Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide
updated December 2023
A few funny things happened to me recently:
Someone who I haven't been in touch with in years randomly popped back into my life (in a this-is-too-weird-to-be-just-coincidence way)
My wireless headphones stopped working out of the blue
As a sat down to write this blog post, I wasn't able to log on to my website hosting platform, email server or even access the internet (although it was working fine on my phone).
Sure, all of the these are just small deviations from the norm, and when taken apart I could think nothing of them. But together (and with what I know about the planets!) I couldn't help but see the wheels of Mercury Retrograde in motion.
IN THIS POST I'm going to be sharing more about WHAT Mercury Retrograde is, why you needn't freak out about it and how to work with this energy within your business.
What is Mercury Retrograde?
As a refresher, Mercury is the planet closest to the sun - closer to the sun than our planet Earth.
When a planet is in retrograde, it appears to move backwards (east to west rather than west to east) across the sky. The planet really ISN’T moving backward, but much like two trains or cars passing each other at different speeds, this creates the optical illusion that one is going backward.
A year on Mercury is shorter than a year on Earth (88 Earth days compared to 365), which means Mercury circles the sun 4 times in the time it takes us to finish one solar loop. A few times a year, Mercury passes the Earth in its orbit. As it rounds the bend, Mercury slows down and appears to stop (station) and spin backward (retrograde).
What’s all the fuss about?
Mercury ruleS all types of communication, including listening, speaking, learning, reading, editing, researching, negotiating, selling, and buying. Mercury also rules formal agreements and contracts such as term papers, deeds, contracts, leases, wills, etc.
In our modern day and age, communication is also heavily linked to technology (hence my headphones and internet malfunctions) and travel.
That being said, this can be a time where normal business (both work business and personal business) feels a little haywire. Your client may misinterpret your text message. An email may get lost. Phones, computers, and other technology may not function properly. Travel may be delayed or trips even canceled.
This can be a tough time to connect with others and communicate, which is why it's not the most ideal time to launch something, make big commitments or enter into new deals.
The good news is you don’t have to put all your business plans on hold. Below I share which activities are best suited for this period, as well as helpful precautions to take to avoid too much mayhem.
How long will it last?
Most Mercury Retrograde periods last between 2-3 weeks.
There is a “shadow” period on either side of the retrograde, where we may still feel the effects of the retrograde, although less so than the actual retrograde period itself.
Here are the dates for the upcoming Mercury Retrogrades:
December 13th, 2023 – January 1st, 2024
April 1st, 2024 - April 25th, 2024
August 5th, 2024 - August 28th, 2024
November 25th, 2024 - December 15th, 2024
Okay, so how can I work with the energy of Mercury retrograde in my business?
Retrograde periods offer us a chance to slow down and reflect, and are best suited for activities that start with the prefix “re-,” which means to go back.
Thoroughly review your contracts and communications before you sign or send. Prepare to repeat yourself as things often get lost in translation during this time.
Renew your commitments, rather than making new ones.
Re-imagine a program or offering.
Re-launch something that you’ve previously conceived.
In addition, Mercury Retrograde is a great opportunity to handle unfinished business. Wrap up loose ends and finish projects you've started to clear up energetic space for new, future endeavors.
As previously mentioned, technology can be a little wonky during a Mercury Retrograde period, so expect hiccups in this arena. I wouldn’t advise making big changes having to do with tech, like a website launch or email provider migration. If you must, add an additional layer of review before broadcasting or publishing.
All this to be said, I’ll offer the friendly reminder that no one wants your perfect, even in business.
If a miscommunication or tech issue happens, take a breath. Apologize if need be, or simply laugh it off and then resolve the issue as best you can. Perhaps your customers or clients are attuned to the astrology too and can appreciate that the slippery, shifting energy of Mercury is at play ;)
To recap: there’s nothing to fear from this astrological event, and in fact you can work with the energy for greater ease and expansion within your business!
Do: Review your work, revisit LOOSE ENDS, RE-IMAGINE YOUR BUSINESS, REFINE PRODUCTS AND PROGRAMS.
DON’T: Stress! Mercury retrograde isn’t out to get you.
I hope this guide gives you the perspective you need to flow with this astrological season.
If you found this information helpful, I’d love to hear about it!
Let me know what resonated for you in the comments below!