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Everything you need to know about Mercury in retrograde!
Learn all about Mercury in retrograde
We're going to cover all the top questions when it comes to Mercury being in retrograde. If you have a question, feel free to drop it in the comments box below & we'll get back to you with an answer! 🙂
Mercury retrograde dates for 2021:
- 30th January - 20th February
- 29th May - 22nd June
- 27th September - 17th October
Lets start with the basics ...
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system, only being slightly larger than Earths Moon. It's the closest planet to the Sun, & therefore circles the Sun faster than all the other planets. It's believed that Romans named it after their swift-footed messenger God.
What happens when Merucry goes in to retrograde?
The retrograde motion refers to Mercury appearing to move backwards. Popular effects of Mercury being in retrograde are confusion, delay & frustation. It's seen as an excellent time to reflect on the past & it’s said that intuition is high during these periods. It's important to remember that planets always orbit in one set direction & it's not possible for a planet to suddenly reverse or change direction. It only appears this way to us due to the position of Earth in realtion to that of Mercury. It's an illusion.
How often does it go in to retrograde?
Three times a year, the planet Mercury appears to travel backward across the sky. We refer to these periods as times when Mercury is in apparent retrograde motion, or simply 'Mercury retrograde'.
How long does it last for?
Each retrograde transit tends to last about three weeks. After the retrograde is the retroshade period; this lasts for approximately 2 weeks.
How does Mercury being in retrograde affect us?
The planet Mercury rules communication in all forms—listening, writing, reading, speaking, & so on—as well as activities closely related to communication, like negotiations & contracts. It also rules travel, vehicles, shipping & mail. When Mercury is in retrograde it's important to remain calm, flexible & understanding. Try to allow extra time for things such as travel, & check your communications with people regarding meet up's, incase plans have changed at last minute!
Review, review, review. Now is a great time to review plans, tasks, & work, but it's advised that you dont make any final decisions until Mercury is direct again. Ensure you have back up plans, & be prepared for miscommunication.
Take the time to review where you put your energy & who you are giving it to. Have a think about what is important to you; if it's family & friends, have a think about if you're putting in enough energy to those relationships. Are you receiving as much as you are giving, how do you feel when you spend time with these people? It's easy to be consumed by our careers, especilly when recently a lot of us have been working from home due to Covid-19, it's been all too easy to over-work & neglect other areas of our life. Losing the balance between different parts of your life can cause all of them to suffer, so being aware of the connections between them—especially during Mercury retrograde—can help you to maintain or at least better understand how that balance works. Take a moment to reflect.
The type of influence you feel also depends on which of the 12 zodiac signs Earth is in when Mercury goes retrograde.
What can I do to get through this time with ease?
Allow the potential madness to run off you like water off a ducks back! Remember that this time won't last, & any feelings are impermenent. Allow yourself to embrace a slower paced life for a few weeks, finish tasks that have been lingering in the background, clear out your wardrobe & donate unwanted goods, don't break up with your partner, don't sign contracts, reach out to people you have been thinking about seeing for a while & be gentle with yourself & others.
What crystals should I work with whilst Mercury is in retrograde?
Emily's recommedations are ...
Black Tourmaline for protection & grounding
Fluorite for easing anxiety & stress, as well as transforming negative vibes to positive
Rose Quartz for reminding you to look after yourself & to promote loving vibes
Blue Lace Agate to encourage calmness & enable you to release anger, irritation & frustration
Chrysocolla to help you speak your truth & balance emotions