“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>

As Mercury begins its seemingly backward spin, an optical illusion takes place from our perspective here on Earth. As the planet closest to the Sun appears to pause and reverse its course, we are similarly asked to slow down and distance ourselves from our usual mode of thinking, perceiving, and mental processing. Here, during the first Mercury retrograde of 2025, we can simply observe from an alternate perspective.

When Does Mercury Retrograde Begin?

Mercury begins its retrograde on March 15, 2025, and remains in its perceived backward trajectory until April 7, 2025. Initiating its retrograde in Aries, Mercury will then take itself back into Pisces on March 29, 2025, where it remains until after it goes direct.

What Does Mercury Retrograde Mean?

Of all the planets in our solar system, Mercury meets its seemingly backward spin the most frequently, retrograding three or four times each year. As the quickest planet, it represents perhaps the quickest aspect of our humanness—our minds. This relates to our inner narratives, perceptions, and self-beliefs that shape the way we move through the world.

In mythology, Mercury was known as the “messenger of the gods” and traversed the three separate “realms” that constituted existence. Mercury would ascend to the heights of Mount Olympus where inspiration, vaster perspective, and higher wisdom was abundant. It would then travel to the human realm to relay these messages before descending into the underworld where it would both share from above and receive insights from the shadows.

If we liken Mount Olympus to the superconscious, the human realm to the everyday mind, and the underworld with the unconscious, then Mercury encompasses all three dimensions and is the thread that weaves them together. Mercury retrograde, then, becomes a time to ask, how are we using our mind? What is the purpose of the mind? What exists within our mind? Our minds need a regular review. Mercury retrograde is that review.

What Mercury Retrograde in Aries and Pisces Means

Mercury initiates its first retrograde of 2025 in the initial sign of the zodiac, Aries. Here the mind holds the potential to access ideas, inspiration, and clear direction. As the planet reenters Pisces toward the end of its retrograde, the mind becomes more sensitized to intuition, imagination, insight, and sacred wisdom.

Untethered from physical form, thought is believed to be the building block of all tangible experience. It it ideas, inspiration, and imagination that allow for change and creation in our lives.

Many ancient traditions liken the mind to a powerful tool. Yet like any tool, it needs our direction. When we are not consciously directing the mind, it simply loops existing narratives and recycles old perspectives, trapping us within.

While in Aries, we may be asked to reconsider and renew themes of desire, confidence, action-taking, and belief in self as we create space within the structures that make up our identity. As we observe our existing narratives and create space for our self-identity, we are called to ask, are these beliefs real? Are they due for a rewrite? What wants to be released? What wants to emerge?

As Mercury shifts into Pisces, the self-review becomes more subtle, subjective, and emotional as we consider not only our willingness to release and change but our relationship to our intuition, creativity, and imagination. Mercury in Pisces offers both inspiration from on high and creativity from the depths. This is a healing time to receive insights from our own unconscious via dreams, intuition, and unseen realms as we learn to surrender the mind as a tool for higher potential.

What Mercury Retrograde 2025 Means for You, According to Your Sign

This retrograde is a sacred pause, a review, and a realignment. Allow yourself the space to reconsider how you use your mind and how you desire to use your mind. The question becomes, are you aware of the profound power of your mind? The potential you have been given? Are you using your mind to reach great heights?

As Mercury retraces its steps through Aries and Pisces, it touches on the aspects of Aries and Pisces within each of us. Consider how you can use the power of the mind to choose a new way for yourself. Read for your rising sign to attune to the unique messages and areas of life highlighted by this backward spin.

Aries Rising

Mercury retrograde invites a thorough review of your self-identity. Is it held up by expired belief systems, old narratives, or patterns you’ve outgrown? As Mercury shifts into Pisces, it invites a retreat into silence where you can touch the sacred and the shadows. In this space, you can consider whether your current identity holds space for your evolution. Who do you believe yourself to be? Can you accept that you are vast and rich with potential and magic?

