It might feel like you hear about the dreaded Mercury retrograde all the time. People talk about the communication planet’s backspin as if everything’s doomed. But what’s all the hype actually about? We’ll break things down to help you understand what this astrological phenomenon means for you.
Mercury, the planet closest to the sun, represents your mind. Its influence shows up in how you listen, think, speak, and write. (So, what many of us have to do for work, and how we connect with others.) Think of it as how you process everything your brain takes in. Everything from your curiosities to the way you tell stories is reflected by Mercury’s placement in your chart.
During a retrograde, a planet looks like it’s moving backward in the sky. But it’s actually an optical illusion! With the different orbits of the planets, Mercury seems to move faster or slower as it passes by or falls behind Earth in its journey around the sun. We tend to give Mercury a lot of attention because it’s the planet most often headed retrograde. Also, it can be a doozy. When Mercury’s moonwalking, you might feel like you’re sliding backward, too. During this period, being productive may feel harder, and the areas influenced by Mercury can get chaotic. Expect a couple of, “Oops, I didn’t mean to send that to you!” texts.
The weeks surrounding Mercury retrograde matter, too. A week or so prior, things will start to get a little bit helter-skelter as the active energy of Mercury stalls out and gears up to reverse course in the sky. That’s the time to pump the breaks on anything that feels less than complete and be extra careful with your devices and email. (Don’t forget to back up that backup!) The days following Mercury retrograde are when you’ll slowly brush off the sleep from your eyes. It’s a time of readjustment, and the best medicine for that is patience.
All things considered, retrogrades aren’t all bad. Mercury retrograde cycles are essentially the planet’s way of making sure you process and use what you’ve learned. So, instead of panicking during a retrograde season, go ahead and relax. Other “re-” verbs can help you at this time too: reflect, recharge, revise, review, and rework. Remember, slowing down can be productive too!
Ultimately, Mercury’s effects during retrograde season are unique to you and your chart. Did you know you’ve got a Mercury sign, too? You’re so much more than your sun sign. Chat now with a Sanctuary astrologer today to find out how Mercury’s motion impacts you!
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