This week on Wednesday August 23 Mercury began his retrograde period, which will last until September 15, 2023. While I know there is a lot of superstition around Mercury retrograde periods, I think it is helpful to know that while this time does come with some challenges, there are also some wonderful benefits to this time too. Mercury goes retrograde three times a year, for a period of roughly three weeks. This year all three retrograde periods occur in earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), which means they tend to affect us on a more practical level. This can include delays in travel and communication devices breaking down. There may also be repairs need on cars, planes, trains etc.
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| Astro Codes Oracle |
We can’t put our lives on hold every time a planet goes retrograde, so please don’t cancel your trip or stop talking to people just because its Mercury retrograde. I caution people during this period to build in extra time when travelling, and to double check you have your tickets passport etc. before leaving. When it comes to communication, be as clear as you can and ask for clarification from others. It is a great time to repair things, to edit and revise old work, and to clean and organize. Below is my advise for this particular Mercury retrograde period.
Revamp your routine – This retrograde is in the sign of Virgo, which is all about your day to day routines and health. Virgo is an organized and analytical sign, so it’s a great time to take a look at your schedule and see where you might be able to add more healthy habits into it. Are you exercising? Making time for rest? Have you gotten off track during the summer? This is the time to revise things and maybe try something new to see if it works for you.
Get organized – Mercury and the Sun are both in Virgo for the whole retrograde period, which means there is a focus on getting organized. The back to school energy is in the air, so it’s a good time to look through your stationary and office or art supplies and see what is used up, what can be repurposed and what you might need more of. It’s a good idea to do this before you go to the store, or you might end up getting too much of one thing and not enough of the other.
Clean house – Mercury retro in Virgo is trine Pluto in Capricorn, so the planet of death and transformation is lending his support for this period. This makes it the perfect time to discard what is outdated, broken beyond repair, or things that remind us of bad memories. Pluto advises us to mourn the past and to let it go, so we can move forward again once Mercury retro is over.
Take a look at your finances – Mercury is also trine Jupiter in Taurus for the retrograde. Jupiter is all about expansion and luck and in the sign of Taurus there is a focus on money and material wealth. He also turns retrograde on September 05, making this a good time to review your finances. Take a look at your budget and see where you can cut expenses, especially look at subscriptions or services you aren’t really using. It’s also a good time to consider your values and see if the way you are spending your money and time aligns with what is truly important to you.
Slow down and breathe – This retrograde period Mercury is opposite both Neptune and Saturn in the romantic and spiritual sign of Pisces. This can lead to frustration when our efforts to re-organize or make health changes run up against either misinformation or misunderstanding (Neptune) or other peoples boundaries (Saturn). Even if we try to explain and are completely backed up with facts and reason, others may say no or throw up roadblocks for reason that seem emotional or illogical. If you encounter this, slow down and don’t try to push the issue. Be patient, and do what you can in the meantime. When Mercury starts moving forward again, things should clear up.
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