Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio Tarot Message
Mercury stations retrograde at 20° Scorpio on 24th October and turns direct at 5° Scorpio on 13th November. Mercury rules how we think and talk, so while it's moving backwards, people, plans and conversations from the past have a habit of coming back round. And in Scorpio it goes deep, bringing up whatever's been sitting under the surface.
I've pulled a card for every sign to show you what this retrograde is bringing back round to you. Read for your sun sign, and if you know your rising or your Mercury sign, read for those too. Your Mercury sign is a really good one to check for this retrograde!
Aries
The Tower
Mercury retrograde is bringing something back round for you that was never built on solid ground to begin with. The Tower is the card of Mars, your ruling planet, so this one lands close to home. It's the card of sudden shake ups, the moment something that looked steady shows you it was wobbling all along. And with Mercury moving backwards through Scorpio, the sign of everything hidden, the cracks you've been covering up are going to be really hard to ignore. Mars is all about action, so expect things to move fast.
It could show up as an old habit you swore you'd dropped creeping back in, like reaching for the same coping mechanism every time you're stressed. It could be a situation you've been propping up because walking away felt like more hassle than staying. Or it could be something inside you, an old belief about what you have to do to feel safe. Whatever it is, you'll recognise it because it keeps falling over no matter how many times you fix it. You might notice it in how tired you feel after keeping it all going, or in the little voice that's been telling you something's off for ages.
So when it starts to crumble, let it. Your instinct is to charge in and hold everything up, and this time that's what keeps you stuck in the same loop. Ask yourself which parts of your life you're working so hard to keep standing, and whether they'd still be there if you stopped. Anything built on solid ground will still be there when Mercury goes direct on 13th November. Whatever isn't was always going to come down at some point, and it's way better that it happens now than after you've built even more on top of it.
I've pulled an extra card in the extended reading to see what this Mercury retrograde leaves you with at the end of it, and it's a gorgeous one for you. For a deeper reading click here.
And if you want to dig deeper into what's falling away, you can get 33% off any reading in my shop with the code ALLREADINGS33.
Taurus
Ten of Swords
An ending you thought you were done with is coming back round for review. The Ten of Swords is rock bottom, the moment something finally runs out of road and can't go any further. It's the Sun in Gemini, a sign ruled by Mercury, so with Mercury retrograde it makes sense that an old chapter is being lit back up for you to look at again. You like to hold onto what's familiar, so letting something go completely doesn't always come easy to you, and that's part of why this one's back.
This is the cycle that caused you so much stress and worry at the time. It might be a job or a relationship that ended badly, or a decision you made that you've been doubting ever since. You could find yourself replaying old conversations in your head, or someone from that time gets back in touch out of nowhere. You might even catch yourself thinking about going back, because the familiar feels safer than the unknown. With Mercury in Scorpio, you'll also see things about that time that you couldn't see while you were in it. Try not to judge yourself for any of it. You did the best you could with what you knew back then.
You don't have to go through it all again. This has come back round so you can finally choose to walk away from it for good, with your eyes open this time. When the memories or the urge to go back pop up, ask yourself what it actually cost you to be there. Write it down if it helps, because seeing it on paper makes it so much clearer. Then let yourself close that door and walk on without looking back. The Ten of Swords is the darkest point right before dawn, and you've already come through the worst of it.
There's an extra card waiting for you in the extended reading that shows what this retrograde leaves you with, and it's all about where you go from here. For a deeper reading click here.
You can also get 33% off any reading in my shop using the code ALLREADINGS33, perfect if there's a decision you'd like some guidance on.
Gemini
Three of Cups
Your people are what's coming back round. The Three of Cups is Mercury in Cancer, and with Mercury being your ruling planet, you're going to feel this retrograde in a big way. This card is all about friendship, community and celebrating together, so your friendships and the groups you're part of are up for review. It's warm and social energy, so a lot of this retrograde is going to play out through texts, catch ups and plans with other people, which is very you.
This could be an old friend messaging you after months and months of silence, or a group chat that went quiet suddenly coming back to life. You might be invited back into a circle you'd drifted away from and feel unsure whether you still fit. Or you'll start noticing things about your current friendships, like who always reaches out first and who only shows up for the good times. Scorpio digs under the surface, so the dynamics in your friendships will become really clear to you. You might also notice you feel different around certain people now, like you've grown and the old dynamic doesn't quite fit anymore.
The bigger question here is how much you lean on others to feel seen. Have a look at where you've been checking in with the group before making a decision, or holding back your own opinion so you don't rock the boat. Needing your people is a lovely thing, but this retrograde wants you to notice where you've been asking them for validation you could be giving yourself. Keep the friends who celebrate you for exactly who you are close, and if someone comes back round bringing good energy with them, enjoy every second of it! Go on and reach out to the friend you've been missing.
