12/08/2025
Mercury retrograde has ended, however, we are now in what is called the shadow phase.
This part of the cycle is often overlooked, but it is where the most important work takes place. Mercury is now moving forward, retracing the same part of the sky it traveled during retrograde, which means the same themes, conversations, challenges, and even the same people from the past few weeks can resurface.
During retrograde, you may have experienced confusion, miscommunication, delays, technical breakdowns, or emotional tension. The shadow phase gives you another chance to face these same situations, but with more insight and less chaos.
The lessons you were meant to learn during retrograde will make themselves known again, often in a gentler but more deliberate way, so you can prove you understand them. It is the Universe’s way of asking, “Have you really learned this, or will you repeat the same reaction as before?”
For example, if you had a misunderstanding with someone close to you, this might be the week they reach out, ready to talk. You will have the opportunity to choose your words more carefully, listen without jumping to conclusions, and repair the connection in a way that lasts.
If technology failed you, now is when you can replace, repair, or reorganize what was disrupted, but this time you will remember to back up your files, check your settings, and prepare in ways you did not before.
If a decision felt impossible during retrograde, you may now feel the clarity you were missing, but you will also see why the delay was necessary.
The shadow phase is a clean-up round, but it is also a test. It invites you to finish what was left undone, to answer the messages you avoided, to close the conversations you left hanging, and to address the emotional weight you pushed aside. It is a time to act on what you have learned, rather than slip back into the old habits that created the problems in the first place.
A few things to keep in mind as you move through this phase:
Double-check the details: Review emails, contracts, messages, and travel plans before you commit.
Revisit the unresolved: Any situation you left unfinished is still an open door. Decide whether to step through it or close it for good.
Pay attention to repeat patterns: If something or someone shows up twice in a short period, it is rarely random. Ask what lesson is being highlighted for you.
Take deliberate action: Move forward, but with intention. Every choice now should be informed by what you learned during retrograde.
Recognize growth: Notice how differently you react now compared to how you did weeks ago. That is proof of progress.
Relationships are especially active during the shadow phase. People from the past may reappear, not always to stay, but to give you closure or clarity.
If an old conflict resurfaces, it is a chance to handle it from a calmer, more grounded place. If a spark reignites, it is an opportunity to decide whether it is worth pursuing with fresh eyes or whether it is best left in the past.
Financial and work matters also benefit from this energy, as long as you approach them with awareness. Revisit plans that stalled, fix mistakes that were overlooked, and take a second look at agreements or offers before moving forward. The shadow phase rewards those who take time to align their actions with what they now understand.
By the end of this period, the lingering confusion will have cleared, and the bigger picture will finally be visible. You will see how the delays, disruptions, and detours of retrograde shaped you, slowed you down so you could see what you might have missed, and pushed you to grow in ways you may not have chosen for yourself.
The retrograde was the lesson, but the shadow phase is the practical run the moment you take what you learned, apply it in real life, and show the Universe you are ready to move forward differently.
This is where you prove to yourself that you have grown, that you are capable of breaking cycles, and that you can step forward without carrying the same old patterns into your next chapter.
If you move through this stage with patience, reflection, and care, you will leave this phase lighter, clearer, and far more aligned than you were when it began.
✍️ Alex Myles
