Is honesty the best policy? It’s something to ponder during the last Mercury retrograde of 2025. Big-mouth Mercury spins retrograde in hothead Sagittarius from November 9 to 18, making fuses short. Then, Mercury slips back into manipulative Scorpio from November 18 to 29, ready to overtake convos. Here’s how to cope!

Last Mercury retrograde of 2025: November 9 to 29

Please DON’T say the quiet part out loud. On November 9, Mercury spins retrograde in boisterous Sagittarius, flashing a code red blurt alert. This three-week cycle lasts until November 29, but before Mercury moves back into Scorpio on the 18th, honesty can be particularly brutal, smashing relationships to smithereens.

Just being helpful? If you don’t want to spend the early part of this holiday season estranged from your nearest and dearest, think twice about doling out unsolicited advice, even if you’re “just trying to be helpful.” Candid viewpoints fly, especially in the charged political climate. For the next few weeks (or at least while Mercury’s backing through zealous Sagittarius November 9 to 18) plan any opinion posts thoughtfully so that your message doesn’t get lost in translation. What ideals do you stand for? It may be more powerful to shout those from the #fyp than to battle senseless trolls in the comments.

Mercury retrograde at the Thanksgiving table. Visiting loved ones for the Thanksgiving holiday might require extra precautions during this argumentative time. If you need to cut a trip short or stay at a hotel to preserve the peace, err on the side of “personal space.” Leave early for the airport and triple check all reservations since this last Mercury retrograde of 2025 can be particularly disruptive of travel (Sagittarius rules the ninth house of travel).

Cat and mouse games could go awry when Mercury slips back into manipulative Scorpio from November 18 to 29, completing the last Mercury retrograde of 2025. This sign switch-up brings relief from fiery feuds caused by the messenger planet taking a U-turn in Sagittarius on November 9. BUT for the eleven days it slinks through into Scorpio, life could feel like an extended game of Clue.

Prepared to pass those loyalty tests? Trust is a must with Mercury reversing through suspicious Scorpio. And don’t expect anyone to extend the benefit of the doubt. Show and prove, AND pledge your allegiance, if you want the keys to anyone’s kingdom.

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Horoscopes for the Last Mercury Retrograde of 2025

Below are horoscopes for every zodiac sign for the last Mercury retrograde of 2025, in Sagittarius (November 9-18) and Scorpio (November 18-29). You can read for your Sun sign or your rising sign. Remember, your scope isn’t just for the dates of the Mercury retrograde, but for the two weeks before and after—the “shadow” periods.

♈️ ARIES (Mar 20-Apr 19): Restless Mercury turns retrograde in Sagittarius and your worldly ninth house on November 9. You could wake up feeling nostalgic for a favorite vacation spot. Scroll through old photos and peek at ticket prices, which might be affordable enough to splurge on. If you’re journeying to a new destination before November 29, however, beware Mercury retrograde’s info-scrambling influence. Book with reputable outlets and triple-confirm all reservations. Can’t get away? When you’re feeling fenced in, hit the hiking trails or sign up for a workshop. But watch your own possessive tendencies, which may flare up when Mercury spins back into Scorpio and your intensely intimate eighth house starting November 18. Aries horoscopes, read more!

♉️ TAURUS (Apr 19-May 20): Communicator Mercury spins into a three-week retrograde on November 9, backing up through Sagittarius and your eighth house of intimacy until November 18, then rounding out the reverse commute in Scorpio and your seventh house partnership zone until November 29. Warning: The green-eyed monster could hover in your psyche during the last Mercury retrograde of 2025. Careful not to let your suspicious mind run wild. Your deep-seated fears may be rooted in something, but that “something” could be your own issues with trust, vulnerability and self-worth. If a partner in crime isn’t contributing, insist they step up—and don’t reach deeper into your wallet to cover for them. On the plus side, you may discover clever ways to join forces with the people who are already in your world. Taurus horoscopes, read more!

