From April 21 to May 15, Mercury, planet of the mind and its multitudes, is retrograde in the fixed earth sign of Taurus.
Mercury is our planet of messages and communion and Taurus is ruled by Venus, the domain of aesthetics, attraction, worldly goods and self-esteem. In conversations with each other we can see this retrograde as a lesson in ‘believing is deserving’.
Mercury officially stations retrograde at 15 degrees Taurus on April 21 at 4:35 am ET.
The term retrograde is a bit of a misnomer since the planet doesn’t actually stop or go backwards, but rather slows its motion enough to appear to be spinning backwards from our vantage point here on Earth. Our ancient ancestors noticed this phenomenon and correlated the change with the challenges and changes that befell them.
Named for the envoy of the gods, the bearer of energies, the one with the winged foot and the loose tongue, Mercury is the fastest moving planet in our solar system, going backwards three or four times a year. Factoring in the run-up to the shadow of a retrograde (presumes Darth Vader’s voice) “and you should always factor in the shadow,” the trickster planet’s effects are felt for about half of the calendar year. Retrograde Mercury is not to be underestimated, but it is not to be feared either.
retrograde royal talk
To be clear, Mercury is not coming for you, comes right to slow down and show you how to do it. During a retrograde, subjects and modalities that begin with the prefix “re”, in Latin “again or again” are requested; revise, revise, renegotiate, reset, revive, regenerate, revitalize, redeem, rewrite, etc. Because this retrograde is going down, or going backwards, into the fixed land of Taurus, lord of the second house of values, possessions, cash and myself -Watch out, these issues are pressing.
In the words of the brilliant astrologer David Odyssey, “What is at stake in this retrograde are questions of value. How do your salary, clothing, communications, and daily life reflect your inner value? Where have you sold yourself little, poorly earned or have you left yourself compromised? And, conversely, where have you allowed yourself to slide into self-aggrandizement, spending far more than you can afford and avoiding reality? Taurus is about incarnate power, over declaring our inner wealth through outer expression. Whether you’re living more than you can afford or staying ignorant to please others, it’s time to redress the balance.”
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Reset the balance in fact. In addition to finances and self-concept, we can begin to consider time as currency, energy as an asset, and use our understanding of both to determine whether things, jobs, people, plans, and purchases are really it’s worth it. Keep in mind that owning our value sometimes means acknowledging that we don’t owe anyone anything, ever.
Without guilt, without shame, without chains.
Venus, ruling Taurus, wants us to always and forever come from a place of desire and deserving rather than obligation or struggle. She wants us to be nourished and full, not energetically diverted into a bitter shell. She also wants us to AUTHENTICALLY ENJOY AND HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING PRESENT. Mercury in Taurus relates to the world in an enthusiastic and tactile way. He is here to delight us, to reveal to us, and to remind us that we are blessed to be in a perpetual state of learning.
Mercury in Taurus is beautiful, deliberate, and impactful. This is where Freeman’s Mercury is found, Morgan’s “voice of god.” The same goes for Dev Patel, who could read me a bedtime story at any moment. Comedian George Carlin, who had Mercury retrograde in Taurus, made a career of dissecting language and urged us to examine how we assign meaning, value, and villainy to words.
To make the most of this Mercury transit, practice patience, be grounded daily, and review, revise, and expel any limiting beliefs that are keeping you in a scarcity mindset or an uprooted reality.
If you ask yourself a question, you will always get an answer, so go and ask without fear and receive without judging. Read on to find out more about how this Mercury retrograde will affect you, and be sure to read your rising sign!
This retrograde is taking over your second house of assets, Aries. With spring underway, you may be inclined to bet big and spend big. No. Save your pennies and reflect on whether you’re operating from a place of real need or a need for a brilliant distraction.
Happy return of the sun to you, Taurus! As a birthday present from the cosmic forces, this retrograde offers you the opportunity to change your brand. As you prepare for your last and best year of life, consider how you want to move forward, what apologies need to be delivered, stories need to be checked, and axes need to be buried so that you are free, clean, and unencumbered.
Mercury, your ruling planet, is stationed retrograde in your twelfth house of the unconscious mind, Gemini. This is a transit that requires withdrawal. Spend as much time as you can in the comfort of quiet, empty rooms with nothing but your kaleidoscopic memory for company.
It’s hard to tell a water sign not to take things personally, but that’s exactly what I’m suggesting, Cancer. With Mercury back pedaling through your eleventh house of friends and social media it will be easy for you to be hurt by words but infinitely more beneficial for you to limit their power to hurt you.
Mercury is talking shit and jumping through your 10th house of career, callings and legacy, Leo. Be meticulous in his work dealings while remaining open to the possibility that a change of pace and profession may be on the horizon.
Not so much ruled by Mercury as refined by it, you’re more apt than other signs to weather this flow, Virgo. But, even you are vulnerable to armor cracks and vigilance lapses during this transit. The planet is moving through your 9th house of travel, expansion, and education. Remember that sometimes being led astray is a step in the right direction.
Mercury transits your eighth house of sex, death, and debt, Libra. Shifts are happening and you should try to settle scores and delete scores. You can think about these transactions; whether financial, emotional, or otherwise, how to tie up loose ends and finally break free from feeling indebted.
Mercury is confusing you mojo, Scorpio slipping through your 7th house of associations. The old flames seek to reignite and the new romance struggles to gain a foothold in the garden of lost signs. You are not getting what you want and that fact is not a punishment, neigh, it is a lesson to define your desires.
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Is your routine designed for reckless abandon or for your maximum benefit, Sagittarius? This retrograde in your 6th house of habits asks you to break some and make others. Remember that in our age of burnout, living long and living well is the most radical choice you can make. Well-being as rebellion? Why the hell not?
Fate is finally conspiring to take it easy on you, Capricorn. This retrograde is making waves in your fifth house of sex, play, creativity, and carnivals. While you may feel less like doing and/or expressing yourself creatively at the start of this retrograde, if you keep an open mind and one button undone, you could find yourself blessed with new partners to experiment with and new mediums to explore.
Predicted for trials on the home front during this retrograde, Aquarius as trickster Mercury is moving through your fourth house of home and family. Even though you hate to revisit the past and your feelings about it, this retrograde asks you to return to the site of your first pains to repair yourself and finally forgive those that could have been better for you and you.
Pisces and Poison lead singer Brett Michaels’ search song asks, “Was it something I said or something I did? Didn’t the words come out right? Indeed, Pisces, with Mercury meddling in your 3rd house of communication and exchange, you may be tempted to speak cheap, small, or in ways that demean others and devalue yourself.Keep in mind that silence is golden and keeping silent is the surest way to remain intact.
Astrology 101: Your Guide to the Stars
Astrologer Reda Wigle irreverently researches and reports on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love of clubbing, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girl’s guide” to strip clubs, and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.