True Winds AstroBlog

The Return of Mercury Retrograde
(Three Times Per Year)

In the Egyptian Emerald Tablets of Thoth, there is an ancient truth that is popularly associated with astrology:  “As Above, So Below.”  According to myth, Thoth was an Atlantean Priest-King, who founded a colony in ancient Egypt and wrote the Emerald Tablets. The Emerald Tablets were the primary source for wisdom taught in the Mystery Schools of Egypt. These writings were passed down to ancient Greece and used in the teachings of Plato and the Hermetic tradition. The Roman God, Mercury, is the counterpart for the Greek God, Hermes, and the Egyptian Thoth (author of Emerald Tablets).

The rich mythology of Mercury & Thoth (his Egyptian counterpart) explains the practical and mystical sides of this planet’s archetypes as the magician, messenger, and healer in all of us. With these important roles in mind, it’s understandable why we are so strongly affected when Mercury goes retrograde. This article discusses the opportunities and challenges to us “below.” when the planet, Mercury, appears backwards or retrograde “above.”

What is Mercury Retrograde?

Mercury Retrograde is one of the most misunderstood phenomena in astrology. Most people consider it as merely a dysfunctional time period when communication and transportation go amok. This article attempts to explain the reasons behind these seemingly unfortunate manifestations during Mercury Retrograde and how we can avoid them. Additionally, it discusses ways to potentially utilize this period as a productive, creative and even healing time, if worked with congruently. The Roman God, Mercury, was considered the Messenger of the Gods, and in astrology he represents our left (logical) brain and how we process information. Metaphorically, Mercury is our telephone/computer network, connecting us to everything in a cohesive communication system.

Mercury goes retrograde 3 times per year, and each period lasts for about 3 weeks. It happens when Mercury is closest to earth in its cycle around the sun and appears to be going backwards in the sky. “Going backwards,” How can we translate this as positive? Simply, consider doing things that start with “Re”: reevaluate, review, reconsider, reintegrate, resolve, reorganize, reflect, research. The message of this period is to slow down and catch up with unfinished business. Here are some tips on how to best ride the wave of Mercury Retrograde:

12  Simple Do’s & Don’ts for the Mercury Retrograde Period

1. Do finish old business and Don’t begin new projects
2. Do hold final decisions/approval until Mercury goes direct
3. Do remember those “Re” verbs when taking action, such as, reevaluate, review, reintegrate, reconsider, resolve, reorganize, reflect or research.
4. Don’t sign any contracts, leases, or legally binding paperwork
5. Don’t mail any important documents, such as taxes or contracts
6. Don’t have any major surgeries or repair work done
7. Do recheck and reconfirm for accuracy, while paying special attention to details
8. Do expect changes in plans, delays (this includes domestic travel) & indecisions
9. Do reflect on the power of communication in your life and how to enrich it
10. Do be alert to any miscommunication (written or oral) between yourself & others
11. Do be prepared for problems with communicative technology, such as, computers & telephones 
12. Do resolve to heal the mind with methods, such as, Theta Healing, hypnotherapy, creative visualization, saying affirmations, or journal-writing

Many problems incurred during Mercury Retrograde are largely due to our lack of awareness about the true meaning of it. We blindly forge ahead, continuing our western paces and progressive natures. To ignore Mercury Retrograde is like swimming upstream or going against the tide. Ultimately, if we would take this Yin period to reevaluate our Yang or active periods, we would be more productive and creative overall. An exception to this is those who have Mercury Retrograde in their natal chart. During Mercury Retrograde, things may actually fall into place for them, while everything around them is scattered. It’s also important to realize that Mercury rules the signs Gemini and Virgo. So individuals with an emphasis in either of these 2 signs in their birth chart can expect to be more strongly influenced by these periods.

Additionally, during this period we can expect changes in plans, delays and “indecision.” This is a good example of how an “indecision” may actually facilitate the best outcome. Let’s say you don’t have the complete information, and this “indecision” delays you until that missing piece of the puzzle appears, to make the best decision. Perhaps, it’s better to view this period as a great time for being in the decision-making process, with final decisions being held until Mercury goes direct again. The inevitable changes and delays during Mercury Retrograde remind us to be flexible and let go of mental attachments that may be blocking better ideas or solutions.

Mercury Retrograde Period - Time for Healing

Something often overlooked is Mercury’s connection to healing. After all, he did carry the Caduceus, the herald’s staff with wings and 2 entwined snakes, that has become the universal emblem for healing.

