Mercury Retrograde: My Tokyo Travel Hack

making the most out of a tricky season + dates to watch

Mercury is officially in retrograde, which inevitably means I’ve booked an airline ticket or made a hotel reservation that now requires adjustment.

This time, it was two return flights from Tokyo that needed to be rebooked.

Normally when this happens, I curse myself for not having the foresight to plan ahead. But this time, I asked that mean little voice in my head to step aside. I then invited myself to take the same advice I give everyone else during retrograde season: drop all judgments and see where the trickster takes you.

With this fresh perspective, I started searching for a new flight.

For astro newbies, here’s a quick recap: Mercury retrograde is when Mercury appears to move backward in the sky. In truth, it’s not moving backward at all, it’s simply disappearing from visibility as it transitions from an evening star to a morning star.

This is a time to tie up loose ends, make peace with the past, and review your work. Think: review, recap, revisit, reimagine.

Booking an international flight at the last minute requires creativity. Prices had jumped significantly since my partner and I first planned our trip. Had we accepted our “bad luck” for rebooking under tricky astro weather, we might have just absorbed the cost and purchased a new flight for the same day.

Instead, we looked for the lesson. What had we overlooked when planning our original trip that we were now being asked to revisit? Turns out, we were missing more time in Tokyo.

After a little research, we discovered that by shifting our departure date a few days later, we could actually save money on our flights and have more time to see some of the sights we missed during our first two nights in the city.

An unexpected win, courtesy of Mercury.

While Mercury retrograde can bring real challenges like miscommunications, broken-down cars, and shattered phones, it also offers opportunities to course correct.

I don’t encourage planning major trips during Mercury retrograde, but I’ve found that making space to step outside your usual rhythm as Mercury makes its phase change often rewards you with insight and perspective.

As for our trip? We’re still on it, and Mercury is still very much in retrograde. I’ll keep you posted.

To help you track your own story, I’m sharing some key Mercury retrograde dates below. Mark them in your calendar, take note of what happens, and approach your own phase change with curiosity and a willingness to let it transform you.

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KEY RETROGRADE DATES

Mercury enters its shadow: October 21, 2025

While Mercury is still moving forward at this point, it’s crossing the section of the sky it will soon revisit in reverse. Pay close attention to what surfaces around now — conversations, decisions, or delays that arise will likely return for review later. Think of this as the opening scene of the story.

Mercury stations retrograde: November 9, 2025

The journey begins. Mercury appears to slow and turn backward, inviting us to reflect, revise, and recalibrate. When frustration or confusion hits, pause and ask yourself, “What is being revealed here?” Clarity comes from curiosity, not control.

Mercury cazimi: November 20, 2025

Mercury is reborn in the heart of the Sun. This rare alignment marks a shift from evening star to morning star — from reflection to revelation. The first half of the retrograde shows us the problem; this midpoint illuminates the insight or message hidden within it. Stay alert to sudden realizations or breakthroughs.

Mercury stations direct: November 29, 2025

Mercury moves forward again, but slowly. The lessons of the past few weeks begin to take shape. You may start finding resolutions, reconnecting with people, or gaining clarity on what was once tangled. Integration begins here.

Mercury leaves its post-retrograde shadow: December 16, 2025

Mercury clears new ground, officially completing its retrograde cycle. This is your green light to move ahead, sign contracts, and act on what you’ve learned. The fog lifts, and a new chapter begins.

PERSONAL INSIGHTS FOR THE SEASON

Scorpio season invites us to look beneath the surface and see what’s been hidden in plain sight. If you’re feeling called to understand your own story with greater clarity, this is the perfect time to check in. A reading can help you make sense of current transits, uncover what’s ready for release, and guide you toward what’s next.

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