Aries (March 20-April 19) — The usual advice about Mercury retrograde is to be conscious, aware and cautious around matters of communication. But the retrograde that begins Monday, for you, takes that to the level of a moment-to-moment devotion. Be aware just how much can go wrong if you make the mistake of being imprecise, or of assuming you know something when you do not. Therefore, continually check your facts. Read your outbox and send corrections to any errors in emails you’ve sent. Get on the phone to clarify any issues that are resistant to email or are getting caught in time lags. The most important thing to watch is the potential that you might believe something that is not true, and then act on it. Therefore, interpose at least two layers of fact-checking and any necessary delays to make sure you get it right. And if you are vaguely uncertain, pause and check again. Just make sure you don’t choose to ignore that feeling of ‘vague uncertainty’.

 

 

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Organize your finances: that is the message of this Mercury retrograde. Start with the basics, such as cleaning your desk and getting any necessary and relevant documents and records together. Notice what’s missing and fill in the gaps; go to the source and get the things you need, so that you can be ready to take the next necessary steps. Yet the deeper message of this retrograde is about prioritizing. You need to know what is important to you and why. By what, I mean your spending priorities, including what it costs to maintain what you already own. The most significant question seems to be your relationship to the income that comes from your professional activities. You’re at a moment in your life when you can only do well what you do with full commitment. I suggest you map out what that concept means to you and what it does not mean. Over the next few weeks you may need to make an investment in your own future. Align yourself and do it well.

 

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — The planets are aligned in the perfect configuration for an identity crisis. This is connected to the juncture of the concepts of ‘this is who I am’ and ‘this is what I do’. In Western culture, they are considered one and the same thing; yet at the same time there also seems to be a split — ‘this is what I do’ and ‘this is who I really am’ is the more likely combination of statements. Over the next few weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to consider this set of themes. To what extent is your identity merged with your work? To what extent does that truly reflect who you are? During the retrograde phase, which spans through June 11 and has an influence for another two weeks, be exceedingly cautious around people who have power over you. Mind your organizational politics and be careful what you say. You could be easily misunderstood or give the wrong impression about who you are, so tread lightly and speak only when truly necessary.

 

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You may encounter some interference between your deepest inner understanding of yourself, and what you’re ‘supposed to be’ in the mind of society. Said another way, your erotic nature may clash with the religious views that you have, that you used to have, or that someone else thinks are right. It’s time to take this debate right to the surface of consciousness, and make a decision about what viewpoint is actually going to work for you: actual self-understanding and self-acceptance, or what someone else told you was supposed to be true. If you can skip the moral judgments that fly in the wind like confetti, you will make some real discoveries about who you are. Yet please don’t underestimate the power of moralism and its purpose, which is control. One manifestation of this is how much of what you experience in the depth of your thoughts is supposed to be secret, or is somehow presumed offensive. I would ask you: why is that?

 

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Be mindful of any and all agreements you make. Be equally mindful when someone tries to hold you to an agreement. Go back and review what you actually said, or signed, at the outset. You may be inclined to believe you’ve committed to something that you have not. You might also miss the obvious on something that you promised or said you were capable of. Therefore, a careful review is in order — of your current commitments and how you got there; whether you’re keeping up with them; and of the promises that others have made to you. I suggest ironing out the details before you extend yourself any further, and be extremely mindful where joint financial, taxation or investment matters are concerned. This is not the time for a leap of faith. It is, rather, the time to get a grasp on where you stand with yourself, with others, and on the true meaning of words written or spoken in the past.

 

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Maintain your awareness around people in authority. Mercury will be retrograde in your 10th house — that of profession and reputation. A lot is on the line for you right now and, in a sense, your future success depends on how you handle the unusual encounters and exchanges of the next four weeks. You must take nothing for granted, most particularly your position. Mars moving through your 10th house just as Mercury goes retrograde suggests that you might be feeling ambitious, and like you can push limits and take authority. You may be inclined to throw your usual care and caution to the wind. That would not be wise, at this stage. Take things slowly, and make sure you invest most of your energy in listening, in understanding where people are coming from and making sure that you play the correct role. If you are able to come through the next few weeks with minimal fuss, you then have the potential to move up in the world, in a big way. For now, take your time and choose every word carefully.

