By Amelia Quint

Maybe you’ve heard of Mercury retrograde playing tricks on your schedule and inbox, but what does it mean for your love life? Don’t worry, it’s not all DMs from past crushes and canceled date plans! It’s actually an invitation from the cosmos to see things from a new perspective.

This Mercury retrograde starts on September 3 in Libra, the sign of relationships, giving you a chance to rethink your current approach to dating. After that, Mercury backtracks into its home sign of Virgo on September 23, where it’ll help you sort through some of the day-to-day life admin that might be weighing down the mood. Thanks to this cosmic cleanup, you’ll find clever ways to make your time together more beautiful by the time it wraps up on October 2.

Curious about how this Mercury retrograde will affect your dating life based on your star sign? Read yours to find out!

Aries

If you’re stuck in a dating rut, this Mercury retrograde will help you form new habits. Instead of asking your Bumble matches the same questions and visiting the usual spots for a date, mix it up! Try to prioritize dating over the next three weeks so that you can try these new habits out; it’ll help you clarify what you’re looking for and realize the type of love you want. If you’re paired up, start a new routine with your partner or set a new couple goal. 

Taurus

Mercury retrograde is famous for bringing last-minute schedule shifts, but thanks to this one backtracking through your romance zone, it could lead to an unexpected meet-cute! If you find yourself having to rearrange dates in your calendar, keep an open mind. You might run into a new crush or have way more fun on a Bumble date than you’d initially expected. 

Gemini

This Mercury retrograde, you’re caught between flirting and catching feelings. It’s a precarious spot to be in, but it’s a little exhilarating too. The most important thing for you to remember right now: Don’t rush to define which side of that line you’re on just yet. These three weeks are a great time to reevaluate the balance of romance with reality in your love life.

Cancer

Expressing your emotions usually comes easily to you, but during this Mercury retrograde, it’ll probably be more challenging than usual. The silver lining? You’ll find new strategies for thinking through and sharing your feelings. If you aren’t sure where to start, try jotting your thoughts on love down in a journal, writing your Bumble match a note, or noticing what your inner monologue says about relationships.

Leo

Dating is all about finding someone who has a compatible communication style and similar values to yours, and this Mercury retrograde helps with both. If you aren’t sure how you’d describe those aspects of yourself, practice now makes later conversations about it so much easier. And when it comes to date night, these three weeks are great for enjoying little luxuries on a budget with your Bumble match and discovering hidden gems in your neighborhood together. 

Virgo

Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to keep up with an aesthetic that isn’t really yours? During this Mercury retrograde, you’ll be way more satisfied by setting and sticking to long-term money and style goals instead of expensive date nights or someone else’s idea of what sexy looks like. For the next three weeks, try untangling your self-worth from your net worth.

Libra

Mercury retrograde in your sign might sound intimidating, but it’s a great time to reflect on how much you’ve changed recently and what that means for your love life. When Mercury backtracks into your spirituality sector on September 23, you’re looking for a magical connection that’s far deeper than just a next date. You want soulmate material and won’t settle for anything less. 

Scorpio

You tend to keep certain parts of your relationship a secret, but this Mercury retrograde could prompt you to share more of your love life with your friends. It’ll help you strike the balance between group hangouts and private meetups with your current plus-one, and you’ll feel so much better having a bigger network of support on your side. 

Sagittarius

Your free-spirited sign craves spontaneity in romance, but during this Mercury retrograde, taking opportunities for career growth and leadership roles means you’ll have to be more structured when planning out your date nights. It’s a great time to reflect on your ambitions—and whether they’re aligned with those of your Bumble match.

Capricorn

If you’re caught between work pressures and a desire to go on a new adventure, this Mercury retrograde is your call from the universe to put your out-of-office message on and explore the wider world. With your Bumble match, you could go on a romantic day trip or watch a movie that transports you both to another world. It’s also a great time for intellectual conversations and learning more about your date’s philosophy on life.

Aquarius

When you’re head over heels for a new love interest, it can be tough to find the equilibrium between spending all your time alone together or shouting your feelings from the rooftops. Luckily for you both, this Mercury retrograde will help you do just that. After this three-week stretch, you’ll know which parts of a burgeoning Bumble romance to keep secret and which ones to share. 

Pisces

You’re a total romantic, and when it comes to love, you go all in—but all relationships need boundaries, even in the early stages. During this Mercury retrograde, you rewrite the borders of your dating life to preserve your individuality. Conversations could go to traditionally taboo topics like sex, money, or even difficult past experiences, but communicating about it can help strengthen your bond.