Mercury retrograde · 2040
Mercury retrograde 2040: dates, degrees and what it means for each sign
Everything about Mercury retrograde in 2040 in one place: the exact station dates and degrees, the shadow periods, which other planets are retrograde at the same time, and a reading with practical advice for each of the twelve signs.
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2040: February 12 – March 5 (Pisces back into Aquarius), June 13 – July 7 (Cancer) and October 9 – October 30 (Scorpio back into Libra). With the shadow periods, each cycle lasts about eight weeks. Astrologers read it as a time to re-read, back up and finish rather than to launch.
Mercury retrograde 2040: the dates
- February 12 – March 5, 2040 (21 days). Mercury stations retrograde on February 12, 2040 at 13:39 UTC, at 8°37′ Pisces, backs into Aquarius on February 23. Mercury stations direct on March 5, 2040 at 11:20 UTC, at 23°41′ Aquarius.
- June 13 – July 7, 2040 (24 days). Mercury stations retrograde on June 13, 2040 at 00:19 UTC, at 9°32′ Cancer (the evening of June 12 in US time zones). Mercury stations direct on July 7, 2040 at 02:21 UTC, at 0°32′ Cancer (the evening of July 6 in US time zones).
- October 9 – October 30, 2040 (20 days). Mercury stations retrograde on October 9, 2040 at 12:05 UTC, at 7°32′ Scorpio, backs into Libra on October 20. Mercury stations direct on October 30, 2040 at 09:06 UTC, at 21°51′ Libra.
Mercury is retrograde three or four times a year, for about three weeks each time. In 2040 every one of them begins in a water sign.
Times are UTC. Nothing reverses in space: retrograde motion is the apparent backward drift a planet shows when Earth overtakes it (or, for Mercury and Venus, when the planet overtakes Earth).
Mercury retrograde 2040: all dates
| Retrograde (UTC dates) | From | To | Shadow period | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040 | 8° Pisces | 23° Aquarius | Jan 28 – Mar 25, 2040 | 21 days |
| Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040 | 9° Cancer | 0° Cancer | May 28 – Jul 21, 2040 | 24 days |
| Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040 | 7° Scorpio | 21° Libra | Sep 19 – Nov 15, 2040 | 20 days |
Computed from NASA JPL Horizons (geocentric positions in the tropical zodiac). The shadow period runs from the day the planet first crosses the degree where it will turn direct to the day it passes the degree where it turned retrograde.
Mercury retrograde Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040: key dates
| Date (UTC) | What happens |
|---|---|
| Jan 28, 2040 | Pre-retrograde shadow begins: Mercury first crosses 23°41′ Aquarius, the degree where it will later turn direct |
| Feb 12, 2040, 13:39 UTC | Mercury stations retrograde at 8°37′ Pisces |
| Feb 23, 2040 | Mercury backs out of Pisces into Aquarius |
| Mar 5, 2040, 11:20 UTC | Mercury stations direct at 23°41′ Aquarius |
| Mar 17, 2040 | Mercury re-enters Pisces, moving forward |
| Mar 25, 2040 | Post-retrograde shadow ends: Mercury passes 8°37′ Pisces again and covers new ground |
Computed from NASA JPL Horizons. A station in the first hours of a UTC day falls on the previous evening in the Americas.
Mercury retrograde Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040: key dates
| Date (UTC) | What happens |
|---|---|
| May 28, 2040 | Pre-retrograde shadow begins: Mercury first crosses 0°32′ Cancer, the degree where it will later turn direct |
| Jun 13, 2040, 00:19 UTC | Mercury stations retrograde at 9°32′ Cancer (the evening of June 12 in US time zones) |
| Jul 7, 2040, 02:21 UTC | Mercury stations direct at 0°32′ Cancer (the evening of July 6 in US time zones) |
| Jul 21, 2040 | Post-retrograde shadow ends: Mercury passes 9°32′ Cancer again and covers new ground |
Computed from NASA JPL Horizons. A station in the first hours of a UTC day falls on the previous evening in the Americas.
