Mercury Retrograde in Aries/Pisces 3*15*25 - 4*7*25

Our first Mercury retrograde of 2025! Take a deep breath and turn down the drama that gets dumped on Mercury retrograde. Let's put some context to it instead. 

Context matters

First, we are in the middle of some big transformational energies. The outer planets are all starting their moves into different signs this year, bringing lots of rebalancing and reorienting out in the world. On a more personal level, we started the year with Mars retrograde offering the opportunity to review our desires and how we get them met. When Mars went direct in late February, we had a week to catch our collective breath before Venus started her retrograde in early March. Venus retrogrades are times to reevaluate how we connect with important others. Venus retrograde also asks us to review our values and what we appreciate or find attractive. (If you want a deeper dive, check the previous posts on MWAstrology.com). Consider the progression here - Mars is asking for reevaluation of "me" - how do I take care of my desires and get my needs met? Hopefully the retrograde period allowed for some self reflection and revisions. Having gone through that, now the focus shifts to how I share myself with my important others. Is that reflecting my values, my desires and my needs? Venus will remain retrograde through mid-April, so there is still this inwardly directed, reevaluation energy in play. This is a process. 

The Eclipse Connection

Interestingly, Mercury went retrograde on Saturday, March 15, the day after the Lunar Eclipse in Virgo. Mercury is the ruler of that eclipse as it rules Virgo, meaning this Mercury retrograde is linked to whatever is coming up for you under this Full Moon eclipse. (Again, you can revisit the post covering that on MWAstrology.com). In essence, the eclipse is revealing patterns about the way you wish to connect with that higher aspect of yourself and your spirituality, (Pisces) and demonstrate your desire to make things better and contribute to the world (Virgo). Mercury retrograde is slowing the whole process down so you can take a deeper look within and re-cognize (i.e., rethink)how you make sense of the experiences of your life. Mercury is the planet of communication and information processing. When retrograde, its energy is directed inwards for review, reevaluation, and ultimately for revision of how its energy gets expressed. When it resumes forward motion the energy is directed outwards again. 

The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) spend months in retrograde. The effect is a little different and focused on the macro level.  In contrast, when the personal planets (Mercury, Venus and Mars) are retrograde, we notice it because it turns attention to aspects of our lives that are, well, personal. These times are meant to serve as pauses in the normal business and busyness as usual.  Retrograde Mercury slows us down by putting little roadblocks in the way, like missed communications and travel glitches. Instead of whining, wailing, or waiting it out, use the time to consider what you are being shown about the themes of the retrograde. 

Part 1:Mercury Retrograde in Aries

This Mercury retrograde starts at 9 degrees of Aries and ends at 27 degrees of Pisces.  Aries, the cardinal fire sign, is also the first sign of the zodiac. In Aries, Mercury is quick thinking, independent, confident and assertive. Its enthusiasm can be inspiring. But, this energy doesn't always listen or take others into account. Usually this is not because of cruelty. It's more that the expression of Aries is inadvertently inconsiderate of others because it is focused on the self. 

Mercury retrograde in Aries brings the chance to pause and review how you express your priorities and desires. What inspires you? Do you make space for conversation or are you concerned about making your point? Do you turn exchanges into debates? How open are you to another's perspective? Do you take time to understand all that is involved in bringing an idea to fruition? Do you follow through? Do you leave things you don't like to do and expect others to shoulder the load? Alternatively, you hold back in your communications, afraid of being judged or dismissed? Do you honor your opinions and priorities? Healthy Aries energy has healthy ego expression. Can you advocate for yourself effectively? 

Part 2: Mercury Retrograde in Pisces

Mercury will reenter Pisces on March 30 and will finish its retrograde on April 7 at 26 degrees of Pisces. Mercury in Pisces shifts the focus.  Aries is very much oriented to the self and interacting with the world. As the last sign of the zodiac, Pisces knows there is much more going on than there appears. We are all part of something intangible and ineffable.  Pisces is intuitive, tapping into information from all sources. Its compassion broadens the lens from which it experiences the world. Because of this, Mercury in Pisces absorbs much more than Mercury in other signs. During this retrograde, Mercury takes the self-awareness gained from its time in Aries and brings it into Pisces' realm of connection and kindness. Mercury in Pisces processes information differently than when in Aries. Because it is accessing information on different levels it can become overwhelmed. Do you trust your knowing? Do you allow yourself enough time to integrate the realizations you receive? Mercury in Pisces can speak in terms of the disempowered victim. Are you waiting for a savior to rescue you? Does your language reflect the most authentic version of you? Conversely, does your compassion dissolve your boundaries? Mercury in Pisces can take on the expression of the martyr. Do you invest more in another's wellbeing than they are? Does your kindness extend to yourself?  You will never suffer enough to alleviate another's suffering. 

Mercury will leave its shadow (cross over the degree it went retrograde at) on April 26. Any lingering issues that started during the retrograde should resolve by then. Until then, take a few more deep breaths, move more slowly, allow yourself the time to review, reevaluate, reflect, reassess, reprise and revise as needed. That is what retrogrades are for. 

"Through the sacred art of pausing, we develop the capacity to stop hiding, to stop running away from our experience. We begin to trust in our natural intelligence, in our naturally wise heart, in our capacity to open to whatever arises."  

~ Tara Brach