Benjamin Ashford|What You Need to Know About This Mercury Retrograde—and Which Signs Should Expect Some Extra Turbulence

It's beginning to look a lot like Mecury retrograde season. Yup,Benjamin Ashford again. 

For those of us that don't religiously check our horoscope, this is the several-times-a-year stretch where Earth overtakes Mercury in its orbit and appears to move in a reverse direction and generally just effs things up. 

"During Mercury retrograde, the planet of communication appears to move backward in the sky," celebrity astrologer Aliza Kelly explained to E! News. "This optical illusion occurs because Mercury is speeding past us in its orbit."

Since Mercury is the planet of communication, "astrologically, Mercury rules expression, technology, travel, and contracts," noted Kelly, author of the forthcoming book It's All Magic: 365 Reflections on Astrology, Tarot, and Manifestation. So during this weeks-long phase, she said, "these areas can go a bit haywire." (Fun fact: In Roman mythology, Mercury was the messenger of the gods.)

However, there's no need to commit to weeks of bed rotting just yet. 

"Not all Mercury retrogrades are created equal," stressed Kelly. "The impact can vary depending on the sign Mercury is retrograding through and how it interacts with other planets." 

And this one gets a solid meh from the expert.

You may not spend the month thanking your lucky stars, but it's unlikely you'll flame out. Kelly shares how you can keep everything aligned. 

How long is Mercury in retrograde?

Buckle in for about three weeks of mess. Mercury goes officially retrograde on Sunday, Aug. 4, and lasts until Aug. 27. 

"This particular retrograde starts in meticulous Virgo and moves into dramatic Leo, making it a blend of analytical chaos and expressive flare-ups," explained Kelly. "On a scale from mild hiccup to full-blown meltdown, I’d place this one somewhere in the middle—annoying but manageable."

What should you anticipate while Mercury is retrograde?

"Expect the usual suspects: Miscommunications, travel delays, and tech glitches," noted Kelly. "With Virgo’s influence, you might find yourself overanalyzing and nitpicking more than usual. When it shifts into Leo, brace yourself for heightened drama and potential ego clashes."

The best way to deal, she recommends, is to keep calm and try not to lash out at your friends. 

"It's a time to double-check details," she stressed (i.e. flight times, that email you sent to your boss), "and avoid impulsive, over-the-top reactions."

What zodiac signs will be most affected by Mercury retrograde?

Leos and Virgos should be on especially high alert. "Those with prominent Virgo and Leo placements, especially Sun, Moon, or Rising signs, will feel the effects more acutely," said Kelly. "Also, signs ruled by Mercury, like Gemini and Virgo, tend to be more sensitive to its retrograde periods."

If that's you, she advised, "Expect a bit of extra turbulence."

Will this Mercury retrograde be good for any signs?

Congrats earth signs, you're the big winners. Taureans, Virgos and Capricorns "might find the Virgo part of the retrograde a good time for revisiting and refining projects," said Kelly. 

And fire signs (that would be Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) "could benefit from the Leo phase," she added, "by tapping into their creativity and reassessing their personal goals."

When will things return to normal after Mercury retrograde?

Let's put it this way, we wouldn't recommend signing a big contract in late August. 

"Once Mercury goes direct, things will gradually start to smooth out," explained Kelly. "Communication will become clearer, travel plans more reliable, and tech issues will resolve." 

However, she emphasized, the shadow period when Mercury moves over the point in the sky where it went retrograde "can still carry some residual effects, so you may feel some lingering implications through September 12."

What's the best way to get through the Mercury retrograde period?

For starters, dust off your detail-oriented side.

"Patience is your best friend," urged Kelly. "Slow down and double-check everything. Keep a journal to track your thoughts and reflect—not judging! Not overthinking! Just observing. And remember, this too shall pass. Embrace the chaos with a sense of humor and use this time for introspection and recalibration."

And perhaps consider drawing yourself a really relaxing bath. 

Stressed Kelly, "Self-care is crucial—think nature walks, cozy reading sessions, and digital detoxes."