Feeling like the world is in chaos? You're not alone. Mercury retrograde has a way of stirring up confusion and miscommunication in our lives. But fear not! By following these 7 essential survival tips, you can navigate through this cosmic storm with grace and ease. From double-checking all communication to practicing self-care and mindfulness, these tips will help you weather the retrograde period and emerge stronger on the other side. So buckle up and get ready to ride the wave of Mercury retrograde like a pro.

What’s Mercury’s deal anyway?

Before we jump into discussing the upcoming Retrograde season, we should probably explain why you should care in the first place.

In Astrology, Mercury is considered the brains of the operation. This is the Planet that is in charge of our mental process: the way that we think, the way that we communicate, the way that we problem solve, the way we make plans and itineraries. Mercury’s position in your birth chart is going to determine how you interact with other people, because it influences the way that you relay your inner thoughts to the outside world. By extension, this means that Mercury is going to have a hand in your business dealings, because it naturally has a role in making contracts and your work ethic. If we take a look back at the Mythological origins of Mercury, it makes sense that this Planet would also have influence over the sphere of travel. 

By tracking the position of Mercury throughout the year, you can better understand why you may be walking around with brain fog at certain times, or it can be used as a tool to predict when a good time to negotiate new contracts would be. Because Mercury moves as quickly through the Zodiac as it’s winged messenger-god name sake, it changes up the overall vibe of the world’s mental processes frequently- sometimes as frequently as every two weeks! 

So we highly recommend keeping a close eye on Mercury when you’re looking at horoscopes- it’s definitely a tiny but mighty entity in the universe.  

What is Mercury Retrograde?

Now that we know what Mercury does when it’s feeling itself, we can go over what it does when it goes retrograde.

We’ve explained that Mercury is a fleet-footed little guy, and he completes his revolution around the Sun in a mere 88 days, which is extremely impressive. But, we have to remember that when Astrologers chart the planets, we do so from the perspective of where they sit along our Horizon. 

So, if you can imagine the Earth jogging along its orbit around the sun, think about Mercury zooming alongside on the inside track. While the Earth and Mercury are running their footrace, Mercury sometimes appears to lose steam (even though it’s technically still keeping its pace) as the Earth continues on it’s wider arc. So The Earth feels like it is overtaking Mercury in the race, and when the Earth looks at it’s competitor it appears as if Mercury is moving backwards in the sky. (Don’t worry Mercury, we know you’re still winning in the end)

While it’s actually just an optical illusion on our end, in the world of Astrology this is a significant event. Mercury moving ‘backwards’ in our skies makes the energy of all the things Mercury is traditionally responsible for go a little haywire. Randomly dropped phone calls? Internet going down? Inexplicable brain fog? Miscommunication between friends? Mercury the trickster may be acting a little salty because it thinks it’s losing the footrace. 

Mercury Retrograde in Aries

Just like how the Sun and Moon take on the attributes of the Zodiac Sign it’s hanging out with, Mercury does the same thing. Every Zodiac Sign lends a different flavor to the Planet that sits within it’s house, and during this upcoming Retrograde period, Mercury is hanging out in the House of Aries. 

With this current Mercury Retrograde happening in the sign of Aries, things may get a little spicy. When Mercury is hanging out with the Ram, it gets charged with outspoken and confident energy. During a typical cycle, Mercury in Aries is going to make everyone feel strongly about their beliefs, and it makes for good vibes in the areas of personal communication. However, while we’re in a Retrograde, this may make people feel a bit more argumentative and impatient. 

Aries is a fire sign that's known for being impulsive and spontaneous, which means that communication can get a little mixed up and we might feel like we're hitting a lot of roadblocks. Tempers may be more apt to flare with this placement, with the trickster Mercury fanning the flames of misunderstanding and frustration. 

Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide

Okay, so now you have a better idea of why everyone harps on Mercury Retrograde season- because in terms of astrology, Mercury is kind of a big deal. We’re talking about the planet that is pretty much responsible for every important aspect of modern life, so when it’s feeling cranky it’s going to make everyone feel it too. 

So how do we work around this?

1. Back Up Your Technology

Another critical aspect to consider during Mercury retrograde is the importance of backing up your technology. Technical glitches and data loss are common occurrences during this time, so it's essential to safeguard your information by regularly saving your work and making backups of important files. By taking proactive measures to protect your technology, you can avoid potential headaches and setbacks that may arise from technological mishaps.

If you have files that are crucial for something make sure you have backup files for your backup files. Trust nothing, assume that it’s going to break at some point. Save it to the cloud, save it to a junk drive, burn it to a CD, or screw it- blow off the dust off ye old floppy disks and throw the files on there too. 

Do you have an important presentation to make at work? Bring two laptops, an iPad, three monitors, and be prepared to write on a whiteboard when all those things crash at the same time even though you’ve done ten dry runs before the meeting. 

When Mercury is feeling feisty, it loves to mess with your tech, so you need to make sure you’re prepared. 

2. Avoid Making Major Decisions

During Mercury retrograde, it's crucial to avoid making major decisions. Remember, the planet responsible for your mental processes is currently throwing a temper tantrum, so you are very likely not going to be thinking very clearly. This period is notorious for confusion, miscommunication, and misunderstandings, making it difficult to think rationally.