Mercury retrograde Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040: key dates
| Date (UTC) | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sep 19, 2040 | Pre-retrograde shadow begins: Mercury first crosses 21°51′ Libra, the degree where it will later turn direct |
| Oct 9, 2040, 12:05 UTC | Mercury stations retrograde at 7°32′ Scorpio |
| Oct 20, 2040 | Mercury backs out of Scorpio into Libra |
| Oct 30, 2040, 09:06 UTC | Mercury stations direct at 21°51′ Libra |
| Nov 9, 2040 | Mercury re-enters Scorpio, moving forward |
| Nov 15, 2040 | Post-retrograde shadow ends: Mercury passes 7°32′ Scorpio again and covers new ground |
Computed from NASA JPL Horizons. A station in the first hours of a UTC day falls on the previous evening in the Americas.
What else is retrograde at the same time
Retrogrades overlap, and astrologers read them together. These planets are also retrograde during at least part of each period:
- Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040: Jupiter (Jan 16 – May 18, 2040), Saturn (Jan 21 – Jun 6, 2040), Uranus (Nov 8, 2039 – Apr 5, 2040).
- Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040: Pluto (May 27 – Nov 7, 2040).
- Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040: Neptune (Aug 8, 2040 – Jan 12, 2041), Pluto (May 27 – Nov 7, 2040).
The whole year is on the retrograde calendar 2040.
What Mercury retrograde means in 2040
In astrology Mercury stands for communication, plans, travel, contracts and technology. Mercury retrograde is read as a review of how you think, talk and organise: messages cross, plans get revised, and people and conversations from the past return. In Pisces the subject is faith, compassion, imagination and endings. In Aquarius the subject is groups, networks, technology and the balance between freedom and control. In Cancer the subject is home, family, belonging and emotional security. In Scorpio the subject is trust, intimacy, shared resources and what stays hidden. In Libra the subject is partnership, fairness, agreements and balance.
Who notices it most. For Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040 astrologers look first at people with the Sun, Moon, rising sign or personal planets from 23° Aquarius to 8° Pisces, and at the matching degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Gemini, Virgo and Sagittarius. For Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040 astrologers look first at people with the Sun, Moon, rising sign or personal planets between 0° and 9° of Cancer, and at the same degrees of Aries, Libra and Capricorn. For Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040 astrologers look first at people with the Sun, Moon, rising sign or personal planets from 21° Libra to 7° Scorpio, and at the matching degrees of Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Taurus, Leo and Aquarius. Everyone else can read it through the house it falls in, below.
What to do
Back up your devices, confirm times and bookings, and re-read before you sign or send. It is a good period for editing, repairing and finishing; brand-new contracts and big launches go more smoothly once Mercury is direct. The longer guide, with the astronomy and the reading of a natal Mercury retrograde, is on the Mercury retrograde page.
Mercury retrograde Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040 for each sign
Read your rising sign first if you know it, since it sets the houses; then your Sun sign. Houses are counted from your sign in whole-sign style. The birthdays show whose Sun the retrograde touches directly: Mercury covers 23° Aquarius to 8° Pisces, and the Sun moves about one degree a day, so the dates are approximate.
Aries: 12th house, then 11th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 12th house: rest, solitude, endings and what you keep private. The noise is inside: overthinking, vivid dreams and things you never said. What to do: write it down before you say it, sleep more, and finish something privately before you announce it.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 11th house: friends, groups and long-term hopes. Group chats misfire, plans with friends fall through, and old friends reappear. What to do: confirm arrangements twice, reconnect with one person you lost touch with, and review the goals you set a year ago.
Easier for Aries born around April 12–20 (Sun at 23°–29°): Mercury sextiles your Sun.
Taurus: 11th house, then 10th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 11th house: friends, groups and long-term hopes. Group chats misfire, plans with friends fall through, and old friends reappear. What to do: confirm arrangements twice, reconnect with one person you lost touch with, and review the goals you set a year ago.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 10th house: career, reputation and public role. Career conversations loop back: a delayed decision, a former boss, a public statement you want to rephrase. What to do: update your CV and portfolio, re-read before you publish, and follow up on an application you had given up on.
Easier for Taurus born around April 20–29 (Sun at 0°–8°): Mercury sextiles your Sun. Strongest for Taurus born around May 13–20 (Sun at 23°–29°): Mercury squares your Sun.
Gemini: 10th house, then 9th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 10th house: career, reputation and public role. Career conversations loop back: a delayed decision, a former boss, a public statement you want to rephrase. What to do: update your CV and portfolio, re-read before you publish, and follow up on an application you had given up on.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 9th house: travel, study, beliefs and publishing. Travel plans, courses, visas and publishing dates shift, and you revise an opinion you were sure of. What to do: recheck bookings and documents, leave slack in an itinerary, and return to a course or a text you left unfinished.
