How Do You Survive This “Mercury Retrograde” Thing You Keep Hearing About?
Are you familiar with Mercury Retrograde? If so- I’m sure you know how powerful this astral event can be. If not, don’t you worry!
Consider this your one-stop-shop dedicated to understanding everything you need to know about Mercury Retrograde and how to navigate through it with ease and grace.
The key is to be prepared and ready for it. You’ve got to be in a conscious mental, emotional and energetic state!
I learned about the “MR” (Mercury Retrograde) back in early 2016 and have been fascinated by it ever since.
As you probably know, my mission is to help spread faith, love, and abundance to as many people as I can. Naturally, MR can be quite an event to live through, so I’m doing my best to give you any and all bits of information I’ve got!
For those wondering, in 2020 Mercury will still be in retrograde on June 17th through July 12th, and on October 13th through November 3rd. It was also in retrograde back in February, but that’s in the past.
Now, let’s look forward and prepare ourselves for future Mercury Retrograde events!
What Is the Mercury Retrograde?
Three or four times per year, the planet Mercury goes into retrograde.
During the retrograde, communication tends to get a little haywire, so it’s no surprise that I missed the year’s first retrograde before posting this!
When that happens, Mercury appears to move in the opposite direction to planet Earth.
Also, if you’re interested in the phenomenon; Mercury is in retrograde when, from the Earth’s perspective, the planet’s orbit inverses its direction for a while.
This is the astronomical phenomenon of “retrograde.” Now, let’s get to the good part and talk about the impacts of Mercury Retrograde!
So… What’s the Big Deal?
First off, Mercury Retrograde affects everyone on Earth, one way or another. The degree might differ between people but everyone’s affected, regardless of the astrological sign.
You might feel like some things are moving backwards, just like Mercury seems to be moving backwards from our perspective… But don’t worry!
Although MR is associated with periods of absolute chaos, confusion, miscommunication and just tons of trouble… You’ve got lots of power to be conscious about it and avoid most, if not all of the negative!
One of the ways I highly recommend dealing with Mercury going retrograde is practicing gratitude. I just so happen to have a wonderful, FREE Gratitude meditation right here!
Now, if you also keep track of Mercury’s schedule, and how events in your life change correspondingly, you’ll really start noticing it’s an important thing to pay attention to.
On my end, I always have the general times Mercury will enter retrograde in mind. This helps me be better prepared and equipped to move forward with clarity and focus to avoid the frustration that the retrograde periods bring about.
Let’s dive into Mercury retrograde and get a closer look at what it means for you.
Below you’ll find the Mercury Retrograde Periods from 2020 to 2022 – These are the times you need to keep in mind.
How Does Mercury Retrograde Affect Your Everyday Life?
Astrologers believe that Mercury Retrograde has a significant effect on all of us here on Earth. More specifically, it’s impact is greatest when it comes to communication and technology.
Because of all this, Mercury’s retrograde period tends to get blamed for every error you can think of:
- Misunderstandings, with or without technology
- Messed up business deals
- Unreasonable delays in transportation
- Appliances and gadgets randomly breaking down
You’ve Got to Be Careful!
I’ve got a few recommendations:
- Hold off on buying any new gadgets
- Take extra precautions when it comes to protecting your electronics from water or otherwise
- Make sure to be on top of any delays
- Be careful with super important conversations
I personally don’t subscribe to all of that. Instead, I look at the retrograde as a time to step away from all the hassle and re-center.
I do believe it’s the right time to re-center and ground yourself. The benefits are absolutely amazing and there’s no better time!
Alright, Let’s Get Into My 7 Steps to Surviving the Retrograde!
1. Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is a fantastic way to benefit from Mercury going retrograde, believe it or not. Just as you’ll read in step #7 below, reflecting on the past is key. Reflecting on what you have, who you’re with. Adding gratitude to the mix is such an amazing idea!
On that note, click here to download my FREE Grateful Morning Meditation! I know you’ll love it, it’s short, simple to-the-point, and did I mention free?
