What is it about the infamous Mercury retrograde that sends us into a state of bewilderment? Why is it that things seem so out of our control during this time? What is a Mercury retrograde and why exactly does it affect our lives so dramatically? Have there ever been times when you felt that things were going especially badly for you? Perhaps your computer crashed or your work was deleted whilst you were in the middle of an important assignment? Or maybe you realised you had forgotten to take important documents with you to the airport, meaning your holiday was ruined? Have there been tense moments with a friend that created conflict in your relationship? These could all be the effects of Mercury’s notoriously life altering retrograde.
The appearance and the sensation of Mercury going backwards during a retrograde often mirrors the feeling that our own lives are going in reverse, preventing us from moving forward during the chaotic period that comes with the retrograde. This is especially the case when it comes to communication, information and travel, areas dominated by Mercury. The dates for 2023’s retrogrades are the following:
August 21 – September 4 in Virgo
December 13 – January 1 2024 in Capricorn
During these times, life may suddenly feel more turbulent and you may find it harder to organize certain aspects of your life. Mercury retrogrades are infamous for causing confusion and usually leave us feeling unsettled. During this time, life can often take unexpected twists and turns that leave us wondering why these aspects of our lives have become so arduous. Whilst you may sense these alterations, it is not always possible to avoid them, especially if you are not prepared. There are a lot of questions surrounding the problems that arise with the retrograde. This guide should hopefully answer those questions and help you understand exactly what a Mercury retrograde is and how to take precaution before, during and after the episode.
What exactly is a Mercury Retrograde?
Firstly, we need to understand exactly what a Mercury retrograde is before we are able to balance its effects. As we all know, each planet in our Solar System orbits the Sun from a distance, with each distance a different measure of approximity. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, meaning it orbits around the star at a much quicker rate than our Earth, the third closest planet. A number of times throughout the year, usually three or four, Mercury passes Earth whilst in its orbit. As it curves the bend in passing, it creates what is called a “retrograde-station direct cycle”, which is essentially an optical illusion of Mercury slowing down based on what we see from a fixed point of view on Earth. The illusion is of a station (where the planet stops) and a retrograde (where the planet spins backward). You may be familiar with the feeling of sitting on a train whilst at the train station and having the feeling that you are going in reverse, when in fact it is the train directly next to you that has created this sensation due to differing speeds as it passes in that split moment, altering your vision. A Mercury retrograde gives exactly the same impression.
You may be wondering what this means astrologically or, more precisely, what areas of astrology are affected and how that impacts you directly. Essentially, during times of retrograde, a planet is somewhat in a state of hibernation, meaning that we are not actually benefiting from a fully functioning, attentive planet. It is for this reason that things start to become disorganized and life begins to feel… muddled. If you want to ensure you are prepared for the upcoming retrograde starting on August 21st and for the other in 2023, then you will first need to understand what element Mercury is found in for this year.
Each year, Mercury will always favor one element; Earth, Fire, Air or Water. This year, the favored element will be Earth, with the planet retrograding in determined and sensitive Virgo. Whilst our Virgos’ are known for their pragmatism, they are also recognized for their ambition and their shyness. As this year’s retrogrades are principally in the Earth element, it is for this reason that communication in relationships may become complex and hard to manage.
What does this mean for those of us born during the Retrograde and those of us with a Mercury zodiac?
Please do not be concerned if your zodiac is ruled by Mercury or if you were born during a retrograde. However, there are a number of factors to be aware of if you happen to be affected by one or both.
Mercury rules the Geminis and the Virgos of our world, making it understandable as to why communication and misinterpretation of information can be common during the retrograde. Geminis are well-known for discussing their feelings in detail and expressing themselves regularly. Therefore, communication problems during a retrograde can be particularly troublesome for our Geminis, the sign of the twin. On the other hand, Virgos tend to dominate by creating a hierarchy amidst the people around them. This hierarchy is usually one that Virgos themselves personally understand a lot clearer than others, hence organization being affected.