Strongest for Gemini born around May 21–30 (Sun at 0°–8°): Mercury squares your Sun. Easier for Gemini born around June 13–20 (Sun at 23°–29°): Mercury trines your Sun.
Cancer: 9th house, then 8th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 9th house: travel, study, beliefs and publishing. Travel plans, courses, visas and publishing dates shift, and you revise an opinion you were sure of. What to do: recheck bookings and documents, leave slack in an itinerary, and return to a course or a text you left unfinished.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 8th house: shared money, debts, intimacy and trust. Shared money, taxes, debts and insurance paperwork come back with corrections, and so do conversations about trust. What to do: go through joint accounts and old forms carefully, and have the honest talk in two calm parts.
Easier for Cancer born around June 21–30 (Sun at 0°–8°): Mercury trines your Sun.
Leo: 8th house, then 7th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 8th house: shared money, debts, intimacy and trust. Shared money, taxes, debts and insurance paperwork come back with corrections, and so do conversations about trust. What to do: go through joint accounts and old forms carefully, and have the honest talk in two calm parts.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 7th house: partnerships, marriage and one-to-one relationships. Misunderstandings with a partner or a client; a past partner may get in touch, and agreements need rewording. What to do: ask what the other person actually meant, and re-read a contract with a partner or client before you sign.
Strongest for Leo born around August 15–22 (Sun at 23°–29°): Mercury is opposite your Sun.
Virgo: 7th house, then 6th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 7th house: partnerships, marriage and one-to-one relationships. Misunderstandings with a partner or a client; a past partner may get in touch, and agreements need rewording. What to do: ask what the other person actually meant, and re-read a contract with a partner or client before you sign.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 6th house: daily work, routines and health habits. Work details slip: calendars, handovers, tools, and small errors that multiply. What to do: double-check deadlines and files, clean up your task list, and rebuild one routine that stopped working.
Strongest for Virgo born around August 23 – September 1 (Sun at 0°–8°): Mercury is opposite your Sun.
Libra: 6th house, then 5th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 6th house: daily work, routines and health habits. Work details slip: calendars, handovers, tools, and small errors that multiply. What to do: double-check deadlines and files, clean up your task list, and rebuild one routine that stopped working.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 5th house: romance, creativity, children and fun. An old flame, an old hobby or an unfinished creative draft comes back, and plans for fun get rescheduled. What to do: edit the draft instead of starting a new one, and treat a returning romance as a conversation to finish, with the decision later.
Easier for Libra born around October 16–23 (Sun at 23°–29°): Mercury trines your Sun.
Scorpio: 5th house, then 4th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 5th house: romance, creativity, children and fun. An old flame, an old hobby or an unfinished creative draft comes back, and plans for fun get rescheduled. What to do: edit the draft instead of starting a new one, and treat a returning romance as a conversation to finish, with the decision later.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 4th house: home, family, roots and where you live. Home and family logistics get tangled: leases, repairs, a talk with a parent that you have had before. What to do: recheck the paperwork about where you live, finish the repair you started, and let a family conversation take two rounds.
Easier for Scorpio born around October 23 – November 1 (Sun at 0°–8°): Mercury trines your Sun. Strongest for Scorpio born around November 15–22 (Sun at 23°–29°): Mercury squares your Sun.
Sagittarius: 4th house, then 3rd
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 4th house: home, family, roots and where you live. Home and family logistics get tangled: leases, repairs, a talk with a parent that you have had before. What to do: recheck the paperwork about where you live, finish the repair you started, and let a family conversation take two rounds.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 3rd house: communication, learning, siblings and short trips. Messages cross, short trips change, and siblings or neighbours resurface with unfinished conversations. What to do: confirm times and addresses, back up your phone, and reply after a second read rather than at once.
Strongest for Sagittarius born around November 22 – December 1 (Sun at 0°–8°): Mercury squares your Sun. Easier for Sagittarius born around December 15–22 (Sun at 23°–29°): Mercury sextiles your Sun.