2. Take It Easy
It can be pretty easy to lose control every once in a while during retrograde. This is because misunderstandings run rampant! Whenever you feel a little upset or frustrated with anyone or anything else, take it easy; step back and re-center yourself!
3. Be EXTRA CAREFUL With New Purchases!
If you don’t have any plans to purchase anything (especially anything expensive), this might not be the time to do it. There are often contractual oversights that occur throughout retrograde… If you’ve absolutely totally got to get that purchase done, be sure to look everything over carefully!
4. Be Very Clear
Now’s the time to really take the extra steps to be very clear with people. It’s already a good idea to not keep things in life vague, but especially during Mercury Retrograde. Miscommunication becomes much more frequent, so make sure to be clear!
5. Keep up Smart “Tech Habits”
I can’t understate this enough guys… Back up your work! Save your data, back it up externally if you want to be extra safe… Frankly these are habits we should all have regardless!
6. Verify Sensitive Documents
Check, double-check, triple-check, you name it! If you’ve got any sensitive documents, it won’t hurt to make sure your mind’s not playing tricks on you.
7. Meditate on the Past
This is actually a fantastic time to think about the past, in a positive, forward-looking light. What have you learned? Journaling could be a great idea!
Alright! Now you know what this astral event is, when it’s going to take place and a shortlist of things you can do about it, let’s take a deeper dive!
Think of Mercury Retrograde Like… the Planet’s Taking a Break!
Think about it as Mercury’s “resting.” It’s taking a snooze!
Naturally, while it’s taking a breather, the activities that are associated with it will be on the back burner for a while.
So areas of communication, learning, and travel will tend to malfunction to a certain degree while Mercury, which impacts these activities is in retrograde.
What You Should – and Should Not – Do During This Time
Remember not to make any important moves when Mercury is retrograde.
It’ll be difficult to have things set up successfully for the future during these periods anyway – life goes on but you might find it really tough to nail down a plan.
During a retrograde period, it might also be harder to act decisively, for you and others. Empathy and understanding are absolutely key throughout these times!
Even if they aren’t related to technology directly. I still believe it’s a bad time to start a new venture. This is due to the inherent presence of cooperation and communication in every field of business!
Similarly, I wouldn’t recommend signing on to any important contracts or agreements unless urgent.
MR And “Communication Uncertainty”
During these periods, uncertainty might appear to surround everyone, there’s a natural uncertainty in communication.
- If you start a new job, make sure you’re certain of the details, it might not be everything it’s cracked up to be or what you expected.
- Buying a new car might lead to a whole bunch of unforeseen problems.
- And, similarly, buying or moving into a new home could also lead to a ton of issues, make sure to get everything checked!
What Other Specific Things Should We Keep Our Eyes Peeled For?
Since Mercury really controls all form of communication, be extra careful when delivering, or reading, important documents.
If you send faxes, make sure the other involved parties know about it. It wouldn’t surprise me if they don’t notice!
Be equally careful with email!
you don’t want to send a private email to the wrong person or have sensitive information forwarded to others.
Your higher-up or clients may suddenly change direction on a project you have been working on and give you new instructions, which may require you to discard some of your work.
Miscommunications abound during retrograde, it helps to stay conscious and summarize what you’ve been told to keep things clear in your mind.
It might sound like a bit of work, but it’s worth it!
Oh- and keep track of the way you, yourself, communicate. It’s important to stay aligned with your inner self and Spirit. One of the best ways to do just that is to practice gratitude!
Another specific thing to look out for is the state of your electronics…
Mercury retrograde periods are notorious for causing computers to crash and for machines, appliances, and other electronic devices to show signs of wear, requiring important repairs.
If you had planned to install new software on your personal computer (or on your network), it might be wise to wait until the retrograde period is over to do so.
Expect Weird Things to Happen!
Weird and strange things might happen to you, but I don’t personally believe Mercury Retrograde, on its own, will cause dramatic life events. However, it might accelerate what’s already in the works.
For example, you may suddenly discover that you were sold a defective hard drive, even though it may never have given you problems in the past. Of course, the hard drive was delivered defective, it just turns out that you’ll find out right after saving something important. That’s probably MR.
