Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio: Diving Deep

On November 9th, Mercury begins his retrograde journey at 12° of Scorpio until November 23rd when he entered Libra and turns direct again on November 29th.

When Mercury the planet of thought, perception, and communication reverses direction, he doesn’t actually move backward in space; rather, from our vantage point on Earth, he appears to retrace his steps. During this period, Mercury is closest to Earth and brightest in the sky, making his influence more intimate and intense.

This retrograde takes place in the water sign of Scorpio, the realm of deep emotion, buried memory, and psychological transformation. Here, Mercury descends into the subconscious, the shadowy underworld of the mind, where our fears, insecurities, and long-suppressed wounds reside. Normally curious and quick-witted, Mercury now turns his attention inward, plumbing the depths of our psyche.

The Deep Dive: Facing What Lies Beneath

Scorpio is where we face what we most want to avoid—our emotional vulnerabilities, our jealousies, our hidden desires. With Mars, the ruler of Scorpio, also present and strong, this retrograde offers courage. Mars provides the drive and focus to confront what frightens us, but also the heat that can inflame conflict.

Together, Mars and Mercury can spark sharp words and heated debates. The mind becomes sharp, and so does the tongue. Arguments, misunderstandings, and impulsive reactions are common under this influence, especially leading up to November 12th, when the two planets conjoin.

With this knowledge you can know to pause before reacting. Take a breath before responding impulsively. Write your thoughts down rather than speaking them immediately. Wait a day, reread, and see if your perspective has shifted. Scorpio’s power lies in transformation and Mercury’s role is to help us articulate what we’ve discovered.

Turning the Mind Inward

Mercury retrograde in Scorpio is ideal to communicate consciously with ourselves. Notice how you speak to yourself… Are you kind or combative? Funny or judgy?  mean?  Do you listen to yourself? Or silence, abandon your needs?

This is an ideal time for journaling, reflection and research. Scorpio gives us investigative, truth-seeking skills. With Mars’ disciplined focus, we can channel this energy into deep study, healing, and uncovering the root causes of emotional patterns. The natural 8th house nature of Scorpio also supports spiritual inquiry, diving into the mysteries of life, death, and rebirth.

Instead of ploughing forward only to meet frustration, try to see from another angle, and see where intuition takes you.

The Light of Anuradha: Friendship With the Divine

This retrograde begins in the nakshatra of Anuradha, ruled by Mitra, the god of friendship. Anuradha’s mythic story is that of Radha, whose pure devotion and friendship with Krishna transcended desire. She loved not to possess, but simply to be in divine companionship. Become the best friend of God by being your own bestie. Cultivate self-acceptance and fall in love with yourself.

The lotus is the symbol of Anuradha showing how we can rise from anything, no matter how difficult when blossoms and grow in devotion and love  upwards toward the light. It reminds us that true friendship arises when we drop the need to control or impress and accept ourself and others unconditionally.

Psychological Alchemy

Mercury retrograde in Scorpio is a journey of psychological alchemy. It exposes our hidden thoughts and shadows, so to transmute shame into wisdom.

Scorpio’s darkness is the fertile soil where new awareness takes root. As Mercury retraces his steps through these emotional depths, he offers us the rare chance to rewire our inner dialogue, forgive the past, and reemerge clearer, lighter, and more self-aware.

By the time Mercury turns direct again, you may find that what once felt confusing or chaotic has revealed itself as profoundly clarifying.

When we meet ourselves in the dark, we discover that light has been there all along, waiting patiently, like Radha’s love for Krishna, for us to remember.

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Blessings

Elise