It’s that time of year again, unfortunately. From April 21 til May 17, Mercury is retrograde in the fixed earth sign of Taurus, bringing about a period of time where you’re being urged to deal with your past. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius are feeling this Mercury Retrograde the most, while Virgo and Capricorn are having a bit of an easier time.

When a planet goes retrograde, it’s a sign that you’re in a period where you need to RE-view, RE-work, and RE-do the area of life ruled by that planet. Mercury governs communication, travel, and tech, which are all very prominent themes in day-to-day life, so it’s the one we “feel” the most.

In Venus-ruled Taurus, this Mercury Retrograde is urging you to focus on your finances and your relationships. No impulse buys. Save money whenever you can. Think before you speak, and when it comes to your love life, take things very slowly.

Taurus has a nasty reputation for being stubborn, and with Mercury Retrograde in Taurus, it’s very easy to fall into that sort of behavior without realizing it. You can get into major arguments over itty bitty issues that really aren’t that deep, but you refuse to back down just because you don’t want to be “wrong.” Take a deep breath and remember the importance of compromise now.

Is Mercury Retrograde the end of the world? No, but it can be a big pain in the ass. Just remember a few things. 1) Reread everything before you hit send. 2) Think before you speak. 3) Triple check all of your travel plans. And 4) If something/one is being brought up, it’s for a reason, and you need to use this time to deal with it. Good luck!

You need to be a real penny pincher over the next few weeks, Aries. If you don’t truly understand the value of a dollar now, you will by the end of this Mercury Retrograde! No, you’re not ~magically~ going to lose all your money now, but you will run into harsh consequences if you aren’t spending responsibly.

Watch your mouth! Mercury is retrograde in your sign, so you’re definitely getting hit the hardest. If you can’t find the right words to say, instead of forcing it out, take a second to think before speaking. If something isn’t working, don’t get pissed off—take a break from it and return later. The key to surviving this retrograde is patience.

Exes of all kinds are coming back around, Gemini, and you’re being asked to deal with them, quickly. There are a few messes you’ve made (or been exposed to) that haven’t been dealt with, and before you can move forward, you have to hit pause and address them.

Watch out for drama with frenemies, Cancer. If someone in your squad is acting shady, don’t hesitate to distance yourself from them. There could be some arguments or little mishaps, but if you keep a level head, you can avoid any major fights from happening. You’re finding out who your real friends are now.

There’s no other way to put it, Leo—the pressure is on at work, and your performance right now carries major influence over your future. Do your best, and think outside of the box when you encounter problems. Turn everything in on time and don’t shirk the details. It feels like you’re kicking your own ass in addition to work, but the rewards will be worth it at the end of the retrograde!

First of all, make sure you’re triple-checking everything from your tickets to your luggage to your arrival/departure times, if you’re traveling at all over the next few weeks! Scheduling issues are huge during this Mercury Retrograde, and if you don’t fight to stay on top of it all, it’ll be easy to get overwhelmed.

Any unpaid debts you owe need to be paid, and the bill collectors are practically knocking on your door at this point. Maybe you’re debt-free (lucky you), in which case, you’ll be having to hound other people to give you the money they owe you. Your checkbook better be balanced by the end of this retrograde!

It’s cuffing season for your sign, but thanks to Mercury Retrograde, your love life is riddled with drama. First of all, your exes are definitely coming back around. Second of all, if you’re single, you’re very likely to get mixed signals from potential partners. You’re getting ghosted (accidentally or not), having no luck finding any fun, and you’re just not getting everything you want from your love life right now. Take it slow.

Here’s what I gotta say: If you sit in shit too long, it stops smelling. Take a look around, Sagittarius. There’s a lot of tidying up to be done, there are tons of bad habits you need to quit, and your life is sort of in a state of disarray as a result. Get organized. Quit vaping. Stop eating fast food for every meal. It feels like a battle to quit, but it’s a fight you need to win. Healthy habits you set now will last a very, very long time.

You’re arguably getting the easiest Mercury Retrograde experience of all twelve signs. The biggest issue to watch for is running into an ex-flame. This isn’t even a bad thing, necessarily—this could be your chance to find that lost spark and start something new with them! Just remember to go slow.

Electronics at home are more likely to break down now. Try to fix it if possible—if you buy something new during the retrograde, it'll likely be glitchy too. There’s also drama with roommates/family, and you’re being given the role of mediator. Stay calm and be patient while you deal with it.

You have so much you want to say right now, but whenever you open your mouth, it just doesn’t come out right. This retrograde is here to teach you how important it is to think before speaking, or even more importantly, think before acting. PS: Car trouble is way more likely now. If your vehicle is acting funny, get it checked!

Jake Register (better known by his Instagram handle, @jakesastrology) is a Libra and the author of Cosmopolitan’s weekly Sexoscopes. He lives in southeastern North Carolina and spends his free time studying astrology, writing horoscopes, crafting zodiac-flavored memes, and roller skating. If you like astrology and humor, follow him on Instagram and Twitter!