Mercury Retrograde in 2023 and 2024

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 6^th January 2022 and the warning dates about world sporting events were published on my website back on 26^th 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 13^th December 2022 and ends on Tuesday 7^th 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

Mercury 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 29^th December 2022, and direct on Wednesday 18^th 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 13^th 2022 and February 7^th 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 13^th 2022 and February 7^th 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 7^th April 2023 until Thursday 1^st 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 7^th 2023 and June 1^st 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 7^th to June 1^st 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 5^th May on the Full Moon eclipse at 14 Scorpio and the New Moon in Taurus on 19^th 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 6^th 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 6^th 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 4^th August and Saturday 30^th 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 4^th August and 30^th 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 2^nd until 23^rd, 2023 – just before Christmas Day.

The second chapter will come from January 15^th t0 21^st 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 2^nd and 23^rd 2023, and January 15^th and 21^st 2024, we will see chaos affecting the top 1%, particularly around the Full Moon in Cancer on 27^th December 2023, the New Moon in Capricorn on January 11^th 2024 and the Pluto-Sun conjunction on Saturday 20^th 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 26^th 2023 until around 30^th 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 26^th until the 30^th .

The pattern is repeated Christmas Eve, December 24^th 2023 until January 13^th 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 26^th until 30^th 2023, then December 24^th 2023 until January 13^th 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 19^th March 2024 until Tuesday 14^th 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 26^th until August 15^th 2024. Then again, from September 10^th to 12^th, 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 17^th to 25^th, then August 16^th to September 9^th. 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 17^th and 25^th, then August 16^th to September 9^th 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 7^th 2024 until January 3^rd 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.