Let’s cut to the chase: The final Mercury retrograde of 2023 will arrive on December 13th. We’ve survived two of these chaotic astrological happenings so far this year, and the third and final one will test us and frustrate us as all Mercury retrogrades tend to do, but survive it we will. This particular backwards dance will begin in Capricorn, move to Sagittarius on December 23, and turn direct on January 1 2024, so we’ll be starting the new year off a bit unstable.
We actually started this year with a Mercury retrograde in Capricorn, so the fact that we’re ending with it feels opportune. When the retrograde begins on December 13, it will pick up at the same exact location in the sky where the retrograde at the start of the year ended on January 18th. This means we're picking up a direct storyline from that time period in our lives to close out unfinished business. Think all the way back to this past January. What were your hopes? Your dreams? Your fears? They will all come back into relevancy now, and you’ll be all the more prepared to face them.
Mercury retrograde in Capricorn invites us to reflect on the structures in our lives, our relationship with the past, and the legacy we are currently shaping and wish to leave behind. Long-term goals may be reconsidered and we’re having more boundary-setting conversations. Capricorn is a very work- and money-oriented sign, so expect the first half of the retrograde to reflect that. Since Mercury goes retrograde while forming a trine with Jupiter, who comes out of retrograde on December 30th, the revisions we do now will be very productive once the Spring of 2024 arrives. These days are the most positive of the entire retrograde.
Mercury hasn’t been in the sign of Sagittarius since November and December 2018, so you’ll want to think back to that time period and what was unfolding for you: What were your pain points? What areas of your life experienced delays or setbacks? Similar themes and topics may come up for revision. Mercury doesn’t have the best time when it’s in Sagittarius, so we’ll have even more miscommunications and misunderstandings than usual. Avoiding negative thinking during these days is super important so as to not fall into pointless mental gymnastics. Focus on adopting a big picture approach to your revisions, whether they are career, love, or lifestyle related.
This Mercury retrograde might bring its fair share of challenges, but approaching it with preparedness and mindfulness can minimize its disruptive effects. Use this time to slow down, reevaluate, and proceed with caution, understanding that it's a phase that encourages introspection. Be gentle with yourself, take things slow, and the transition into the new year should be smooth sailing.
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