While it looks like it’s stopped travelling from east to west, at no point does Mercury actually start going backwards.
Within astrology, Mercury is considered the planet of communication, so it’s thought that when it goes into retrograde, we can expect a whole range of mishaps, miscommunications and misunderstandings across communication, news, travel and technology.
Pre and post-retrograde shadow periods
(AKA Mercury retroshade)
But the fun doesn’t stop with Mercury retrograde!
Prior to the phenomenon, there is what’s known as a pre-retrograde shadow period, with a post-retrograde shadow likewise following its conclusion.
Occurring in the two weeks before and after a retrograde begins and concludes, these shadow periods, otherwise known as Mercury retroshade, see the planet slows down as it prepares to enter retrograde and speed up as it leaves its backward motion behind.
These periods are an apt time to look back on recent issues with a clearer mind and seize the chance to focus on yourself. See this as an opportunity to take stock, be patient and set yourself up for the rest of the year, and by the time post-retrograde shadows end, you could be in a much better place.
When does Mercury retrograde end?
Now that we’re smack dab in the middle of another Mercury retrograde, we are all more than ready for it to be over already! Good news — the end is very much in sight. The first Mercury retrograde of the year ends on 20 March.
Here’s more on the current retrograde:
26 February 26 – 20 March 20: The first retrograde of 2026 falls squarely during the Pisces sign.
“As Mercury moves backwards through Pisces, it’s especially important to review anything tied to emotional attachments, deep feelings, and inner values,” says Polina Arutiunian, an astrologer and spiritual advisor at Nebula. “Clues may show up through dreams and repeating patterns. Pisces is often associated with the past, so this period may push us to release unnecessary baggage even more.”
When is Mercury in retrograde in 2026?
We’ll be getting three servings of Mercury retrograde in 2026. Here’s what you can look forward to:
Upcoming 2026 retrogrades:
29 June – 23 July: The second retrograde will move through Cancer and Leo. This means things will probably start off pretty emotional. Be careful of miscommunication or coming across as overly critical. When things move into Leo, things might heat up. Be wary of big declarations and big feelings during this period of the retrograde.
24 October – 13 November: The final mercury retrograde of the year sits in Scorpio. This can lead to a period of getting deep. You might find yourself ruminating on emotional problems, rehashing old secrets and having a few intense conversations.
What to expect when Mercury retrograde is in Pisces
While each retrograde affects all star signs, it’s the one which it falls under that sees the strongest effects, so Pisces readers, beware, because this 2026 Mercury retrograde falls under your sign.
Because Pisces is a water sign, it’s all about intuition and emotion. In other words, there isn’t a lot of analytical, grounded energy going on.
This means that the upcoming Mercury retrograde could very well lead to some overly emotional conversations, led by intuition and instinct rather than careful thought. Take some time to consider how and why you’re feeling the way you’re feeling and practice grounding rituals to help balance things out and avoid miscommunication.
How does Mercury retrograde affect us?
If you’ve ever wondered why people seemingly freak out when Mercury retrograde happens, it’s because Mercury is the planet that influences communication, with it generally thought that the retrograde motion signifies negative undertones for the astrological world.