Mercury goes retrograde from October 24 to November 13, 2026, in Scorpio. This is a plain guide to what that means, what people traditionally watch for during those three weeks, and the three ritual candles we suggest for it.
What Mercury retrograde is
Mercury does not actually move backward. It orbits the Sun faster than Earth does, so a few times a year it passes us, and from here it looks as though it slows, stops and runs the other way for about three weeks. That apparent backward motion is what retrograde means.
In astrology, Mercury is the planet of communication, travel and technology. So a retrograde is the stretch when messages are said to go astray, plans slip and devices act up. The advice that goes with it is about slowing down and checking twice, not about being afraid of the calendar.
Mercury retrograde dates for 2026 and 2027
- October 24 to November 13, 2026
- February 9 to March 3, 2027
- June 10 to July 4, 2027
- October 7 to October 28, 2027
Dates are from The Old Farmer's Almanac and the Farmers' Almanac.
What people traditionally do during one
Read emails and messages twice before sending them. Confirm travel bookings and leave extra time. Back up your phone and computer. Where you can, hold off on signing big contracts or making large purchases until it ends. Use the three weeks to finish or revisit old projects rather than start new ones. Most of that is good advice in any month.
Which candles to burn
Three of our ritual candles match what a retrograde is said to disrupt: clear thinking, communication, and trusting your own judgment.
Clarity Ritual Candles
Two blue tapers dressed with herbs and oils for mental clarity and focus. For fog, indecision and the choice that keeps circling. A retrograde is traditionally a poor time to decide in a hurry, so this is the one to burn before you sit down with the decision.
Talk To Me Ritual Candles
Two blue tapers dressed with herbs and oils to open communication. For the conversation that keeps getting put off, or the message that never seems to come out the way you meant it.
Trust Your Instinct Ritual Candles
Two black tapers dressed with herbs and oils for intuition and inner guidance. For the gut feeling you keep second guessing while everything around you feels uncertain.
Each is a pair of tapers for $7, as listed on October 5, 2026. The product page always has the current price.
A simple retrograde ritual
There is no single correct method. One plain approach is to light one of the three on the first evening, October 24, and name the thing you want to keep clear, whether that is a conversation, a decision or a trip. Sit with it for a few minutes, then snuff it. Burn the rest of the pair across the three weeks, snuffing between sittings, and finish on November 13, the day Mercury goes direct again.
If you want the wider picture on why these candles are blue and black, we have a guide to ritual candle colors and their meanings.
What to pair them with
Clear quartz or a Palo Santo Cleansing Spray with Clarity. Blue lace agate, aquamarine or blue chalcedony with Talk To Me. Labradorite or amethyst with Trust Your Instinct, or a psychic candle alongside it.
One note before you start
Candle work is a spiritual practice and a tradition. It is not a guarantee of any outcome, and it is not medical or mental health treatment. If something in your life needs a doctor or a lawyer or a therapist, the candle sits alongside that and never in place of it.
Fire safety
Tapers burn hotter and faster than jar candles and need a holder made for them. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Keep it well away from curtains and from anything else that can catch. Keep it out of reach of children and pets, and off any surface that can scorch. Stop burning once the flame gets down near the holder.
Where to get them
All three are dressed with herbs and oils in Nashville and ship from our shop, and the rest of the range is in Ritual Candles.
If you are local, come see them at 3249 Gallatin Pike in Nashville. We are open Monday through Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. The shop number is 615-573-5660 if you want to ask about a working before you come in.