Do you shudder when you hear the words Mercury Retrograde? Maybe you have heard about it, but aren't quite sure what it means? The first Mercury Retrograde of 2016 starts on January 5th and goes until the 25th. Many people are only aware of the negative effects of this planetary aspect, but it's important to understand that even though things can and do go haywire during Mercury Retrograde, we do have the power to avoid any mishaps or at least, minimize their impact on our lives and well being.
If we really pay attention, we can use this retrograde to our benefit.
But first things first - what is the Mercury Retrograde?
Mercury Retrograde occurs when the planet Mercury passes between the Sun and Earth. It's called a retrograde because Mercury appears to be moving backwards from our vantage point here on Earth. Interestingly, it isn't actually moving backwards; it just looks that way.
What’s the meaning, astrologically?
When a planet retrogrades, it's basically in a resting state, so the things that this planet rules – in Mercury's case communication, travel, and technology –can be thrown into chaos.
The Effects of Mercury Retrograde on your Life and Relationships
You may find that you have miscommunication with people, plans may be delayed, your car may break down, your computer crashes or things may just not go the way you had planned. Noting when Mercury Retrograde happens throughout each year can be extremely beneficial to help you plan when and when not to do certain things. Take a note of the dates, and enter them in your calendar.
You may want to avoid signing any contracts during this time or buying that big ticket item. With a little planning and awareness, you may be able to avoid becoming a victim of Mercury Retrograde. In fact, you could use it to your advantage. But first, let me explain a little about how it all works.
The Three Phases of the Mercury Retrograde
There are three phases to Mercury Retrograde: the Pre-shadow phase, the Retrograde phase and the Post-Shadow phase.
The Pre-Shadow phase is when we may start to feel some small of the effects of Mercury Retrograde. This is the time to start preparing for it. You may like to plan your schedule so that you don't have to do anything too major or life changing during the Retrograde itself. The Pre-Shadow period starts on December 19th.
The Retrograde itself begins on January 5th and ends on the 25th. Those three weeks are when you need to be on alert and mindful of its possible effects.
The Post-Shadow phase The Post-Shadow phase applies from January 26th until February 14th. This is a time for integration and processing everything that you have experienced and learned during the Retrograde.
How You Can Use This Information to Your Advantage
Plan ahead, use your free will, but also be mindful that everything happens for a reason. Even something that may seem to be bad luck at the time, can actually turn into something positive in the end. So if things do go wrong, look for the lesson in it and trust in the process. Try not to fret too much and go with the flow.
Mercury Retrograde is a powerful time for re-doing things.
You can use it to your benefit by doing any re-writing, re-working, revising, re-thinking,
re-organizing, researching, repair – pretty much anything that needs to be looked more closely at or started again.
If you are not happy with something in your life,
Mercury Retrograde can be a great time
to re-visit it and try a find a better solution.
A good way to remember the positives of Mercury Retrograde is to think that the "re" in
"retrograde" is a "reminder" to "re-do"! It's also a great time to relax, rest and reflect.
What’s Special About THIS Retrograde?
This upcoming Mercury Retrograde starts in the sign of Aquarius and moves into Capricorn. Aquarius is an air sign, so when Mercury retrogrades in an air sign there is a focus on communication.
You may find that lots of interesting discussions take place or that you experience some
miscommunication with people. It doesn't mean that you should avoid communication
though, in fact, Mercury retrograde in Aquarius may be a great time to actually talk to a lot of people, and learn as much as you can from them. As I said before, it can be a great time for research! The retrograde will end in Capricorn. When Mercury retrograde in an earth sign it is wise to try to be as practical as you can. Be mindful of any time restrictions or budgets that you may need to adhere to. Money can often be an issue, so just make sure you are prepared for any unexpected expenses, to avoid any potential financial hardship.
Of course, to find out how Mercury retrograde may affect you personally, it's best to seek out the services of a professional Astrologer. They can take a look at your Natal Chart or birth chart and its aspects, and let you know more specifically how you will be affected and how you can avoid any upsets.
If you are an Aquarius or Capricorn, you may find that you are especially affected by this retrograde, as each sun sign has its own unique interaction with Mercury Retrograde.
In summary, if you would like to avoid any negative consequences of Mercury Retrograde,
get some advice from your Astrologer and just be mindful of when they occur. Mark them on your calendar and most of all, don't fear it. In the words of Elbert Hubbard, "The thing we fear we bring to pass." Rather than fear what Mercury Retrograde may bring to your life, use it to your advantage.
This is a powerful time to re-do things and open up new opportunities. What a fantastic way to start the new year!
Contributing advisor
Lee