For those of us born during a retrograde, a number of astrologers believe the period has less of an impact. It is believed that people who are born in this time are philosophical and often wise, meaning they can work through complex and difficult times in their lives with a steady and determined nature. However, be aware that there are still times where life might suddenly feel like it has become overbearing and complicated. Therefore, I still advise you to take precautions and try your best to be organised during the “shadow period” to avoid any unwanted suprises. To find out if you were born during a retrograde, you can check your natal chart. Mercury’s symbol has a small ‘R’ under the chart on the horoscope wheel.
Tips and advice for getting through the Mercury retrograde
A “shadow period” will definitely make itself known in the weeks leading up to the retrograde and will continue after the retrograde has taken place for a slightly shorter period. For that reason, during the “Impending Shadow Period”, you may still be aware of its presence and encounter problems two weeks leading up to the retrograde.
During the “switch grade”, the day the planet actually turns retrograde, the planet will progess along a path where it will eventually backtrack in our celestial sky during a couple of weeks. During the retrograde itself, there are some things you can do to try and soften the chaotic blow it provides. The most important thing to remember is to remain calm and not to make any rash decisions to prevent unnecessary setbacks. Rushing into decisions will only make things worse, as Mercury also rules contracts, so do not jump into a decision that requires you to sign anything. For any retrograde, it is important for everyone to be extremely cautious with anything directly linked to the planet Mercury. Consider the retrograde a point in your year where you have the opportunity to stop and really contemplate what is happening in your life so you can make adjustments for the future and rectify any past mistakes. Use this as an opportunity to focus on anything positive in your life beginning with the prefix ‘re-‘, meaning to go backwards. This corresponds with the reversing of Mercury during the retrograde. Examples could be: reflection, reassessment, renewal, revisiting, redoing, redesigning, rekindling, reaffirming etc.
As previously mentioned, Mercury, the mythological messenger of the Gods, rules communication, information and travel. Below are some guidelines for how to make sure you can be prepared for the effects of the retrograde in relation to these aspects of your life.
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Communication
Communication can become very difficult at the time of the episode, usually with loved ones. This means that you need to take extra precaution when having conversations with friends and family so as not to say something you may regret. These communication issues may not only be prominent in your personal life and love life, but also in your professional life, with potentially tricky moments between you and your colleagues. The most important thing to remember during this time is to attempt to try and avoid long, in-depth conversations with others. If you do need to speak to someone about something pressing or serious, make sure to take your time and consider what it is you want to say prior to speaking. It is worth noting that communication is not only affected in the form of speaking, but also in acts of negotiation, including the selling and buying of products. Try to hold off from making any big transactions during the dates of each retrograde so you can be sure you are investing into something that you really want and need.
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Technology
Technology is affected during this time because one of Mercury’s realms is the use of codes, which includes the use of technology codes. Issues could take effect on a number of modern devices, like computers, tablets, phones and signal failures at transportation stations. It is easy to see the link between communication and technology in today’s society, as technology is such a fundamental tool needed in order for us to remain connected to the ones we love. It is also the primary source of contact between people in most work environments. I definitely recommend continuously saving all important documents to make sure no files get lost. Be very careful when sending electronic messages so as not to have communication between you and others miscontrued; for example, the possiblity of autocorrect on mobile phones! If something does happen that frustrates you, wifi issues are usually the ones that irritate people the most, try to remain calm and make sure to use the “shadow period” to back anything up on each of your technological devices.
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Travel
A lot of people panic about potential travel complications during the retrograde, nobody wants to have their holiday ruined! Whilst it is impossible to have complete control during this period, there are certain things you can do to make risks and dangers less likely. Once again, the link between communication, technology and travel is very clear as we use both communication and technology to formulate and execute our travel plans. Should something happen that risks a smooth execution with regard to a holiday, the repercussions could be disastrous. Ensure you take precautions by planning ahead when you travel. Spontaneous travel plans are wonderful and create a zest for life, but I strongly encourage you to take trips like these outside of the retrograde periods. Perhaps go a bit old-fashioned in your appraoch to planning and preperation: take hard-copy maps, print out plane tickets, and write out directions on paper. That way, should a technological device fail you then you have back-up. Always arrive early to make sure you have lots of room for error so as not to miss any transportation methods.
