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Mercury retrograde. Two words that are sure to strike fear into the hearts of those who follow the stars.
If left unchecked, this astrological phenomenon can cause chaos on the world stage and in our daily lives. The bad news? It’s here and will last until August 27.
If you lose your keys, argue with loved ones or even get back in touch with an ex over the next few weeks, the reason could lie in this strange peculiarity of planetary alignment.
But what is it? Simply put, Mercury orbits the Sun much faster than Earth, and each complete orbit takes just 88 days, compared to our 365-day year.
As it moves faster, an optical illusion occurs three or four times a year: it appears as if Mercury is speeding past Earth, then slowing down and moving in a reverse loop.
Astrologers like myself believe that we are strongly ruled by the movement of the planets across the sky, and that each planet influences a different aspect of our lives.
Astrologer Susannah Gill believes that humans are strongly ruled by the movement of the planets across the sky, with each planet influencing a different aspect of our lives.
Mercury represents all forms of communication, including listening, learning, and negotiation. It also rules contracts, legal agreements, and computer code. Travel, whether by air or road, also falls under its influence.
Furthermore, when Mercury is retrograde, its energy becomes even stronger, and with it its areas of influence reverse. That means that during this three-week period we are in a spiral of re-evaluation, review and readjustment of all things in life.
You will see things come back into your life that you thought had disappeared a long time ago, and situations that you thought you had resolved will resurface.
This may sound crazy, but if so, you’re in the minority: A recent survey found that 71 percent of us believe Mercury retrograde could have a negative impact on relationships.
As an astrologer, I often find friends and colleagues contacting me when things are going wrong and asking if Mercury is retrograde.
However, despite its reputation for chaos, if you understand what is happening and work with it, you can harness it to benefit and improve your life. So what can you do to survive this period of upheaval? Here are my top tips…
What it means to you
In this specific retrograde motion, Mercury stationed (i.e. stopped) at 4 degrees of Virgo in the celestial chart on August 5. It now appears to be moving backwards toward 21 degrees of Leo, from where it will exit its retrograde state on August 27. Therefore, during this period, you should keep an eye on the energies of these two signs.
Virgo represents a sense of duty, practicality and service, while Leo characterizes leadership, ambition and determination. The qualities of the signs can be thwarted.
When Mercury is retrograde, creating an illusion three or four times a year as it orbits rapidly around the sun, its power to affect learning and travel becomes stronger.
In Virgo, who has a tendency to analyze, be critical, and pay attention to details, Mercury retrograde will inspire you to analyze things in that way. However, you may end up being overly critical of yourself and others, resulting in nitpicking criticism. It’s important to ask yourself if this criticism is deserved or if you’re being unfair.
In Leo, there is a tendency towards drama. Leo feels everything intensely, so with Mercury retrograde you could exaggerate things and be more intense than usual.
If you were born during a Mercury retrograde period (you can find out by getting your birth chart from websites like astroseek.com), then you are lucky!
This is a window of opportunity because it is a time when you can achieve things. This is because Mercury’s energy aligns with the same energy as the day you were born, so it enhances your ability to communicate and express yourself. It can also help you make decisions and improve negotiation skills.
Take time to reflect
It is important to harness the reflective power of this period and look at what is going on behind the scenes in our lives, to examine the details and motivations. Why is this person reappearing in our lives now? Why are we feeling nostalgic for someone and tempted to text them?
If we use Mercury retrograde wisely, we analyze our feelings and emotions… it’s a powerful time to take stock. Am I in the right career? Are my decades-old friendships really serving me? Remember, it’s never too late to change or alter the course of our lives. So take advantage of the analytical energy to review your life, at home, at work, and in your love life.
Make sure to triple-check your travel plans during this period, as Mercury’s energy can put some obstacles in the way.
Expect setbacks
It’s important to be especially practical during this period of confusion. Back up personal information and valuable images on your computers and triple-check travel plans, as they are more likely to go awry.
Mercury also has power over buying and selling, so be especially careful when making large purchases and keep receipts in case of buyer’s remorse.
Don’t start anything new
Never start a new job, buy a house, or welcome a fresh start during a Mercury retrograde because you’ll be getting off on the wrong foot.
The energy is in reverse, so everything related to communication and travel has shaky foundations. When you’re moving forward, you have nothing solid to build on. If necessary, double-check documents, contracts, and communications, because chances are something has been overlooked!
Beware of past loves
This period always brings people from our past back into our lives. I tell everyone to remember why they broke up with a person or why they ignored a friend in the first place. Therefore, never start a new relationship or get married during this period. Communications are not well established and their foundations are likely to be shaky.
As told to Samantha Brick. Find Susannah Gill on Instagram @astrology_by_suse