Mercury Retrograde
What it is and what it isn’t
Have you noticed how fear is included in every headline nowadays? Fear is a powerful way to keep people compliant, to stay small, and to keep their voices low.
And we are taught to fear Mercury Retrogrades, when, in reality, this season is here to teach us something important instead of fearing it.
A Mercury Retrograde is when the planet Mercury appears to move backwards through the Zodiac, and every year it goes retrograde 3-4 times.
In Astrology, Mercury is said to be the god of travel, communication, and business. It is a small planet that moves fast, and it orbits the sun in approximately 88 days.
We have been told not to travel, not to sign important documents, and definitely not to make important life decisions. In other words: Please pause your life for weeks at a time, several times a year.
It goes without saying that this is not doable. And it isn't what a Mercury Retrograde is here for, either.
Why the Chaos, Why the Pause?
The reason why Mercury Retrograde gets a bad reputation is simple: When the planet of communication and logistics appears to "slow down," everything it governs becomes prone to misunderstandings, delays, and technical glitches.
It’s true that during this time, your flight might be delayed, emails might go astray, and old contracts might need to be renegotiated. But instead of seeing this as an astrological curse, view it as a necessary cosmic slow-down. This is a lovely chance for you to catch up.
The Invitation: Review, Reflect, Revisit
This season is an invitation to sort out stuff, both mentally and physically.
This is the energy of the three R's:
Review: Look back at your goals from the last quarter. What worked, and what did you quickly abandon? Review your budget and spending habits.
Reflect: Take time away from the noise to look inward. Reflect on past arguments or unresolved conflicts. How did your actions contribute? This is a perfect time for journaling and honest self-assessment.
Revisit: Go back to old projects, connections, or skills. Did you start learning a language that you dropped? Did you forget to follow up with a great contact? Revisit incomplete tasks and tie up loose ends.
This might not be the time for brand-new launches, but for perfecting the foundation you already have.
Practical Sorting: Getting Physical
Transfer the files from your hard drive to the cloud. Clean out the bathroom drawer, toss the expired body lotion and the dried-out mascara. Go through your fridge and organize the food so that what’s soon to expire will be the most visible. Wipe every shelf and pat yourself on the shoulder for the job you do for your well-being.
Embrace the Power of the Pause
Mercury Retrograde is not a season of fear; it is a season of preparation. It is the universe giving you a chance to clear the clutter from your past so that when the planet moves direct again, you can move forward unburdened and with intentional clarity.
Instead of fighting the slowdown, lean into it. Use this time to polish your existing work, mend old bridges, and finally clean out that metaphorical (and literal) junk drawer. You are not pausing your life; you are strengthening its foundation.
