Zodiac Signs Assemble: Mercury is in Retrograde!

Mercury is now in retrograde! I repeat: Mercury is now in retrograde!

Sounds like the title to a news bulletin am I right? You see the words flash across your screen and then wonder. What does it mean? It means that "Mercury will go into a "retrograde" motion, meaning the rotation of the planet appears to spin backward. It's important to note that the planet does not physically move backward in orbit (Yamada, 2023)". This retrograde period lasts from April 21st to May 14th (Yamada, 2023). Retrograde is like two cars passing each other on the highway. When one passes the other it appears as if the car behind is moving backwards when it is in fact not moving (Yamada, 2023). Earth is passing Mercury making it appear as if it is orbiting backwards (Yamada, 2023).

Mercury goes into retrograde about three or four times a year (Miller, 2016). "Mercury only takes 88 days to orbit the Sun compared to Earth’s 365 (Howells, 2023)". Although the article is a bit outdated, the one reason I used it was because it states all the time Mercury will go into retrograde up until the year 2030. The article states that Earth moves into Taurus during this time (Miller, 2016). The next time we see mercury in retrograde happen is in August on the 23rd lasting three weeks then again in December on the 13th lasting until the new year (Miller, 2016). It happened once this year back in January.

Does this mean that the Earth is affected by the retrograde? Yes! Reader's Digest writer Taylor Markarian wrote an article on this exact topic. She states that Mercury in retrograde is going to be annoying but it won't cause a catastrophic meltdown of any sort (Markarian, 2023). Due to Mercury being the winged messenger of the Roman gods we must take into account the fact that our communication skills aren't going to be the best at this point (Markarian, 2023). This means that one might want to take a little extra time to think before you speak. You may be a bit inconvenienced during this time but a new state of mind might be the best strategy. This also means that relationships during this time are going to be rocked. Having the communication issues leads to arguments between you and your partner but these can be dealt with. Maybe it is time to settle things by sitting down and talking through the problems (Markarian, 2023).

Are there rituals during this time that you can do to help ground yourself? One might consider doing a ritual for communication. Another person might want to do a ritual for clarity. Someone else might want to do one for calmness and peace. I myself find that meditation helps me to avoid some of the negative effects of this retrograde. If you are wanting to calm yourself then the next spell might be for you.

Ingredients

• small jar

• white candle

• Blue Turquoise

• Mookaite

• Yellow Tiger's Eye

• Amethyst

• lavender

• turmeric

• chamomile

• ashwagandha

Directions

• Light white candle

• Place ingredients into jar

• Breathe in for 4 seconds and out for 4 seconds (x3)

• repeat this spell 3 times while holding the jar

Mercury in Retrograde may make me crazy

This jar I made to make me lazy

Calm my spirit and my head

Make my anxiety go to bed

Mercury in Retrograde is here for a while

This jar I hold will make me smile

• seal the jar with wax from the candle

I am no expert when it comes to rituals but I can ensure you that this one is going to help you exponentially. I can also tell you that this phase of Mercury in retrograde is going to affect everyone differently. Each zodiac sign relies on a specific set of emotions and planets to rule them. This means that Mercury in retrograde is going to have to be dealt with differently between everyone.

Roya Backlund of stylecaster.com states the many things that will happen with each zodiac sign during this time.

1. For an Aries they are going to have to deal with a total eclipse the day before Mercury enters retrograde (Backlund, 2023). What this means is that they are going to have a crisis with themselves and will need to take the time to figure out why they are next and who they want to be in their life (Backlund, 2023).

2. A Taurus will have to look inward and find ways to help themselves rather than the people around them (Backlund, 2023). This means that they need to stop being people-pleasers.

3. For a Gemini they will be dealing with inner demons, rocking emotions, and reserving themselves may be the best case scenario (Backlund, 2023).

4. For Cancer this retrograde will spell trouble in the friend group (Backlund, 2023). This may lead them to removing themselves from current friends and reconnecting with some old ones (Backlund, 2023).

5. Leos during the Mercury retrograde are going to want to step aside and let someone else win for a while (Backlund, 2023).

