How to Survive Mercury in Retrograde

Your ex from 5 years ago reaches out, your computer is crashing, and that flight you just booked is canceled out of nowhere. HI! It’s your old faithful friend Mercury in Retrograde, here to screw your life up for the next 3 weeks. March 5 through the 28th to be exact, BUT the shadow period has already begun so you may have already noticed sh**t going awry. I know what you’re thinking; these things happen, it’s not just because of some woo woo crap. Well, this ain’t woo woo honey – it’s real and it’s going to affect you whether you believe it or not!

First things first, let’s talk about old Mercury and see what he’s all about. Mercury is the planet that rules communication, travel, and technology. When Mercury goes into retrograde, it looks like it’s going backwards in the sky, but really it’s just stopped moving completely. Mercury spends his little vacation just chillin’ by the sun thinking of ways he can f**k up your life. No really. During this 3 week rendezvous with the sun, everything that Mercury rules goes totally haywire. People from your past (usually that you do not want to hear from) are coming back.

Communication is going to be tough, and you will probably get into ridiculous fights with those closest to you. Your computer may crash, magically deleting all your files, or your phone may suddenly just stop working. Travel can be a nightmare – think your car breaking down, flights getting delayed/canceled, the hotel losing your reservation. YEAH.

How to Survive Mercury in Retrograde

Don’t book any new trips if you can. If you must, make sure you buy travel insurance and double check all the little details of your bookings.
If you’re planning a road trip, get your car checked out beforehand. Make sure you have a spare tire, jumper cables, and any other tools you might need should something go wrong.
When traveling, make sure you give yourself lots of extra time! Traffic is no joke during the retrograde, and you’d rather be safe than sorry.
Back up all your data on an external hard drive or in the Cloud.
Don’t buy any new electronics during this time, as they are likely to have issues.
Instead of sending risky texts or emails, save those conversations for phone calls or in person. I know talking on the phone can be *scary* for millennials, but you’re going to be able to communicate a lot more clearly. No second guessing someone’s tone via text, no screenshotted conversations, and you won’t have to worry about your message getting lost in space.
Take everything with a grain of salt. No one is communicating properly during this time and things are going to come off the wrong way. Just don’t take it too much to heart!
Draft emails in the Notes app on your phone so you have a backup. No joke, in between writing this blog I was sending a long reply to an email in my Mail app, and it never sent or was saved to my drafts. It literally disappeared in space and I had to write it all over again!
Don’t sign any contracts. If it’s a must, have a lawyer or a savvy friend look over it to make sure you’re not missing any of the dirty details.
When dealing with people from your past, proceed with caution. You may reconnect with an old friend, or get back together with an ex, which could be great…or a nightmare. Just be careful y’all!
Focus on self-care and create a positive environment for yourself. I like to Sage periodically throughout the retrograde to cleanse both mine and my home’s energy. I also love keeping a Himalayan salt lamp and some crystals on my nightstand to bring in positive energy. When I’m on the go, I like wearing a balancing crystal like quartz as a necklace for peace of mind. If things get particularly rough, book a massage, take a bath with a fancy bath bomb, or have a spa day with some girlfriends!
Mentally prepare yourself to expect the unexpected. Things are going to go wrong, and it’s out of your hands. At least you have something to blame it on this time! 😉