Mercury retrograde November 2024: What you need to know

The holidays are quickly approaching, which typically means an influx of travel plans, shopping lists, social obligations, and year-end work projects to keep track of. But this year, you’ll need to be extra diligent with all those technical tasks, as Mercury retrograde begins on November 25 and brings nearly three weeks of the usual mental struggles and communication breakdowns. The timing isn’t ideal, but knowing what to expect will help you handle everything gracefully.

Before we get into the details of November’s Mercury retrograde, let’s look at what these retrogrades mean in general. Mercury in astrology is the planet that rules communication, time, thinking, technical devices and almost any logistical issues. Several times a year he goes retrograde, which means he begins to move backwards through the zodiac for several weeks, slowly retracing his recent steps and subsequently causing delays and slowdowns in all the cosmic realms he rules.

That’s why Mercury retrograde periods are notorious for causing miscommunication, technical glitches, roadblocks, and other annoying inconveniences that disrupt your daily flow. All the logistical details of your day will depend on the antics of this backspin, so when it happens, it’s a good idea to double-check the fine print on things, re-read your messages before you send them, and leave a little wiggle room in your schedule in case, if the time goes wrong.

But there is a positive side here too, since retrogrades aren’t inherently bad. Mercury retrograde is a good reminder to slow down and check in with where you are—mentally, socially, and so on. Review the decisions you’ve made recently and the opportunities that have opened up to you, and give yourself the opportunity to reconsider your options through a less polish-focused lens. Thinking is much more favorable than action right now, so it’s usually best to avoid starting completely new projects. However, you may find that revisiting old projects, conversations, or ideas can be fruitful as you see the past in a new light.

Every Mercury retrograde has some common features, but no two retrogrades are the same. Here’s what you need to know about Mercury retrograde in November so you can get through it (relatively) unscathed.

How long is this Mercury retrograde?

The upcoming Mercury retrograde will begin on November 25 at 9:42 pm ET and end on December 15 at 3:56 pm ET, meaning it will have to deal with the usual chaos for just under three weeks. Some Mercury retrogrades last almost four weeks, so be grateful for the shorter duration of this retrograde.

As always, on either side of the backspin there are periods before and after the retrograde shadow that are subtle but important parts of this cosmic story. The pre-retrograde shadow begins on November 7, so pay attention to the topics that come up in your conversations and plans, as you will be considering some of these issues during the retrograde period itself. Once Mercury’s stations head in, the post-retrograde shadow period will last until January 2, so you’ll have the opportunity to smooth out any retrograde confusion and integrate lessons learned.

What does Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius taste like?

Mercury will spend the entire duration of its retrograde motion in passionate and freedom-loving SagittariusMoonwalking from 22 degrees sign back to 6 degrees. According to traditional astrology, Mercury is considered “flawed” in Sagittarius—meaning it doesn’t feel at home among the broad strokes and overall way of thinking of this fire sign and struggles to be its usual detail-oriented self. and meticulous myself. With this fleet-footed planet retrograde in Sagittarius, you may find it’s especially easy to lose sight of small details and difficult to slow down enough to take a close look at a situation.

However, Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius may be a good time to check your inner compass and make sure you’re operating a belief system that is still consistent with who you are today. It’s easy to go on autopilot, following a philosophy that may have resonated with you in the past but no longer makes sense. If your outlook has changed, it may be time to look at life from a new perspective—and this reversal can help you do just that.

How will this affect your sign?

Since this retrograde is in Sagittarius, fire signs will feel it on a personal level. They may find it difficult to see themselves clearly or take action on what they are passionate about.

Meanwhile, earth signs may find that retrogrades bring out more sensitive feelings, prompting them to reconsider grievances, family disagreements, or emotional boundaries. It’s not easy when old wounds start to blister, but it also offers a chance to heal.

When it comes to air signs, they should be wary of conflicts in communication, as the retrograde will affect some of the more social and interpersonal parts of their charts. It can be helpful to be especially aware of how they appear in conversation or in text messages.

Last but not least, Water signs will find that work and money issues will be hit the hardest, so they should be careful about financial investments and may want to put off any brand new professional endeavors until after the retrograde period.