“XYZ thing is going bad for me—it must be because Mercury is in retrograde!” You must have heard things like this from your friends or somewhere on social media. Even if you are not well-versed in astrology, you must have figured out by now that Mercury retrograde negatively affects us. But how? What does it all mean? Read on to find out.
What is Mercury Retrograde?
In basic astronomy terms, retrograde motion refers to the optical illusion in space that a planet is moving backward in its orbit. Of course, it does not actually move backward; it only appears that way from Earth.
The interesting thing is that every planet goes in a retrograde motion regularly. As a result, the energies ruled by a certain planet become disoriented, chaotic, or unclear, as they are not flowing on a direct path.
But why do we hear people mostly talking about Mercury Retrograde? Why not Jupiter Retrograde or Neptune? There’s an answer to that as well.
Three or four times a year, the planet Mercury appears to travel backward across the sky, the phenomenon which is referred to as “Mercury retrograde.” This planet’s retrograde motion occurs more often than that of any other planet.
As Mercury is the planet of communication, logic, and rational thinking, its retrograde motion affects deeply visceral aspects of your life. Such as your emotions, daily plans, your connection with others, etc. And the success of many things is dependent on these aspects. So, if they go awry more than usual, it becomes, to put simply, disturbing. The result is weeks-long periods of frustration, conflict, and confusion.
So if during this period everything you do seems to be meeting with bad luck, you’re not to blame!
The Last Mercury Retrograde of 2021
In 2021, Mercury has been in apparent retrograde motion during the following periods:
- January 30 to February 20
- May 29 to June 22
And now, Mercury is about to go in retrograde motion for one last time in 2021. This retrograde will last from September 27 to October 17. This September-October retrograde will be happening in the air sign of balance and harmony, Libra.
What to Expect from 2021’s Last Mercury Retrograde?
This period will no doubt play with your energy levels. You might feel very low in spirits and then suddenly begin feeling dynamic and zestful without any apparent reason. All of that can have you feeling anxious, restless, and unfocused. You may frequently have thoughts like nothing is in control, and you will be filled with chaotic, scattered energy. Other times, you might find yourself face down in bed, completely unmotivated to do anything.
Moreover, it will bring certain challenges to communications and your connection with others. You can expect and be mentally prepared for a delay in communication during this period. This is because Mercury is the planet of communication, and it is moving in retrograde. Conflicts may arise due to misunderstandings, and things may get lost in translation. Consequently, it can potentially make your personal and professional relationships tense.
Moreover, you will feel prompted to make impulsive decisions. For instance, you might feel ‘done’ and break up with your partner over something small. Or you might make major changes about yourself that you normally wouldn’t.
But remember, it’s not like you will be haunted by special demons during Mercury retrograde! It will only be a relatively more confusing and chaotic time. Think botched plans, random blunders, and anxiety-ridden days.
But there is a positive side to this too. There are always plenty of lessons to learn from a Mercury retrograde!
How to Prepare for the Mercury Retrograde
For starters, don’t think of Mercury retrograde as a battle you have to fight. Instead of being hyperconscious of everything that might go wrong, resort to being as calm as possible. Let go of things that are out of your control, forgive, move on! Don’t take your emotions too seriously. Especially if you are dealing with negative emotions, make sure that you are not realizing them into actions.
Also, try not to make big decisions regarding your relationships and friendships during this period. Even if things are apparently not according to your desires, try to wait out this period before forming a judgment on it.
Be very careful in your communications with other people. Say only what is needed and refrain from touching sensitive topics altogether. Remember that people are a little extra touchy during the Mercury retrograde, and even the positive things you say might get twisted into different meanings. Moreover, think twice—thrice—before saying anything. This also applies to written texts and emails. If you feel the need to express yourself, try writing a diary, journaling, painting, or such.
During the Mercury retrograde, hold tightly to what you know certainly about yourself. Don’t experiment much with new looks and aesthetics. Also, refrain from sudden career changes.
In addition, always be prepared for delays of any kind. Stay flexible with your schedules and leave plenty of time for last-minute changes.
Lastly, try not to jump into anything new. This period is for you to look into the past and see if anything reemerges as new. It is like a second chance for you.
Mercury Retrograde—A Period of Second Chances
Think of Mercury Retrograde as a cosmic do-over. With the planet of Mercury stopping and moving backward for us, you get a second chance. So you have another shot at things—it could be a relationship, a project, even a conversation. You may also feel a certain appeal in revisiting old memories, places, and friendships. Hence, despite all the confusion, Mercury Retrograde helps you put on a new lens and see things differently like you have the power to turn back time!
