Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius and Capricorn: Astrology, Meaning & Horoscopes

Mercury stations retrograde on January 14, 2022, at 10°20’ Aquarius, and stations direct on February 3, 2022, at 24°23’ Capricorn.

Mercury will make the beginning of 2022 memorable, as its retrograde passage from Aquarius to Capricorn will disrupt the status quo and foster aligning with a more authentic path forward. Due to Mercury beginning its retrograde while clashing with Uranus and ending its retrograde while uniting with Pluto, it will be a volatile period containing significant alterations of storylines. Yet, our internal experience can be cathartic and liberating, facilitating a process of uprooting issues at the root of habits and stagnant patterns we wish to change.

Here’s everything you need to know about Mercury retrograde.

Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius and Capricorn Meaning

Aquarius and Capricorn are the two domiciles of Saturn, signs which promote measured contemplation from Mercury and examination of the boundaries we have constructed. The airy environment of Aquarius will accentuate the capacity of Mercury to gather information while developing innovative ideas and analyzing whatever needs to be reconsidered. The proximity between Mercury with Saturn will strengthen Mercury’s ability to conduct a thorough excavation of structural systems so that we may make necessary modifications.

Once Mercury backtracks into Capricorn, its close contact with Pluto will dig up material that has been hidden within inner depths into awareness. Since the period of Mercury retrograde in Capricorn will coincide with Venus bringing her forty-day period of being retrograde in Capricorn to a close, the stationing direct of Mercury will also help mediate whatever shifts within relationship dynamics occur following the stationing direct of Venus in Capricorn on January 29.

What does 2022 have in store for you? Find out with a 2022 Tarot Reading!

Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius Key Dates

December 29: Mercury enters retrograde shadow zone (24°23 Capricorn’ – 10°20’ Aquarius)

January 7: Mercury at maximum elongation (begins to slow down)

January 14: Mercury stations retrograde at 10°20’ Aquarius

January 23: Mercury conjunct the sun at 3°23’ Aquarius (closest to Earth)

January 25: Mercury enters Capricorn

February 3: Mercury stations direct at 24°23’ Capricorn

February 16: Mercury at maximum elongation (begins to speed up)

February 23: Mercury leaves retrograde shadow zone

Sign up for our newsletters and get in-depth astrological content delivered in your inbox!

Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius Effect s

– Most intense for Capricorn: Be ready to shed what needs to be released while undergoing a cathartic metamorphosis. It will be an extraordinary opportunity to change old patterns and embrace a more authentic presence in the world.

– Most challenging for Aquarius: The first half of the retrograde will make you more acutely aware of whatever is not working and needs to be reformed. During the second half, you may have significant issues emerge from hidden places you were previously unaware of, material that may feel uncomfortable but will be vitally important to address.

– Most beneficial for Libra and Gemini: The flowing trine between Aquarius with your sign can help in utilizing your brilliant mental capacities to generate innovative ideas and discover inspiring sources of creativity. Mercury’s time in Capricorn will reveal personal and relational issues in need of mediating to bring emerging visions into reality.

Practical Magic to Harness the Best of this Transit

Mercury’s retrograde passage in Aquarius and Capricorn may feel turbulent and unsettling at times but has extraordinary potential for correlating with cathartic experiences that can help in breaking down old patterns. Between January 14 when Mercury shifts retrograde and January 23 when Mercury unites with the sun, write down intentions of what you want to release in your life.

On January 23, as Mercury enters the heart of the sun, light the list safely on fire and announce to Hermes what you are ready to change and embody with your presence and communication. In the days surrounding February 3, when Mercury turns direct, be mindful of messages and symbols that appear in your dreams or daytime travels that can provide further guidance for the new sense of self you feel ready to emerge.

Horoscopes for Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius & Capricorn

Aries

Instead of rushing ahead, make the time to conduct a thorough review of your aspirations and how well your actions and vocational goals are aligned with your core purpose. This is a good time to envision who you want to be in the world and find ways to connect with a broader community of people aligned with your vision. Important allies and collaborators may emerge with whom you can have mutually supportive relationships.