In the extended reading I've pulled another card to see what this Mercury retrograde leaves you with, and it's got a lot to say about trusting your own voice. For a deeper reading click here.
Fancy a reading of your own? Use the code ALLREADINGS33 to get 33% off anything in my shop.
Cancer
Three of Wands
A direction you've been ignoring is coming back round. The Three of Wands is the Sun in Aries, the energy of starting something new and looking out towards a bigger horizon. You've already done the groundwork, and now it's about how far you're willing to go. This retrograde is showing you where you've been playing small. You love the safety of what you know, and this card is asking you to look a little further than usual.
There's an idea or a pull to go further that you've tucked away because staying in your comfort zone felt safer. It could be a course you looked into and never booked, or a business idea that's been sitting in your notes app. You might hear about it again from someone else, or see someone doing the exact thing you wanted to do and feel that little pang. Pay attention to that feeling, because it's showing you what you actually want. Old plans you shelved could come up in conversation too, like someone asking whatever happened to that idea you used to talk about all the time.
So ask yourself where you've been staying inside the box and what you'd go for if you weren't worried about how it turns out. Mercury retrograde is a great time to revisit plans rather than launch them, so use it to dig that idea back out and look at it with fresh eyes. Ask yourself what's changed since you first had it. Write down the bigger version of it, even if it feels a bit much right now. Share it with someone you trust too, because it starts to feel real once someone else knows about it. Then pick one small step you could take once Mercury goes direct on 13th November, and let yourself want more than what's comfy.
I've pulled an extra card for the extended reading on what this retrograde leaves you with, and it shows you how to turn that bigger plan into something real. For a deeper reading click here.
And if you'd like help mapping out where you're heading, the code ALLREADINGS33 gets you 33% off any reading in my shop.
Leo
Six of Wands
What's coming up for review is how much you rely on being seen. The Six of Wands is Jupiter in Leo, your own sign, and it's the card of recognition, the victory lap after a win when everyone's cheering you on. Being seen feeds you and it's a big part of who you are, so this one is going to hit close to home. Jupiter expands whatever it touches, so with it sitting in your sign on this card, your need to be recognised feels bigger than ever right now.
This retrograde is showing you where you've felt like there's no point doing something if nobody notices. It could show up as checking how many people viewed your story, or feeling flat after you've done something you're proud of and nobody said anything. Old wins might come back round too, like someone bringing up something you achieved ages ago and reminding you how good that felt. With Mercury in Scorpio, you'll see the deeper reason behind the need for applause and where it really comes from. You could also catch yourself comparing your progress to other people's online and feeling like you're falling behind, even when you're doing really well.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to be celebrated, you deserve it! But have a look at whose applause you're actually chasing. Not everyone around you needs to see what you're doing for it to matter. Try doing one thing this retrograde purely for you, without posting it or telling anyone, and see how it feels. Grab your notes app and write down three things you're proud of that nobody else knows about. Keep going after what you want because it means something to you, and notice how much lighter you feel when you stop performing for the whole crowd.
I've pulled an extra card in the extended reading on what this Mercury retrograde leaves you with, and it shows you exactly who's in your corner. For a deeper reading click here.
Want a reading just for you? You can get 33% off any reading in my shop with the code ALLREADINGS33.
Virgo
Four of Cups
Something you've felt switched off from is coming back round. The Four of Cups is the Moon in Cancer, so it's all about feelings, and it's that sense of being emotionally checked out. You're going through the motions while your head's stuck on how things used to be or how they could have been. You're always thinking ahead and analysing, so it's easy to live in your head and miss what's happening right in front of you.
You might notice it in an area of your life that used to light you up and now just feels a bit meh, like the spark's gone. It could be a relationship that's gone a bit flat, or work you used to love that now feels like a chore. Old memories and photos might come up more than usual, and you'll catch yourself comparing now to then. Scorpio pulls everything to the surface, so whatever you've been numbing out instead of feeling is going to ask for your attention. You might also turn down invites without really thinking about them, because nothing feels exciting enough to get up for.
With the Four of Cups there's usually something new being held out to you that you haven't noticed because your mind's been elsewhere. Your gut has been trying to show you how to move forward, and you've been sitting still with what you've got instead of listening. So give yourself a bit of quiet this retrograde. Go for a walk without your phone or journal before bed, and ask yourself what you actually want to feel. When something tugs at you, go on and take a second look. Say yes to one thing you'd normally talk yourself out of, and notice how it feels to actually show up for it. It could be the start of something that feels really good again.