In Medical Astrology, Gemini corresponds to the Respiratory and Nervous Systems, as well as the upper limbs, while Virgo relates to the Small Intestine. As mentioned above, Gemini and Virgo are under co-rulership of Mercury; so that is why these 2 signs are emphasized during Mercury Retrograde Periods. (We all have the 12 zodiac signs and Mercury within us, so this relates to everyone.) This time could be therapeutically used to reevaluate the amount and quality of information we are assimilating. Is it excessive or negative, so that it stresses our Nervous System? Are we overworking at the computer and developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Are our mental activities overtaxing the body activating chronic issues with allergies or asthma? Or is our information intake so overwhelming that we can’t assimilate it all, transferring physically to lack of nutrient assimilation by the Small Intestine?

When Mercury is Retrograde, it’s a conducive time to reflect on the power of communication in our lives, as a link between spirit and matter. Are we not speaking up and eating, smoking or drinking our words metaphorically through unhealthy addictions? There is a tremendous healing power from self-expression, that can help many people let go and liberate themselves from destructive patterns. This is a great time to reevaluate how our thought patterns create our reality. Are we too critical on ourselves or self-sabotaging through negative self-talk? Additionally, how do our thoughts affect our emotional homeostasis and, thus, our health through pshyco-emotional symptoms in the body. As the link between spirit and matter, Mercury represents the magician in us all, devising magic spells, i.e. divine language and rhythms to manifest magic in the physical world. Thus, this is a good time to reassess the power of our thoughts, and how they can facilitate our dreams coming true. A person may particularly benefit by getting hypnotherapy or doing mental exercises/affirmations to heal the mind. Additionally, it’s a powerful time to do prayers and/or rituals to help create positive circumstances when Mercury goes direct again.

One can apply the Mercury Retrograde Period spiritually toward the universal Spiral Process: to reach the higher level of the spiral, one must return to end where you began and begin again where you ended. Just a reminder that we have the universal spiral symbols in our DNA, the Milky Way Galaxy, Nautilus Shell, and Mercury’s Caduceus (entwined snakes) as templates for our evolution. Perhaps, Mercury Retrograde Periods facilitate our spiral process through change, crisis and healing-elevating us to higher levels of our spiritual path and ultimate life purpose.

Two Phases of Mercury Retrograde Period

The Mercury Retrograde Period (approx. 3 weeks) is divided into 2 phases: the first and second halves. To use these periods effectively, spend the first half completing unfinished business and the second half planning for future action. Then, after Mercury goes direct again, you can act on your plans. It’s best to use the 5 days before and after Mercury Retrograde as buffer periods, understanding that static is in the air because of transition.

Mercury Retrograde in the Birth Chart

Since Mercury goes retrograde about 9-10 weeks per year, approximately 18% of the population have Mercury Retrograde in their astrological birth charts. Any planet that is retrograde represents a function of the personality that goes against the flow of mainstream or social tides. There are benefits and challenges to this. With Mercury retrograde, a person is not satisfied with social paradigms and surface explanations. These people often feel the need to introspect and go deeper for answers. The challenge of this is often slower mental processing. In our culture, this may be misconstrued as these people being less intelligent.

In our cultural school systems, it is apparent how struggles may arise for people with Mercury Retrograde in their birth chart, needing to keep up the pace with mainstream education. One of my astrology teachers, Jeffrey Wolf Green, went as far to say that there should be special schools for students with Mercury Retrograde in their birth charts. Who knows how many “learning disabilities” have been labeled due to this unique and potentially extraordinary way of thinking? This is a great example of how the astrology chart can be a powerful tool to increase our self-awareness.

It’s important to realize that having either Mercury Retrograde or Direct is neither one better than the other. They are just 2 different ways of mentally functioning. Plus, the context of the entire chart needs to be considered in relationship to Mercury. Other areas of the chart may either offset or reinforce the characteristics of these 2 modes of processing. However, I want to make a special point of supporting Mercury Retrograde individuals to develop confidence in attuning themselves to their authentic process, that may require slowing down and going deeper. The following are examples of famous people born when Mercury was retrograde: Ralph Nadar, Mozart, Howard Hughes, Alfred Adler and Nostradames. This is to reinforce my point that having Mercury Retrograde in your birth chart is not negative. It may even signify extraordinary mental qualities, that go against the mainstream and discover new ways of thinking.