Well everyone, it’s that time of year again. Time for us all to blame our mood swings, communication problems, impulsive behaviors, and unfortunate events on the fact that Mercury is, yet again, in retrograde.
What is retrograde and what does Mercury have to do with it?
Mercury retrograde happens about three to four times per year and it’s when Mercury goes through, approximately, a three-week long period where it seems like it stops, pivots, and moves backward. Emphasis on the word seems because it’s not actually happening. It’s just the orbits of the planets aligning and making it appear as though they are changing direction.
The current Mercury retrograde cycle started on September 9th in Libra and will continue until September 23rd when it shifts into Virgo, and will finally come to an end on October 2nd. The bad news, and yes there is more bad news to come, is that some astrologers talk about something called “shadow phases”. These “shadow phases” are basically the before and after parts of the official beginning and end of the retrograde cycle. Mercury entered its pre-shadow phase in mid-August and won’t end its post-shadow phase until mid-October. So in all actuality, Mercury retrograde tortures us for a good two months, we just don’t always know it.
What to expect and what you can do
What’s important to note here is that YOU’RE NOT GOING CRAZY! This Mercury retrograde starts in Libra, which fixates on balance and harmony, so don’t be the least bit surprised if your life seems out of wack these next couple of weeks. Libra focuses on relationships and finds balance in companionship, but because we’re in retrograde, these relationships might go through some tough challenges throughout the next couple of weeks. In astrological terms, the planet Mercury itself represents communication, mentality, thinking patterns, rationality/reasoning, and adaptability and variability. Try to keep these in mind so that if you’re having trouble communicating with your loved ones, you make sure to talk it out. Or if you decide to text an ex, you can (try to) justify yourself by telling your angry friends that your rational thinking is not in its usual state. At the end of the day, just make sure you slow down, think things through, and take some time to yourself. Last note, remember to be kind to the people around you and try not to take out your feelings of anger or frustration on them. Mercury retrograde can be a tough and confusing time for everyone, not just you. Sending positive vibes!!