There's another card in the extended reading on what this Mercury retrograde leaves you with, and it's a really steadying one for you. For a deeper reading click here.
If you'd like some guidance on what your gut's been telling you, use ALLREADINGS33 for 33% off any reading in my shop.
Libra
Eight of Swords
Old thought loops are coming back round for you. The Eight of Swords is the cage you build from your own worries, where the fear in your head feels so real that you stay stuck even when the way out is right there. It's Jupiter in Gemini, and Jupiter makes everything bigger, so in a Mercury sign it's your thoughts that get blown out of proportion. With Mercury moving backwards, how you talk to yourself is right at the centre of this one. You like to keep everyone happy, so a lot of these worries are about how other people see you.
This could look like overthinking a message for an hour before sending it, or lying awake at night replaying something you said. You might notice a worry you had years ago popping back up word for word, even though your whole life looks completely different now. The what ifs get loud. You might hold back from something you really want because your mind's already decided how it'll go wrong. You might also go round in circles over a decision, weighing up every option until you're too tired to choose at all.
Our thoughts create our reality, and you've been keeping yourself small with ways of thinking that have hung around way too long. This retrograde is putting them in front of you so you can see them for what they are. When the same worry comes up, catch it and ask whether it's actually true or just familiar. Write the thought down, then write what you'd say to a friend who told you the same thing. The more you notice these patterns, the less power they have over you. Then take one small step towards whatever you've been too scared to go for. You're way less stuck than your mind is telling you.
I've pulled an extra card in the extended reading to see what you're left with once Mercury goes direct, and it brings a clarity you'll be so glad of. For a deeper reading click here.
And if you want a fresh view on what's been on your mind, any reading in my shop is 33% off with the code ALLREADINGS33.
Scorpio
Wheel of Fortune
With Mercury retrograde happening in your own sign, this one's personal. The Wheel of Fortune is the card of Jupiter, the planet of luck and growth, and it's all about cycles turning and fate stepping in. Something to do with expansion in your life is up for review, whether it's a change you've been waiting on or one you've been trying to steer. Mercury only goes retrograde in your sign every few years, so this is a really big moment for you to look at where your life is heading.
You might see a plan you thought had stalled suddenly start moving again, or an opportunity you missed come back round for a second go. Things could feel a bit up and down while Mercury's backwards in your sign, with plans shifting and timings changing. That's just the wheel doing its job, and it's turning in your favour. Something you thought was a closed door could swing back open, or a person connected to an old chance might show up again. You'll also be rethinking how you come across and what you want for yourself, so don't be surprised if you're more reflective than usual.
So the question here is how you handle change. Are you trying to control every turn of the wheel, or are you letting things move the way they need to? You like to know what's coming, and that's fair, but some things work out best when you step back and let them land. Notice where you've been gripping too tightly and practise loosening your hold, even just a little. Write down what you can control and what you can't, then give yourself permission to put the second list down. Keep a note of what's going right for you, because being grateful for what you already have makes the next turn feel way easier.
In the extended reading there's another card on what this retrograde leaves you with, and it ends on a really happy note for you. For a deeper reading click here.
It's your retrograde, so treat yourself! Get 33% off any reading in my shop using the code ALLREADINGS33.
Sagittarius
Ten of Cups
Your home life, your family and the love around you are coming back round for review. The Ten of Cups is the card of emotional fulfilment, the happy ever after moment where everything feels full and settled. This retrograde is asking how much joy the life you have right now is actually bringing you. You're always looking for the next adventure, so this is a chance to slow down and look at what's already around you.
You might find yourself thinking about home more than usual, what it means to you and whether where you are right now feels like it. Pay attention to how your home feels when you walk in at the end of a long day. Family stuff from the past could come up, an old conversation or a memory that shows you what you always wanted growing up. Or you might look at your relationship and wonder if it's giving you what you need. With Mercury in Scorpio, the feelings you usually brush off to keep moving will come up to be felt. You might feel a bit homesick even when you're right where you live, or just want more time with the people you love.
There's no wrong answer here, and no pressure either. Where do you feel full and content, and where does it feel like something's missing? Have a look at what home and love mean to you now, because that might have shifted since you last thought about it. Write down what your dream home life looks like and how it feels day to day, and see how close you already are. And take time to enjoy the people who already make you feel at home, they're a huge part of what this card is showing you. Call someone you've been meaning to catch up with, or plan a cosy night in with your favourite people.
I've pulled an extra card for the extended reading to see what this Mercury retrograde leaves you with, and it shows you what you're building next. For a deeper reading click here.
