“I am thriving through Mercury retrograde,” I say to myself, as my computer crashes (and both my backup drives get wiped) and I lose 10 years’ worth of data, projects, and memories.
“I am thriving through Mercury retrograde,” I sob on my therapist’s couch, discussing a relationship that ended a decade ago and I hadn’t thought about him until that very moment.
Fast forward to this year, when I’ve lost my job, my cat needs surgery, and I’ve got unexpected medical issues creeping in.
The TLDR is that bad shit is gonna happen occasionally, that’s just life. It’s how we choose to navigate these situations that reflects our strengths and our shadows.
As witches, we are so eager to reclaim our power, but so ready to give it up to a planet or the Universe the moment something happens that we don’t anticipate.
And that’s what Mercury retrograde is – uncertainty. And we, as humans, hate uncertainty.
WHAT IS IT?
A planetary retrograde just means that the planet appears to be move backward in the sky. It revisits the previous sign it exited and we get a second chance to feel into those energies.
Mercury is the planet of communication, travel, learning, curiosity, and information processing, with intense impacts on personality and communication.
WHAT DOES IT AFFECT?
As a collective, we can experience Mercury retrograde through travel disruptions, errors in paperwork and information processing, scheduling mix-ups miscommunications, and technological failures.
Individually, Mercury’s retrograde will happen in one of the twelve houses of our chart, affecting a specific area of our life.
Retrogrades remind us of what we need to pay more attention to. Usually, those hiccups are a result of rushing through or a reminder to not neglect areas the planet governs – in this case communication, tech, and travel.
HOW CAN I PREPARE?
Mercury retrograde is happening whether we are ready or not. It’s happened before, and it will happen again. There’s no need to panic.
That’s not to say that bad things will not happen, but that preparing for it can help you move through it with more grace, so that you’ll bounce back faster.
Contrary to internet memes, Mercury retrograde is not bad luck, it’s a cosmic review period. It can be helpful to remember the “re-” words.
Mercury retrograde is a time to:
REPAIR by performing maintenance on any small projects. Backup your computer files, ideally before the pre-shadow period which is two weeks before Mercury stations retrograde (I cannot stress this one enough). Reinforce your protective wards.
REFINE by taking a second look at plans, projects, relationships, goals, and travel itineraries for any errors. Make tweaks to any projects. Pause before speaking. Make sure to read the fine-print in all contracts and agreements. Research to gather as much information as possible before launching a new venture. Be cautious in signing any important documents during this time. Drink peppermint tea to help with clarity.
REFRAME by assuming the best before misinterpreting messages, misunderstandings, or creating unnecessary arguments. Try to hold the duality that two things can be true at once. Channel your energy and tension into exercise and creative endeavors. Anchor the Hanged Man card and approach shadow work from a different perspective.
RECONNECT with old friends (NOT YOUR EX). Listen to your intuition. Explore your creative expression by picking up an old hobby. Revisit routines and rituals you’ve let fall by the wayside. Address what you’ve neglected or been delaying. Fix mistakes, repeat tasks, rewrite documents. Retry failed recipes or spells.
RELAX by building buffer time where possible. Slow down, take a step back and pace yourself. This is not the time to rush or react in haste. Practice patience before making rash decisions. Seek comfort and prioritize restful sleep. Take a calming salt bath or try mindful breathing exercises.
RECHARGE by earthing and spending time in nature. Do a digital detox and go offline for a bit, if feasible. Drink grounding tulsi or chamomile tea.
REFLECT on past lessons, but do not dwell on the past. Give yourself a chance to look at any recent decisions. This is a good time for introspective work, like meditation to tap into your inner stillness, and shadow work. Listen to nostalgic music or watch old movies.
RESIST overthinking, avoiding your own feelings, and making new decisions. Reschedule if you’re taking on too many tasks. Pause before reacting out of fear, guilt, or frustration. This is also not a great time for making large purchases, so hold off if you’re able. Things will be back to normal soon.
RELEASE negative patterns and beliefs, chaotic and stagnant energies. Relinquish control by surrendering to what is instead of trying to force everything. Don’t take things too personally. Declutter your space, deep clean and clear out expired items from your pantry.
REALIGN by adjusting your personal goals to make sure they still fit who you are authentically. This is a time for presence, and a portal of transformation.
My best advice for moving through Mercury retrograde is to slow down, to turn inward, and to rest.
This will not last forever and this too shall pass. Power doesn’t panic. There’s no need to give your power and agency away to the sky weather. Astrology informs so that we can be prepared for the journey ahead, it is not resolutely predictive, and it doesn’t have as much influence as the internet may make it seem. Best of luck.
Have a crazy Mercury retrograde story? Let me know in the comments below.
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