Something that tends to surprise people when they first get to know me is that I’m a Christian but I’m also a believer in the spiritual and astrology. One of the things I’m big into is mercury retrograde. I truly believe in it - some see it as an excuse, some don’t notice it and some are into it (aka me). At work the other day, I mentioned mercury retrograde to a coworker who had never heard of it before! I wanted to share a few things I know about mercury retrograde in case you’re wondering what all these Instagram quotes are all about.

What is mercury retrograde?

This is a time period where mercury appears to move backwards. Seems simple but mercury is the ruling planet of all communication, including technology, codes and contracts. This means that while mercury retrograde is occurring it can affect communication, contracts, travel, technology and more. Once you know about mercury retrograde you can see that it often falls around the time when more flights are delayed or cancelled, laptops or cell phones may stop working sporadically and there may be more conflicts in your relationships than normal. It’s not all a coincidence.

When is mercury in retrograde?

Currently, mercury is in retrograde from October 31-November 20, 2019. The next retrograde will hit February 18, 2020.

How does mercury retrograde affect me?

As mentioned above, mercury retrograde often affects travel, technology and communication. I personally notice slower travel times and late arrivals during mercury retrograde, as well as noticing glitches in my phone or computer systems. For example, at work my calendar has been glitching ever since October 31. Communication can also be impacted and I tend to notice myself bringing up past fights or getting more sensitive than normal.

What should I do during mercury retrograde?

Double check and confirm everything! The biggest impact during mercury retrograde I see is overbooking my schedule so I have to take every time to triple check all my commitments. I also recommend avoiding difficult conversations to avoid permanent hurt feelings or resentment. Mercury retrograde is a great time to learn to go with the flow and accept the inconveniences and confusion as they come. Being more aware of mercury retrograde and how your astrological sign is affected (check out Astro Guide app to learn more!) is also a great way to be prepared during this time.

While mercury retrograde can be a confusing and frustrating time, it’s also a time to reflect, proceed with caution and really think before you speak or do. Always remember that the universe has your back no matter what.