Here we go again: Mercury will be retrograde in Virgo from August 23 to September 15, 2023.
A chaos spree from the trickster planet feels like overkill after a summer of explosive planetary clashes. However, Mercury’s home sign is Virgo, the sign of clarity and processing. Could this extended tour provide a chance for reinvention, renewal, and a glimpse of what’s to come?
The Basics – What is Mercury retrograde?
When a planet appears to be moving backwards from our perspective on Earth, it is said to be retrograde. It is not actually moving backwards; it simply appears to be. Mercury goes retrograde about 3-4 times per year and lasts several weeks. When a planet retrogrades, it throws off what that planet rules, as well as what the sign it’s retrograding in rules.
Mercury retrograde brings with it a shadow and a storm. The shadow period begins when Mercury first reaches the point in the Zodiac where it will turn direct and ends when it reaches the point in the Zodiac where it will turn retrograde.
However, most people do not notice the effects of Mercury retrograde until it enters the storm period. Mercury retrograde storms occur when Mercury moves at its slowest, less than 40 minutes per day. Mercury is a fast-moving planet that despises slow motion. There are usually two storm periods: one when Mercury goes retrograde and one when it goes direct.
Mercury Retrograde in Virgo 2023 Key Dates:
- This retrograde begins on August 23rd 2023 at 3:59 p.m. ET/9:59 p.m. CET and ends on September 15th 2023 at 4:21 p.m. ET/10:21 p.m. CET.
- The shadow period for this retrograde is August 3rd – September 30th 2023.
- There are normally two storm periods, and the storm periods for this retrograde are August 15th – 31st 2023 and September 11th – 20th 2023.
Mercury Retrograde in Virgo Effects:
Because Virgo rules stress, the Mercury retrograde in Virgo is usually extra stressful. We’re stressed out about everything, and if you’re already stressed out, it can be even worse! You may be constantly on the edge and require some relief.
Going into this retrograde, it’s critical to have a healthy outlet or two for stress. That’s the best way to handle it. If you don’t have that, prepare to feel anxious, nervous, and frayed all the time.
Virgo is the work sign, ruling over our jobs as well as tasks, chores, and small projects. We may take on additional work, both at work and at home, which may push us over the edge, so it is critical not to take on too much. We need to balance work and play; otherwise, we’ll be stressed out.
On the other hand, some of us may want to avoid all work, tasks, chores, and projects in order to be as carefree as possible. This is probably a bad idea, and we end up avoiding responsibilities that we shouldn’t.
If you have a job and despise it, this retrograde will likely make you despise it even more. There could be some bad news about jobs or something coming back into fashion. If you enjoy what you do, you should be fine as long as you don’t overburden yourself.
Virgo also rules our daily lives, so there may be many minor details that require more of our attention. With Virgo ruling the details, we can struggle with them, either getting lost in them and unable to see the big picture, or getting too far away from them and unable to get any information. To see more clearly, we may need to take a different approach to details and everyday things, to shake things up a little.
The perfectionist is Virgo, and we have a tendency to expect too much of ourselves or others, demanding perfection that cannot be attained. We may need to address the underlying cause of this and work to relax a little so we don’t overstress ourselves.
Because Virgo governs our health and habits, this retrograde may bring up health issues and halt good habits while amplifying bad ones. It is, however, a good opportunity to prioritize your overall well-being, and you can make more time to take care of yourself, which can help with stress (can you tell stress is a major theme?). This is also an excellent time for general maintenance.
Because Mercury is the natural ruler of Virgo, much of this is amplified beyond the usual Mercury retrograde. We’re a shambles at times, and we need to be especially mindful of the main theme, stress!
The retrograde begins with Mercury in Taurus trine (beneficial aspect) Uranus, who will turn retrograde 5 days later. This can help us think outside the box and try new approaches to dealing with stress, frustrations, work, and self-care. A different approach may be beneficial in ways we hadn’t considered.
Mercury Retrograde in Virgo 2023 Aspects:
During its retrograde period, Mercury will only make two major aspects to the other transiting (moving) planets. They are as follows:
• Trine Jupiter on September 4th 2023 at 15 degrees Virgo/Taurus:
This is a pleasant aspect that occurs just as Jupiter is about to turn retrograde, so it begins with a positive energy. We can generate big ideas, restart old big projects, and regain a clear view of the big picture.
• Conjunct the Sun on September 6th 2023 at 13 degrees Virgo
This is the Inferior Conjunction, a positive point in the retrograde that can be a focus for the next 6-8 weeks; find where it falls in your chart and that may be where you can start something.
The Moons of Mercury Retrograde:
During this retrograde, the Moon travels through both signs that Mercury naturally rules. The Moon is in Gemini (ruled by Mercury) September 5th 2023 (4:07 p.m. ET/10:07 p.m. CET) to 8th (1:00a.m. ET/ 7:00 a.m. CET), which can increase scattered, unfocused energy and a need for a mental outlet.
The Moon is in Virgo (ruled by Mercury and the sign the retrograde it comes in) right at the end of the retrograde, September 13th 2023 (1:18 a.m. ET/ 7:18 a.m. CET) to September 15th (1:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. CET), and this increases anxiety and stress.
Final Notes:
The retrograde begins at 21 degrees Virgo, so those of you born between September 11th and September 17th may feel the strongest effects of the retrograde. The retrograde ends at 8 degrees Virgo, so those of you born between August 28th and September 3rd may be the most affected.
Check the house(s) Mercury will be retrograding in your own natal chart, as well as any aspects Mercury will make to your natal planets, to fully understand how it will impact you personally.
If Mercury is retrograde in your natal or progressed chart, you may not feel the full impact. Those people are less likely to be affected by the retrograde because it feels more natural to them. Of course, chances are that everyone else around them does not share their perspective, so they may still face difficulties caused by others.
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