Mercury Retrograde in 2026

When Mercury becomes retrograde, it first enters its retrograde zone and begins to slow down gradually. Before actually moving backward, Mercury reaches a stationary point where its speed appears almost zero. This stationary phase is astrologically important because it marks the beginning of communication disruptions, delays, and rethinking processes. After this pause, Mercury starts moving in the backward direction from Earth’s perspective. Even after Mercury turns direct again, it continues moving at a slower speed for some time before regaining full momentum. The exact moment when Mercury stations retrograde is carefully noted for astrological calculations, as it strongly influences speech, travel, contracts, and decision making.