Mercury Retrograde. It’s become such a buzz word these days, a word used to describe when everything just seems to be out of whack and when misfortune seems to be lurking behind every corner. But how many of us actually understand what it means? Even better – how many of us know how to handle that shifting energy during that time? Let’s breakdown what ‘Mercury Retrograde’ means and how you can prepare for it for this energy.
What exactly is Mercury Retrograde?
When Mercury is in retrograde, that means that the planet appears to be moving backward from our view here on Earth. It’s actually a bit of an optical illusion that happens about three to four times a year based on the fact that Mercury’s orbit is shorter than ours and it is actually passing by Earth. But astrologers believe that during this time, technology and communication could get disrupted (since Mercury rules communication, travel, contracts, transportation), putting almost all of us, and our lives, out of sorts. You know that feeling — “It’s a Monday” – cell phone isn’t working, the computer keeps disconnecting, traffic is delaying your normal schedule.
In actuality, this is the perfect time to reflect on the past. It is thought that intuition is especially high during these periods. Use this time to sit back and review where you put your energy in your life. Are your priorities in order? Do you need to redirect your energy more towards your family? Is there anything in your past that you need to reflect on and bring closure to? Are there old friends that you wish to reconnect with? This is the perfect time for arranging reunions with those treasured friends you haven’t seen in ages.
Another way to handle when Mercury is in retrograde is to simply remain flexible and plan ahead. It sounds like a contradiction, yes, but allow yourself extra time for travel. Avoid signing contracts or making any final decisions until the retrograde is over. Double-check your reservations before you take that trip and make sure you have gas in your vehicle. Charge up your cell phone battery – don’t just think that you are okay because you have 75% battery life because before you know it, your battery will be dead.
How to Prepare For Mercury Retrograde
Make sure that you are prepared for people who might seem a bit more stressed and miscommunication but don’t let it get to you. Take a deep breath before you speak and actually focus on the words you are using. It may help to start your day by meditating to center yourself and to end your day with a long bath to cleanse yourself of any negative energy you encounter. You may wish to carry a few crystals in your pocket – aquamarine and hematite both help to form a protective layer around your energy field and ward off negativity. Diffusing frankincense, ylang-ylang, or lemongrass may also help to negate negative energy.
Mercury rules anything that begins with “re” as in remake, reassess, repair, repeat, remodel, or revisit. During this time, take the opportunity to clean out your closets and organize your files. If there is a project that you’ve been mulling about in your head, start work on it (but don’t finalize anything after the retrograde has ended).
Just because Mercury is in retrograde doesn’t mean that everything will suddenly fall to pieces. Sure, things may become more difficult for you during this time, but you may find quite the opposite to be true as well. You may find yourself more inspired, more productive. If you can enter the retrograde in the right mindset and remember that “this too shall pass” – you can emerge on the other side with a whole new insight and use this time to continue your growth.
Mercury Retrograde is coming up February 17, 2020 – March 10, 2020
Remember a few simple steps to help you handle this intense energy
- Start your day off with a beautiful meditation
- End your day with a beautiful salt bath to cleanse the uneasy energy around you
- Grab your protection crystals – my favorite place to purchase crystals Sarah Belle {use code; JennyShanks to get 15% off your order}
- Diffuse frankincense, ylang-ylang, or lemongrass
- Drink lots of water – water is grounding and flushes any toxins out
- Finally – relax, take a deep breath and realize this is just a phase {it will be over soon}