When: December 12, 2023 – January 1, 2024
What: Mercury retrograde in Capricorn
Takeaway: When Mercury appears to be moving backwards in the sky, technical and communication problems can arise. This particular retrograde has the potential to be messier than most. But the hiccups, bloopers and mishaps will shed light on what we need to reconsider.
Double-check the details: the impostor strikes again
Mercury stations retrograde 12 December. Cue: crazy articles, urgent headlines and jokes that light up the blogosphere. The messenger seems to turn backwards three or four times a year, which means that it is relatively often something that people worry about. And for a reason. Mercury retrogrades tend to correspond with delays, lost mail, and broken appliances here on Earth.
But fear not: there are ways to work with this transit besides sending SOS emojis to your group chat. Patience is a virtue, as they say, and Mercury retrograde tests ours. But if we respond to minor chaos with a few deep breaths and a willingness to rework, rewire, and reassess what’s going wrong, this moment will pave the way for us to create more efficient and functional systems in our lives. Once Mercury regains its forward motion, that is.
This time Mercury begins its retrograde in Capricorn. This earth sign is the wise elder of the zodiac: practical, disciplined and focused on winning the long game. During the first half of the retrograde, your organizational systems and habits will be tested for their longevity. Capricorn isn’t interested in flashy solutions as much as he is in tried-and-tested methods that are proven to work. So if you find yourself needing to slow down and complete tasks the “right” way, the old-fashioned sea goat may be to blame. The sign of Capricorn is also concerned with taking responsibility and acting as a leader, which means that honoring your inner authority will serve you well during this time. Focus on communicating in a way that you will still be proud of ten years from now, and you will minimize any disaster.
The cazimi is a light bulb moment
Clarity briefly cuts through the confusion surrounding it 10:54 am PT on December 22, when Mercury joins the Sun in an illuminating moment called cazimi. Stay alert for clues arriving in dreams, resonating recommendations from trusted friends, or sudden flashes of clarity landing around this time. This cazimi is the light bulb moment of this retrograde period and highlights the insights this transit is trying to teach you. In Capricorn, information is likely to remain on the ground. Practical actions, such as organizing your desk or agenda, will lead to surprising breakthroughs.
Navigating through the smoke and mirrors
Hours after his auspicious cazimi, Mercury takes off his wise elder robes and dons a clown costume instead. The trickster enters Sagittarius 10:18 PM PT on December 22, taking on the role of heavenly court jester. Where Capricorn is controlled, dedicated and smart, Sagittarius is expansive, free-thinking and perhaps a bit scattered. If you feel like the cosmos is laughing at you when you miss your train or that autocorrect is playing crazy libs with your professional emails, that may be true. But here’s a mental reset: it’s laughter of you, especially if you are willing to give up some control over your ego.
The jokes get extra messy when Mercury forms a tense aspect known as a square to Neptune, the planet of illusions, delusions and imagination. If you thought this retrograde was confusing, this aspect adds a new layer of fog.
The confusion is increasing December 27, when Mercury joins Mars, the planet of vitality, aggression and drive. Their closeness brings a rush of heat and adrenaline to any confusion. If there’s a time during this retrograde when you might lose your cool, it’s the end of December. So the usual Mercury Rx protocols about backing up your work, triple-checking your emails, and deliberately selecting your words apply more than usual at this point.
Consider this period as an opportunity to understand where you are misdirecting your energy. Beneath the muddle lies crucial information about where you need to return to reality, ground your approach, and refocus your attention on the goals and ambitions that really resonate for you. The deceptive wisdom you can gain here is that temporary disorder may be necessary to refocus on your most fulfilling worldly missions. Allow yourself to deviate slightly from your course to figure out where to reroute.
When Mercury stations turn on immediately January 1st it will herald a new year – and sparkling brightness. Make your resolutions for 2024 based on the insight you have gained during this period. Every little chaos you experience will ultimately help you achieve success, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. Until then, here are some helpful tips to help you navigate this tricky transit with relative ease:
Our Mercury retrograde survival guide
Doing…
- To expect delays. Schedule buffer time for everything. If everything goes smoothly, you have room to relax. And if not, you’ll be grateful you have plans B and C.
- Make a backup your files. Emails, photos: everything. Stay one step ahead of potential technology issues. (Your future self will thank you.)
- Reflect, edit, organize, review, and notice what you think about repeatedly during this time. There is meaning in it that you keep coming back to.
- Usage this time to streamline your life and update your systems, both internal and external.
- Focus about long-term solutions. Decisions made in the heat of the moment don’t always support your best future self. Instead, try to make choices that align with your broader goals.
- When in doubtpause, rest, and breathe through rising frustrations.
- Laugh to yourself when you make obvious mistakes. The purpose of this transit is to keep you humble and open to learning.
- Listen to the Astrology of the Week Ahead podcastas well as Your reading in the ‘This Week’ section of the CHANI app. There you will also find journal prompts and other resources that will help you work with the lessons Mercury brings you this retrograde season.
- Bill the Transits tab in the CHANI app to find out if Mercury will impact any of your natal placements. You can also read for free Current celestial horoscope for Mercury in Capricorn to learn how your rising sign will be affected during this period.
Do not…
- Fear Mercury retrograde. It can be annoying, but remember that worrying is just focusing on what you don’t want. Instead, view this period as an opportunity to reassess your strategies.
- To buy buy tickets, sign contracts, or plan events during this time, if you can avoid it. If that doesn’t work, stay flexible and assume that adjustments may be necessary after the retrograde cycle is over. And maybe even during that period.
- Plan for big launches or make big changes in the way you do things during this period if you can help it—unless you plan to do them when Mercury is cazimi on December 22 at 10:54 a.m. PT. Since Mercury enters Sagittarius at 10:18 PM PT on the same day, the exact timing is sensitive. (That said, you may still want to work with an astrologer to determine the best time for you.)
- Put down your life on hold. There are some things you should put off if possible, but otherwise just make room for the hiccups. Again, you should not fear this moment; just be sensible about it.
Looking for more information? Read your daily horoscope:
Ram | Taurus | Twin | Cancer | Lion | Virgin | Scale
Scorpion | Archer | Ibex | Aquarius | Fishing
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