The Tamesis
Mercury retrograde – everyone’s favorite excuse for being fashionably late – begins on June 29, 2026. Mercury retrograde is known to be a time of miscommunication, delays, and technical difficulties. People may feel more forgetful or dizzy. Retrogrades also bring reversals: if you lost your keys, you might find them; if you left a relationship, you might find yourself back.
If you are a sentimental person, this Mercury retrograde in Cancer may also put you in a particularly nostalgic and longing mood. You might even feel a little tearful! But, like all things astrological, you don’t have to panic. Personally, I love Mercury retrograde because it’s a time to reconnect with the people I care about, take a break, and revisit projects I’d otherwise put on the back burner if I’m in the mood to be busy.
Mercury retrograde enters its pre-shadow period on June 13, during which you may be previewing your Mercury retrograde story. The actual retrograde occurs between June 29th and July 23rd. Then comes the shadow period of August 7; this will be a period of clarity and the stories that emerged during the retrograde may be tied together.
As always, how Mercury retrograde in Cancer will affect you will depend on your sign. Scroll down to see what’s in store for summer.
Aries zodiac sign
March 21st to April 19th
This Mercury retrograde will have you feverishly deciphering your grandmother’s cursive writing because you want to copy her apple pie recipe. In other words, Aries, you may be in an unusually nostalgic mood, and there’s a chance you’ll run into childhood friends and family you haven’t seen in a while. Maybe this is a way for you to reconnect with your inner child or remind yourself why you left home! And, as always, be careful not to lose your house keys; that is, when you weed your heirloom tomatoes, you might find that heirloom ring you lost last season.
Taurus zodiac sign
April 20 to May 21
If you were a shoe, you’d normally be a slip-on…but during this Mercury retrograde, you’ve been a flip-flop. Decisions you made last month may seem like a distant memory, and your perspective may take a surprising turn. There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind, but people around you will be surprised and you’ll have a lot of explaining to do! Communication can be confusing—this is Mercury retrograde, after all—but with Mercury in psychic Cancer, the key for you is to listen to your intuition, even if the outside noise is overwhelming. Eventually, everything will come together, and luckily you have the patience to keep everything in order.
Gemini horoscope
May 22 to June 21
Astrologers also often advise against making special purchases during this time, as the items may not work as advertised or – as Geminis tend to do – you will change your mind and return them. If you want to make an important purchase, check the return policy and prepare a backup plan just in case: don’t stress, be prepared! Financial decisions may need to be reworked, and material concerns may be more prevalent in your mind. Maybe you’ll revisit and renegotiate an agreement with a client or employer, or maybe you’ll finally ask your friend to put that vintage piece you want back into your closet.
Cancer zodiac sign
June 22 – July 22
This Mercury retrograde is happening in your sign, making you the star of the show! While Mercury retrograde is certainly annoying, it’s also an incredible time for Cancer to rediscover something that could change the course of your life. You’ve always romanticized the past, and now, it might pay off. On a lighter note, this can be a fun time to revisit an aesthetic that once dominated your wardrobe, or to reconnect with someone you’ve known many times — meeting someone from your past can sometimes feel like time travel, and showing them how you look now can be satisfying.
