Mercury Retrograde April 2024 in Aries

The first Mercury retrograde of 2024 lasts from April 1 to 25, moving from 27° to 15° Aries.

Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap in astrology, but this retrograde phase is not to be feared. A positive link to the conjunction of Venus and Neptune brings compassion, empathy, romance and the potential for successful negotiations, conflict resolution, and unconditional love.

Mercury Retrograde Meaning

From Earth, Mercury appears to move backward in the sky (retrograde motion) three or four times a year for about 24 days. Mercury in retrograde is generally problematic, affecting your thinking and communication. However, there are also positives, such as recalling fond memories or unexpectedly meeting up with people from your past.

However, the most common effects include confusion, anxiety, disagreement, technology breakdowns, lousy news, travel delays and lost items. Business negotiations may be in a state of flux. Some crucial details may not yet be available, and others may be unreliable or dishonest. For more information, see Mercury Retrograde Natal and Transit.

The retrograde phase is just one part of the retrograde cycle. Mercury travels direct, retrograde, and direct again over the same degrees, or “the retrograde zone.” The riskiest times for decision-making, negotiations, communication, and transport are the few days on either side of the exact retrograde and direct stations.

1st shadow phase	March 18 to April 1	15° to 27° Aries
Retrograde phase	April 1 to 25	27° to 15° Aries
2nd shadow phase	April 25 to May 13	15° to 27° Aries

Mercury Retrograde April 2024

Mercury stations retrograde on April 1, at 27°13′ Aries. As highlighted in the chart below, Mercury is semisextile Venus and Neptune.

The semisextile aspect (30°) indicates a need to experience, learn, discuss, read, and be informed about new things. It brings the information necessary to think objectively and neutrally. It helps you think in small steps, adding one piece of information to another until the collected perceptions make sense.

Mercury Retrograde April 2024

Mercury Retrograde April 2024 Aspects

Mercury semisextile Venus is a relaxing and friendly influence. It helps you share love and affection and makes relationships more harmonious. It encourages socializing, cooperation, and negotiation, so it is good for business deals, breaking down barriers to progress, and resolving disagreements and conflicts.

Mercury semisextile Neptune enhances your imagination and creativity. Increased sensitivity and empathy make your words compassionate and healing and make intimate relationships more romantic. Although subtle, this aspect fine-tunes your intuition. Spiritual insights may come through dreams, meditation, spirit guides, or chance encounters.

Venus conjunct Neptune makes you more romantic, sensitive, and perceptive. It enhances your appreciation of beauty and is ideal for relaxing with music, the theatre, or movies. Sometimes, this aspect can indicate over-idealization and disappointment or deception in love. However, the positive semisextile aspect to Mercury gives more reliable intuition and compassionate communication and encourages unconditional love.

The Stars

Mercury stations retrograde is in the Sign of Aries, but as the star map below shows, it is located in Constellation Pisces. The Signs and the Constellations do not match up. Over the last 2000 years, the Constellations have moved nearly 30° out of alignment with the Signs because of the precession of the equinoxes.

The Zodiac was invented only as a measuring device. The degrees on the ecliptic line in the image below equate to those in the Mercury retrograde horoscope. I use the Fixed Star and Constellation like the ancient astrologers, not the Signs and Houses of modern astrology.

Mercury Retrograde April 2024

The fixed star Al Pherg at 27°08′ Aries gives preparedness, steadiness, determination, and final success. ^[1] It also brings piety, honors, and preferment but obstinacy, a constant struggle, and many difficulties. ^[2]

With Mercury: Determination, high preferment and success in religious matters, sports activities and all matters connected with public affairs. ^[2]

Summary

Mercury entered the retrograde zone on March 18, 2024, at 15°58′ Aries.
Mercury stations retrograde on April 1, at 27°13′ Aries.
Mercury stations direct on April 25, 2024, at 15°58′ Aries.
Mercury leaves the retrograde zone on May 13, 2024, at 27°13′ Aries.
See Mercury Transits for more detail on how Mercury retrograde April 2024 affects your birth chart.