♊️ GEMINI (May 20-Jun 20): Your ruler, systematic Mercury, goes retrograde (backward) in Sagittarius and your seventh house of relationships on November 9, illuminating partners-in-crime who are already in your pack. Or you may realize that dynamics are growing lopsided with a significant other, work BFF or close friend. Handle talks and negotiations with care because Mercury’s backspin can make people say things they later regret. Since retrogrades bring back the past, an old flame could resurface. Could the second time around be the charm? Be cautiously optimistic as you won’t know clearly for a few weeks. On November 18, Mercury will slip back into Scorpio (your systematic sixth house) before correcting course on the 29th. Whatever qualifies as “unhealthy” at that point—from food to relationships—needs to be scrutinized and potentially avoided at all costs. Gemini horoscopes, read more!

♋️ CANCER (Jun 20-Jul 22): Nitpicky Mercury turns retrograde on November 9, kicking things off in your precise, practical sixth house. Cutting corners just to meet a deadline is a huge no-no between now and November 29—especially while the messenger planet retreats through Sagittarius until November 18. Other people are relying on you, so skip the shortcuts and do the job right the first time around. A health issue could also demand your attention during this last Mercury retrograde of 2025. If you require a treatment plan or procedure, don’t stress, but be sure to follow doctor’s orders to the tee. And ask lots of questions because the more you know, the more equipped you’ll be to facilitate the healing process. When Mercury slips back into Scorpio on November 18, your fifth house of passion, romance could emerge from unexpected places. But be on high alert for flatterers with a hidden agenda. Cancer horoscopes, read more!

♌️ LEO (Jul 22-Aug 22): It’s easy to slip into fantasy, Leo, especially if you’re feeling isolated or alone. But think twice before texting a long-lost Tinder date or projecting a status like “the one that got away” onto a ghosting ex. While you might be drawn in and even have a promising exchange know this: Mercury turns retrograde from November 9 to 29. That alone would be enough of a warning flag, but the cautionary measures goes double while Mercury backstrokes through Sagittarius and your fifth house of romance until November 18. Even coupled Leos could be tempted. An old flame could slide into your DMs or you might feel drawn to someone shiny and new. Once Mercury slips back into Scorpio for the rest of the reversal on November 18 (in Scorpio, your domestic fourth house), you’ll find yourself reaching for trusty friends and supporters. Don’t jeopardize reliable connections for an unstable thrill. Leo horoscopes, read more!

♍️ VIRGO (Aug 22-Sep 22): People are often drawn to you like a moth to a flame. Your job is to NOT grant them all-access passes too quickly. One major reason for this arrives November 9 when your ruler, social Mercury, flips into its final retrograde of 2025. The first part of the backspin takes place in Sagittarius and your fourth house of home and family. Relatives may demand extra attention, and when Mercury slips into Scorpio and your third house of communication on November 18, so will your oldest friends. Warning: Household and neighborhood drama could escalate under this transit. Clarify conversations with relatives, roomies, coworkers and nabes to keep crossed wires to a minimum. Be extra transparent about your intentions until the crossed wires clear after November 29. Virgo horoscopes, read more!

♎️ LIBRA (Sep 22-Oct 22): Your energy might begin to scatter starting November 9. For the final time this year, Mercury flips into a three-week retrograde, backing up through Sagittarius and your chaotic-but-communicative third house until November 18, then stealing back through Scorpio and your grounded second house until November 29. Spend your money and your attention wisely now, stating everything so plainly that there is zero room for misinterpretation. Can pitch meetings wait a few weeks? If so, reschedule for early December when your charisma is back in full force. Otherwise, come prepared for lots of questions during this last Mercury retrograde of 2025. If you feel the need to be productive, revisit ventures already in progress. A successful collaborator from yesteryear may emerge out of the blue—stay tuned! Libra horoscopes, read more!

