Mercury retrograde is here, and contrary to commonly held belief, it doesn’t have to suck.
If you’re feeling like a husk of a human being thanks to the demands of being a member of the soulless workforce, you are not alone.
With one in four people saying they no longer feel they have a distinct personality outside of work, Mercury’s cosmic slowdown is the perfect moment for a “Great Rethink.”
Retrogrades summon us toward everything with the prefix “re”: review, revise, reimagine, return, revisit, etc. — making the coming weeks a fine time to get right with what makes your blood pump and your cells sing.
Mercury retrograde November 2025
Mercury begins its retrograde on Sunday, Nov. 9, in the tactless pirate heart of Sagittarius before slipping into the goth swamp of Scorpio on Nov. 18.
Mercury stations direct on Nov. 29 and finally clears its post-retrograde shadow, or retroshade, on Dec. 16.
Thalia-Maria Tourikis of Headway shares four practical ways to rediscover who you are during this retrograde, beyond the oppressive, grinding wheel of capitalism.
“People don’t crave more content; they crave reconnection: with themselves, their past experiences and their people,” she said.
Go get you some.
Reframe your devotion to a hobby
According to Tourikis, a quarter of workers admit they feel guilty for not working, with 6% abandoning any hobby they used to have.
“Remind yourself there’s a big difference between leisure and laziness,” she shared.
Tourikis notes that reinstating healthy habits like a daily walk, a morning meditation, or cooking a meal can help you think clearly, feel better, and inch closer to personal goals aligned with the life you want to lead.
Reclaim your dopamine
Here’s a depressing fact: For half of all employees surveyed, doomscrolling — i.e., endlessly scrolling on your phone, consuming negative content — is their default work break activity, and some consider it the highlight of the workday.
God in heaven.
Doom scrolling can be a form of self-sabotage with far-reaching consequences that, at best, may leave you feeling drowsy the next day, but at worst, could impair your memory, information retention and mental health.
“It might be hard to find such effortless substitution, but going for a walk with your loved ones, dancing to a favorite song, or signing up for a scheduled class is the first step to break free from such a tough cycle,” shared Tourikis.
Create — don’t spectate!
Rediscover your sources of joy
According to Tourikis, under the demands of work life, people often abandon activities that spark joy and promote well-being, such as exercising, hobbies and healthy eating
Yet she said exploration that hinges more on pleasure than productivity can help us get closer to our true selves.
“Picking up a book, creating a DIY collage, going out with friends, checking out a new coffeeshop — perceive it as not another healthy habit, but as a way to get in touch with yourself.”
Revisit your goals
Retrogrades dredge up the past not to torture us but to help us take stock of where we’ve been and where we’re heading.
Tourikis shared that there is no finer time than now to reflect on how you’ve grown and identify areas where you can continue to expand and improve.
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
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