We just experienced the first Mercury Retrograde of 2018. Most people are fearful of when this happens 2 to 3 times a year. If you’re familiar with Mercury Retrograde, then you understand. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, keep reading and I’ll also tell you what I learned from this Mercury Retrograde.
Here’s how science explains the retrograde: “Retrograde motion is an APPARENT change in the movement of the planet through the sky. It is not REAL in that the planet does not physically start moving backwards in its orbit. It just appears to do so because of the relative positions of the planet and Earth and how they are moving around the Sun” (source, thanks NASA). Basically, Mercury appears to be going backwards.
In astrology and the spiritual community, it is believed that Mercury Retrograde affects things such as communication, travel, technology, and contracts. I can say from personal experience, it is very true. During this time (which usually lasts about 3 weeks), it is advised to rest, don’t sign any contracts, don’t travel, and if something does go awry, reflect on it.
I became aware of Mercury Retrograde about 2 years ago when a friend told me about it. I did my own research and reflected on how this has affected my life.
For example, last April, my fiance and I went on a road trip to Raleigh, NC during the retrograde and the craziest things happened. He forgot his phone at home and we had already driven for two hours. When we arrived at the AirBnb, there were carpenter bees welcoming us at the entrance (I’m terrified of bees). I’m sure there were other things that happened too.
I usually make a point to simply observe Mercury’s retrograde and use it as a time to rest. I try not to focus on how it could be “bad”, because what we focus on is what we attract.
Here are a few tips on how to “survive” a Mercury Retrograde:
Communicate Mindfully
During this time, communication goes haywire. Misunderstandings happen way too easily. I set the intention to communicate mindfully. In my opinion (and experience), this isn’t the time to bring up the things that have been weighing on your heart.
Don’t travel unless you have a sense of humor
As I mentioned before, crazy things happened during my trip to Raleigh. I used to be the kind of person who would freak out and stress the second something unplanned happened. Now, I have chosen to laugh about it and let it flow. Stressing and freaking out isn’t going to change the situation, so find the humor in it or at least accept that there might be a good reason for it, such as a learning experience.
Be cautious of contracts/big decisions
Some people will tell you to absolutely avoid contracts and big decisions. However, I don’t believe that is realistic. Sometimes things come up and they can’t wait until the retrograde is over. Imagine calling back a potential employer and saying, “Sorry, I have to wait until the Mercury Retrograde is over to make this decision.” My advice is to be cautious, read all the fine print, ask questions, and get the answers in writing.
Backup your computer/phone
Mercury Retrograde also affects electronics. Electronics stop working and glitches happen. I recommend backing up any data before the retrograde. However, during the retrograde is not the time to reformat your computer or transfer your website to a new host. If it can, wait until Mercury goes direct.
The best thing to do during the Mercury Retrograde? Lots of self care. See my post for 5 self care ideas.
What I learned this time…
During this Mercury Retrograde, I chose to take it easy. Everything was smooth sailing until halfway through. I was on a roll with blogging and I felt really aligned. Suddenly, I had two big arguments with people very close to me. These arguments took a lot out of me, but they were big misunderstandings and taught me some very important lessons.
I realized that I haven’t enforced the necessary boundaries to protect my energy. In order to take care of myself, I have to limit how long I stay in someone’s negative space.
Some really deep reasons why I’m (secretly) terrified of success came to light also. These were things I hadn’t thought about in a long time. Unfortunately, I needed to go through some tough conversations to reflect on it.
A lot of emotions and thought patterns from my past were triggered, and I am being given the opportunity to work through them. I have to work through these things in order to achieve my dreams.
Did going through these situations absolutely suck? Yes. However, through my personal development/spiritual journey, I am learning how to handle these types of things better. I reflect on what I can learn from conflict and contrast. Sometimes, it’s just people projecting their own fears too and I need to learn to have boundaries with those people.
Well, Happy Mercury Direct! 😉
How was Mercury Retrograde for you? Did you learn any important lessons?
The gorgeous photo for this post is by Kevin Cochran on Unsplash