Mercury Retrograde: We’re Doomed, Right?

By Tom Jacobs

Except for the Sun and Moon, the bodies we deal with in astrology go through periods of something we call retrograde motion, when they appear to move backward against the sky. For the outer planets (Jupiter-Pluto) this occurs every calendar year. For Mars and Venus it’s every two years, and for Mercury it’s three times each year.

The focus of this article is to discuss some common misconceptions about what it means and what happens during the three-week Mercury retrograde periods, and notes on some strategies for navigating the difference in energy during them.

When any planet is retrograde natally or by transit, the energy of it in us works in a different way than when direct (when it appears to be moving forward). Generally speaking, the energy is turned inward, focused inward. With transiting Mercury, representing the energy of perception, communication and all things mental, an example of the energy being turned inward is a decreased desire to communicate as much as usual, or a tendency to mishear or misunderstand what people say. Others are a seeming inability to get your ideas across, and an inability to track as many details as we normally can. The popular conceptions of Mercury retrograde periods include that everything is messed up, or that nothing will work, but the reality is that things are simply working a little differently than usual.

So, with things working differently, sometimes a little more effort is needed, and most times patience and a little creativity are called for. A growth-oriented perspective will tell you that these times are opportunities for allowing your intellect, your ear and your mouth to operate a little differently as well. There’s nothing wrong with how Mercury energy works during a retrograde period; it’s just that we’re not expecting it, not prepared for it, and we tend not to like to have to alter our routine. If we’re resistant, frequently we stumble on as though everything’s the same as usual until one of two things happens: We fall flat on our faces, or we slow down some and regain our footing.

What goes with a difference in how the energy works around you (“No one’s making sense this week!”) is that the energy also works differently inside you. When you have the feeling that nothing’s working, try things another way. In a Mercury retrograde period, if you feel like you can’t be understood, see if you can listen to what you’re actually saying and then find another way to say it. Make sure you’re really saying what you think you’re trying to get across: It’s an opportunity to hear yourself in a fresh, not-standard way.

If you don’t understand what people are trying to tell you, or why, why not ask questions of them you’d never ask any other time? Why not find out what the sticking points are? Additionally, getting behind how you and others communicate is probably the single sexiest way to dive into a Mercury retrograde period that I can think of. Picture it: You and yours could finally get clarity on some of those little features of your communication that secretly drive each of you nuts. The Mercury retrograde offers a doorway into spaces like this…if you can have patience and a little creativity.

The creativity I keep mentioning is, if things aren’t working, about seeing if you can get them done in new ways. Since during Mercury retrograde times brains, mouths and ears aren’t typically working the ways they usually do, to get done what you want you’ll likely have to figure out new ways to do them. By moving around what can feel like mental sludge, you’re priming creative juices and you’ll be glad you did; you’ll probably be the only one you know not stressing out over each and every thing that’s not happening according to plan.

Another side of the opportunity of this retrograde period is to finish old business, and attend matters that have been lingering and needing attention. With the focus turned inward, the door’s open to remembering things unfinished that you’d feel better about finishing. It’s a periodic reminder to clean house, on whatever level that applies to you and your life. For some of us, this will mean finding lost objects, or making contact with people who seem to have vanished from our lives: Things and people from that past that need attention or some kind of resolution from us are likely to pop up during these times.

A common warning about these periods is that you shouldn’t sign contracts until the retrograde has passed. We’ve already discussed that the energy is focused more inward than usual, and I think it’s fair that the warning instead should be to be extra cautious about checking details. You might find all involved parties (including you!) working with less than a full deck if not paying close attention to all the fine print, dates and other numbers.

As of this writing, the next Mercury retrograde period is from October 29-November 18, 2006. See if you can make the most of the time by opening to alternate ideas, methods and understandings as well as wrap up some lingering business and attend relatiosnhips from the past.

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October 6, 2006 By Tom Jacobs