If you want to look deeper at love or home, you can get 33% off any reading in my shop with the code ALLREADINGS33.
Capricorn
Queen of Cups
How you look after yourself is what's coming back round. The Queen of Cups is the most nurturing card in the deck, the one who gives care and comfort to everyone around her and feels everything deeply. This retrograde is turning that care back towards you and asking how well you look after your own feelings when nobody else is checking in. You're usually the strong one, the person everyone leans on, so turning that care inwards might feel a bit strange and uncomfortable at first.
You're so good at getting on with things that your own needs slip to the bottom of the list. You might notice it when you're exhausted and still saying yes, or when something upsets you and you push it down to deal with later. Old feelings you never really dealt with could come up, especially with Mercury in Scorpio digging under the surface. You might also find people coming to you for support and realise you've been running on empty for ages. With so much on your plate, it's easy to tell yourself you'll rest once everything's done, but there's always something else to do.
So use this retrograde to check in with yourself. Notice what you need to feel calm and looked after, and give it to yourself without waiting for permission. It's okay to be the one who needs looking after sometimes. Book in some time that's just for you and protect it like you would a work meeting. Let yourself feel whatever comes up instead of fixing it straight away. Even just ten minutes a day doing something that fills you back up makes a difference. Rest when you're tired without guilt, and talk to yourself the way you'd talk to your best friend on a hard day.
I've pulled extra cards in the extended reading to see what this Mercury retrograde leaves you with, and they show you a calmer mind and a lot more peace. For a deeper reading click here.
And if you fancy a reading that's all about you for a change, the code ALLREADINGS33 gets you 33% off anything in my shop.
Aquarius
The Hierophant
Old rules and traditions are up for review for you right now. The Hierophant is the card of structure, belief systems and the way things have always been done. It's ruled by Taurus, the sign of habits and staying put, and this retrograde is showing you where you've been living by rules someone else wrote. You already like doing things your own way, but even the most independent people pick up rules they never chose, and this retrograde is about finding yours.
These might be beliefs passed down through your family about money and work, or routines you picked up without ever asking if they suit you. You might catch yourself saying something your parents always said and stop to wonder if you actually believe it. Or you'll feel pressure to do things a certain way, like settling down or buying a house by a certain age, and notice it doesn't sit right with you. With Mercury in Scorpio, you'll see where these beliefs really came from. It might also come up in a friendship group or a workplace with its own unwritten rules that you've been quietly following for years.
So have a look at what you do just because it's what you were taught. Some of it will still feel right, and that's yours to keep. Some of it you've totally outgrown, and you're fully allowed to question it. You don't have to rip everything up. Pick one rule you live by and ask yourself where it actually came from, and whether you'd choose it today. Just notice which beliefs feel like your own and which ones were handed to you by somebody else. Talk it through with someone who sees things differently to you, because they might help you spot what you've just been going along with.
I've pulled an extra card in the extended reading to see what this retrograde leaves you with, and it's a huge weight off your shoulders. For a deeper reading click here.
Want to talk through which path feels like yours? Use the code ALLREADINGS33 for 33% off any reading in my shop.
Pisces
Ace of Pentacles
An opportunity is coming back round for you, and it's a really exciting one! The Ace of Pentacles is a brand new seed with so much potential to grow into something abundant. It's the root of earth, the very start of something solid and real that you can actually build on. You're so good at dreaming big, and this card is the chance to turn one of those dreams into something real you can hold.
You might have already been offered this and not looked at it closely. It could be a job offer you turned down, or a side project someone suggested that you laughed off at the time. Someone might get back in touch about it, or the same idea keeps popping up in different places until you can't ignore it. Aces don't often get a second chance like this, so if something comes back round, take notice. You might also be the one holding yourself back from it, telling yourself you're not ready or that it's not the right time.
So have a look at any offers or ideas you've brushed off recently, even the ones that seemed too good to be true. This one is coming back because it's connected to something you really want to build, so think about where it fits into your bigger goals. Mercury retrograde is perfect for doing your research, so take it seriously this time, go on and ask the questions you need to, and read all the small print. Then give it the time it deserves before you decide. Make a little plan of what the first few steps would look like, so it feels doable instead of overwhelming. Pentacles are all about money and stability, so look at what this could bring you long term. Even if it looks small right now, aces are where the biggest things start.
In the extended reading I've pulled another card to see what this retrograde leaves you with, and it shows you how big this could grow. For a deeper reading click here.
And if you want a second opinion on this opportunity, get 33% off any reading in my shop with the code ALLREADINGS33.
