life balance) in the Tenth House (success, achievement). This tends to peak when we see Capricorn and Taurus traffic, so now until February, and again in April and May.
Thank you for your reply, I’ll drink to that x
Thank you so very much for the thought behind these dates. Your knowledge amazes me every time I come back to this website. I wish to learn more astrology (and secretly pray that one day you think about taking mentees). Ciao for now!
Thank you. The Tarot on this website is attracting very large numbers of people, so I have been contemplating combining astrology with Tarot in future classes. First, I need to look after these new 2022 annual reports which are going out…
Happy new yr Jessica and thankyou for the past replies they have all been helpful to me.
I was hoping you may be able to shed some light on my charts factor’s and how I may use them to my advantage in this new and exciting times.
Cheers
Jo
Thank you Jo. The key to everything in 2022 is your dual Jupiter and Neptune transit in Pisces in your solar Seventh House of marriages, partnerships, duets and pairs. The two of you (whomever the other person is) will be profoundly affected by a spiritual message or even a bible of some sort (it does not have to be religious; it may be another ‘word of the law’ book) which commands that you make some serious choices. Is it a good thing? Yes, very much so, if you both have faith and believe. Someone is a channel for a higher power here. Now, this may be a marriage if you were wed in church. You don’t tell me anything about yourself so I cannot tell what the duet is. But you two must make a decision, possibly to recommit. It may be a marriage going into a second honeymoon period or perhaps you are in a work partnership and must listen to a higher power/higher authority coming from a pure spiritual place. Buddhism is another example.
Hi Jessica.P.Member. Our experience with Merc.R… in Feb. 2020 we were booked on a cruise to NZ leaving in March….GUESS WHAT..Ruby Princess. As luck was on our side…a close contact with medical links advised us not to go due to a virus from China. We took his advice & on 26 Feb. 2020..Mercury. R..we received 50% refund along with bemused comments from friends…why! The rest as they say is history…we would have been on the doomed cruise…..we had booked 12 months prior… Tks…NAOMI.
Yes, you have that Gemini-Sagittarius pattern in your chart from the Third House (short journeys) to the Ninth House (long journeys) which had you well and truly caught in 2020, 2021, early 2022 not just because of Mercury Retrograde, but also because the lunar nodes were clashing in Gemini and Sagittarius too. As a general note, cruises/foreign/long-haul travel is going to be opposed, blocked and stopped for some years into the future, starting in 2022, with Ceres and Mars Retrograde in Gemini pushing back, so you may want to be aware of that. It’s more extreme from 2026 with Uranus in Gemini. That is the end of globalisation, for some years to come.