6. A Virgo is going to want to leave early for work, vacations, and visits with friends (Backlund, 2023). Detours are going to be out in full force.

7. For Libra signs they are going to want to pay off debts and get a return on their investments (Backlund, 2023). Save a little bit of money during this time and spend it on relaxing once retrograde is over.

8. Scorpio signs will want to take a look at their relationships and decide how to come together closer with their partner (Backlund, 2023).

9. During this retrograde Sagittarius signs will want to change their routines (Backlund, 2023). This means getting rid of some of the things that aren't bringing them the highest return. What can they do to make sure that they are reaching their goals quickly and shattering glass ceilings? A change of routine will help with this.

10. Capricorns will find this Mercury retrograde confusing and complicated (Backlund, 2023). Feelings of pleasure, lust, and creativity will surface in their relationships and push them to feel disbonded (Backlund, 2023). This means that they may want to reconnect with old lovers or pick up where they left off on projects and hobbies.

11. An Aquarius is going to want to settle down (Backlund, 2023). This means that they are going to want to take care of issues at home such as cleaning, gardening, and getting the laundry done.

12. Pisces may be last on the zodiac list but come in first when it comes to stealing the show. This means that during the retrograde they need to take a step back, breathe, and think before they speak (Backlund, 2023). If they don't Pisces signs could find themselves in a lot of trouble (Backlund, 2023).

This time of retrograde makes us take a look at ourselves, the things we can do to make our relationships better, and how we can create routines to get tasks done that we have been putting off. All of these things are good. It doesn't mean that we should do everything at once. There are some things that are a major "no no" during this time. During this retrograde you might not have the most clear of mind. This means that signing a contract now might not be the right time (Krempa, 2022). You also want to understand that during this time things are going to go bit slower. This means that you want to plan for traffic and not hold off until the last minute (Krempa, 2022). You also want to avoid conversations that may make you a bit confused (Krempa, 2022). Buying and relying on tech is a strict "MUST NOT DO!" during this time. Although some zodiacs during this time might be making reconnections with past lovers this does not mean that one should jump back into those relationships (Krempa, 2022). Work on dealing with the emotions from those past relationships and make friends with those exes. Lastly, you want to refrain from starting any new projects (Krempa, 2023).

You can always find ways to cope and deal with Mercury in retrograde. Grounding yourself by sitting in nature is a good way to find peace. Taking a hot shower with a shower steamer will open your lungs and clear your mind. Decluttering a drawer in your house will make you feel as if you are on top of the world. Lighting a candle and burning some sage will help you clear some of those inner demons. Breathing exercises will help you own your peaceful state. All of these things will ensure that you have a perfect few weeks while Mercury is in retrograde.

References

Yamada, Haley. “What Is Mercury in Retrograde? Astrologer Advice on How to Navigate the Chaos.” ABC News, 19 Apr. 2023, abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/mercury-retrograde-astrologer-advice-navigate-chaos/story?id=98705926#:~:text=Starting%20April%2021%20until%20May.

Miller, Susan. “Everything You Need to Know about Mercury Retrograde.” Astrology Zone, 19 Apr. 2016, www.astrologyzone.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mercury-retrograde/#:~:text=About%20three%20or%20four%20times.

Yamada, Haley. “What Is Mercury in Retrograde? Astrologer Advice on How to Navigate the Chaos.” ABC News, 19 Apr. 2023, abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/mercury-retrograde-astrologer-advice-navigate-chaos/story?id=98705926#:~:text=Starting%20April%2021%20until%20May.

Markarian, Taylor. “What Does Mercury in Retrograde Mean?” Reader’s Digest, 10 Jan. 2023, www.rd.com/article/mercury-in-retrograde/.

Backlund, Roya. “How Mercury Retrograde Will Affect Each Zodiac Sign (from April to May 2023).” StyleCaster, 18 Apr. 2023, stylecaster.com/how-mercury-retrograde-will-affect-each-zodiac-sign/#slide-13.

Krempa, Francesca. “An Exhaustive List of What Not to Do during Mercury Retrograde Cycles.” Well+Good, 2 Sept. 2022, www.wellandgood.com/what-not-to-do-during-mercury-retrograde/.