What Mercury Retrograde Means for Your Love Life

Poor Mercury. Every time something goes wrong—he gets all the blame.

And now, from March 15 to April 7, Mercury is gonna be back at it again, and you know people are going to be sounding the alarms for the impending doom of their relationships.

So, what does this mean for love? Should we all just hide under our covers and refuse to answer texts until April? Not necessarily.

What’s Going On With Mercury Again?

If you’ve ever felt like everything suddenly goes wrong—texts get lost, plans fall apart, or you say the exact wrong thing at the worst possible time—there’s a good chance Mercury is in retrograde.

In simple terms, Mercury retrograde happens when the planet appears to move backward in its orbit from our perspective on Earth.

Of course, Mercury isn’t actually reversing; it’s an optical illusion caused by differences in planetary speeds.

But in astrology, this “backward” motion is believed to disrupt all things Mercury rules—communication, technology, travel, and even our thoughts.

And since good communication is the foundation of any relationship, well…you can see why this transit has a bit of a reputation.

Mercury retrograde has a way of stirring up misunderstandings, delays, and awkward slip-ups. That text you meant to send to your best friend about your date? Well, it went to your date instead.

But before you start blaming Mercury for every snag in your perfect love story, let’s set the record straight: Mercury retrograde isn’t meant to doom you to singledom.

It just forces us to slow things down, reflect, and be more intentional with our words. And you know what? That’s not always a bad thing.

Retrogrades and the Return of the Ex

Of all the chaos Mercury retrograde is known for, this might be the biggest reason people dread it. Or at least, the reason it gets blamed for so many relationship disasters.

You know how it goes. Just when you thought you were free, suddenly, an old flame resurfaces. If you’re lucky, it’s a cheeky “hey stranger” text. Other times, it’s seeing someone from your past popping up at the grocery store (somehow this always happens while you’re in sweats and dealing with an acne breakout).

Mercury retrograde has a funny way of making us revisit unresolved relationships. But why?

Astrologically speaking, retrogrades are about reflection and revision. So, when Mercury backtracks, we’re often pushed to revisit past conversations, past decisions, and yes—past relationships.

It doesn’t necessarily mean you should get back together (especially if they were toxic), but it does mean you should ask yourself: Why is this person showing up again? Is there something I still need to learn or heal from?

Do Relationships That Start During Mercury Retrograde Last?

watercolor silhouette couple in love against colorful background

Some astrologers will warn you: starting a new relationship during Mercury retrograde is risky business.

But love doesn’t follow an astrological calendar. Some couples who meet during retrograde end up lasting for years, while others fizzle out once Mercury goes direct.

Retrogrades are famous for clouding judgment, so if you meet someone new, avoid rushing into big commitments just yet.

Give things time to unfold naturally—what feels like a whirlwind romance now might look like a tornado in a few weeks. Only instead of ending up in the wonderful world of Oz, you’ll end up with charismatic liars and a headache. But hey, that’s happened to Dorothy too, anyway.

How to Protect Your Relationship During Mercury Retrograde

In my own relationship, we like to be extra mindful of what we say to each other during this time. Mercury rules communication, so mix-ups are bound to happen.

Luckily, my partner is into all this witchy stuff too, so if a call suddenly drops or a heartfelt text gets autocorrected into nonsense, we know not to take it too personally during the retrograde. (Well, most of the time.)

Here’s some ways to navigate the retrograde without unnecessary drama:

Double-check texts and emails. Autocorrect is NOT your friend, at least for the next couple weeks.
Don’t jump to conclusions. Give your SO the benefit of the doubt before assuming the worst.
Be patient. Delays, technical difficulties, and scheduling mishaps might ensue.
Revisit, but don’t repeat. If an ex resurfaces, reflect on what you’ve learned—but don’t fall into old cycles.
Practice mindful communication. If emotions are running high, take a beat before responding.

Yes, you can beat the odds. Mercury retrograde doesn’t have to spell disaster for relationships, if you slow down, mean what you say, and say what you mean.

Crystals for Mercury Retrograde Protection

So, by now you can tell that Mercury Retrograde just loooves to stir up general chaos in the love department. While you can’t stop it, you can protect your energy. Certain crystals help with clarity, grounding, and keeping your cool when things go sideways. Here are some of the best ones to have on hand:

Black Tourmaline – The ultimate shield against negative energy. Keep this with you to ward off misunderstandings and emotional overload.

Lapis Lazuli – Struggling to communicate? Lapis Lazuli enhances clarity and self-expression, making it a must-have when Mercury’s messing with your words.

Fluorite – Mercury Retrograde can be mentally exhausting. Fluorite helps clear brain fog, improve focus, and keep your thoughts organized.

Amazonite – Known as the “Stone of Truth,” Amazonite soothes anxiety and helps you navigate difficult conversations with ease.

Aquamarine – A stone of calm and flow, Aquamarine helps you go with the retrograde’s unpredictable energy instead of fighting against it.

Amethyst – My personal favorite (and not just cause it’s my birthstone!). If Mercury Retrograde has you overwhelmed, Amethyst brings peace, spiritual protection, and a much-needed sense of calm.

Carry these crystals with you, wear them as jewelry, meditate with them, or place them near your workspace to keep the retrograde chaos at bay!

What Else is Happening Astrologically in 2025?

Aside from this Mercury retrograde, 2025 is packed with some major astrological shifts. Keep an eye on upcoming eclipses, planetary transits, and other retrogrades that could shake things up (good and bad). Authoritative astrology sources and NASA’s eclipse calendar are great for keeping track of cosmic events.

The Mercury Retrograde Shadow Periods

Mercury retrograde doesn’t just hit out of nowhere—it has a warm-up and a cooldown, known as the pre-shadow and post-shadow periods. These phases set the stage for what’s to come and help us process what just happened.

The Pre-Shadow Period (February 28 – March 15)

This is when Mercury starts moving through the degrees it will later backtrack over, so the retrograde themes start creeping in early. This is the preview, baby. Small miscommunications, second thoughts, or tech glitches may hint at what’s coming.

Personally, last February 28, I wasn’t feeling very articulate. I had to do some public speaking that day, and suddenly my words felt clunky, my thoughts scattered, and—just to make things more fun—I had a pounding headache.

A few weeks earlier, I had no trouble speaking to a bigger crowd, but then? Huge struggle bus. Turns out, Mercury had just entered pre-shadow. At least there was a cosmic reason for my brain fog.

The Post-Shadow Period (April 7 – April 26)

After Mercury stations direct on April 7, we’re not in the clear just yet. The post-shadow is the cleanup phase, where we process whatever chaos unfolded.

Conversations might finally make sense, tech issues smooth out, and relationship tensions ease.

Why does this matter? Knowing about the shadow periods helps you stay ahead. If things felt off in early March, it wasn’t just you. And if things are still shaky mid-April, give it time—Mercury’s just finishing up its mess.

Mercury Retrograde Isn’t a Curse

Yes, Mercury retrograde can be a bit of a headache. But it’s also a time for growth, reflection, and second chances.

If you and your partner make it through with patience and understanding, you’ll likely come out even stronger on the other side.

And if an ex reappears? Well, that’s up to you. Mercury is a trickster, but he isn’t cruel. Just make sure you’re not anybody’s fool during retrograde season. Speak your truth, and speak it well.

So, what’s your Mercury retrograde survival plan? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

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