What November’s Mercury Retrograde Means for Each Zodiac Sign

Mercury is going retrograde from November 9 to 29, initially moving backward through Sagittarius from November 9 to 18 and then Scorpio from November 18 to 29.
This Mercury retrograde urges you to reflect on how you’re pursuing adventure and personal growth and caring for your closest bonds.
The signs that will feel this Mercury retrograde the most are the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) and the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius).

The mere phrase “Mercury retrograde” might be enough to make you cancel your plans for the next month, given what a bad reputation the astrological event has. Three to four times a year, Mercury appears to move backward from our vantage point on Earth, spurring delays, crossed wires, and general chaos related to communication, transportation, and technology that can make you feel as though all hell has broken loose. But as with all astrological transits, Mercury retrograde offers as many silver linings as it does challenges.

While Mercury is retrograde this time around, from November 9 to 29, you’ll have the opportunity to slow down, rest, reflect, and revise once more—with an eye toward your sense of adventure, personal growth, and intimate relationships. That’s because the third and last Mercury retrograde of 2025 is happening in Sagittarius, the unfiltered, jovial, free-spirited fire sign, and Scorpio, the private, spiritual, and enchanting water sign. Read on for the bright spots and must-knows for your sign during this final Mercury retrograde of 2025.

When is Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius and Scorpio?

You probably started feeling this Mercury retrograde well before it officially kicks off, given the retroshade or pre-Mercury retrograde shadow. But this Mercury retrograde officially begins on Sunday, November 9 at 2:02 p.m. ET/11:02 a.m. PT in Sagittarius. It’ll move back into Scorpio on Tuesday, November 18 and eventually go direct (aka moving forward) on Saturday, November 29 at 12:38 p.m. ET/9:38 a.m. PT.

What Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius and Scorpio brings

As Mercury backs up through Sagittarius from November 9 to 18, the mutable fire sign known for being direct, entertaining and a fan of going big or going home, you could find that miscommunication and confusion are fueled by a lack of attention to detail. Sag speaks and thinks through a bold, grand, free-spirited lens, but isn’t a fan of getting in the weeds, so you could find yourself stuck with a bill you had no idea would cost so much or showing up at the wrong time for a party, because you missed the fine print. On a more positive note, Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius encourages introspection and bolstered self-awareness around themes associated with the sign of the Archer, like personal growth, your belief system, higher learning, and wanderlust.

From November 18 to 29, Mercury’s retrograde continues through Scorpio—the fixed water sign that the messenger planet spent time in for most of October. (So think back to experiences, lessons, and interactions you had then for a sense of the terrain you’ll be retreading.) Deeply private, emotionally astute, wise, powerful, and spiritual-minded, Scorpio rarely shares more than they absolutely have to, particularly when it comes to how they feel or their closest relationships. And as one of the fixed crew (the other signs in this club are Taurus, Leo, and Aquarius), they tend to be laser-focused but also stubborn. So you could face obstacles when connecting with others that stem from a refusal to divulge certain information or obstinacy. The positive side of this part of the retrograde: You can do meaningful self-work around your closest bonds, what you need to feel secure in your relationships, sexual desires, and shared financial goals.

What signs will Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius and Scorpio affect the most?

The signs that will feel Mercury’s retrograde in Sagittarius and Scorpio are the mutable signs: Gemini (mutable air), Virgo (mutable earth), Sagittarius (mutable fire), Pisces (mutable water), and the fixed signs: Taurus (fixed earth), Leo (fixed fire), Scorpio (fixed water), and Aquarius (fixed air).

If you have major placements (meaning your sun, moon, rising, Mercury, etc.) in any of these signs, you’ll feel Mercury’s last backspin of 2025 more than others, especially if those placements fall between 0 to 7 degrees of a mutable sign and 20 to 29 degrees of a fixed sign. (That’s something you can pinpoint in your birth chart.)