 

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — It’s time to sort out your long-range plans. The first step to doing that might be to set all prior plans aside for a little while, at least for the sake of this process. Then consider the direction your life is really heading, as of now. From here, you can ponder what you want, where you want to go, and what you envision for yourself, as entirely apart from any past vision you may have had for yourself. I don’t think you’ll be able to sort this out overnight; it’s a lifelong process, though you’ll learn a lot over the next six weeks if you pay attention and notice which of your desires has some real energy collecting around it. In relationship news, you’re being called on to be impeccably fair. That means giving others the benefit of the doubt, until more information is available. It’s true that facts will be coming out for a while, so reserve judgment till you really have a clue what’s going on.

 

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You must scrutinize contracts and agreements of all kinds, especially if they involve joint finances, investments or tax matters. This is not the time to take anything for granted, including your own commitment level, or whether anyone is being true to their word. There’s plenty of information that will emerge as Mercury makes its retrograde trek through the angle of your chart involved with shared resources. Yet this same area is involved with sex, and it would appear there is plenty that has been left unsaid or unquestioned. You would do well to ask yourself why. Denial is considered a necessity by many people, though it’s a luxury you cannot afford. Be real with yourself about who you want, what you want and how you feel; this way you can be real with others. The more time you interpose between those two steps, however, the further they are likely to drift apart. Make the connection by regularly seeking clarity and understanding, and remember that silence is indeed deafening.

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — It may be difficult to figure out where you stand with intimate partners, and you’re unlikely to get your answer all at once. You have a high ideal for relationships, and it would seem that your current circumstances are presenting you with a scenario different from the one you want and believe you can attain. So consider what happens over the next few weeks a learning process. Notice when others send you mixed signals, or put you in a position where your only choice is not to trust fully. Notice when others are intentionally reassuring and strive for clarity. Remember how you feel in both circumstances. The environment around you is a setup for a serious fog, and it will take mutual cooperation for you and those close to you to find your way. You might say this is a situation where your faith in others will be tested, but it can just as well be cultivated and strengthened.

 

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Mental clarity may be in short supply, though the real question seems to be emotional. It’s as if you’re wondering what is really good for you, at the same time you feel driven to take action on improving your life. Yet you could run into a set of paradoxes on this whole theme, and when you do I suggest you stop and carefully consider your situation. Paradoxes have a way of becoming obsessive; people seem to be in love with them. As far as I can see, the most significant impasse you might reach is the place where you know your inner orientation is changing, but your outer orientation is not keeping up. Or your outer circumstances are calling on you to make adjustments that you don’t know how to make, or don’t care to involve yourself with. At a certain point there must be a reckoning of your inner and outer worlds, which would begin with figuring out that they’re not separate; you are one person.

 

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — The next few weeks will take you on a tour of the zone where your creativity, your sexuality and your self-esteem intersect. It’s a rich place, which you might describe as the crossroads of all your potential. Most people resist this idea, I know — the notion that their sexuality is somehow integral to their creativity and all other forms of expression. I suggest you embrace it fully, and apply the full strength of your curiosity to the endeavor. There’s something about bringing your language skills into your self-exploration process — that is, finding the words for things, no matter how imprecise they may feel. You may revise your ideas on a daily basis, though that would seem to be the whole point. And in retrospect, you will have discovered something essential about who you are and what it takes to tap your deepest curiosity — oops I meant creativity. Same idea!

 

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Aspects associated with the forthcoming Mercury retrograde will pass by quickly, though they will highlight some of the most important long-term themes of your life. You will see what you’ve been missing, and get the chance to sort out what you may have had no clue needed your scrutiny and awareness. The theme of this project will seem to be your home base and the structures that help you feel secure. That would be a good place to start. Yet the story that unfolds is really about getting clear about who you are, in part by discovering who you are not; figuring out what is true for you by an elimination process of tossing aside what is not true. Every decision you make needs to be focused on sustaining and developing your vitality. The partners you work with must be true partners, devoted to your wellbeing; otherwise it will be more efficient and sensible to do without them.