7 Ways to Make Mercury Retrograde Work for You

Can you think of a moment in your life where nothing seemed to go as expected?

Perhaps you felt like you were repeatedly striking out everywhere: at work, at home or with friends. Maybe you had a noticeably bad day that seemed to never end. You lost your keys AND cell phone. A job prospect fizzled. Your flight was delayed. You and your bestie got into a fight. And then your computer crashed before you could hit save, sending you straight into panic mode.

Rest assured, no one is completely safeguarded from all of life’s mishaps. But during certain times of the year, these instances can seem more frequent and intense. A possible culprit: Mercury retrograde.

What is Mercury retrograde?

Mercury retrograde occurs about 3 or 4 times each year. Simply put, it’s the period of time when the planet Mercury looks like it’s moving in the opposite direction than it should be.

Why does this happen? Earth's orbit isn't identical to any other planet’s orbit in the solar system. That means that all the planets, at some time or another, appear to move backwards. Mercury’s trip around the sun is much shorter than ours. Because Earth’s daily rotation doesn’t align with Mercury’s, it may seem like the planet is reversing its orbit for a period of time.

Here’s the thing: it’s actually just an optical illusion! The planet isn't actually moving backward. It only appears that way from our viewpoint here on Earth. But this imbalance is known to shake things up in the astrological ecosystem, and, thus, our daily lives. Ughhh, right?

Astrologists have been studying the effects of Mercury retrograde on human behavior for years. The planet Mercury is associated with all things communication, electronics and travel. So, when it’s retrograde, we should ready ourselves for a slowdown in these areas. Electronics glitch. Projects stall. Arguments ensue. Things go missing. You get the idea.

However, just because Mercury retrograde is in town doesn’t mean you need to run and hide. Mercury retrograde has some good qualities, too (yes, really!). In fact, you can even get this retrograde to work for you instead of against you. It simply takes the right mindset and extra diligence on your part. Ready to give it a go?

How to Make the

Most of Mercury Retrograde

1. Choose your words thoughtfully

One of the most common challenges of Mercury retrograde is communication (or miscommunication!) issues. These instances can pop up in many ways: from finding errors on contracts to confusing dates for events to miscommunications at work to misunderstandings with friends and family.

Understand that miscommunication is likely to run rampant when Mercury is in retrograde, so now is the time to slow down and double check everything. Ask questions for clarity, even if you think something seems straightforward.

Use care when selecting your words – both written and spoken. And if the people in your life seem to not be communicating the best, give ‘em some slack. After all, Mercury retrograde is affecting them, too.

2. Avoid new commitments (especially expensive ones)

Typically, Mercury retrograde isn’t the best time sign up for a new commitment.

Need a new car? Up for a new job? Walk cautiously and carefully. Make sure you communicate clearly with all parties involved and triple check any contracts.

3. Take extra time to think

Retrograde is a time to be extra thoughtful when making decisions, especially those that may impact multiple areas of your life over the long term. While it’s recommended avoiding making any major decisions during Mercury retrograde, life happens. And there may be times when you can’t afford to put off choosing a path any longer.

If this is the case, take time to step back and think about the decision and its possible outcomes. Understand your motivations for making a decision and weigh all pros and cons, even those that seem unlikely at the moment.

This is also important to practice when it comes to your personal relationships, too. For example, a friend or coworker may blow up at you for no reason. This isn’t a time to retaliate, write them off or hold a grudge. Take a moment and press pause. Understand that Mercury retrograde may be affecting them too, and they not be as well prepared to handle its effects as you are.

4. Finish forgotten tasks

Now is the time to complete projects so that when retrograde is over, you can move forward with a clean slate. This is an awesome time to take that to-do list and turn it into your to-done list.

Use Mercury retrograde to start tackling each task one by one. By the end of retrograde, you can look back to see just how much you’ve accomplished, and how much time you’ve freed up to take on new tasks. Double win!

5. Declutter

Retrograde is also an excellent time to start getting rid of clutter that’s accumulated and could be stifling your energy. Oftentimes, we don’t realize the negative impact clutter has on our lives until we release ourselves from it. A few things to prioritize during this time include:

• Getting rid of old clothes

• Going through stacks of papers

• Cleaning out the fridge and pantry

• Sorting through any piles

• Creating space on surfaces, such as countertops, dressers and tables

6. Indulge in nostalgia

Mercury retrograde is the perfect opportunity to review, recheck and reflect.

Sure, Mercury retrograde isn't the optimal time to start something new. But it is a great time to slow down and reflect on our past. Where we’ve been. The choices we’ve made. We can use those insights to help guide us once retrograde ends.

Feeling nostalgic? Take a walk down memory lane with a photo album or home video and enjoy revisiting old times. Or pick up the phone to talk with a friend you’ve lost touch with. These moments serve as excellent reminders of a life well lived and can help us feel hopeful and excited for the future.

7. Expect the unexpected

Lastly, remember that just about anything can happen when Mercury is in retrograde. Case in point: at the end of Mercury’s first retrograde period in 2020 (which was March 9th), we faced the imminent shutdown of the United States and many parts of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Flexibility and adaptability are helpful companions for a Mercury retrograde.

Anything is possible when Mercury retrograde pops up. Double-check everything. Take things slow and easy. Be mindful. That’s the name of the game when it comes to this planet. Are you feeling the effects of Mercury Retrograde? Let me know in the comments.

With love and light,

Hope