It also bears noting that no matter what sign Mercury is retrograde in, the two signs ruled by the planet of communication tend to experience the transit more intensely—and that’s Gemini and Virgo.

Read on to learn how this Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius and Scorpio will affect you based on your sign. (Be sure to read both your sun and your rising sign, which you can learn from your birth chart or by using this CafeAstrology calculator.)

Aries

Restlessness is an emotion you tend to be fairly familiar with, but prepare yourself to feel it on steroids as Mercury moves back through your ninth house of higher learning until November 18. The trouble is that you’re generally capable of taking definitive action to shake up a routine that’s become a snoozefest, but that might be harder to do right now. Instead, reflect on how you’ve been tuning into and trusting your gut impulses, which offers a healthy dose of self-awareness you can channel into an adventure next month. From November 18 to 29, as Mercury backs up through your eighth house of shared resources, you can reassess and edit financial goals you share with your significant other or someone special.

Taurus

Until November 18, challenging conversations with a significant other or loved one encourages you to think about your comfort level within your bond, because Mercury will be retrograde in your eighth house of emotional bonds. Is there something you need from your partner to feel more secure, seen, and valued, and what might need to change in order to get there together? You’ll also find that being more OK with being vulnerable allows you to clarify where you both stand. Then, from November 18 to 29, you’ll be rethinking your approach to goals you’ve been working toward with either a romantic partner, a colleague, or best friend, given Mercury’s backspin through your seventh house of partnership zone. Although crossed wires are likely, challenges you face as a pair now may lead to feeling even more sync in the long-run.

Gemini

Steel yourself for relationship flashbacks, for better or worse, while your ruling planet, messenger Mercury, moves back through your seventh house of partnership until November 18. Whether there’s an ongoing conflict you and your significant other or a potential partner haven’t resolved yet or healing that still needs to be done around a breakup, you can make productive strides now. This period was also made for reflecting on how you’re showing up within your one-on-one bonds—whether romantic, platonic, or professional—and how others are showing up for you. From November 18 to 29, Mercury backs up through your sixth house of wellness, rethink your self-care routine or how you’ve been going about handling your day-to-day hustle. Shifts you make now could bolster vitality and productivity.

Cancer

Life could feel more frenetic and frustrating at times until November 18, because you’ll be trying to get your usual to-dos checked off and encountering the typical setbacks of Mercury retrograde—this time in your sixth house of wellness and routine. It might be tough to see it when you’re running late for an overdue doctor’s appointment or struggling to hit a deadline, but you have the opportunity to revise how you’re caring for your health and handling your everyday hustle. Less might be more. From November 18 to 29, Mercury shifts back through your fifth house of romance, and you can take heartfelt, fun-filled walks down memory lane with a significant other or loved ones. Embrace more spontaneity, playfulness, and creativity.

Leo

Whether you’re grappling with texts from ghosts from your dating past or planning to revisit a destination you’ve always loved alongside your significant other, this retrograde kicks off in your fifth house of romance, turning back the clock on your love life. Retracing your footsteps is a chance to reflect on how you’re following your heart and inviting pleasure and playfulness into your life. This is also the sector of self-expression, so you can revisit or revise a creative endeavor that was previously backburnered. From November 18 to 29, Mercury backspins through your fourth house of home life, turning your attention to unresolved emotional issues with family or your physical home. Tackle them head-on for well-deserved healing.

Virgo

You tend to feel all Mercury retrogrades more than most other signs (save Gemini), and this one will be most apparent in terms of family matters, because it kicks off in your fourth house of home life. Steel yourself for more potential for misunderstandings with loved ones or the need to tie up loose ends on repairs around your home. But the silver lining of this transit is that you can also do healing self-work and shared work to heal ongoing conflicts with your nearest and dearest. Then, Mercury backs up through your communication zone from November 18 to 29, and taking even more special care with self-expression than usual can preempt crossed wires with colleagues, friends, and siblings, if you have them.

