Sure, haunted houses and zombie apocalypses are scary, but have you ever accidentally sent a catty text to the actual person you were gossiping about (*raises hand*)? Mercury retrograde, the notorious astrological event where the planet appears to move backward, happens on Nov. 25 in Sagittarius (a sign already known for being a bit brash). That means the most bone-chilling thing that could happen to you this Halloween szn might not be a ghost encounter, but one with your ex. Don’t panic just yet: There are still treats with these tricks. As chaotic as Mercury Retrograde can be, it often sets the groundwork for bigger—and better—changes. Get ready, pumpkin…
Aries
On Oct. 17, the full moon hits your sign, prompting you to assess your current relationships. Maybe you realized the person you’re dating just doesn’t get you or you’ve outgrown a hobby you’ve held onto forever. Whatever the parting, retrograde complicates it: You might feel stressed that you fumbled your breakup chat (Mercury messes with our wording) or worried you made the wrong choice. Just know your call was correct—and now you’re building to something better.
Taurus
When Pluto (which rules transformation) enters Capricorn on Oct. 11, it inspires you to change things up (maybe something as minor as getting bangs or as big as switching extracurrics). At first this feels exciting, but the retrograde can suddenly have you hating your new hair and your role in the school play. Try to embrace the highs and lows: Maybe this isn’t where you ultimately land, but it’s an important steppingstone nonetheless, trust.
Gemini
Gems have the gift of gab, but it gets dangerous when it’s in the form of gossip. When Mercury goes retrograde, proceed with caution—or you’ll get caught red-handed in what some might see as trash talk. What’s worse, as Mercury messes with communication, it won’t be easy to spin a quick apology. If your words end up hurting someone you care about, give yourself time to think about it—your amends will be all the more sincere later on.
Cancer
You struggle claiming the limelight, but that doesn’t mean you’re lacking opinions. When the new moon enters Scorpio on Nov. 1, it prompts you to envision a new life—one where you speak up. As Saturn enters Pisces on Nov. 15, you formulate how you want to convey your most deeply held beliefs and secrets. The retrograde could lead to some stumbles, but you might fi nd that even unfavorable reactions don’t really bother you.
Leo
Independent and confident, you shoot for the biggest challenges, never considering failure as an option. But the retrograde brings feelings of doubt over a competition or upcoming performance—and your worries creep into how you view yourself altogether. The most surprising thing isn’t this feeling, though, it’s what you’ll do about it, which is open up. Showing your more vulnerable side leads to stronger bonds. And that’s the *real* win.
Virgo
When Pluto goes direct in Capricorn on Oct. 11, it makes you rethink your relationship to hustling— inspiring you to prioritize friends, family and fun over trying to ace every single assignment. The retrograde might lead to missteps at first (you get so entrenched in the other parts of your life that you slack a little too much). But whatever happens is fixable: Now’s the time when you learn to work hard *and* enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Libra
You’re part of plenty of social circles, but may feel like a true bestie is missing. On Oct. 2, the new moon solar eclipse in your sign brings new changes (and possibly new people) into your life. Vesta, representing hearth and home, enters Libra on Oct. 27, making you more attuned to people who want the best for you—the path to a bsf. Retrograde might bring some false starts (a missed text, perhaps), but this new bond can withstand astrological mayhem.
Scorpio
Nothing frightens you more than admitting a crush or opening up about big issues, but that’s precisely what’s about to happen. On Oct. 13, Mercury enters Scorpio, helping make sense of the jumble in your heart. Add the new moon on Nov. 1 and you’re ready to make some changes—even if they terrify you. The retrograde might make it messier than hoped, but having a month to prep gives you the courage to finally speak your truth, no matter how it sounds.
Sagittarius
Sags have an amazing sense of humor, even though you often use it as a shield to deflect. When Venus comes into your sign on Oct. 17, it softens you a bit. And when Mercury enters Sagittarius on Nov. 2, followed by the sun on Nov. 21, you do the most shocking thing of all: put yourself out there, unironically. This retrograde in your sign hits you hardest, but it’ll also transform you in terms of sharing and sincerity. (And, yes, don’t worry, you’ll still be hilarious.)
Capricorn
You’ll do everything in your power to look utterly unaffected by a crush. But these next few months will have you sensing a shift: Transformative Pluto enters your sign on Oct. 11, inspiring you to lean into a new relationship. When Venus, planet of love, enters Capricorn on Nov. 11, you’re compelled to go against your reserved nature and text first. If the retrograde makes you feel like you didn’t take your best shot, remember, there’s actually no way to go wrong
Aquarius
You’ve got strong opinions about how the world should work. But what happens when your foundational beliefs start to show some cracks? On Nov. 19, Pluto enters your sign, prompting you to study up, listen to those you’ve previously disagreed with or discover a new way of living that makes you question everything you once felt certain of. It’s not all or nothing: The retrograde just proves it’s time to introduce more nuance into your world.
Pisces
Creative and structureaverse, you let your heart lead you from one vision to the next. But when Saturn, planet of discipline, enters your sign on Nov. 15, you suddenly want to overhaul this process, especially when the Nov. 25 retrograde makes you feel like you’re always starting things you never complete. This period could reduce the chaos in your creative life, so let yourself finish *one* project instead of chipping away at 10 potential ones.
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Top image: @hermesthealchemists
Edited for web: Lila Walter
