As the year nears its close, Mercury begins its final retrograde of 2025 — traveling backward through Sagittarius, from November 9 to 29.
This is no ordinary retrograde. It’s the last one of the year, and it occurs in the sign of truth, belief, and expansion. Sagittarius invites exploration of higher meaning, yet Mercury’s reversal reminds us that wisdom requires reflection before movement.
This is a time when life slows down just enough for us to ask:
What do I truly believe? What stories am I still telling that no longer align with my growth?
During this three-week retrograde, conversations stretch into philosophy, travel plans twist, technology falters, and messages misfire. Yet beneath the surface, glitches lie a profound spiritual correction — a chance to align thought with purpose and direction with truth.
Collective Energy: The Inner Teacher Awakens
Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, governs expansion — but Mercury retrograde brings contraction. The meeting of these forces creates a fertile tension between what we know and what we still need to understand.
This cycle pulls humanity inward to re-evaluate belief systems, education, global communication, and moral compass. Truth is no longer loud; it becomes personal, intimate, and self-discovered.
In relationships, misunderstandings may arise from assumptions. In the workplace, overpromising or speaking too soon can backfire. The universe’s message is simple: pause before you preach, and reflect before you reach.
Zodiac-by-Zodiac Guidance
Aries
For Aries, Mercury retrograde moves through the 9th house of belief, travel, and higher learning. Plans may shift, delayed flights or last-minute changes could test your patience, but the deeper lesson is mental expansion. It’s time to question long-held convictions and explore philosophies that reignite your sense of wonder. Old teachers or mentors might reappear, offering wisdom that reframes your path. Let curiosity guide you beyond the familiar horizon — not to escape, but to understand.
Taurus
This retrograde activates your 8th house — the realm of intimacy, shared energy, and emotional merging. Conversations around finances, trust, and emotional vulnerability may resurface. Avoid signing major contracts or merging resources until clarity returns. Spiritually, it’s a time to face hidden fears of loss or control. Jupiter’s influence here wants you to grow through surrender — to realize that true security comes from emotional transparency, not possession.
Gemini
Your ruling planet retraces steps in your 7th house of partnerships, making this a reflective period in love and collaboration. Past partners or unresolved relationship dynamics may reappear. Miscommunication could easily stir tension, but the remedy lies in listening rather than reacting. Use this time to rediscover the art of connection — where honesty meets empathy. Mercury asks you to define not just who you love, but how you love.
Cancer
For Cancer, Mercury retrograde moves through the 6th house of work and health, calling for a recalibration of routines. Be mindful of overextending or losing structure amid shifting schedules. If exhaustion has been building, the universe is asking for rest and realignment. Projects may require revision — not as punishment, but as precision. Your body, too, speaks loudly now; listen to its signals. Healing begins when you bring emotional care to daily tasks.
Leo
Mercury’s backward spin lights up your 5th house of creativity, pleasure, and romance. Inspiration may feel inconsistent — a creative idea appears brilliant one moment, scattered the next. Don’t force clarity; let playfulness return first. In love, old flames or artistic passions may reemerge. The retrograde reminds you that expression isn’t about perfection — it’s about authenticity. Reconnect with the pure joy of creation and the courage to shine without expectation.
Virgo
As Mercury, your ruler, retrogrades through the 4th house, your emotional roots and home life become the focus. Family conversations or domestic matters could resurface. You may feel nostalgic or pulled toward the past, seeking closure. Old memories may reveal how deeply early conditioning still shapes your present choices. This is a sacred time to redefine your concept of “home” — not as a place, but as a feeling of safety within yourself.
Libra
For Libra, the retrograde moves through the 3rd house of communication, siblings, and learning. Misunderstandings or delays in correspondence are likely, but they serve to teach patience and clarity. Words carry weight — use them consciously. This is a wonderful period to rewrite, edit, or reconnect with old friends or classmates. Sometimes, Mercury’s rewind is the universe’s way of helping you hear what was once missed.
Scorpio
This cycle highlights your 2nd house of values, money, and self-worth. Financial reviews, delayed payments, or reevaluations of priorities may occur. Ask yourself: Does my current path reflect what I truly value? You’re being called to detach self-esteem from material security. The gift of this transit is empowerment through awareness — realizing your worth isn’t dependent on external validation but on emotional alignment with what you do.
Sagittarius
This retrograde is personal. Mercury backtracks through your 1st house, directly influencing identity, voice, and confidence. The mind feels busy, restless, perhaps overanalyzing your direction. Yet within this internal noise lies a new truth about who you’re becoming. Avoid impulsive declarations or major rebrands until December — clarity returns then. Instead, observe how your words shape reality. The universe is editing your message before your next great chapter begins.
Capricorn
Mercury reverses through your 12th house of subconscious, dreams, and endings. Hidden emotions resurface, possibly through vivid dreams or déjà vu moments. This is a cleansing cycle — an inner audit of unspoken thoughts. Rest and solitude bring insight. What’s been buried in your subconscious is ready to be acknowledged and released. Spiritually, you’re reconnecting with your intuition; logically, you’re learning that not everything must be explained.
Aquarius
Your 11th house of friendships and future visions takes center stage. Communication with friends or online communities may require extra care. Projects with teams might slow down, offering time to assess whether everyone shares the same purpose. Social dynamics reveal hidden truths about belonging. Reconnect with authentic allies — those who encourage your originality rather than dilute it. Mercury’s pause helps you align your future goals with emotional resonance.
Pisces
The retrograde moves through your 10th house of career and public life. Projects may be delayed, or direction may feel uncertain. Instead of pushing ahead, refine your mission statement. Reflect on whether your career path aligns with your inner philosophy. Authority figures or mentors from the past may re-enter, guiding you toward a truer purpose. You’re being asked to measure success not by recognition, but by meaning.
Key Themes and Guidance for All Signs
Reassess beliefs: What mental framework limits your sense of expansion?
Rethink communication: Words are arrows — aim them with mindfulness.
Travel wisely: Expect delays; plan with flexibility and humor.
Study the past: Revisit ideas that once inspired you — they may hold renewed value.
Listen deeply: Sagittarius seeks truth; Mercury teaches understanding.
This retrograde doesn’t exist to confuse — it exists to clarify.
The sign of Sagittarius rules the bigger picture; Mercury focuses on details. When these two energies meet in reversal, the cosmos urges balance between faith and fact, between what you feel and what you know.
