Despite becoming a popular topic amongst wellness circles only in the last few years, Mercury Retrograde has been written about by astrologers as far back as the mid – 18th century, at a time when farmers would also sync their planting schedules to the patterns of the stars. Today however, astrologers are revealing that beyond agriculture, Mercury Retrograde can impact our modern lives. From difficulties with communication and planning, to problems with new ventures and issues with technology (as was the case with the Instagram, Facebook and Whatsapp blackout on the 5th October, right in the middle of Mercury Retrograde!) Mercury Retrograde is said to impact us all in a similar way. Read on to find out how to navigate your way through this tricky planetary time. If there’s one thing for sure though, taking Paul Greenberg’s advice from Goodbye Phone, Hello World and adopting a digital detox could well be the best medicine.
Whether we’re approaching, in the midst or recovering from Mercury Retrograde, it’s good to know what this phenomenon is and how to manage it throughout the year. Read this guide below to help you wrap your head around it all:
What is Mercury Retrograde?
According to astrologer Susan Miller, Mercury being in Retrograde refers to a specific time in which Mercury appears to move backwards (although it doesn’t literally change direction), which causes a profound shift in the energy here on earth. Susan explains; “Because Mercury is the planet situated closest to the Sun, its orbit is much shorter than Earth’s. About three or four times a year, Mercury speeds past Earth, and that is when we experience a Mercury retrograde period. If you were in a car and another car passed you, you could tell it was going faster than you. But if it slowed down and you then passed it, it would appear that that car was actually going backward. Then when the other car speeds up and passes you again, it kicks up all of the dust in the road. As Mercury speeds by, it is like a train flying past, creating a powerful, turbulent gust of “wind” in its wake. The turbulence and disruption Mercury creates when it retrogrades can affect what we feel on Earth in our everyday lives”.
Throughout these three or four times a year, we’re warned that the aspects of life Mercury rules over can be challenging, and that we should pause or take great care when it comes to all areas of communication including listening, speaking, learning, reading, editing, researching, negotiating, selling and buying as well as signing contracts and leases, and anything to do with technology. If you’ve already explored the Moon Lists journal, 10 Minute Moon Rituals, or the Moonology Oracle Cards, you’ll have an understanding of how powerful the planets around us can be. Whilst it might feel frustrating and ominous, the parts of life Mercury rules over also tend to be the ones that cause us the most stress, so take into consideration that Mercury Retrograde periods provide us with a natural and vital moment to pause.
Take Time To ‘Re’……
Mercury retrograde is said to rule over all actions beginning with ‘re’, as in ‘reflecting’, ‘repairing’, ‘revisiting’ or ‘reorganising’. As we find ourselves in both a period of Mercury Retrograde, as well as the Autumn season, this is the perfect time to turn our attention towards our foundations and home life. Focus on reorganising and de-cluttering your home, and use the Crystal Fix guide to harmonise the energy of each room in your house, attracting abundance, joy and serenity. To practice reflecting, use the Write It Down, Let It Go journal, which is also effective for processing and releasing stress and anxiety. You can also practice reflecting by using the School Of Life gratitude card set, ‘re-minding’ us of the many reasons we have to be thankful. This is of course an important time to ‘re-lax’ and ‘re-store’ too, which we’ll dive into next…
Relax & Restore
With all the uncertainty and warning signs surrounding Mercury Retrograde, this is a time in which to purposefully pause. (With so much information out there on what we shouldn’t do at this time, you might just feel like hibernating underneath the Manduka wool blanket anyway!) It’s easy to rush through life and feel pressure to push through the week in a state of stress and exhaustion, but if we take the advice of astrologers, we’re encouraged to take a step back from the dynamics of everyday and think carefully about our choices. If you’re about to book an event or adventure, astrologists advise us to hold back from booking anything until after Mercury Retrograde has finished this month (after October 18th if you’re reading this in 2021).
It is said that anything we plan or book in a time of Mercury Retrograde has the potential to change or go awry, so slowing down before committing is highly recommended. If your mind is in a constant state of ‘go-go-go’, make a choice to add more restorative practices to your week, with the Yogamatters daisy print buckwheat bolster, matching daisy print eye pillow, and the organic cotton yoga blanket. Make a note of your upcoming plans in the Positive Planner before booking them, so you can go back to them at a later date when Mercury Retrograde is over.
As we progress through this powerful time of astrological change, how will you take time to pause, reflect, revisit, rest and restore until Mercury Retrograde is over?
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