Mercury goes direct, and it's the perfect time to get on track with your career

At long last, Mercury goes direct! 2023 can truly begin now that the red planet is behaving.

We welcomed the holiday season and the new year with some Mercury retrograde effects—poorly-timed commutes, mangled messages, etc. But fortunately, the cosmic troublemaker has had enough of its backward motion.

"As the planet of communication and technology corrects its course, we will all begin to feel some reprieve," astrologer Desiree Roby Antila assures us. 

No need to tell us twice. 

Meet the expert: Desiree Roby Antila

Desiree Roby Antila, author of Sun Signs in Love, specializes in sun signs and astrological relationships. She has been studying astrology for several decades and has written numerous articles on matchmaking, cosmic timing, forecasts, and more. Desiree also teaches astrology classes in her local community and has conducted hundreds of natal chart and synastry readings.

Mercury goes direct 2023: everything you need to know

Curious what will happen now that we're changing directions? Allow us to fill you in!

When does Mercury go direct?

The first bout of Mercury retrograde 2023 will come to an end on Wednesday, January 18. As of January 19, it's all smooth sailing until the spring. Do expect a few lingering effects of the Mercury shadow period, but nothing terribly overwhelming.

What should we expect when Mercury goes direct?

You can expect to feel a bit more driven and ready to tackle projects thanks to Mercury's forward motion. The timing couldn't be better; considering Mars is moving direct, our sluggishness is finally behind us, too. This is a planetary win-win, an astrology gift from the cosmos themselves!

"Less than a week ago Mars went direct, and now Mercury is also correcting its course at 8° Capricorn which will continue to motivate us into this New Year," Roby Antila says. "Mars brought our physical energy back, but Mercury will bring us some much-needed clarity and focus that we have been lacking over the last three weeks."

How do we make the most of Mercury moving direct?

If you felt as though your New Year's resolutions were off to a slow start, now is the time to truly get things in motion. Embrace the Capricorn energy to put your plan in place. Considering we have two noteworthy planets cooperating, it's an ideal time to get focused professionally. (Hey, you have the energy and clarity, after all!)

"Mercury has been in reverse since December 29 and made sure to meddle a lot with work-themed topics. If something in your career has been stalled, you will finally see it moving ahead," Roby Antila says. "Mercury moves into Aquarius on February 11, so use this short time to ask for that promotion, raise your rates or make those career goals you have been thinking of."

While you're at it, be sure to have a look at your 2023 career and money horoscope, too, so you can get planning!

While the thought of Mercury retrograde sends people into a panic, we hate to say that it cannot move forward all the time. However, as astrologers have insisted many times before, the transit is not all doom and gloom. 

"[Mercury retrograde] offers us the ability to really see ourselves," Patrick Price, Nebula: Horoscope and Astrology App’sexpert, previously told My Imperfect Life. "It can lead to great self-awareness allowing you to make positive changes where they may need to happen." 

It's a time to embrace, for sure, but we won't complain when it goes direct, either! For more on the cosmos, have a look at our 2023 guide to what planet is retrograde.