Mercury Retrogrades come 3 to 4 times a year and serve as a disruption to our lives because of their affinity for travel delays, miscommunication, errors, inclement weather, cancellations, technology fails, car trouble, arguments, and the like. Mercury rules communication, travel, learning, thinking, paperwork, trade, and health. So these areas of life are all impacted. But what if there was a way to approach Mercury retrogrades that eased the pain a little? Here are some of my tips to help you get through them more smoothly:
*Focusing on your health in the region of the body that it affects. Mercury is the planet of health, so we want to pay attention to the brain and nervous system in particular, but also the signs in which it transits to get more specific. Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of my medical astrology podcast to see the sign rulership for each body part.
*Editing and reworking old projects, articles, books, and videos. It is a call to go back and redo things more so than it is to start. It’s not that you can’t do anything new (ideally not get married, start a new relationship or job, or move). It’s just that it is a particularly good time to look back at the past and see what you can repurpose and maybe even improve upon.
*Learning to be more patient, flexible, and adaptable. Lots of mistakes tend to happen. Plans often get delayed or cancelled. So you’re better off going with the flow as much as possible.
*Improving your communication. Clear communication is extra important during mercury retrogrades. What you say is heard or read differently and miscommunication arises. Irritation and conflicts may arise. So if your communication is clear and open, then do your best not to take things personally.
*Spending more time reflecting, reviewing, journaling, and tending to your own needs. This is a much more introspective period, as it forces us to slow down from our regular pace of life. We may also be feeling a bit more run down, so taking more to rest would be well-advised.
*Expecting and preparing for potential travel delays. Plan ahead, give yourself more time, and bring additional books, audio books, music, podcasts, journals, and snacks when you are commuting or traveling.
*Reconnecting with old friends. People have a way of coming back into your life during Mercury Retrogrades. It’s a good time to reach out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while or you might find that they reach out to you. The people you want to watch out for are people that wronged you or exes that try to get back together. Don’t take the bait on those ones.
*Paying closer attention to details by reading the fine print or having someone else review your drafted work. When Mercury is retrograde, our brains and nervous systems take a hit. It causes overstimulation. Our focus is off, which means it is a good idea to slow down and zone in. Maybe taper off the caffeine and bring in some peppermint tea, rosemary essential oil, or gingko to help you focus. Or you can hand off your work to a second set of eyes to look it over.
*See if you can find any personal patterns with each Mercury Retrograde. Maybe you’ll even find recurring themes that you go back to for each one where it even gives you a déjà vu feeling. It is a very imperfect time. Things feel very off and out of place, but it does have its purpose. Again, to slow down and go inward. Take more time for rest. Say less, observe more. If you want to know the overarching theme, look to the house(s) that Mercury Retrograde is transiting in addition to the aspects it is making in your chart.