From time to time, we all have a week, or two, feeling out of sorts or like you can do nothing right. It’s totally normal, we all know that! But what we, here at Cosmo, haven’t always realised is that it could be down to Mercury going into retrograde.
Three or more times a year Mercury retrogrades – which can cause a whole lot of havoc in your life. This year, for the third time, Mercury will be in retrograde from August 13 until September 5, then again come December 3 to 22. During this time astrological experts say you should proceed with caution, as things can be more susceptible to going wrong.
When planets are set to go into retrograde, there is a period of shadow in the run up – which falls right about now – when you should try to wrap up important matters and mend relationships.Â
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Okay, that wasn’t meant to scare you but as they say prevention is the best cure. If you’re a firm believer in Mercury retrograde, or are just learning about it now, we’ve got the deets on what *exactly* this popular phenomenon is and how you can prevent thing from going to pot…Â
What Does ‘Mercury Retrograde’ Actually Mean?
When a planet is in retrograde it appears to be travelling backwards or in the opposite direction. However, it just appears to be moving backwards, nothing is really happening it’s just a shift in perspective, an illusion, if you will.Â
“Mercury doesn’t actually move backward. If you do a bit of stargazing, you will see that Mercury appears to move backward, just as the ancient astrologers perceived thousands of years ago,” astrologer, Susan Miller explains. “After a while – in Mercury’s case, a three-and-a-half-week period – the planet will reverse itself and move ‘forward’ again.”
“When a planet retrogrades, astrologically it is in a resting or sleeping state,” Miller goes on to add. “Therefore, while Mercury naps, the activities that it governs don’t have the benefit of a well-functioning, wide-awake planet to supervise them. Expect a certain degree of pandemonium to ensue!”
Why You Should Be WorriedÂ
Delayed flights, deals falling through, pointless arguments with your boyfriend and your iCloud crashing are just a few of the mishaps that could happen. Mercury rules communication (so that’s everything from listening to negotiating), travel, contracts, technology and automobiles – so any of these areas could be affected.
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How You Can Avoid Major Problems & Why It’s Not Totally Awful
If you don’t want your life to turn upside down, there are ways to minimise its effect. I mean you don’t have to completely stop living your life, but experts advise us not to make too many important life-altering decisions at this time.Â
All technology tends to combust (figuratively). Back-up everything. That’s every single picture and document you can think of, as things can mysteriously get lost. Also, it may not be the time to install new software on your computer and make sure you double check who you’re sending that text to. Plus, because transport can be affected, it could be a good idea to give yourself a little extra time to commute.Â
Your mind will be hazy so forgetfulness is common. Write down important dates, ideas and plans as you don’t want to be stuck in a situation where you need those important papers and they’re nowhere to be found. Same goes for travel, trips during this time are prone to hiccups. Mercury does go into retrograde in August which can be prime time to take a much-needed holiday – check your itinerary thoroughly, make sure you have backups and clearly label all your luggage.Â
Relationships can suffer. If your significant other is acting up or you can’t seem to agree on anything, it might just be Mercury. Constant bickering and rash decisions are said to be common during this time. Take a step back, breathe and re-evaluate your relationship. Make sure you try to work through any arguments and don’t let them get bigger than they need to be.
That said, Mercury retrograde is also a time when one can take a step back and look at their life in a new light. It forces us to take a break, see where we’re heading and look at the details. It’s the perfect time to delve into your past, maybe reconnect with a childhood friend or clear out unfinished business that’s lingering on. Look at your job, relationships and plans with a new perspective. This period of buffering allows you to declutter your life from things you no longer need, so clean out your closet or colour code your files.