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Your weekly horoscope is here. It’s that time of the year again, when Mercury goes retrograde, and we have something to blame for crossed wires, dropped phones, and unexpected contact with that ex. Seriously, though, Mercury isn’t even backspinning until Thursday, but we’re already seeing the themes—or is that just me? There’s a pesky little “retro-shade” period preceding it, the area that Mercury will moonwalk back over, that sets up a three-part act. This one began on February 11, so what’s been flagged for you to reflect on and reroute for? On Thursday through March 20 is the actual backspin; this is where you don’t ignore all the signals, signs, and inner alerts—you absolutely take heed. Don’t buy that thing sight unseen, don’t sign away your soul, and definitely do triple-check everything.
Don’t let this one be an “it sounded like a good idea at the time” meme. Do run it by friends or experts who have successfully navigated the idea, field, purchase, or whatever bright move you are about to make, and wait it out. More vital info tends to come to light. So double back and redo whatever you skipped. This one is in the sign of Pisces, which is less definitive, being a watery sign of escapism, empathetic feelings, and art. Mercury in Pisces borders on psychic, picks up the most subtle of cues, and conveys through pathos. It’s also highly escapist, idealistic, and prone to fantasy. While that could be a good thing for a creative person, address these areas so they function better for you. Do you need to open your mind, or do you need to work with reality while still holding the dream as a goal?
Read on to discover what’s in store for your sign during the week of February 22 through February 28, 2026.
Aries (March 21–April 19)
Mercury, representing the fleet-footed messenger, spins into retrograde from Thursday. Comms may be combobulated for many, but for you, this one is in your sphere of dreams and sleep, so note the voice of your inner or higher self, your inner wisdom, or gut instinct. Since retrogrades are about doing a review or audit, redoing or switching up your approach, perhaps it’s time for you to build a strong relationship with that inner voice, note your dreams, and be open to the revelations that come through intuition. This retrograde is hosted by Pisces, so double down on the subtle comms, soft skills, and build trust with your inner process. The usual advice is still to double-check everything, don’t make major decisions, and don’t sign major contracts if possible until the retrograde is over. More info tends to come to light, so let it bubble up. Note themes that have already surfaced since February 6.
Taurus (April 20–May 20)
Pisces season is here and with it a Mercury retrograde, also in the sign of the fishes, activating your sphere of extended friendships, groups, and connections with people with whom you share an interest or passion. For you, that could be nature, food, crafts, or anything you’re prone to connecting with others through. Rethink your friending or social strategy, your friends list, or even how you connect or spend time with others—it’s all up for a reboot. Especially in the comms department. Is it time to express yourself, connect, listen more, empathize, or explore a particular topic of interest? There’s so much to learn; why not find your group, or start one? Misunderstandings and less-than-clear communications tend to come part and parcel with Mercury’s backspin, so take it as par for the course and double down on clarity where possible. Ask, don’t assume, and triple-check everything to nail this assignment.
Gemini (May 21–June 21)
Communication goes akimbo from Thursday as your ruling planet, Mercury, squares off to your sign, spinning into a retrograde. This one is hosted by the double fishes, Pisces, who prefer to communicate through feeling, imagination, and art, while you prefer clean, sharp facts. So you can see the stage is set for a comedy of errors. To avoid slipping on the icy chill of conversation that’s not landing, take an empathetic approach, don’t assume but ask instead, or softly allow information or a person to reveal themselves. Mirror the person you’re chatting with; let them feel heard and safe, like how we approach cats—we tune into them without overwhelming them. In your sphere of career and public image, it’s time to reflect on and reboot your comms, social, website, or résumé. Things move fast, language changes, and this is a great cosmic reminder to assess and adapt. Also, triple-check everything; we don’t want to send “that” text to “that” person by accident.