Taurus

Use your skills for grounding within your senses to come into a deeper awareness of the next steps to take. Mercury will facilitate reflection upon your work and career goals, bringing awareness to adjustments that need to be made as well as new courses of study that will broaden your horizons. This can be a helpful time for fine-tuning plans and making reforms that can lead to expansive growth later in the year.

Gemini

Your airy nature may become drawn toward exploring systems of knowledge and spirituality, digging deeper into whatever you become interested in learning. While Mercury’s time in Aquarius will be mentally stimulating for you, its passage through Capricorn will unearth subconscious material and underlying relational dynamics into your awareness. Use this time to reassess how you are investing your time and resources to discern any needed rebalancing.

Cancer

Your relationships and how you are sharing resources with others will need your attention. You may discover uncomfortable dynamics within relationships you wish to change or recalibrate, including tough decisions regarding joint finances. Focus on communicating your needs and the way they have been changing, as well as actively listening to how relationships express their feelings so you can respond appropriately.

Leo

This can be a time of reckoning within your relationships, making you aware of changing needs you need to communicate to others as well as dynamics that need to end. Once Mercury enters Capricorn, your daily routines will become important to reconsider. Examine if you are dissipating time and energy needlessly, you need to implement healthier lifestyle choices, or if instead, you need to schedule time for relaxing and resourcing to avoid burnout.

Virgo

By the end of Mercury’s retrograde passage, you will have opportunities for unearthing new sources of creativity. Yet during the time that Mercury is retrograde in Aquarius, you may first need to make modifications to your daily routines. If you have been overworking yourself to the point of burnout and high anxiety, make space for downtime and allow your brilliant mind to wander in new directions that may lead to enlivening sources of inspiration. Actively collaborate with your muses once Mercury shifts into Capricorn.

Keep track of all retrograde and astrological transits with our Astrology Calendar.

Libra

When the Mercury retrograde begins you will have already been engaged with a cathartic process of reexamining your relational dynamics and attachments with others. Mercury will not only take you deeper into exploring your relationships but also help open your mind to new sources of creativity and inspiration. Allow yourself to take risks and experiment with creative expression and find ways to bring whatever is pleasurable into your life more. This can be a groundbreaking time of reawakening inner passions.

Scorpio

Mercury takes on the role of psychopomp to the underworld during its retrograde phase, and this will be especially the case for you this time around. You may become aware of unconscious material that will be important to tend, such as ways in which early childhood experiences are impacting present relational dynamics. Your attention will be drawn toward home, inner life, and private places, yet by the end of Mercury’s retrograde you may discover you have unearthed powerful new ways of communicating.

Sagittarius

Mercury will guide you into an examination of how you communicate and how effectively you are sharing your fiery visions within your community. It’s a good time for analyzing how you are utilizing the Internet, social media, and any other forms of networking and promotion, making modifications so that there is a deeper alignment between your external image and inner values and authenticity. Once Mercury backtracks into Capricorn, reflect upon your financial habits and changes needed to help you be more self-sufficient.

Capricorn

Mercury’s retrograde will lead you to reconsider issues of self-worth and how they relate to the management of your resources. You will become more intensely aware of patterns that need to be shed as well as the inner values that are most important for you to prioritize. Though the process of realization may feel uncomfortable at times, it will be worth the effort in the long run. Centering within the integrity of the authentic values that emerge will help guide your way through the rest of 2022.

Aquarius

Mercury will be playing the role of psychopomp to your own personal underworld, drawing you into a deeply cathartic process of metamorphosis. While Mercury is retrograde in Aquarius, you will become acutely aware of aspects of your old identity that no longer serve you and need to be released. Once Mercury shifts into Capricorn, be ready to contact unconscious material that has previously been outside your awareness but will provide vital guidance going forward, even if the associated feelings are difficult.

Pisces

It will be important to create time and space for solitary contemplation and reflection, submerging yourself within the waters of your imagination. Pay attention to your dreams and any other ways you can become more aware of unconscious messages providing guidance. Once Mercury shifts into Capricorn, you will be able to draw from the deep well of inner realizations while reconceptualizing your goals and aspirations for the year and people within your wider community who can effectively collaborate in alignment with your vision.