Capricorn: 3rd house, then 2nd
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 3rd house: communication, learning, siblings and short trips. Messages cross, short trips change, and siblings or neighbours resurface with unfinished conversations. What to do: confirm times and addresses, back up your phone, and reply after a second read rather than at once.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 2nd house: money, income, possessions and self-worth. Bills, invoices, subscriptions and price quotes need a second look; a payment can arrive late or wrong. What to do: check statements line by line, chase what you are owed, and re-read the terms before any purchase you could postpone.
Easier for Capricorn born around December 21–31 (Sun at 0°–8°): Mercury sextiles your Sun.
Aquarius: 2nd house, then 1st
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 2nd house: money, income, possessions and self-worth. Bills, invoices, subscriptions and price quotes need a second look; a payment can arrive late or wrong. What to do: check statements line by line, chase what you are owed, and re-read the terms before any purchase you could postpone.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 1st house: your body, identity and how you come across. You rethink how you present yourself and what you say you want, and old statements get quoted back at you. What to do: re-read anything you send about yourself, from a bio to an application to a big announcement, and change your mind openly if you need to.
Strongest for Aquarius born around February 12–19 (Sun at 23°–29°): Mercury retrogrades over your Sun.
Pisces: 1st house, then 12th
Until Feb 23 (Pisces), 1st house: your body, identity and how you come across. You rethink how you present yourself and what you say you want, and old statements get quoted back at you. What to do: re-read anything you send about yourself, from a bio to an application to a big announcement, and change your mind openly if you need to.
From Feb 23 (Aquarius), 12th house: rest, solitude, endings and what you keep private. The noise is inside: overthinking, vivid dreams and things you never said. What to do: write it down before you say it, sleep more, and finish something privately before you announce it.
Strongest for Pisces born around February 18–27 (Sun at 0°–8°): Mercury retrogrades over your Sun.
Mercury retrograde Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040 for each sign
Read your rising sign first if you know it, since it sets the houses; then your Sun sign. Houses are counted from your sign in whole-sign style. The birthdays show whose Sun the retrograde touches directly: Mercury covers 0° Cancer to 9° Cancer, and the Sun moves about one degree a day, so the dates are approximate.
Aries: 4th house
Area of life: home, family, roots and where you live. Home and family logistics get tangled: leases, repairs, a talk with a parent that you have had before. What to do: recheck the paperwork about where you live, finish the repair you started, and let a family conversation take two rounds.
Strongest for Aries born around March 20–30 (Sun at 0°–9°): Mercury squares your Sun.
Taurus: 3rd house
Area of life: communication, learning, siblings and short trips. Messages cross, short trips change, and siblings or neighbours resurface with unfinished conversations. What to do: confirm times and addresses, back up your phone, and reply after a second read rather than at once.
Easier for Taurus born around April 20–30 (Sun at 0°–9°): Mercury sextiles your Sun.
Gemini: 2nd house
Area of life: money, income, possessions and self-worth. Bills, invoices, subscriptions and price quotes need a second look; a payment can arrive late or wrong. What to do: check statements line by line, chase what you are owed, and re-read the terms before any purchase you could postpone.
Mercury makes no major angle to a Gemini Sun this time, so the house carries the reading.
Cancer: 1st house
Area of life: your body, identity and how you come across. You rethink how you present yourself and what you say you want, and old statements get quoted back at you. What to do: re-read anything you send about yourself, from a bio to an application to a big announcement, and change your mind openly if you need to.
Strongest for Cancer born around June 21 – July 1 (Sun at 0°–9°): Mercury retrogrades over your Sun.
Leo: 12th house
Area of life: rest, solitude, endings and what you keep private. The noise is inside: overthinking, vivid dreams and things you never said. What to do: write it down before you say it, sleep more, and finish something privately before you announce it.
Mercury makes no major angle to a Leo Sun this time, so the house carries the reading.
Virgo: 11th house
Area of life: friends, groups and long-term hopes. Group chats misfire, plans with friends fall through, and old friends reappear. What to do: confirm arrangements twice, reconnect with one person you lost touch with, and review the goals you set a year ago.
Easier for Virgo born around August 23 – September 2 (Sun at 0°–9°): Mercury sextiles your Sun.
Libra: 10th house
Area of life: career, reputation and public role. Career conversations loop back: a delayed decision, a former boss, a public statement you want to rephrase. What to do: update your CV and portfolio, re-read before you publish, and follow up on an application you had given up on.