Cancer (June 22–July 22)
Thinking of big-picture travel, pondering wide-ranging study, or considering your overarching philosophy on life? It could be time to rethink as Mercury slips into one of its all too frequent retrogrades on Thursday. Hosted by sister water sign Pisces, this one is more helpful to your sign, so take the easy win and reflect, redo, redirect. If you’ve created change in your life, now may be the time to plan in accordance. Or if you’re ready for change, now is the time to take a flexible approach and be open to doing things differently than you may have at first planned or expected to. Mercury’s theme is communicating through and with empathy, connecting emotionally, and attuning to a higher ground. Get the feeling into your words through creative and personal storytelling. Or enjoy movies or an emotive book that touches your soul. Perhaps it’s time for you to try your own creative potential and pen a series or short story, or pick up your camera and share through visual image? The same rule applies: Triple-check everything, and ask rather than assume.
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Leo (July 23–August 22)
As Mercury dips back into a retrograde, the usual comedy of errors may ensue with slips of the tongue, so safeguard secrets and remember, trust is earned. This one activates your sphere of intimacy, taboo topics, mysteries, and benefits through others, so review and course-correct. The themes may already be apparent, and if not, soon will be. It could be a helpful connection, a little windfall, or a dishy new lust interest; whichever it is, you would be well advised to adjust and redirect to catch the benefits. You’re a fixed sign, and so change isn’t your forte, but this one does require some agility, so stay flexible. All may not be as it first appears, so follow clues, listen to your hunches, and investigate rather than believing everything on a surface or superficial level. Try your skill at psychic development if you have an interest, or reading body language and facial micro expressions for more intel—they say so much!
Virgo (August 23–September 22)
Opposites attract, and this month your relationship sector is all about it! Mercury embarks on a long retrograde in this sector, so if someone’s acting like a slippery fish, tell them the gig is up, and to spill the tea, as the saying goes. Hot mess? Maybe, or an opportune time to work on your comms, Pisces style. Empathy, unconditionality (i.e., no judgment), and creative storytelling are all keys. Comms via subtle means, nonverbal, picking up the tells through your intuition, yes, work with that, and get better at trusting what your gut tells you. “First thought, best thought” means your first thought is correct; the rest is what your brain is attempting to align with that seems logical, what it already knows. But if it’s new, an opportunity, it’s most likely out of the box, and so your mind is just trying to make it fit what it thinks is realistic; it’s telling you a story. Perhaps it’s time to spark up a conversation and listen to your intuition instead. Note pictures, notice what you sense and can’t explain, and ask further questions to clarify. You never know what you’ll find out, but it’s guaranteed to be interesting. Oh, and don’t sign anything until March 20.
Libra (September 23–October 23)
As the planet of comms slips into what we all know too well by now, the Mercury retrograde, it’s time to reflect, reroute, redo. In your sphere of work and wellness, that could be introducing meditation to your daily routine, more creativity or time to dream, or focusing on comms at work. What are you feeding your mind? What is taking up valuable air time in your thoughts? These are all part of health, as well as what you’re able to bring to the table at work. This could be a great get-to-know-you opportunity with workmates, and to share a little more of yourself. Create connections through empathy since this one is in a water sign, Pisces. And water is all about the feelings. ALL about it. You’re a more neutral sign by nature because balance, so experiment with drawing others out and sharing. Of course, it’s best not to sign any major contracts and to check everything before sending, as always.
Scorpio (October 24–November 21)
Mercury is said to be a trickster, and this week it’s up to some of its old tricks as it spins into one of its thrice-yearly retrogrades. Particularly slippery in the sign of the fishes, its challenge to you is around communication in your domestic sphere, and how you’re rooted into your base for stability and support emotionally. And of course, to dream, create, and feel heard. Retrogrades are about circling back and a good redo. Perhaps there’s something that needs to be communicated more clearly, or a system put in place. Your blunt honesty isn’t quite hitting the target over this period, so adopt a much softer and more empathetic communication style through to mid-April. A key to this retrograde is adjustment and adaptation, so find your flexibility on an issue and approach from a new angle. Or is there a project you need to revisit, an idea, or a movement between multiple bases to keep your life interesting? You’re a sign of travel, after all, so don’t fence yourself in.
Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)
A bit of back and forth could accompany the upcoming Mercury retrograde. Kicking off on Thursday, this backspin is the perfect time to reflect on your local social connections. Those people you know through proximity, like the neighbors, your barista, and even your earliest social connections, your siblings (No siblings? Then it’s about your early friendships). Memories or even people from the past may revisit; what is the theme coming up? What do you want from these relationships, and how could you go about manifesting your expectations, instead of simply managing them? Immersion is a theme of this retrograde, since it’s hosted by water sign Pisces, who loves nothing more than merging. When it’s about communication, that could be a little unclear or chaotic, so go for connecting through empathy and feelings, and make it creative and whimsical. This isn’t about certainty or being particularly tangible or outcome-driven; it’s about emotional connection.
Capricorn (December 22–January 19)
As the new moon passes between Earth and the sun on Tuesday, it creates a solar eclipse, this one in your sphere of values, belongings, and finance. Eclipses represent hard resets, so what might you do differently in this zone? Note external changes as well as internal ones. It’s simply that the old way has timed out, and now you’re up for a new approach to this area. In the sign of Aquarius, themes are related to groups, collectives, science, and the air element. Communications and technology may also dovetail with the way you earn money, spend, or invest. Consider the changing landscape and new options available thanks to emerging technology; it’s the Wild West all over again in some specific areas. You could be capitalizing—ethically, of course. Pisces season rolls in midweek as the sun swims through this nebulous, porous, and emotionally sensitive sign. With the solar lights turned up in your sphere of local connections and community, get out to art and music shows, help the helpless, and allow yourself to meander to see what or who you come across intuitively.
Aquarius (January 20–February 18)
It’s time to review your budget, how you earn, what you’re spending on, growing your money, and your personal values. Mercury is kicking off its next retrograde in your money sector on Thursday, and its memo is “review and course-correct.” Start with your top three values, then look at how you’re aligning with them through what you spend your money on and even what you bring to your work—the real motivation, not just the superficial side of what you do. Could you align a little more, or are you nailing it? This is a “leaky” water sign, built to merge, not enforce strict boundaries. In your money zone, that could look like leaking cash, so consolidate and opt out of subscriptions you’re not using; they’re a cash drain. Bring creativity to how you earn, as well as spirituality, empathy, and emotional connection to others. A situation isn’t set in stone under this sign, so try again if you missed out on something you wanted.
Pisces (February 19–March 20)
This one is for you, dear Pisces. As your birthday season progresses—and Chappell Roan, an iconic Pisces, continues to represent the highly artistic side of your sign—Mercury will swing into retrograde action on Thursday morning. Those born under the sign hosting a retrograde tend to be ground zero, so it’s in your best interests to take the cosmic memo and triple check everything, ask rather than assume, get everything in writing, and be clear on comms. If there’s a decision or anything you get the feeling you should double back and check, redo, or even drastically reroute, attend to it. If all is going smoothly, then you’re on track and haven’t been ignoring the cosmic signposts along the way; well done. Mercury wraps the retrograde on March 20, and by April 9 you’re in the clear. All told, the trickster planet of comms is in your sign for over two months, so your ability and motivation for self-expression are at an all-time high. Take the opportunity to express yourself, sharpen your perception, and hone the art of persuasion.
Vanessa Montgomery—a.k.a. Astro All-Starz—is a professional counseling astrologer and the author of Astro Power: A Simple Guide to Prediction and Destiny for the Modern Mystic. Aimed at enlightenment and seeing past labels to the oneness that unites us all, Montgomery’s work also helps navigate the practical essentials with grounded cosmic intel. Her motto: Free your mind, own your power, create your world. You can learn more at astroallstarz.com, or follow Montgomery on Instagram @astro_allstarz.
