So, Is Mercury Still Retrograde?!

That is a question I hear a lot… In the grocery store, on the sidewalk, or in a client session!

I think that most of those asking the question are aware of Mercury’s influence on communication, agreements and things with moving parts. Mercury also represents phones, computers, social media and the internet. To the ancients, Mercury was the wing-footed Messenger of the Gods, carrying messages back and forth between humans and the Divine.

How you communicate and learn, whether verbally, visually or with your hands is seen by Mercury’s placement in your Birth chart. The Zodiac sign it’s in is how it expresses and the House it’s in is where it works its’ brand of communication. Any aspects from other planetary energies show why there is ease or difficulty in how you learn or speak, also what kind of learner you tend to be. For instance, auditory - through listening, visual - through seeing, or kinesthetic - through touch.

You just read that there are different approaches to interacting and communicating with the world around you. Now, imagine what happens when people with different learning styles have to work out an agreement. It can be tricky between partners, both business or personal, but by talking and listening to each other, accord can be reached. Now, imagine a roomful of people, some on the same wavelengths, but many on different frequencies all trying to get their individual points across coming to some kind of agreement. Chaos usually ensues. Breaking off into smaller groups to get clear on everyone’s thoughts, then choosing a spokesperson from each group to assemble and share ideas can help with the negotiation process.

This is my long-winded way of saying that when Mercury goes retrograde we have the opportunity to slow down, review our conversations and agreements and do more research where it is needed. Yes, there will be breakdowns, delays and challenges that come during Mercury’s retrograde and shadow phase, and you could push to make something happen or you could wait and do your own work to discover a better method of communicating. Inner dialogue between you and your Higher Self is just as important. What do you want to say to the world and how can you make it clear? Those are just a couple of the questions you might ask yourself. Another might be, “Am I talking to the best people to help me now?” Mercury retrograde periods, and there are 3 per year, sometimes 4, are opportune times to do this work for yourself, helping to make your interactions more harmonious when Mercury is no longer in its’ retrograde or shadow phase.