Mercury also has influence over economic activity, so I don’t recommend buying or selling anything of note during its retrograde phases unless it’s essential.
If you do buy something expensive, maybe a new car or a plane ticket, make sure you’re ready to handle anything that crops up.
When buying or selling a house, expect problems, errors, delays, and setbacks to arise. Hang in there!
Computers, high-tech items, appliances, automobiles, and other machines and electronics are highly susceptible to Mercury in a retrograde period.
How Mercury Retrograde Affects Transportation
Mercury does rule moving parts, so that might be the reason it affects transportation.
If you’re planning on driving a significant distance during Mercury Retrograde, make sure to take extra precautions so your vehicle is in top shape and you won’t get lost.
Oh! And be very vigilant and wise with your luggage. Take precautions to prevent it from getting lost or sent to the wrong airport. Lastly, get ready to spend time waiting, delays galore! (but that kind of feels normal LOL).
Traveling for Pleasure Is Fine Though!
Actually, this might be the perfect time to go on that vacation you’ve been waiting for! (Although, of course, in 2020 we’ve got travel restrictions due to the pandemic…) 🙁
Since Mercury Retrograde is very backwards-facing, locations from your past might crop up into memory. Maybe they’re worth a visit?
It could be lots of fun, and it might bring back some great moments from your past!
But be aware of one thing…
Being forgetful is also a pretty big deal
- Make a mental note of where you leave your keys and your phone!
- Try to be conscious of things you might “leave at work”
- You might hear this a lot: “Have you checked the back seat?”
Simply Be Conscious of Mercury Retrograde and All That Entails, and You Should Be Fine!
I also suggest that if you buy a gift, Take the time to note it’s product or serial number. This just avoids any extra issues.
It won’t hurt to let your recipient know their gift is safe. Everybody else tends to be forgetful, too! We don’t want them feeling embarrassed.
Another thing I’d recommend, while we’re on the topic of keeping track of things. It might be time to make a bunch of photocopies of your important documents.
Mercury Retrograde and Relationships
Couples tend to create miscommunications that in turn can cause a domino effect of problem after problem!
The key is to not to jump to conclusions, be calm, courteous and make sure to understand, then be understood.
As a short little tangent, remember that self-love is key to manifesting (and maintaining) love. And what better way to cultivate self-love than gratitude? Check out my wonderful little FREE gratitude meditation here!
Now that I think of it, this is actually pretty good relationship advice in general, too!
Just stay conscious that confusion might be much easier to run into during these times! Staying conscious and proactive in resolving miscommunications is key.
Keep Your Zodiac Signs in Mind!
If Mercury is in retrograde in your sign, delays and frustrations may become even more pronounced than usual. You just have to be extra-conscious about it.
Be very vigilant and double-check stuff!
It won’t hurt to go the extra mile, retrograde or not, after all. With that said, these periods demand an understanding and deliberate approach.
But… Nothing’s Different, Zane?
That’s right! Or at least, it seems right. Nothing’s different yet. Mercury entering retrograde orbit is like your “signal” that things are up and about. Your everyday life will feel the same, you just get to be conscious.
It’s difficult to anticipate problems, because, well, if we could anticipate all problems, we wouldn’t have any! This is why I really preach the “be conscious” approach.
The Connection Between Zodiac Sign Element and Mercury Retrograde
Each Zodiac sign is tied to one of these elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.
When Mercury is in retrograde during a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): We’ve got to try being creative and brave! This will help us solve the problems that crop up.
Remember, fire signs are known for their bravery and courage. It’s not the time to be shy, think outside the box and be heard!
When Mercury is in retrograde during an earth sign (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): It’s time to be a little more down-to-earth (pun very intended) and look at the problems through a pragmatic lens.
Think logically, know you can figure things out. Remember, be pragmatic, honest, know the boundaries and find those solutions!
When Mercury is in retrograde during an air sign (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): There’s going to need to be communication. Air signs tend to love discussions, make sure to talk it out! You might also want to look deeper into things and do your own research.
Make sure to stay logical, reason is your best friend! You’ll find the answer in no time.
