Long before Mercury became the planet that supposedly breaks laptops, it had a much stranger job. In Greek myth, Hermes, the god the Romans called Mercury, was the only one who could travel freely between the world of the living and the land of the dead. He guided souls down to the underworld. Sometimes he even carried messages back. That old story makes this year’s Halloween especially interesting to astrologers. On October 31, Mercury will be retrograde in Scorpio, the zodiac sign most closely tied to death, endings, and what lies hidden. Memory, grief, and unfinished business all seem to surface at once.
The Messenger Who Walked Between Worlds
The Greeks gave Hermes a special title: psychopomp, meaning guide of souls. He led the newly dead across to the underworld so they wouldn’t wander lost. He was also a messenger, a trickster, and a protector of travellers.When astrology took over his name for the fastest planet, it kept the messenger role. Mercury rules speech, writing, thought and memory. Its retrograde periods are known for bringing the past back, through old emails, forgotten names and conversations that never quite ended.Put that ancient guide of souls into Scorpio, the sign linked with the underworld through its modern ruler Pluto, and the symbolism is hard to miss.
Halloween as a Night of Remembering
Halloween’s roots lie in Samhain, the old Celtic festival when the dead were believed to come close. The next two days, All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2, were set aside to honour those who had died.Many people still feel that pull at this time of year, even without any religious practice. A song on the radio brings back a grandparent. An old photo turns up in a drawer. Someone mentions a friend who passed away years ago, and the room goes quiet.With Mercury retrograde in Scorpio, these moments may come more often over Halloween weekend. Astrologers describe it as a time when memory becomes vivid, almost insistent.
Unfinished Conversations, Living and Gone
Some unfinished conversations involve people who are still here. A sibling who stopped calling after a disagreement. A friend whose wedding was missed and never properly apologised for. A former colleague owed a thank-you that never got sent. Mercury retrograde often gives these a second chance, and the Scorpio setting gives them depth.Others involve people who have died. Many grieving people carry words they never got to say. Thank you. I’m sorry. I forgive you. I wish I’d visited more.Grief counsellors often suggest writing those words down. You can’t post a letter to someone who has passed, but it can still bring relief. Some families read such letters aloud during remembrance rituals. Others keep them privately or place them near a photo during prayers.In Indian homes, this impulse has its own path. Pitru Paksha, the fortnight for honouring ancestors, ended on October 10. Yet many families light a diya or say a prayer for departed relatives whenever memories return, and this weekend may bring plenty of such moments.
Remembering Without Getting Stuck
There’s a difference between remembering and replaying. Mercury retrograde can push some people to replay the same painful scene again and again, especially at night.A few habits help. Set aside a specific time for memories, such as an hour in the evening with old photos, rather than letting them run all day. Share stories with family instead of carrying them alone. And if grief feels heavy for weeks, talking to a counsellor is a sensible step.Mercury turns direct on November 13. Conversations reopened over Halloween, whether with the living or in quiet letters to the dead, often feel more settled by then. The past doesn’t disappear. It simply finds a place to rest.
