Tips to get through Mercury Retrograde with Ease

As scary as Mercury Retrograde sounds, you don't have to fear it. I mean, you survived 2020 right? In all seriousness though, many felt the wrath of the state of the world, and I’m sure you are wondering how best to prepare for the next astrological crisis that comes our way. 

What is Mercury Retrograde? 

When Mercury is said to be in retrograde it appears to be traveling in reverse orbit from the view of Earth, it looks more like a loopty loop. Mercury has a smaller and faster orbit than Earth so it’s merely an optical illusion (it’s not really going backwards). But the wake of it’s path as it’s flying by seems to leave a trail of destruction. Mercury in retrograde begins on April 21st and runs through May 14th, then August 23rd to September 14th. The last Mercury Retrograde of 2023 will run from December 13th to January 1, 2024.

The planet Mercury is named after the Roman’s Messenger of the Gods.

The planet Mercury rules communication, intellect, and reason. So if you were to think about it, Mercury Retrograde affects the areas in how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. With all that chaotic energy it leaves your head for a spin. 

Not only does Mercury in Retrograde seem to add confusion to communication and relationships, it also tends to make technology mysteriously more glitchy than normal. 

Why does mercury retrograde seem to affect technology? 

This is a pure mystery to me, believe me I’ve looked for the answer in many places. It’s just commonly observed and personally experienced that weird things seem to happen to technology during this time. 

Phones may power off randomly or freeze, or your presentation you spent days on suddenly disappears without reason. You may accidentally walk into a malfunctioning electronic door, while you are trying to fix your phone that just dropped the call of your boss, who’s wondering when your (now lost) presentation will be ready. So if you're losing your sanity over why Instagram suddenly crashes for a day or your Zoom call forgets to turn your camera off when you need to run to the bathroom, don’t say I never warned you!

How to Survive Mercury Retrograde

When I’m feeling intense chaotic energy the first thing I grab is Palo Santo. Skip the Sage; you need the Palo Santo energy! Palo Santo is a no brainer for clearing energy. It removes all negative energy and keeps the positive, unlike sage, while enhancing clarity, promoting joy, and releasing stress. Yes Please!

The planet's backward motion is a good metaphor reminding you to look back and slow down, to appreciate how far you’ve come, what you’ve been doing in your life, and to journal out your dreams so when Mercury goes direct, you’ll have a roadmap for success.

Self Care During Mercury Retrograde

Right now is the transition between Spring and Summer so it’s a perfect time to start on those hobbies you’ve been putting off and dust off those books you’ve been wanting to learn from. One book I just got in is The Stars Within You, a modern guide to astrology. I’m super excited to learn more about astrology, and per my scientific partners request, I also snagged the Astrological Almanac, cuz why not learn the science with the Woo! 

If you are feeling the weight of the world right now, I give you permission to practice some self care. What does self care mean to you? Everyone is different in their version of what brings them ease, so honor that indulgence!

Some good activities are;

• CBD bubble bath
• Getting take out, or eating out if that’s available in your area
• Netflix and Chill
• Meditation with essential oils, crystals, and connecting to your spirit guides
• Journaling
• Schedule a massage
• Cozying up with some tea or wine and a good book
• Doing a tarot card pull for clarity
• Cleaning and organizing if you feel the energy in your home is too chaotic
• Gardening, this is a good grounding exercise. 
• Crafting till your heart's content!

What should you not do during Mercury retrograde?

Some important things to steer clear of right now are signing up for any big commitments that involve contracts. I signed up for one last year during MR’s pre-shadow and am kicking myself for not reading the fine print. Just don’t do it! 

Past relationships tend to pop up, don’t drunk text your ex, if one does appear out of the abyss, it’s an opportunity for closure….not alignment. 

Backup your devices! Computers on the fritz tend to lose important things. Also if you have a keypad or wireless entry home, see about carrying a spare key. I kid you not, the day Mercury went Retrograde, all the security equipment at one of my old jobs failed, and every electronic door was wide open for anyone to walk in so they had to manually lock all the doors and stand guard. 

Proof read your emails and texts before sending, you don’t want to send mixed signals. You know how much autocorrect loves ducks. 

And last but not least, don’t panic! Mercury Retrograde is only a season, it doesn’t affect everyone the same. Some people actually thrive when Mercury is in retrograde. Embrace the slower pace and reflect on changes you want to make in your life….once Mercury goes direct. 

Whether you believe planetary movement can affect the emotional behavior of the human species or not, can we just acknowledge this is a fun excuse to help cope with stress and chaos in our lives?

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