Libra

Until November 18, Mercury moves back through your third house of communication, setting off the stereotypical slowdowns and miscommunications of a retrograde. In turn, you’ll be nudged to look at how you can be more clear, direct, and even potentially assertive when expressing yourself. You can also reassess your social commitments, especially if you’re feeling stretched too thin. Then, Mercury moves back through your second house of income, which is a fantastic opportunity to take a microscope to earning and self-worth. If you’ve been feeling like you deserve more for what you’re bringing to the table, you can begin to research a game plan for going to bat for those rewards. You’ll also do well to triple-check financial details to avoid confusion down the road.

Scorpio

This Mercury retrograde could feel highly personal, because it is falling, at least in part, in your first house of self-image. But before it backs up through your sign, it’ll be in your second house of income, urging introspection and patience around money matters. You’ll need to do some soul searching around how you’ve been earning, spending, and saving, which might feel a bit daunting in the short-term but can ultimately boost your sense of security and benefit your bottom line. Then, from November 18 to 29, Mercury’s backspin in your sign amplifies your desire to rest and recharge but also inspires you to step up how you’re caring for your heart and spirit. Meaningful self-work (think speaking to a therapist or meditating) can empower you to show up in the world in a way that better reflects your identity, perhaps by updating your wardrobe or brushing up your resume and making bold moves on the job.

Sagittarius

Your mental energy is generally off-the-charts, as you’re so eager to learn and explore the world around you, but with Mercury’s backspin happening in your sign and first house of self to start, you could feel uncharacteristically withdrawn and drained. Instead of fighting against this urge to rest, do your best to lean into it, because taking the pace of life down a notch right now creates space for introspection that bolsters self-awareness. You could gain clarity around the best way to pursue a passion project or long-held desire (like taking on a leadership role on the job). Then, while Mercury backs up through your twelfth house of spirituality from November 18 to 29, you can hone your intuition. Pay closer attention to your dreams, which are also bound to be more vivid than usual.

Capricorn

With Mercury retrograde in your twelfth house of spirituality to start, you could find your imagination is off-the-charts. This might feel slightly uncomfortable, given that you’re most centered when managing the rational, concrete aspects of life, but allowing yourself to dream, rest, and fantasize more now can be inspiring and restorative. You may realize you’d do well to devote more time and space toward nurturing your emotional and mental well-being. And from November 18 to 29, Mercury backs up through your eleventh house of friendships, fueling chances to reconnect with friends or groups you haven’t touched base with in a while and to go back to the drawing board on a collaborative effort. And if you’re wrapping up a team project before the end of the year, being extra cognizant of seemingly minor details sets the stage for success.

Aquarius

You’ll be meditating on how you can cross the finish line on a big picture goal, perhaps alongside friends or colleagues, because this Mercury retrograde begins in your eleventh house of long-term wishes. You could reach out to someone you haven’t talked to in a while and find they have incredibly valuable words of wisdom to share that support your aspirations. And if there’s a team effort that was previously paused, you can pick it back up now and see it through. From November 18 to 29, Mercury backs up through your tenth house of career, inviting you to revise your definition of success and to reflect on your relationship with authority. What tweaks related to your professional path would help you step into your power and make your mark?

Pisces

Mercury begins its retrograde in your tenth house of career, so you’ll be musing about your professional aspirations and debating whether or not they’re still aligned with your heart. You can readily reimagine either your action plan for achieving a long-held goal or even reflect on a whole new version of success. You can also take advantage of this transit by revisiting an ongoing conversation with a higher-up, which could help you clarify the path to more responsibility and recognition. Then, from November 18 to 29, Mercury backs up through your ninth house of higher learning, sparking your desire to break free of the mundane. You can broaden your horizons in a familiar way, perhaps by working with a beloved mentor to sharpen an existing skill set or recreating a memorable weekend getaway.

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