Note: I updated this blog post in 2019 for clarity and additional resources.
Confession: I don’t really worry about Mercury being in retrograde. With much respect to my many friends and readers who love and practice astrology, while I think it’s important to know what’s going on with the planets I think it’s even more important not to project fear onto our lives.
Why do we worry about Mercury being in retrograde?
I’ve noticed a trend in the Spirit Junkie community when Mercury is in retrograde: People share their woes on social media, blaming all their problems on this one planet. In many cases they hold up their lives and their flow because they’re trying to avoid some meltdown when Mercury is in retrograde. Worst of all, I witness fear.
When Mercury goes into retrograde, I see a lot of people get freaked out that things will go wrong in areas like technology, communications, contracts and agreements, negotiating, deals, etc. Many people go so far as to totally reorganize their lives around Mercury retrograde, and feel fearful every day that something is going to go wrong.
Remember: You are a Super Attractor
Being on a spiritual path makes you a Super Attractor. Therefore, you must be very mindful of what you’re attracting. When you corner yourself into a place of fear around Mercury in retrograde, you’re co-creating chaos and problems in your life. In short, you bring toward you exactly what you’re trying to avoid.
Instead of freaking out about Mercury’s movements, I’ve chosen to see its retrograde as a super positive and powerful time to manifest. I actively choose not to focus on the negative aspects that are projected onto the retrograde. In fact, I don’t focus on it at all!
I’ve launched some of my biggest events during retrograde. I held my second Spirit Junkie Masterclass training during a retrograde and absolutely NOTHING went wrong. In fact, it all went right. Really right. I choose not to let the retrograde stand in my way of creating, inspiring and living.
It’s time to calm down about Mercury retrograde. Especially as you’re being slammed with all kinds of articles trying to freak you out about it! Instead of fearing it, embrace it.
Astrologer Rebecca Gordon on how to find power during Mercury retrograde
To help us see Mercury retrograde in a new light, I interviewed my friend and astrologer Rebecca Gordon. Rebecca shares my view that Mercury retrograde can be an especially powerful time for co-creating. She busts the myth that your life has to stop when Mercury is in retrograde, and she offers incredible tips on how to make the retrograde super powerful for you.
How can Mercury retrograde actually benefit us?
Mercury retrograde is a saving grace! Without it, we would never have the well-supported time to rest, reflect, to rethink our life direction, to reimagine ourselves in the world. I love this precious time of year. Retrogrades help us to slow down. Problems only crop up when we have been pushing too hard, too fast in a retrograde and not allowing time. It’s a sacred time to mend relations, to catch up on old messages, to lighten the load and get rid of those clothes you have not worn in years, etc.
Mercury is the planet that presides over thought and communication. It takes a super slow U-turn in the sky. As above, so below: We should follow suit and do some reflection before charging ahead. There will be key messages, so listen to your inner guidance.
I’ve done major launches during Mercury retrograde and had NO issues whatsoever. What are your thoughts on this?
So glad you said that. I as well have launched my beginners’ astrology class many times during a retrograde Agreed: No issues with this ever. There are a couple of reasons why.
First of all, Mercury is not the only player up in our solar system and there are so many other influencers, like new moons, eclipses and great planetary aspects. Mercury is simply one part of the vast cosmic orchestra and there is no need to “stop everything” and get all scared because it’s going retrograde. There is so much more going on up there.
I think it’s kind of ridiculous to create all this fear around a planet, you know. It’s just a natural planetary cycle that happens three times a year, and it’s a really good thing. We just need to get on board with the natural cycles and life can be graceful.
What can we do to ride the retrograde wave in a super positive way?
Rebecca offers up 4 ways to make the most of Mercury retrograde.
Create breathing room between everything in your schedule
Within these space in your life, you will pick up on nuances or feelings of discomfort that may require you to make necessary changes. We become more perceptive and introspective. Allow for change.
Reconnect with old friends and revive old projects
Enjoy their company and have a great laugh or heal a relationship that needs it. It will be so much easier to make the time for this with all the planetary support. You may catch up through email, letters or in person. Any way you do it, this retrograde will support a good revisit to the past.
Mercury retrograde is also a great time to revisit an old project you had put on the shelf. It’s a great time to dust off that old business plan and reimagine it, reinvent your product line, realign yourself with your true intention. Remember who you are.
Lighten the load
Go through your home and your closet and find things that are no longer of use to you. Let them go. Creating more space is truly magical as often it’s necessary for the new growth in your life to occur.
Meditate
I find meditation can be so revealing during a retrograde, as often our subconscious has a few messages to deliver. Listen, observe and create the space to hear the retrograde messages.
Click here to learn more about Rebecca Gordon and her work.
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