♏️ SCORPIO (Oct 22-Nov 21): Set some limits for yourself? Overindulging, overspending, over-anything won’t go down well once Mercury turns retrograde for three weeks on November 9—and the last thing you need to do is spend your birthday season mopping up a mess that could have been avoided. For the first part of this cycle (until November 18), Mercury spins back through Sagittarius and your second house of money, insisting you take control of your budget. On a positive note, a new work opportunity could appear via a past business contact. Getting your point across can be tricky come November 18, when Mercury backs up through Scorpio until November 29. Slip behind the scenes to develop ideas independently—no critics allowed! Scorpio horoscopes, read more!

♐️ SAGITTARIUS (Nov 21-Dec 21): Step away from digital distractions and give that little voice in your head some airtime when Mental Mercury flips into retrograde from November 18 to 29. You might just flag some important personal goals that you want to accomplish before the year is through! The first part of the backspin—until November 18—takes place in Sagittarius and your first house of identity and self-expression. Dig around in your archives and see what parts of your past are worth reviving. You’ll access deep reaches of your creativity when Mercury slips back into Scorpio, your introspective twelfth house, from November 18 to 29. Caution: This last Mercury retrograde of 2025 won’t necessarily be an easy-breezy cycle. During this three-week period, you could be subject to epic misunderstandings, where your witty words fall flat and even offend people. Too much self-promotion could backfire, too. Spend this time reviewing personal goals. You may cut one or two from your list. Sagittarius horoscopes, read more!

♑️ CAPRICORN (Dec 21-Jan 19): Be careful not to project qualities onto people that might not be there, Capricorn. As Mercury slips into a three-week retrograde on November 9, your normally keen sensibilities could get lost in a cloud of fantasy. Nothing wrong with hoping things will turn out a certain way—and indeed they might. But while the messenger planet steals back through Sagittarius and your hazy twelfth house until November 18, you could legit fall in love with someone’s unrealized potential. What you don’t need right now is another project much less a rescue mission. Once Mercury moves back through Scorpio, your communal eleventh house, from November 18 to 29, you could come back to your senses. Reunite with trusted collaborators and the friends who knew you back when. Capricorn horoscopes, read more!

♒️ AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Mercury turns retrograde on November 9, beginning its backup in Sagittarius and your communal eleventh house. Friends from all eras of your life could float back into the picture, flooding you with nostalgic joy as you warm up for the holiday season. But shield your field all the same during this last Mercury retrograde of 2025. Scrambled signals or a backstabber in the ranks could send a team project off the rails. An old career opportunity could arise again when Mercury spins back into your tenth house success sector from November 18 to 29. When it comes to colleagues and friends, live by the rule “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Your silence, in this case, could be especially golden. Aquarius horoscopes, read more!

♓️ PISCES (Feb 18-Mar 20): Strategize—carefully—before making any in-the-heat-of-the-moment moves. This isn’t just common sense, Pisces, it’s also a valid warning because Mercury is turning retrograde on November 9. The backspin, which lasts until November 29, kicks off in Sagittarius and your tenth house of professional ambition, then backs into Scorpio and your venturesome ninth house on November 18. During this last Mercury retrograde of 2025, review (and if necessary, revise) your professional game plan to make sure you aren’t scattering your energy or veering off-course from your goals. Feeling burned out? Give your mental channels a break, knowing that you’ll be sharp as a tack again when Mercury corrects course on November 29. Watch for clashes with clients, authority figures and the guys in your life. A combative approach could backfire and cost you an opportunity. Pisces horoscopes, read more!

How to protect yourself against Mercury retrograde

What happens when Mercury is in retrograde? When a planet passes the Earth in its orbit around the Sun, it’s said to be going retrograde. From our vantage point on Earth, the planet appears to be on a reverse commute, backing up through the zodiac instead of advancing ahead degree by degree. While these aren’t optimal times to start anything new, they can be powerful periods to review our progress and enjoy nostalgia. During Mercury retrograde, it’s hard to be patient when digital devices break down, new friends ghost while old ones pop up out of the blue, and appointments get canceled. So be sure to:

Back up your important data and use strong passwords.
If you must sign a contract, review everything, even the finest print!
Double (or triple) check travel itineraries: dates, times, locations, etc.
Think before you speak, type, post.
Check that you’re actually texting or emailing the person you intend before you tap send!