Brace yourselves. Mercuryis about to go into retrograde again and that means one thing is certain — chaos. Starting on 9 September and not ending until 1 October, the 'ruler of the third house' planet will appear to change course and move backwards in the sky and (apparently) the illusion will affect us all.
Mercury rules matters of the mind and communication so, when it goes maverick, everyone starts misunderstanding each other, miscommunicating, having nightmares with technology and signing contracts that, when all is cosmologically back to normal, they instantly regret.
According to experts, the retrograde only affects you really badly in the first week or so, while your brain readjusts. And, in fact, a retrograd-y Mercury has its benefits – if that’s what you’re into – so here’s a brief guide to what to expect until the planet starts orbiting normally.
What Does It Mean When Mercury Is In Retrograde?
You Could Hear From A Ghost
For this 9 September retrograde specifically, TikTok's 'astrology bestie'@e.mo.tions say to expect to get a text from your ex. We know, it's terrifying.
'Mercury retrograde is already notorious for bringing exes back,' they say. 'With this retrograde happening in the sign of balance and fairness, libra, you can expect some unfinished business to return. This could give you both the opportunity to try figure things out, however, mercury retrograde also does cause miscommunication so try your best to be intentional of how you speak and how you listen.'
Not All People Are Affected Equally
The fact that horoscopes imply millions of people experience the exact same sort of day is what really gets me about horoscopes. So the concept that everyone on the planet has a bit of a wobbly three times a year for weeks is way too much to deal with. Interestingly, though, the signs that are ruled by Mercury are the ones that really get crapped on, so if you’re a Gemini or a Virgo, and believe in horoscopes, then read the following advice carefully.
Be Careful How You Say What You Say
Because Mercury rules communication, the most likely symptom of retrogradyness (technical term) is people getting the wrong end of the stick constantly. Whether that’s on social media, via email or face-to-face, it’s a good idea to cancel romantic getaways (you’ll spend the whole time arguing or turning up to the wrong place or whatever) and, probably, that Articulate marathon you’ve organised for next weekend (it'll be a shambles).
Use The Time To Reflect
Apparently, Mercury Retrograde is a good time to start a blog or IRL journal because Mercury in retrograde forces us to rethink our lives and become new people. It’s a great excuse to start taking a swim in lake you, so dive in. The water’s cool.
Don’t Sign Contracts
Annoying if you’ve just started a new job and, if you don’t sign, you don’t get your salary on time, but try not to sign your life away if you can help it. Contracts for houses, jobs, deals and everything else will suddenly appear totally useless or crap when Mercury starts speeding up again so maybe have a real good think about it before putting your name on that dotted line.
YOLO
This not-at-all-outdated phrase comes into its own during this period of time because weird events that appear fated are rife, and logic takes a bit of a backseat. So hey, maybe that fit man who works a few floors down will suddenly bump into you. And you’ll go for lunch. And snog (don’t marry though, not until the retrograde is over, k?) or something. This is the time for spooky coincidences, so embrace them and look forward to weird shit happening because there’s nothing wrong with a bit of weird shit now and again.
Different Phases Of The Retrograde Will Mean Different Things
So, for the first few days, aside from losing stuff and feeling weird, you’ll not be able to abide stupidity or suffer fools. This could lead to some arguments and some (surprise, surprise) miscommunications, but don’t worry because after the first week you’ll find yourself rethinking certain aspects of your life and making some changes to become a better you. Which sounds nice, doesn’t it?
Take All Of This With A Pinch Of Salt
It’s worth adding that Mercury goes into retrograde a fair few times a year, so many of the mishaps you might attribute to the planet's reverse could be chalked up to the simple chaos of life.