“Oh no, Mercury is retrograde!” You’ve heard those words before and you’ll likely hear them again, but what does it mean when Mercury is retrograde?

Three times per year, Mercury goes retrograde and seems to move backwards for approximately three weeks. Now no planet actually moves backwards (retrograde), but from our perspective on Earth they occasionally appear to do so.

In other words, all planets in the solar system move in a counterclockwise direction around the Sun, which astrologers call “direct,” but during their retrograde periods they appear to travel in a clockwise direction, or backwards, relative to Earth.

With Mercury and Venus (the planets with orbits closer to the Sun than the Earth’s orbit around the Sun), they go retrograde and appear to travel backwards when they transit between the Earth and the Sun. During this time, their energy becomes more pronounced because they are located between the Sun’s and the Earth’s energy and magnetic exchange, and also due to the mere fact that they are closer to us than when they are on the other side of the Sun.

Mercury has a pronounced affect on electronics, our vehicles for travel, and communication. So when Mercury goes retrograde, be sure to:

1. Breathe, meditate, reflect and remember that this too will pass! If you find that your computer is acting up, this may be a lovely prompting to take a break and refresh yourself…getting out into nature will help you to appreciate your life and the world around you.

2. Slow down and Reassess! When planets go retrograde they invite us to pause and even retrace our steps. This helps us to make sure that we are completely happy with the progress that we’ve made in our projects and also in our lives.

3. Communicate clearly! Mercury rules communication and no time is more apt to invite misunderstandings than when Mercury is “moving backwards!” Be sure that you are clear that the other party has heard and understands what you are saying, or that you have fully gotten what someone has said to you (e.g. “This is what I heard you say … Is that what you meant?”)

4. Hold off on signing any important documents! Mercury is in charge of dexterity and the written word, so when he’s retrograde, we can be prone to confusion. It’s not a great time to sign contracts, make major purchases, or even have surgery…unless you’d like to have a repeat surgery

5. Create those lovely works of art! When Mercury goes retrograde, we shift from our normal left-brained linear way of thinking and operating, and into our rightbrained creative sides. Enjoy this wonderful time to write that book you’ve always wanted to write, take up painting, or simple enjoy digging out those old family recipes and whipping up something delicious. Who knows, a delightful treat might help to smooth out a misunderstanding!