When Mercury is in retrograde during a water sign (Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio): Now is the time to listen to your heart. You might do research, and it might go against your “gut feeling.” Pay extra attention to that feeling, as it might just be right.
If Mercury retrogrades in a water sign, it’s your cue to really put emphasis on that “gut” of yours. You’ll see how things work out great!
Regardless of your sign, I highly recommend practicing gratitude during Mercury retrograde. The backwards-looking nature of the event is a wonderful catalyst for gratitude, which empowers manifestation! Click here to get access to my very own FREE Grateful Morning Meditation!
What About Urgent or Pressing Matters?
If it can’t wait, you’re going to have to do it anyway. Remember, plan for things to go wrong. You’ve got to stay conscious!
For example:
If you’re making an offer on a property, you obviously have to purchase it as soon as possible! Keep in mind that I still highly recommend following everything else I wrote in this post. You know, double-check, ask questions, etc.
In summary, just be ready for something to come up. You can handle it!
Exceptions to the Rule
There are exceptions!
Regardless of everything in this post, there are, of course, situations where you’re able to progress during retrograde. Just remember to be cautious.
Mainly, it’s actually not a bad time to tie up loose ends and other things relating to the past.
Really, when it comes to exceptions, a rule of thumb is…
..If you have a history with the person or situation, you’re probably okay. Proceed carefully though!
What About Being Born During Retrograde?
Some would claim that people born under retrograde are immune to all the jazz we’ve got to deal with.
I’m not too sure about this, you could look it up but I wager everyone’s affected regardless.
In addition, due to their ability to “think backwards,” people born during Mercury’s retrograde period tend to be very creative!
If you’re concerned about having a child during retrograde, don’t be! There’s absolutely nothing to worry about.
The Run-Up to Retrograde
This is important- There’s a short period, maybe one to three weeks, before Mercury enters retrograde where things start getting funky.
Treat this time as “prep” time. It’s likely you’ll have some stuff to deal with, be ready!
Side note, Mercury retrograde is the perfect time to practice gratitude for what you have! Here’s a free meditation that’ll help you do just that!
Personally I actually recommend you simply take things one step at a time, and if you can help it, avoid every sensitive communicative matter you can until after retrograde.
It might make the difference, but regardless, be conscious and you’ll be alright!
Is There Nothing Good About Retrograde?
On the contrary! There are some wonderful things that come with retrograde. Think about it this way:
This is your time to reflect on the past.
Take the opportunity to meet up with old friends, relatives you haven’t spoken to in a while or build back some great habits you might have lost over time!
Mercury going into it’s retrograde phase is our opportunity to stop in our tracks, breathe and shift our focus to where it ought to be. This is great for tying up loose ends too.
Alright, Zane, but What Do You Recommend I Do?
Honestly Love, this could be the greatest time to tidy everything up.
Drawers, closets, desks, it all gets messy, and it all need tidying up. Or maybe it’s time to give whatever you’re not wearing to charity. There are tons of things you can do!
Mercury retrograde is the perfect time to look back, fix what needs fixing, clean what needs cleaning, repair what needs repairing, you get the idea.
During retrograde, take a second for yourself. Often times, in fact, we should really focus on what we already have, practice gratitude (this is important) and work on anything we’ve left unfinished.
Remember to take a breather and reassess your situation. Meditation is a great, healthy way to do this!
And remember, keep an open mind and an open heart. This could be great for you.
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Alright! There you have it, my friend! This may have been a long read, but you’re now well-equipped to handle Mercury Retrograde!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and do make sure to share this article on social media if it resonated with you! Who knows? It might brighten someone’s day 🙂
Sending you lots of love,
Zane
P.S. If you’d like a longer write-up filled with tons of great examples, check out this article on astrologyzone.com!
P.P.S. If you haven’t downloaded your totally FREE Grateful Morning Meditation, NOW is the time!
Updated: July 6th, 2020
Disclaimer: This post is made for informational and entertainment purposes only. This is NOT advice or in any way shape or form telling you what to do. Trust your gut and follow your inner guidance.
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