Strongest for Libra born around September 23 – October 3 (Sun at 0°–9°): Mercury squares your Sun.
Scorpio: 9th house
Area of life: travel, study, beliefs and publishing. Travel plans, courses, visas and publishing dates shift, and you revise an opinion you were sure of. What to do: recheck bookings and documents, leave slack in an itinerary, and return to a course or a text you left unfinished.
Easier for Scorpio born around October 23 – November 2 (Sun at 0°–9°): Mercury trines your Sun.
Sagittarius: 8th house
Area of life: shared money, debts, intimacy and trust. Shared money, taxes, debts and insurance paperwork come back with corrections, and so do conversations about trust. What to do: go through joint accounts and old forms carefully, and have the honest talk in two calm parts.
Mercury makes no major angle to a Sagittarius Sun this time, so the house carries the reading.
Capricorn: 7th house
Area of life: partnerships, marriage and one-to-one relationships. Misunderstandings with a partner or a client; a past partner may get in touch, and agreements need rewording. What to do: ask what the other person actually meant, and re-read a contract with a partner or client before you sign.
Strongest for Capricorn born around December 21 – January 1 (Sun at 0°–9°): Mercury is opposite your Sun.
Aquarius: 6th house
Area of life: daily work, routines and health habits. Work details slip: calendars, handovers, tools, and small errors that multiply. What to do: double-check deadlines and files, clean up your task list, and rebuild one routine that stopped working.
Mercury makes no major angle to a Aquarius Sun this time, so the house carries the reading.
Pisces: 5th house
Area of life: romance, creativity, children and fun. An old flame, an old hobby or an unfinished creative draft comes back, and plans for fun get rescheduled. What to do: edit the draft instead of starting a new one, and treat a returning romance as a conversation to finish, with the decision later.
Easier for Pisces born around February 18–28 (Sun at 0°–9°): Mercury trines your Sun.
Mercury retrograde Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040 for each sign
Read your rising sign first if you know it, since it sets the houses; then your Sun sign. Houses are counted from your sign in whole-sign style. The birthdays show whose Sun the retrograde touches directly: Mercury covers 21° Libra to 7° Scorpio, and the Sun moves about one degree a day, so the dates are approximate.
Aries: 8th house, then 7th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 8th house: shared money, debts, intimacy and trust. Shared money, taxes, debts and insurance paperwork come back with corrections, and so do conversations about trust. What to do: go through joint accounts and old forms carefully, and have the honest talk in two calm parts.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 7th house: partnerships, marriage and one-to-one relationships. Misunderstandings with a partner or a client; a past partner may get in touch, and agreements need rewording. What to do: ask what the other person actually meant, and re-read a contract with a partner or client before you sign.
Strongest for Aries born around April 10–20 (Sun at 21°–29°): Mercury is opposite your Sun.
Taurus: 7th house, then 6th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 7th house: partnerships, marriage and one-to-one relationships. Misunderstandings with a partner or a client; a past partner may get in touch, and agreements need rewording. What to do: ask what the other person actually meant, and re-read a contract with a partner or client before you sign.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 6th house: daily work, routines and health habits. Work details slip: calendars, handovers, tools, and small errors that multiply. What to do: double-check deadlines and files, clean up your task list, and rebuild one routine that stopped working.
Strongest for Taurus born around April 20–28 (Sun at 0°–7°): Mercury is opposite your Sun.
Gemini: 6th house, then 5th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 6th house: daily work, routines and health habits. Work details slip: calendars, handovers, tools, and small errors that multiply. What to do: double-check deadlines and files, clean up your task list, and rebuild one routine that stopped working.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 5th house: romance, creativity, children and fun. An old flame, an old hobby or an unfinished creative draft comes back, and plans for fun get rescheduled. What to do: edit the draft instead of starting a new one, and treat a returning romance as a conversation to finish, with the decision later.
Easier for Gemini born around June 11–20 (Sun at 21°–29°): Mercury trines your Sun.
Cancer: 5th house, then 4th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 5th house: romance, creativity, children and fun. An old flame, an old hobby or an unfinished creative draft comes back, and plans for fun get rescheduled. What to do: edit the draft instead of starting a new one, and treat a returning romance as a conversation to finish, with the decision later.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 4th house: home, family, roots and where you live. Home and family logistics get tangled: leases, repairs, a talk with a parent that you have had before. What to do: recheck the paperwork about where you live, finish the repair you started, and let a family conversation take two rounds.