Taurus Rising

Mercury retrograde in Aries asks you to reinvent your relationship with yourself. It is a pause that invites you inward where silence calls your name so you can find your truth again. As you quieten your mind and feel from your heart, what is it that you dream about most? What is it that you want to happen? As Mercury reenters Pisces, the tide shifts toward the sacredness in your highest desires.

Gemini Rising

You are a conduit for your hopes and dreams. Mercury retrograde in Aries supports the realignment of your beliefs and mindset to this truth. It asks you to observe any narratives that doubt your ability, release them, and reignite your confidence and courage. As Mercury reenters Pisces, the tangible building of your long-term visions comes under review. Consider the best way to be the conduit that brings your hopes and dreams into reality.

Cancer Rising

What do you desire to contribute to this world? What do you want to leave behind? What effect do you want to have? This retrograde asks you to reflect on these questions, tune into your heart, and realign your mind with the answers. As Mercury shifts into the waters of Pisces, it welcomes you to observe your foundational beliefs and perspectives. Is life inherently good? Does it have a purpose? Why are you here? Let your intuition take the lead.

Leo Rising

This is a retrograde of listening, creating space, and welcoming the voice of life itself. Loosen your grip on your existing narratives, beliefs, and perspectives. There is more wanting to be known. As Mercury enters Pisces, allow the focus to shift from your mind to your emotional body. Mercury is taking you into your underworld where old shadows, fears, and hurts await your compassion and acceptance.

Virgo Rising

There are depths within you waiting to be reclaimed. There are wells of inner wisdom, power, courage, and instinctual knowing ready to guide your direction. This retrograde invites your descent into these spaces that can be reached only through surrender to your emotions. Later, as Mercury shifts into Pisces, it brings you into your heart space. As you tune in, consider the ways you desire to be loved, share love, and receive love.

Libra Rising

Within each Libra is an innate talent for collaboration and partnership. This Mercury retrograde invites you to reflect on this gift and how you desire to move with it. What is it about partnership that you love? Which of your relational dynamics are ready to be rewritten? As the tides shift and Mercury reenters Pisces, it invites you into your body so you may attune to its needs. Consider how your routines, habits, and rituals support—or fail to support—your physical well-being.

Scorpio Rising

Mercury retrograde invites you to review the way you move through your days. As you create space and observe where you desire to move, consider whether your daily movements are taking you there? While in Pisces, Mercury invites you into the space of your heart. Listen and receive. What do you want to create? What brings you to life? Are you supporting that? These insights will be your guidance when Mercury stations direct.

Sagittarius Rising

How much energy do you spend dimming your light? Trying to fit in? Hiding your truth? This retrograde invites you to come home to you. Reconnect with your uniqueness and the way life itself wants to express itself through you. As Mercury shifts into Pisces, it draws you into your emotional world and asks you to tend to any outdated beliefs and narratives formed in your younger years.

Capricorn Rising

You are your own home. This retrograde is a review of all that has been brought into your inner home so that you may clear out any clutter and all that is not yours. There is nowhere more important than where you can feel aligned, safe, secure, creative, beautiful, and loved. As Mercury enters Pisces, your focus moves to the mind. As you clear unaligned noise and narratives, you return to the purpose of the mind, which is a tool for creation.

Aquarius Rising

If each thought and narrative in your mind was recorded and broadcast, what would it be? Does it speak with love and truth? Does it loop in old narratives? Does it know it’s a tool for inspiration and creation? While the initial phase of Mercury retrograde invites a review of the mind, the second half brings you into your body. Invite your nervous system to attune to the essence of safety. Can you let yourself relax, trust, and breathe out?

Pisces Rising

Quieten your mind and direct your energy into your body. Listen to its rhythm, its flow, its needs. Does it feel safe, secure, grounded? Does it feel worthy of having desires? This is a space to rewrite your truths when it comes to worthiness, resources, safety, and abundance. As Mercury enters your sign, reconnect with the imagination, trust, and sacred within you. Only here can your understanding of self be updated and rewritten.