Mercury retrogrades three or four times a year for a few weeks at a time, so we are coming in and out of these periods more often than for any other planet. Plus, the nature of Mercury is that it’s directly related to our rational thinking, daily plans, and communications––so no surprise that it’s going to feel pretty visceral for a lot of people. Mercury also rules over electrical circuitry and computer chips, and as the world goes even more digital––as technology gets interwoven into more aspects of our lives––Mercury’s motion will become more important.

The key things to watch out for are your plans going haywire and communications being misinterpreted. Messages will get lost or seem unclear. A command you input to your device will not elicit the correct response. That carefully timed drop-off you were organising, or that plan you made to meet up often won’t work out as you hope. Particularly any big gatherings with many moving parts––anything that depends on lots of fast and accurate messages going back and forth––could end up a disaster.

The energy of Mercury is more internally focused, so this is great for integrating information received earlier and maybe seeing new ways to put it to use. With the right amount of quiet, off-screen time for reflection and digestion, Mercury Retrograde can bring insight and new mental connections.

The logical functioning of those born under Mercury Retrograde (Mercury Rx) can sometimes appear to be challenged but these folks are really just operating on a different wavelength. Many brilliant musicians or artists were born in a Mercury Retrograde. Intuitive capacities can be very strong. 

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Usually by the time Mercury appears to be moving forward again, the technical difficulties and logistical issues will lessen. Often, we emerge with new insights or new perspectives on the past. There is a “shadow period” before and after the actual retrograde dates when the effects can still be felt so if you’re scheduling an event, I would try to clear the start and end dates by a week at the least.

There are other influences that could bring slightly lesser, though similar, effects compared to Mercury Rx, including when Mercury and Neptune make certain harsh angles, or when Mercury is in Pisces, which we will experience from March 16 to April 2 this year.

Double-checking communications, making plans with a comfortable margin of error, and just being aware of the energies will go a long way. Don’t cut it too close with time and resources, and expect that people will drop the ball or something unforeseen will rear its head. If you build in enough buffers, Mercury Rx doesn’t have to be anything to fear.

Some astrologers will tell you to refrain from signing contracts or legal documents at this time but considering Mercury retrogrades fairly often for weeks at a time, I don’t consider it necessary to put life on hold. If you do some extra due diligence and make sure you know what you’re getting into – probably what you should be doing anyway – the influence can definitely be mitigated.

Mercury is a personal planet so its effects are more on the day-to-day level, and not so much reflected in world events. Think back to late January and the first half of February and see where things might have fallen through the cracks in your life, and what buffers you can build in next time.

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May 29 to June 22

In the next retrograde period from May-June, Mercury will be moving backward in a sign it rules, Gemini. At a time when we would naturally be more cerebral and chatty, the energy is turned inward and our day-to-day organising can be impaired.

You could find yourself speaking up more in group chats or meetings, and yet not be very well understood. Meanwhile there will be several highly charged planetary events happening at that time, including a solar eclipse, Jupiter going into retrograde, and an exact squaring of Saturn and Uranus–– a confrontation between old ideas and new realities, also the key theme of 2021. It’s going to be a more intense period all things considered.

September 26 to October 18

The September-October retrograde is also happening in a fellow air sign, Libra, bringing challenges to communications, but at that time of year several major planets are going direct after their own retrograde periods. The usual Mercury Rx conditions will apply but the forward-moving energy with other planets will balance out the frustration we might experience with Mercury.