The Truth About Signing Legal Documents During Mercury Retrograde
I’m in a unique position.
I’m a transactional attorney. And I happen to know a lot about astrology.
Those two worlds don’t often collide, except three times a year when the planet Mercury goes “retrograde” for about three weeks.
If you’re not familiar with the term “Mercury Retrograde” (MR) it’s an astrological event when Mercury appears to be going in reverse to Earth’s orbit. When this happens, the planet is not only extra close to Earth (meaning it’s influence is more potent), but it also can affect the areas of which it rules, including communication, contracts, transportation, and technology.
It’s a time when misunderstandings and miscommunications can be common, not to mention travel snafus and technological crashes and equipment breakdowns. Contracts may have to be changed, terminated, or clarified later, as a result.
This astrological time of year can be met with anything ranging from skepticism to fear. Some people avoid signing anything at all during this time, while others could care less and throw caution to the wind. As an attorney who drafts and sends documents out for signature on a daily basis, I fall somewhere in the middle.
Here are some guidelines I follow from listening to my personal astrologer (my wife) and from my own personal experience:
Clear Communications
When Mercury is in retrograde, you often hear one thing to find out later that’s not what the other party said or thought they said. Lost in translation is for real. Not to mention scheduling snafus… check your calendar and any appointments carefully. When having verbal discussions with people, take notes or listen with more attention.
Changes Later
If a project is first starting off during MR, it may very well go through changes later. There’s a bit of a fog effect during this time period and when Mercury goes direct suddenly that fog is lifted and you can see a situation with more clarity.
If you can hold off on major decisions (and signatures) during this time, I encourage that. But, it’s not a “bad” time to fear, it’s just that there will be clearer days ahead. For this reason, if a contract must get signed during this time, make sure there you’ve reviewed every word and allow for amendments later, if needed. Of course, reasonable termination provisions is something I contemplate for my clients any time of year.
I often see clients excited to start something and by the time MR is finished, they have abandoned the project altogether, or the other side has fizzled out, or they realize there is a feasibility factor that must first be resolved.
If you have no choice to enter into an agreement during MR, read the entire agreement with extra care and ask questions if you are unclear. Be especially mindful of the first and last day of MR as those days the planet is in effect “standing still” causing extra confusion (see dates below).
Closing Time
For projects that have already been in the works, MR can be a time for them to finally close and finish up. Think of a retrograde period as a time for all of the REs: review, reconsider, rest, reinvest, receive. So anything that’s coming back around for review (and finally sign), you’ve got the cosmic green light. This also applies to any area of your life, like a home renovation project that’s been going on for a long time. It could finally complete during MR, but not a great time to initiate one. The same is true for repairs. MR is a common time for mechanical breakdowns, like your computer or car. For those necessary items, it’s okay to go ahead and purchase a replacement, just read the contract carefully!
Go with the Flow
MR is not a time to stop the flow of energy and shut down all contracts and communications. Instead, go with the flow with the energy and use this time to review and renew what comes your way.
After all, the show must go on.
Mercury Retrograde Dates (2025):
First Retrograde: March 14 to April 6
Second Retrograde: July 17 to August 10
Third Retrograde: November 9 to 29