It’s that time again – Mercury is going retrograde and things are going to get wacky. But if you want to have a better sense of what that actually means and how it might impact your life in particular, we are here for you!

In this conversation with astrologer and energy worker Fi Russell, they walk me through what the heck Mercury retrograde means, why the sign it’s going retrograde through matters, and how to look at the implications of each retrograde in our personal charts.

I left feeling a lot clearer on at least one big component of astrology, and I hope you do, too! This shit is way too complicated to take on more than one bit at a time.

Also! I’ll be taking a season break over the coming Mercury Rx. So, I’ll see you back in April for more adventures in claiming your joy.

Connect with Fi

Follow them on Instagram @Venus.aura

And check out @PsychicSister where you can book in-person readings with them here in Portland

Resources, References, and Links

Check your chart! I like the Chani Nicholas app/website for ease of access/explanation. https://chart.chaninicholas.com/

Retrograde: the period of time when a planet appears to be moving backward in the sky. It impacts the areas of life which that planet rules.

Shadow phase: period of time before planets enter actual retrograde. Things can start going wonky (or still be wonky) during this period, though it won’t be as acute.

Astrological houses: the twelve areas of life that are impacted by the signs and planets in your chart. The placement is determined by your rising sign, which is always in your 1st house of self-identity and is the sign that was on the horizon at the moment of your birth.

E.g. Because my rising sign is Aquarius (1st house), Aries rules my 3rd house (of communication, daily rituals, siblings, and extended family).

Here’s a link to the full breakdown of the different houses on the Chani Nicholas website: https://chaninicholas.com/the-12-houses-in-astrology/

So, for the upcoming retrogrades, check which houses these signs govern in your personal chart to learn what areas of your life will be especially impacted.

Mercury Retrogrades of 2025:

• March 14 - April 7 – in Aries/Pisces
• July 18 - August 11 – in Leo
• November 9-29 – in Scorpio/Sagittarius