The first square occurs just after the Autumn Equinox with Mercury in direct motion on September 23. The three squares with Saturn happen in two stages, relatively far apart.
![leo mercury retrograde 2020 leo mercury retrograde 2020](https://www.sunsigns.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2022_mercury_retrograde_dates-300x176.jpg)
Since Saturn is exalted and dignified in Capricorn and Libra (respectively), we can expect that any of these issues cropping up now are ultimately for our own good-unpleasant as they may be at the time. Saturn is about restrictions, delays, boundaries, structure, and long-term planning. It will be important to de-stress, focus on self-care, and ask for help when you need it. The square and opposition are stressful aspects, and the repetition will significantly increase the pressure felt during this retrograde. Mercury repeats two very difficult aspects during this retrograde, making three squares to Saturn in Capricorn from Libra and three oppositions to Uranus in Taurus from Scorpio. November 10: Mercury at maximum elongation (begins to speed up)ĭecember 1: Mercury leaves Scorpio Mercury retrograde in Scorpio meaning November 3: Mercury stations direct at 25★4’ Libra October 25: Mercury conjunct the sun (closest to Earth) October 14: Mercury stations retrograde at 11☄0’ Scorpio October 1: Mercury at maximum elongation (begins to slow down) Mercury retrograde in Scorpio 2020-Astrological aspects This year’s retrograde station is in the same degree as last year’s direct station, so this could mean that themes from last year’s retrograde carry through to this year-particularly for those with planets near 11-12° Scorpio. And since Scorpio is a water sign, this is often accompanied by deep penetrating emotional clarity. So, this is still a rarer kind of Mercury retrograde, with a chance to zoom into something much more closely than usual. And although Mercury doesn’t cross right through the very heart of the sun this time (like last year’s “transit of Mercury”), Mercury is still much closer to the sun during this retrograde than most. Like a hiker traversing a mountain via a “switch-back” trail, Mercury does a zig-zag from below to above the ecliptic in this part of the zodiac-crossing the ecliptic near the middle. Since Scorpio is the location of Mercury’s north node, this is one of only two signs (along with Taurus, the location of Mercury’s south node) where Mercury will actually cross the ecliptic plane while in retrograde motion. In all the other loops, Mercury crosses the ecliptic before and after actual retrograde motion and makes a wide foray away from the ecliptic during the actual retrograde.
![leo mercury retrograde 2020 leo mercury retrograde 2020](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nWhZDq2vyxA/hqdefault.jpg)
Of all the looping wandering journeys Mercury takes during its various retrogrades, its journey through Scorpio is the most relatively straight-forward and symmetric. Mercury stations retrograde on October 13 at 11☄0 Scorpio, and it stations direct on November 3 at 25★4 Libra.