Easier for Cancer born around June 21–29 (Sun at 0°–7°): Mercury trines your Sun. Strongest for Cancer born around July 12–21 (Sun at 21°–29°): Mercury squares your Sun.
Leo: 4th house, then 3rd
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 4th house: home, family, roots and where you live. Home and family logistics get tangled: leases, repairs, a talk with a parent that you have had before. What to do: recheck the paperwork about where you live, finish the repair you started, and let a family conversation take two rounds.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 3rd house: communication, learning, siblings and short trips. Messages cross, short trips change, and siblings or neighbours resurface with unfinished conversations. What to do: confirm times and addresses, back up your phone, and reply after a second read rather than at once.
Strongest for Leo born around July 22–30 (Sun at 0°–7°): Mercury squares your Sun. Easier for Leo born around August 13–22 (Sun at 21°–29°): Mercury sextiles your Sun.
Virgo: 3rd house, then 2nd
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 3rd house: communication, learning, siblings and short trips. Messages cross, short trips change, and siblings or neighbours resurface with unfinished conversations. What to do: confirm times and addresses, back up your phone, and reply after a second read rather than at once.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 2nd house: money, income, possessions and self-worth. Bills, invoices, subscriptions and price quotes need a second look; a payment can arrive late or wrong. What to do: check statements line by line, chase what you are owed, and re-read the terms before any purchase you could postpone.
Easier for Virgo born around August 23–31 (Sun at 0°–7°): Mercury sextiles your Sun.
Libra: 2nd house, then 1st
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 2nd house: money, income, possessions and self-worth. Bills, invoices, subscriptions and price quotes need a second look; a payment can arrive late or wrong. What to do: check statements line by line, chase what you are owed, and re-read the terms before any purchase you could postpone.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 1st house: your body, identity and how you come across. You rethink how you present yourself and what you say you want, and old statements get quoted back at you. What to do: re-read anything you send about yourself, from a bio to an application to a big announcement, and change your mind openly if you need to.
Strongest for Libra born around October 14–23 (Sun at 21°–29°): Mercury retrogrades over your Sun.
Scorpio: 1st house, then 12th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 1st house: your body, identity and how you come across. You rethink how you present yourself and what you say you want, and old statements get quoted back at you. What to do: re-read anything you send about yourself, from a bio to an application to a big announcement, and change your mind openly if you need to.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 12th house: rest, solitude, endings and what you keep private. The noise is inside: overthinking, vivid dreams and things you never said. What to do: write it down before you say it, sleep more, and finish something privately before you announce it.
Strongest for Scorpio born around October 23–31 (Sun at 0°–7°): Mercury retrogrades over your Sun.
Sagittarius: 12th house, then 11th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 12th house: rest, solitude, endings and what you keep private. The noise is inside: overthinking, vivid dreams and things you never said. What to do: write it down before you say it, sleep more, and finish something privately before you announce it.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 11th house: friends, groups and long-term hopes. Group chats misfire, plans with friends fall through, and old friends reappear. What to do: confirm arrangements twice, reconnect with one person you lost touch with, and review the goals you set a year ago.
Easier for Sagittarius born around December 13–22 (Sun at 21°–29°): Mercury sextiles your Sun.
Capricorn: 11th house, then 10th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 11th house: friends, groups and long-term hopes. Group chats misfire, plans with friends fall through, and old friends reappear. What to do: confirm arrangements twice, reconnect with one person you lost touch with, and review the goals you set a year ago.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 10th house: career, reputation and public role. Career conversations loop back: a delayed decision, a former boss, a public statement you want to rephrase. What to do: update your CV and portfolio, re-read before you publish, and follow up on an application you had given up on.
Easier for Capricorn born around December 21–29 (Sun at 0°–7°): Mercury sextiles your Sun. Strongest for Capricorn born around January 12–21 (Sun at 21°–29°): Mercury squares your Sun.
Aquarius: 10th house, then 9th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 10th house: career, reputation and public role. Career conversations loop back: a delayed decision, a former boss, a public statement you want to rephrase. What to do: update your CV and portfolio, re-read before you publish, and follow up on an application you had given up on.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 9th house: travel, study, beliefs and publishing. Travel plans, courses, visas and publishing dates shift, and you revise an opinion you were sure of. What to do: recheck bookings and documents, leave slack in an itinerary, and return to a course or a text you left unfinished.
