Back Back Forth and Forth: Wellness Tips for Surviving Mercury Retrograde

Once again, Mercury retrograde is upon us. For those unfamiliar with the term, Mercury retrograde is an astrological phenomenon that occurs when the planet Mercury appears to be moving backwards in the sky. It occurs every 4 months and lasts about 3 weeks, affecting everything Mercury rules including communication, travel, technology, contracts, and because humans are social creatures, our relationships.  This current retrograde period started on June 18^th and will last until July 12^th.

 
What is Mercury Retrograde?

Even for people who don’t believe in astrology, Mercury retrograde is hard to deny as it can cause miscommunications, delays, and the breakdown of electronics, major appliances and cars. It’s important during this time to back up your computer, save your work frequently, and exercise patience. Give people the benefit of doubt if something they say seems off. Most importantly, try not to sign contracts. Often a contract signed during retrograde will end up being problematic later on.

It’s not all bad news. Mercury retrograde is a time when things slow down so you can reflect on where you are and anything in your life that needs addressing. Maybe you’ve been putting off some home repairs that are critical now. Or you might have old friends or long lost loves (exes!!!) get back in touch. Retrograde is not a good time for initiating new projects or relationships, but is an excellent time to review plans and resolve things that have lingered from the past so you can move forward towards a future on better footing.

Mercury Retrograde Survival Tips

Mercury retrogrades can be stressful. Especially in the middle of a pandemic during a tumultuous year. It’s the last thing you need when your car breaks down, you forget an important meeting, or you and hubby stop talking because you said zucchinis, he brought home cucumbers, and now dinner is ruined FOREVER.

Okay.

Let’s take a deep breath.

Remember that over the next few weeks, it’s not you, it’s not your partner, it’s the universe. More than ever, you will need to be mindful of your manners, exercise patience with yourself and others, and practice self care. Here are a few helpful tips to keeping your cool during the retrograde:

Be resilient. You’ve been working on a presentation for the last four hours when the power goes out. You realize you were so in the zone, YOU FORGOT TO SAVE. In that moment, your first response is to throw your computer out the window and cry. But remember, you still need a presentation. Retrograde is going to test your resilience and ask you, are you a victim or a problem solver. Rather than feel like you’re being punished, try challenging yourself to get up and get through. See what lessons life might be trying to teach you at this time, what it is you need to do, then get it done. Embrace the challenge. 

Get organized. Mercury retrograde can make you feel like you’re losing your mind. Be extra conscious of where you put important things so you can find them later. Clean up clutter. Make sure files are actually saved before closing. Double check that emails were sent and not stuck in your outbox. Proofread EVERYTHING. It’s also helpful to get in the habit of making a daily list of tasks and deadlines. Organization will be your safety net.

Get outside. Sometimes some fresh air, blue skies, and a head-clearing walk can help you mentally reset, providing you fresh eyes to approach obstacles.

Get your blood flowing. Exercise releases endorphins that tell your brain everything is okay. Whether that means going for a run or a bike ride, or hitting the gym if yours is open, when you get your blood pumping, you give your mood a boost. Approaching problems with positivity is conducive to problem solving.

Take a warm bath. Did you know that baths aren’t just for cleansing? Soaking in a tub of warm water recreates the place where we felt safest and most connected—that’s right…the womb. Add in some candles, mood music and soothing bath products, you can now enjoy the ultimate setting for deep relaxation.

Reach out to friends. Mercury retrograde is a great time to reconnect. Especially in today’s busy world, it’s easy to get bogged down by the daily grind. Reconnecting with people you have a positive connection with goes a long way towards reminding yourself of who you are and happy times. You also find empathetic ears to vent out your frustrations. 

Take care of yourselves, friends. The next three weeks will be challenging, but remember, without challenge there is no change. Without change, there is no growth. YOU GOT THIS!