Operate under the premise that your brain on Mercury Retrograde is similar to your brain on drugs. You wouldn’t sign a million dollar contract while you were high as a kite right? You wouldn’t walk into a meeting with the head of corporate after you’ve just pounded a bunch of Four Lokos (at least we hope you wouldn’t do that… if you would we need to have another talk…). This Retrograde being in the sign of Aries is going to make this especially important. We’re going to highlight this part here:

Mercury Retrograde in Aries is going to make you extremely impulsive, and you may say yes to things that you never would have under normal circumstances. “Hey, can my ex-con baby momma borrow your car tonight? She doesn’t have her license, and she totaled her car during her last DUI case, but she just needs to go to the gas station for a six pack”. Mercury Retrograde in Aries would be like SURE! WHY NOT! What could possibly go wrong?! 

Make sure you’re stopping and thinking very carefully about any potential consequences to decisions you make right now, and if at all possible, just put off making big choices until after Mercury goes back direct. This focus on caution and mindfulness will help you navigate Mercury retrograde smoothly. 

3. Double-Check all Communications

One important aspect to keep in mind during Mercury retrograde is the need to double-check all communication. This Retrograde in Aries is going to make everyone especially edgy, so we need to be hyper vigilant here. 

 We're talking about having the group chat committee review every text message before you send it. It’s quadruple checking every email to your boss or co-workers (and then rereading it one more time just to be safe). It’s making sure you count to five before responding during a conversation to ensure you aren’t adding sass to your replies. If your mother used to tell you to ‘fix your face’ while she was talking to you? Yeah, it would behoove you to be extra mindful of that during this time. 

Remember, paying extra attention to your communication can save you from unnecessary complications and frustrations.

4. Practice Self-Care and Mindfulness

This tip will piggy-back off the last few... Mercury Retrograde casts a veil of confusion over everyone, which is going to severely affect your mental clarity and fortitude. Taking care of yourself during this time is crucial to maintaining a sense of balance during this time. Brain fog is no joke, and it’s important to make sure to prioritize activities that promote relaxation and stress relief, such as meditation, yoga, or spending time in nature. Additionally, practicing mindfulness can help you stay present and grounded, reducing the likelihood of getting caught up in the frenzy of Mercury retrograde. By taking care of your mental and emotional well-being, you'll be better equipped to handle any challenges that come your way during this period.

5. Expect Delays and Misunderstandings

Remember, Mercury is wearing his trickster costume right now, and he loves to sow discord wherever he can. Trickster Mercury Retrograde loves messing with travel plans. We probably wouldn’t recommend planning your annual Disney World vacation during Mercury Retrograde, because it’s almost asking for three plane delays, a random strip search by the TSA, and for your hotel reservation to be accidentally canceled by the computer system. If you’re forced to travel, it's a good idea to go into it by padding your itinerary with a lot of extra travel time, and make sure you bring your most laid-back attitude because it’s very likely that things are not going to go the way you planned. It’s also important to stay on top of your regular vehicle maintenance during the Mercury Retrograde. There’s no reason to tempt the Trickster by forgetting oil changes or ignoring that tire pressure light…

 
The delays do extend farther than just your personal travel plans- if you need to order something important that needs to be delivered by a certain time? Make sure you do it well in advance. The Trickster Mercury may think it’s funny to have your all important parcel get lost in the mail a couple times. Appointments may end up getting pushed back or rescheduled, your alarm clock may not go off on time, anything that could be ‘delayed’ will probably be delayed. 

Some off these delays may be the result of misunderstandings or communication breakdowns. Remember to have patience, and give others grace. Mercury’s tricks are being pulled on everyone and everyone is experiencing the same mental fog, so be prepared to clearly (and calmly) explain your thought processes and what you need from others. We promise, they’re not being dense, but communications are going to have a hard time getting across. 

6. Avoiding Contacting Your Ex

There is one arena where Mercury Retrograde really enjoys sprinkling a little chaos, and that’s into our love life. There’s something about this Retrograde that seems to summon all of our old flames and tell them that we’d really love to hear from them (whether that’s how we truly feel or not). Perhaps it’s the illusion of Mercury moving backwards in the sky that makes us (and our exes) nostalgic for relationships from the past. 

But before you respond to that “how you’ve been” text from that ex that broke your heart two years ago, we want you to go back to the top of this list and think again about all of the tricks that Mercury Retrograde likes to play on humanity. We’re not thinking clearly, we’re not communicating well, we’re likely to be impulsive, we probably shouldn’t make life changing decisions, etc etc. When we take all of these things into account, it is definitely not a good idea to try to rekindle that old flame. Put it on the back burner, and if you’re still thinking about it at the end of the Retrograde period..? Sure, why not. 

7. Stay Flexible and Adaptable

Remaining flexible and adaptable during Mercury retrograde is key to navigating the challenges that may arise. By staying open to alternative solutions and being willing to adjust your plans as needed, you can better handle unexpected obstacles with ease. Remember that flexibility is a strength, not a weakness, during this time of cosmic chaos. After all, Mercury is throwing wrenches like dodgeballs right now, and if you aren’t able to stay light on your feet you’re going to take one to the face and be out of commission. 

When faced with unexpected setbacks and disruptions, it's essential to keep a level head and embrace the mantra of "expect the unexpected." By staying flexible and adaptable, you can more effectively handle the twists and turns that Mercury retrograde throws your way. 

In conclusion, navigating through Mercury retrograde can be a challenge, but by implementing these essential survival tips, you can stay grounded and resilient. Remember to double-check your communication, back up your technology, and practice self-care and mindfulness. Expect delays and misunderstandings, stay flexible and adaptable, and most importantly, avoid contacting your ex. By following these strategies, you can protect yourself from the chaos and confusion that Mercury retrograde brings, emerging stronger on the other side. Stay patient, take care of yourself, and trust that you have the tools to thrive during this challenging time. As the saying goes, "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity."

Why not see what the Universe has in store for you this Mercury Retrograde Period by ordering a Professional Tarot Reading!