FUN

Whether you're a total chatterbox or more on the quiet side: Mercury's got plans for you!

Mercury is best known for its harsh retrogrades (as anyone who has ever blamed it for a no good, very bad day knows). As the planet ruling how we communicate, Mercury has a huge say over our relationships—even the most compatible sun signs can clash fiercely if their Mercury signs aren't aligned. 

Our Mercury signs play a crucial role in how we speak, listen or even interact with others. They can also explain any difficulties we have in sharing how we truly feel. 

Find your Mercury sign on an app like Co-Star or using a website like astrology.com. (Note: You will need to know your exact time and location of birth, so time to dig up that birth certificate.) Tuning into your Mercury sign can help you not only know your strengths, but also spot any pitfalls that could spell trouble down the line. Take that, retrograde. 

Aries

Direct and quick with your responses, you can't stand wasting time on filler words or babbling on and on and on (example: You got mad at this sentence). This makes you shine in brainstorm settings and, unsurprisingly, people look to you as a leader.

Watch out for: Cutting people off. Not everyone is as lightning fast as you with their words—and interrupting can give the quieter people the sense that you just don't want to hear them speak (even if that's not your intent). 

Taurus

You take your time forming an opinion—and the most effective way to express it. You're cautious about half-baked thoughts or jumping to conclusions. 

Watch out for: Taking things just a bit *too* slow. Even the most thought-out confrontation can leave a friend confused if it takes you six weeks to address an issue. Saying something sooner (even if it's a little bit clunkier) is better than waiting for the perfect set of words to share how you feel.

Gemini

Mercury is also Gemini's ruling planet, so this placement makes communication feel extra breezy. To others, you come off as funny, playful and super entertaining. 

Watch out for: Emotional exhaustion. Keeping people laughing and engaged still requires energy—and it gets tougher during Mercury retrograde, which hits you harder and makes you just a tad tongue-tied. Look for those who value you even when you don't have a fantastic joke on hand. 

Cancer

You're great at listening and remembering details. When you're one-on-one with someone, you make them feel extra special. 

Watch out for: Clamming up in conversations. If you find yourself holding back, practice speaking your mind a little more—even if that means you occasionally overstep. Putting yourself out there means convos won't always go 100% smoothly (scary, we know), but the right people won't make you feel bad for it. 

Leo

You treat talking like an art form. Whether you're writing a persuasive essay or presenting it, you're very self-aware with your language and keep people tuned in to every sentence. 

Watch out for: Overthinking when someone loses interest or moves on (looking at you, Mercury in Aries placements). It's natural to feel a bit disheartened when that happens, but unless it's a persistent thing with that person, try to take their lack of rapt attention in stride. 

Virgo

Your communication looks (at least to the outside world) effortless. You're detail-oriented and organized. Whenever someone needs something planned, you're the one firing off texts.

Watch out for: Burning yourself out. It's natural for you to jump into leadership roles, but just because you can doesn't always mean you should. When Mercury retrograde comes, it can really throw you off—and that only gets worse if you have too many major obligations. 

Libra

You're great with balancing a conversation, keeping dynamics even and steady. In moments others would find tense, somber or unbearably awkward, you intuitively know what to say to smooth feathers, comfort someone or break the ice. 

Watch out for: Keeping everything surface-level. Try sharing more—even if it's a little bit risky. Feel like you can't? Examine your relationships more closely: True friends will want to get to know the real you.

Scorpio

You ask a lot of questions—the more probing, the better. You broach topics other people are afraid to and can convert small talk into spill seshes with ease. 

Watch out for: Diving too deep. While some might find the introspective Q's refreshing, others might not be ready to go that far—especially if they don't know you well. Not everyone who keeps their cards close is boring or hiding something. Some just have a different path to opening up.

Sagittarius

Friends love that you tend to be unfiltered, even goofy. You embody speaking your mind in the most literal sense, which inspires others around you to feel free to be themselves, too. 

Watch out for: Stinging jokes or remarks. Saying the first thing that pops into your head may sometimes lead to hurt feelings, even if that's the opposite of your intentions. Make a gaffe? Own up to your mistakes instead of calling someone too sensitive. 

Capricorn

You value brutal honesty whenever the situation calls for it. You can't help it: If something could be better if someone just spoke up, trust that you'll be the one to say it (even if it's not actually your problem to solve). 

Watch out for: Stating more problems than solutions. People are more open to feedback when they feel like there's something they can do about it. And make it feel collaborative by troubleshooting together (so your answer isn't the only option). 

Aquarius

You have a million interests—and impress people with how easily you can come up with new concepts. Your idea of a good convo is one that energetically darts from subject to subject, like a seamless game of pickleball.

Watch out for: Stealing the show. The bigger the group, the more compromises you might have to make, like letting others switch subjects or slowing down the pace. If this feels dull, prioritize more one-on-one time with the people who engage you the most. 

Pisces

You're the type who can come off as a little bit shy or pensive, but then you stun them with what you have to say when the time (and inspiration) is right. 

Watch out for: Channeling everything into your art. While it can be tempting to dwell in your feels until you write the best breakup song ever, it's better to reach out when you feel like you're struggling and need support. (And we bet you might feel even more inspired once you've opened up to others.)

Looking for more answers in the stars? Check out more zodiac-related reads here:

🌠 Your typical zodiac crush (and who you should try dating instead)
🌠 Why 2023 could be your weirdest, wildest...and best year yet
🌠 Your guide to mastering your moon sign (and the upcoming lunar eclipse)

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our April/May 2023 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.

by Lily Johnson | 3/22/2023