Mercury turns retrograde in Aries

Mercury now turns retrograde at 27° Aries 13′.

Mercury is retrograde from April 1, 2024, at 27° Aries 13′, until April 25, 2024, at 15° Aries 59′. In other words, Mercury stays in Aries while retrograde for almost 24 days.

Mercury Retrograde Cycle from April 1 to 25, 2024:

• On March 18, 2024, Mercury enters the Retrograde Zone at 15° Aries 59′
• On April 1, 2024, Mercury stations and turns retrograde at 27° Aries 13’Rx
• On April 25, 2024, Mercury stations and turns direct at 15° Aries 59’D
• On May 13, 2024, Mercury leaves the Retrograde Zone at 27° Aries 13′

Mercury Retrograde

The year 2024’s second retrograde Mercury cycle occurs from April 1st to 25th. Technically, the first retrograde ended on January 1st, 2024!

Mercury’s shadow period begins on March 18th and ends on May 13th. Note that the shadow period begins before Mercury turns retrograde–when Mercury first passes over the degree that Mercury later returns to in retrograde motion. The shadow period ends when Mercury again passes over the degree at which it first turned retrograde. The shadow period is different than Mercury’s storm period in astrology, which refers to the period when Mercury is moving especially slowly.

Note that Mercury’s post-retrograde shadow is generally better for new long-term endeavors than the pre-retrogrades shadow. For new enterprises in the pre-retrograde shadow, the venture’s secondary progressed Mercury will turn direction (retrograde) in the coming years, which may not be ideal.

Also consider that things are most wonky on and around the days of the stations whether Mercury is turning retrograde OR direct (the start and end dates of the retrograde cycle) as the shifts occur, after which we grow more accustomed to the energy.

Mercury is retrograde approximately three times a year for approximately three weeks each time. As such, retrograde Mercury is a fairly common occurrence (Mercury is retrograde approximately 18% of the time).

As the planet of communication, Mercury retrograde tends to breed a certain level of confusion. Mercury rules our “lower” mind–how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. Mercury has rulership over such things as speaking, negotiating, buying and selling, listening, formal contracts, documents, travel, the mail and shipping, and so forth. All of these areas of life are affected when Mercury is functioning in a sluggish state. Decision-making is challenged during Mercury retrograde.

Needless to say, it is not advised to sign contracts, engage in important decision-making, or launch a new business. Delays and challenges are more probable with Mercury retrograde. It’s a time when being careless with money, our personal information, or paperwork can be costly.

While Mercury is retrograde, we may be rethinking a previous opinion or idea. Looking to the signs and houses it transits can give clues as to what we may be reconsidering. In Aries this time, we might look at past decisions and ideas from a new, possibly enlightened perspective. This is a time for reconsidering an initiative or venture. It’s strong for returning to an old project or pursuit.

It can be a time of tension, however, as Mercury in Aries wants immediate answers and retrograde Mercury can point to delays and indecision. The shortness of Mercury in Aries communications is magnified, making it necessary to be especially careful with our choice of topics and wording. The chances of sharp or brusque comments doing some damage run high.

While Mercury is retrograde in the sign of Aries, we may be returning to past projects and refining or tweaking them. We can find usefulness in old or past ideas and recycle them in new ways, even though Mercury in Aries prefers the new to the old. We might consider renewing past ventures where we may have had false starts, but this should be done in a new way for things to work this time around.

With Mercury in Aries, we prefer to learn from hands-on experience rather than instruction, and not listening during this Mercury retrograde period can be especially costly.

Keep in mind that Mercury in Aries’ haste to communicate (or perhaps more accurately, to get communications out of the way) can work against us or can be more consequential during Mercury retrograde — there can be texts or emails sent to the wrong people, for example, or quick commentary that’s considered careless.