Mercury Retrograde. Two words guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of those who follow the stars.
If left unchecked, this astrological phenomenon could wreak havoc on the world stage and in our daily lives. The bad news? It’s here and it’s here until August 27th.
If you find yourself losing your keys, having arguments with loved ones, or even reconnecting with a former flame in the coming weeks, the reason may lie in this strange quirk of planetary alignment.
But what is it? Simply put, Mercury orbits the sun significantly faster than Earth, with each complete orbit taking just 88 days, compared to our 365-day year.
Because Mercury moves faster, an optical illusion occurs three to four times a year where Mercury appears to speed past Earth, then slow down and move in a backward loop.
Astrologers like me believe that we are strongly influenced by the movement of the planets in the sky and that each planet influences a different aspect of our lives.
Astrologer Susannah Gill believes that people are strongly guided by the movement of the planets in the sky, and that each planet influences a different aspect of our lives
Mercury represents all forms of communication, including listening, learning, and negotiating. It also governs contracts, legal agreements, and computer code. Travel, whether by air or road, is also under its influence.
Furthermore, when Mercury is retrograde, its energy becomes even stronger, turning its areas of influence in reverse as well. This means that during this three-week period, we are in a spiral of all the ‘re-s’ of life: reassessing, revising and adjusting
Things you thought were long gone return to your life, and situations you thought were resolved resurface.
It may sound crazy, but if so, you’re in the minority. A recent survey found that 71 percent of people think Mercury’s retrograde motion can have a negative impact on relationships.
As an astrologer, I often find that friends and colleagues contact me when something goes wrong and ask if Mercury is retrograde.
But despite its reputation for chaos, if you understand what’s happening and work with it, you can use it to improve your life. So what can you do to survive this period of turmoil? Here are my top tips…
What it means to you
In this particular Retrograde, Mercury was stationary (meaning it stopped) at 4 degrees Virgo on the sky chart on August 5th. It now appears to be moving back to 21 degrees Leo, where it will come out of Retrograde on August 27th. So during this period, you need to be aware of the energies of these two signs.
Virgo stands for duty, practicality and service, while Leo characterizes leadership, ambition and determination. The qualities of the signs can get into chaos.
When Mercury is retrograde, creating an illusion three or four times a year as it rapidly orbits the Sun, its power to influence learning and travel is strengthened
In Virgo – who tends to be analytical, critical, and detail-oriented – Mercury Retrograde will inspire you to see things that way. However, you can become overly critical of yourself and others, which can result in nitpicking. It’s important to ask yourself if this criticism is justified or if you’re being unfair.
In Leo there is a tendency to be dramatic. Leo feels strongly about everything, so in Mercury Retrograde you may take things out of context and be more intense than usual.
If you were born during a period when Mercury is Retrograde (which you can find out by downloading your birth chart from websites like astroseek.com), then you’re in luck!
This is a window of opportunity because it is a time when you can get things done. That is because the energy of Mercury aligns with the same energy as the day you were born, so it enhances your ability to communicate and articulate. It can also help with decision-making and improve negotiation skills.
Take time to think
It is important to use the reflective power of the period and look behind the scenes of our lives to explore details and motivations. Why is this person re-emerging in our lives now? Why do we feel nostalgic about someone and are we tempted to send them a message?
If we use Mercury Retrograde wisely, we are about our feelings and emotions… it is a powerful time to take stock. Am I in the right career? Is my decades-long friendship really serving me? Remember, it is never too late to change or adjust the path of our lives. So use the analytical energy to evaluate your life – at home, at work – and your love life.
Make sure to triple check your travel plans during this time, as Mercury’s energy could throw a spanner in the works
Expect setbacks
It is important to be practical above all during this time of confusion. Back up personal information and valuable images on your computers, triple check your travel plans, as they are more likely to go awry.
Mercury also has power over buying and selling, so be extra careful when making large purchases and keep your receipts in case you regret your purchase.
Don’t start anything new
Never start a new job, buy a house, or welcome new beginnings during a Mercury Retrograde, as you will be starting off at a disadvantage.
The energy is reversed, so everything that has to do with communication and travel is on shaky foundations. If it moves forward, it has no substance to build on. If you must, check the paperwork, contracts and communications, because it is likely that something has been overlooked!
Beware of old loves
This period always brings people from our past back into our lives. I tell everyone to remember why you broke up or why you ghosted a friend in the first place. Therefore, never start a new relationship or get married during this period. Communication is not good and chances are your foundations are rocky.
As told to Samantha Brick. Find Susannah Gill on Instagram @astrology_by_suse