Oh, you thought Mercury retrograde was over? You thought you were free? Welcome to the Mercury retrograde shadow phase, where the universe gives you one last chance to clean up the mess of the past few weeks.
Nataliia Myronova, a psychic advisor at Nebula spiritual guidance platform, did research and discovered several interesting points:
- This period will be divided into two stages. The first will bring back emotions you thought had already faded, while the second will give you a sense of determination that could backfire.
- Air and Earth signs need to brace themselves. Air signs may have problems with communication, while Earth ones may experience a loss of stability.
- Fire and Water signs might glide through this phase with ease, but they won’t escape revisiting past mistakes and facing emotional ups and downs.
What the Mercury Retrograde Shadow Is & What to Expect
Mercury retrograde officially ends on April 7, 2025. It sounds good until you realize that April 7 to April 26 is the post-retrograde shadow. This is the cosmic equivalent of trying to fix something after the damage has already been done. Now, you have to deal with the residue—miscommunications that still need fixing, situations that require a second look, and those words that should never have been said.
During this time, Mercury moves from 26°49′ Pisces to 9°35′ Aries, meaning it’s slowly gaining speed. It’s not technically retrograde anymore, but it’s also not fully stable. This means you’re still dealing with the consequences of the retrograde.
April 7–15: Mercury in Pisces
For the first part of the shadow phase, Mercury is still paddling through the dreamy waters of late Pisces. This means we’re all in reflective mode. If you thought you could just shove the last few weeks under the rug and pretend they never happened—think again.
This period may prompt you to reexamine your emotions. Unresolved conversations will find a way to start again, so expect sudden calls at night and attempts to figure out “what really happened between you two back then.” However, be careful, as information might still feel foggy. Someone tells you one thing, and then two days later, they “meant something else entirely.”
April 15–26: Mercury in Aries
Then, Mercury charges into Aries, and many will feel suddenly filled with confidence and determination. The energy shifts from mystical and confusing to fast-paced and impulsive. Suddenly, everyone has so much to say—and they’re saying it without thinking.
This is not the best period for serious conversations that could affect your future. During this period, conversations get aggressive. People aren’t just communicating; they’re debating.
What Mercury Retrograde’s Shadow Means for You
Aries
The universe is calling a timeout. Since part of this shadow phase happens in your sign, you’ll need to reassess past decisions—especially the impulsive ones. Communication may be fragile during this period. Try not to turn every minor disagreement into a full-scale war.
Old projects will be back. It’s time to finish that thing you abandoned halfway through or a relationship in which you didn’t say goodbye properly. But beware, because old problems will reappear, giving you a chance to deal with them for good this time. A particularly positive prediction concerns your work: you will get a second chance to correct mistakes. Use this chance.
Taurus
What you know best will be put to the test. We are talking about financial security. Do not rush to spend all your savings on a reckless purchase. Now is not the time for impulsive investments.
Reunions are inevitable. Someone from your past wants back in, but you have to think twice before saying yes. This is a time for completion, not for starting something new. This also applies to your career, by the way. Use this time to close out your current project, rather than diving headfirst into a new one.
Gemini
Since Mercury is your ruling planet, these shadow periods hit you hard. You might feel like you’re speaking a different language than everyone else. Prepare for misunderstandings, delays, and a sudden desire to crawl under a blanket and avoid human interaction.
Old work projects may resurface. Time to wrap up those unfinished assignments. Be careful with contracts and read the fine print twice. Then once more.
Cancer
This period will feel like an emotional rerun. People, conversations, and situations from the past will make an unexpected comeback.
Both your friendships and romances need reevaluating. If there’s unresolved drama in your family matters, now is the time to address it as well. However, revisiting past wounds could be triggering—self-care is a must, so remember about mental health check-in.
Leo
This time is hitting pause on your financial plans, forcing you to take a second look at your budget. Now, you should handle money matters with care. Review your finances before making any bold moves.
Your social life will dive into the past, as you will see some old familiar faces. Expect a reunion with someone from your past.
You may feel an itch for change regarding your career crossroads. Don’t rush into anything. It’s time to strategize.
Virgo
As a Mercury-ruled sign, you’re feeling this period deeply—especially in work and communication. In your work, expect delays, miscommunications, and people not getting your ideas.
Conversations may feel confusing, but don’t assume the worst—things aren’t as they seem. Rushed conclusions may harm relationships with important people in your life.
Libra
Libra, your love life is about to get complicated. Trust issues, past partners reappearing, and career doubts are all on the menu.
Relationships will be shaky. Someone from your past may reappear, so proceed with caution. If your job feels off, you might start rethinking your professional path.
Don’t let your financial impulsivity win. No sudden splurges on things you’ll regret later.
Scorpio
You might want to double-check your bank statements because financial changes are coming. Avoid unnecessary expenses and risky investments.
Old conflicts are resurfacing. If you’ve been suppressing anger, Mercury is about to stir the pot. Better use this period for personal growth instead of revenge plotting.
Sagittarius
During this period, you might feel nostalgic. Past relationships, travel plans, abandoned ideas—they all come knocking. If one of your love stories ended abruptly, expect closure. Be extra clear with your words, because some misunderstandings may arise otherwise. This is a great time for internal reflection and adjusting your plans.
Capricorn
Old career plans return. Finish what you started before launching into new territory. Check legal matters carefully. Read contracts twice at least.
Stick to what works. This isn’t the time for sudden changes—slow and steady wins. Use this time to improve existing projects and avoid trying to make drastic changes.
Aquarius
It may feel like your projects, career, or life in general is stuck in quicksand. It may be annoying, but remember that it’s temporary.
Your creative projects need tweaking. This is a time to refine, not launch. In your career matters, you may expect some delays, but not disasters. Hang in there—progress will come. Be careful with money. Scams and mistakes in transactions could be lurking.
Pisces
Mercury is still hanging out in Pisces for a bit, meaning you’re getting a double dose of introspection. Past emotions will resurface. Don’t be surprised if old wounds open up for a final healing moment.
Your intuition is on fire. Listen to it, because the universe is trying to tell you something. If you’ve been creatively blocked, this is the time to get back into the flow.
Conclusion
So, what have we learned? Mercury retrograde’s shadow phase isn’t bad—it’s a chance to resolve some unfinished business and meet a better phase, calm and happy.
Fire signs have to slow down, and their connections and career matters should be reassessed. Water signs may want to listen to your intuition. Air signs must be very careful and double-check everything they say, sign, or send. For Earth signs, it’s a chance to not fight the delays but work with them.
By the end of April, Mercury will be fully back to normal. Until then, tread carefully, and everything will be just fine.