Strongest for Aquarius born around January 20–28 (Sun at 0°–7°): Mercury squares your Sun. Easier for Aquarius born around February 10–19 (Sun at 21°–29°): Mercury trines your Sun.
Pisces: 9th house, then 8th
Until Oct 20 (Scorpio), 9th house: travel, study, beliefs and publishing. Travel plans, courses, visas and publishing dates shift, and you revise an opinion you were sure of. What to do: recheck bookings and documents, leave slack in an itinerary, and return to a course or a text you left unfinished.
From Oct 20 (Libra), 8th house: shared money, debts, intimacy and trust. Shared money, taxes, debts and insurance paperwork come back with corrections, and so do conversations about trust. What to do: go through joint accounts and old forms carefully, and have the honest talk in two calm parts.
Easier for Pisces born around February 18–26 (Sun at 0°–7°): Mercury trines your Sun.
Mercury retrograde 2040: questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2040?
In 2040: February 12 – March 5 (Pisces back into Aquarius); June 13 – July 7 (Cancer); October 9 – October 30 (Scorpio back into Libra). Dates are UTC.
When does Mercury go direct in 2040?
Mercury stations direct on March 5, 2040 at 11:20 UTC, at 23°41′ Aquarius. Mercury stations direct on July 7, 2040 at 02:21 UTC, at 0°32′ Cancer (the evening of July 6 in US time zones). Mercury stations direct on October 30, 2040 at 09:06 UTC, at 21°51′ Libra.
Which sign is Mercury retrograde in during 2040?
Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040: from 8°37′ Pisces back to 23°41′ Aquarius. Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040: from 9°32′ Cancer back to 0°32′ Cancer. Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040: from 7°32′ Scorpio back to 21°51′ Libra.
When is the Mercury retrograde shadow period in 2040?
For the Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040 retrograde the pre-shadow begins on January 28, 2040 and the post-shadow ends on March 25, 2040. For the Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040 retrograde the pre-shadow begins on May 28, 2040 and the post-shadow ends on July 21, 2040. For the Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040 retrograde the pre-shadow begins on September 19, 2040 and the post-shadow ends on November 15, 2040.
Who is most affected by Mercury retrograde in 2040?
For Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2040 astrologers look first at people with the Sun, Moon, rising sign or personal planets from 23° Aquarius to 8° Pisces, and at the matching degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Gemini, Virgo and Sagittarius. For Jun 13 – Jul 7, 2040 astrologers look first at people with the Sun, Moon, rising sign or personal planets between 0° and 9° of Cancer, and at the same degrees of Aries, Libra and Capricorn. For Oct 9 – Oct 30, 2040 astrologers look first at people with the Sun, Moon, rising sign or personal planets from 21° Libra to 7° Scorpio, and at the matching degrees of Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Taurus, Leo and Aquarius. Others feel it through the house it falls in for their rising sign.
Is Mercury retrograde in 2041?
Yes: January 26 – February 16, 2041; May 24 – June 17, 2041; September 22 – October 14, 2041.
Sources
The checkable facts on this page come from these external sources. The astrological interpretation is our own.
- Horizons System (planetary ephemeris service) · NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryMercury in 2040, computed from JPL Horizons positions: retrograde 2040-02-12 13:39 UTC at 8°37′ Pisces, direct 2040-03-05 11:20 UTC at 23°41′ Aquarius; retrograde 2040-06-13 00:19 UTC at 9°32′ Cancer, direct 2040-07-07 02:21 UTC at 0°32′ Cancer; retrograde 2040-10-09 12:05 UTC at 7°32′ Scorpio, direct 2040-10-30 09:06 UTC at 21°51′ Libra
- Mercury Facts · NASAMercury orbits the Sun every 88 Earth days, faster than any other planet
- What does it mean for Mercury to be in retrograde? · NASARetrograde motion is an apparent change in a planet's movement through the sky; the planet does not physically move backwards in its orbit
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AstraLink content is written by our editorial team, reviewed for astrological accuracy, and refreshed as the sky moves. Interpretations are for reflection and entertainment; they are not medical, legal or financial advice.