Hold onto your hat. It happens four times this year and it’s coming up fast—Mercury retrograde.
You’ll hear people say not to sign any contracts, to prepare for miscommunications, and for electronics to go haywire. And while all that can be true, Mercury retrograde isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Mercury doesn’t actually move backwards in the sky. It’s an illusion. Have you ever been on a train that passes another one that’s standing still? The other train looks like it’s going backwards. Mercury retrograde is the same sort of illusion. But illusion or not, the effects are real.
Mercury will station retrograde on May 10th in the sign of Gemini, an air sign. On May 22nd, it will then continue backwards into Taurus, an earth sign, and stay there until June 3rd. What this means is that we’ll be given an opportunity to review how we engage with others (Gemini’s influence) and how we feel secure in ourselves (one of Taurus’s specialties).
Here’s what you’ll need in your toolkit.
First, review the areas of your life that are currently teetering on the brink. How’s your bank account? Your love life? Your job? Shore up any weak points. Organize the messes in your life. Add security, figuratively and literally, where needed.
Mercury rules communication, so double check everything before you send it. You don’t need that text (sext?) intended for your honey going to your insurance agent.
Take a second or two before you respond. Keep your phone charged. Backup your computer.
Plan extra time to send emails, especially those with attached files. Don’t wait until the last minute to print important documents.
Leave early for appointments. Have a backup plan if you’ll be traveling. Expect delays.
These don’t have to be bad things. Use a delay to process an old wound. Finish something you started a while ago that’s left undone. Re-examine, renegotiate, or recommit to something.
Both Mercury and Taurus deal with money, so look for ways to save. Are you paying for Apple TV and not using it? Have you had an energy audit of your home recently? Is it time to start buying generic?
The best thing about Mercury’s retrograde periods is that they give us a chance to slow down, review, and revamp. If you know where Mercury resides in your astrological chart, you can take a swan dive in and examine what you’d like to change. If you don’t know, there are many free sites you can use. This is one of my favorites Explore your natal chart now.
If the rug does get pulled out from under you, roll with it. Laugh at the situation and yourself. Acknowledge the prank as if you’re in on it. And know that it’ll be over June 3rd.