Mercury retrograde: two words that make our anxiety spike BIG TIME. Yet, have you considered that stress levels rise during Mercury retrograde BECAUSE we expect them to? Think about it -- we go into the season thinking it’s going to be a disaster, and some would argue that we actually manifest this disaster with our negative mindset. It makes sense!
Mercury Retrograde Cycles In 2021
This year Mercury retrograde will start on January 30 and go until February 20 in air sign Aquarius. Later, it will occur again from May 29 to June 22 in air sign Gemini. Finally, it will occur one last time in 2021 from September 27 to October 18 in air sign Libra.
Whoa. Prepare yourself.
What Mercury Retrograde Means
Before we go deeper into the problems that arise during Mercury retrograde, let’s first talk about what it even is (in case you’re new to the whole concept). Astrologically and astronomically speaking, a retrograde is basically when a planet APPEARS to move backwards in its orbit. Obviously, no planet can actually go backwards, but it looks like that from our Earthly perspective. Make sense? Moreover, in astrology, whenever a planet is retrograde, it means that we should all take the opportunity to look within ourselves and focus more on our needs.
When Mercury goes retrograde, it’s a good time to look inward because this planet rules communication and technology, which are two things we spend a lot of time dealing with in our lives. Plus, we all know that when communication goes awry, it can cause some real chaos.
What Mercury Retrograde Can Teach Us
Mercury retrograde challenges us to shift our perspective! Instead of freaking out about a miscommunication with your partner that caused an argument, ask yourself if this isn’t a part of a bigger pattern with the two of you. If a work project hit a wall because of bad communication among your team, ask yourself if you could be doing a better job of delegating. Basically, Mercury retrograde challenges us to look deeper into problems as opposed to just throwing up our hands and saying, “Damn it, Mercury retrograde!” in frustration. It’s so easy to blame this period for all of our problems, and yes, sometimes there really is something to be said about Mercury retrograde being responsible for some issues. If you shift your perspective, however, you’ll find that you can use Mercury retrograde to your advantage.
On the other hand, if you’re the anxious type, and don’t want to rock the boat, you can lay low during Mercury retrograde. Don’t make big decisions or any important moves. Don’t launch anything associated with communication such as a website. Don’t sign contracts or enter into any verbal agreements, because they could be a little shaky and unreliable.
BOTTOM LINE
Trust your instincts, look at whatever happens as a potential learning opportunity, and keep a low profile.