MERCURY RETROGRADE - JUNE 29 - JULY 23, 2026

3 1/2 weeks of Mercury retrograde is a long stint of feelings and experiences to process - this Mercury retrograde in Cancer repeated the degrees already traveled by Jupiter in Cancer from August 23, 2025 to June 15, 2026. It will be illuminating to review that 10 month period in our individual and collective lives with a focus on what did and did not work, what happened that opened up or was unexpected, these last 3+ Mercury Retrograde weeks. Where has our attention been? What have we learned? How have we grown?

Mercury is our intelligence, our curiosity, our interests in life, our ideas, our communication with ourselves and others, our neighbors and neighborhood. What have you been thinking about, what has interested you, what has needed your attention, what ideas have surfaced or dissipated, who have you been talking to/listening to, what have you learned or decided, or been made aware of? Have you been reviewing or changing previous decisions? Plans, contracts, agreements, and travel are also in Mercury’s remit. Any thoughts or changes, any new ideas or new information in those areas of life? This week through the 27th is an ideal review period for this Mercury Retrograde.

Jupiter’s year in Cancer has been a time of feeling our personal needs, our personal sense of safety, the importance of our home and family, our need for sanctuary/protection, our time to rest and recharge. The current inflation, rising prices, high interest rates, growing layoffs, wage stagnation, continuing war and shortages, climate emergencies and political instability/strife are understandably stressful and worrying, even frightening. From the personal to the political to the collective, how can we take care of ourselves, find the support and care we need?

Mercury retrograding over the mid to later degrees of Cancer has both reminded us of the importance of our emotional and physical foundation while also showing us where we can and need to do better.

Think of a quiet pond shimmering, reflecting and mirroring all that is around it, peaceful and calming. What has been and is being reflected to you from your inner emotional self/your deepest needs and fears. “Take good care” is a common, supportive comment often said as as a goodbye or a sign off which is an acknowledgement of the importance of taking care of yourself, allowing others to care for you as you can also care for them and, importantly, acknowledging that we all need care.

When Mercury turns retrograde or direct there is a potent few days to a week when it is barely moving. Mercury’s motion slows from it’s normal, fast speed as it nears its retrograde, is moving slowly early in its retrograde, again slows as it nears its return to direct motion and is moving slowly for the following days/week as it is returning to it’s normal fast movement. This slower motion is a loss of the normal, familiar speed we experience mentally and directly for approximately 3/4 of the year. There is literally less conscious energy available to our minds. No wonder we get confused, maybe spacey, make silly or small errors we wouldn’t ordinarily make, get behind, have accidents or have to respond to unexpected, unpredictable events that upset our plans and routine.

The larger question is “where does that unavailable/less accessible energy go?” That “lost” energy is operating in our unconscious, inner awareness during the retrograde making connections, stimulating ideas/awareness, integrating recent emotional, mental and spiritual developments which will become available after the retrograde is complete when the retrograde degrees are repeated or aspected by other planetary movements. Nothing is lost, more growth or information is readying to be understood or experienced. Retrogrades can be hard, exhausting, even painful at times. They can sometimes be miraculous, inspiring, and awakening. Old connections and new ones can surface spontaneously. There is a magic and mystery at work in Retrogrades when we are receptive to deep listening and acceptance.