It’s that time again! Mercury Retrograde! Yay… (note sarcasm). Mercury, the planet of logic, communication, and travel goes retrograde early tomorrow morning, February 23rd at 4:41am and will remain in backward motion in sensitive, dreamy Pisces until good old Saint Patty’s Day, March 17th at 4:03pm. When a planet appears to be traveling backward in the sky, this is called retrograde. The planet isn’t really move backward though. It’s just an illusion. Mercury retrograde happens a few times a year. It’s what I call Murphy’s Law time. Things usually don’t go as planned. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, especially when it comes to travel plans and communication (e.g., phone problems, missed messages or emails, computer snafus, etc.). No need to panic though. Here are some helpful tips to help you survive this retrograde cycle.
10 TIPS FOR SURVIVING MERCURY RETROGRADE
1. Hold off on your taxes!
Mercury Retrograde hits us in the middle of tax time! Joy! If you’re like me and haven’t done your taxes yet, wait until after March 18 to file. Remember, Murphy’s law, which means things don’t go as planned. Your receipts, forms, or other paperwork may go missing, documents get lost in the mail or somewhere out in the electronic world. Miscommunication or misunderstandings are likely between you and others, including your accountant or the IRS. Anything that requires a signature could be a problem during Mercury Retrograde, so be extra careful. And be sure to keep all your paperwork and receipts in order and handy, especially when it comes to any deductions you claim for charities, as Mercury is moving backwards in Pisces, the sign that covers generosity and charity.
2. Check your fluids levels!
Mercury is traveling backwards through the water sign Pisces this retrograde cycle. What’s interesting is that all Mercury Retrogrades this year will be falling in water signs. Pisces first, followed by Cancer, and then Scorpio. Very appropriate for the Chinese Year of the Water Snake. So pay attention to anything that has to do with water or fluids. Check your plumbing and check fluid levels in your car. Make sure you have plenty of gas, or you might find yourself stranded somewhere. And be sure to keep yourself well-hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
3. Be careful traveling!
It’s the winter, and the weather is unpredictable, so be careful on the roads. If you are hoping to escape the cold and take off on vacation, don’t be surprised if things don’t go exactly as planned. You might have problems with your reservations or tickets. Flights may be delayed. You might lose important documents, or forget your ID or passport. Expect the unexpected. If you have to travel during this time, don’t freak out and cancel your plans, but definitely be more cautious and read the fine print. Be extra prepared. Make a list and check it twice. Keep an eye on your baggage and make sure you’ve packed everything you could possibly need. Anticipate delays or mishaps. Leave yourself plenty of travel time.
4. Back up your computer and set your alarm clock!
Computers, electronics, and especially phones and communication devices usually have unexpected problems during Mercury Retrograde, so make sure you back up any important data. Mercury is traveling backwards in dreamy Pisces, so sleep is something you may struggle with during this time. Your internal clock as well as your alarm clock could be off. If you don’t usually use an alarm clock, you may want to invest in one. If you do use an alarm clock, double check to make sure it’s set properly and that the volume is up loud enough to wake you up. There is a Stellium in Pisces right now, and with this many planets in Pisces, including Mercury Retrograde, people love to oversleep. If you’re not careful, you may find yourself late to work or other appointments. And with Mercury Retrograde it’s best to allow some extra time for the unexpected (e.g., traffic, accidents, gps errors, spilling your coffee on yourself). Yes, the unexpected happens, and it usually happens during Mercury Retrograde.
5. Pay attention, especially at work!
With Mercury moving backwards through dreamy Pisces, your head will likely be foggy. It will be more difficult to focus and more likely that you could be daydreaming or falling asleep at work. If you can, it’s best to hold off on important meetings or presentations until after Mercury goes direct again on March 18th. Otherwise, you will find yourself struggling, either putting people to sleep or falling asleep yourself. If you have a meeting you can’t avoid, make sure you are fully prepared and be sure to add an extra something to your presentations to make them more interesting so you can grab and hold people’s attention. Good luck!
6. Don’t start anything new!
Rule of thumb during Mercury Retrograde: Don’t initiate anything, and definitely don’t force anything. Bad time to start a new job, new business, new relationship, get married, sign a lease, buy a house or make any major decisions or plans. It’s best during this time to work on tasks and projects that have already been started or go back and re-do tasks you’ve already done. Great time for polishing or finishing up. If you start anything new during this time, things may not go as planned, and you will likely find yourself going back to the drawing board at square one again. If you’re feeling antsy and have an itch to do something active, Mercury Retrograde is a great time for Spring cleaning. Get organized, clean out your closets, and sweep under your rugs, but no major home improvements or renovations. Starting anything major is a no-no.
7. Put your wallet away!
Do not make any major purchases during Mercury Retrograde. If you do, you might regret it. Avoid big ticket items. Bad time to buy a car, appliances, computers, and especially communication devices, so forget upgrading to that new iPhone until after Mercury turns direct again next month. You probably won’t find the best bargains during this time, and if you do, you’ll probably find out later that you were ripped off. There’s a good chance whatever you buy during this time may not work or will break down. Instead of buying something new, use this time to fix something you already own. Don’t rush to purchase anything. You might find yourself with buyer’s remorse or you may realize you don’t even need what you were wanting to buy. So use this time to think your purchases though carefully. Comparison shop and do research, but do not buy.
8. Dot your I’s and cross your T’s!
Well-known rule: don’t sign anything during Mercury Retrograde if you can avoid it. This includes contracts, agreements, and even verbal agreements or handshakes. It’s also a bad time for negotiating anything or making any major life decisions. If you have to go to court for anything during Mercury Retrograde, four words: sucks to be you! Might be in your best interest to reschedule your court date, if that’s even a possibility. Mercury Retrograde means potential misunderstandings and miscommunications that could be detrimental. Whatever terms of agreement could literally fall apart. That is why it is crucial that you dot your I’s and cross your T’s during Mercury Retrograde. Be sure to read the fine print. And make sure you know exactly what you want, because later on, you may find yourself changing your mind. For example, the job offer you accepted may turn out to be a job you don’t want. You may get a better offer from somewhere else. If you end a relationship, even if your mind is made up at the time, you might regret it. Timing is everything in life, and there’s nothing worse than the exhausting make up and break up roller coaster. If you want a lasting relationship or a break up that is final, make sure you do it when Mercury is direct and not retrograde. Any life altering decisions should be placed on the back burner until Mercury Retrograde has passed.
9. Don’t forget to breathe!
Just like any other retrograde cycle, this too shall pass. But don’t fear it. Don’t start changing all your plans, and don’t stop living. Mercury Retrograde should not rule your life. However, expect the unexpected, and don’t let it derail you. That is the key to surviving Mercury Retrograde. Be cautious and be prepared. Mercury Retrograde forces us to slow down and think things through. It reminds us not to rush into things or force things. This is a good time for thinking, reflection, and re-evaluation. Since Mercury represents communication, pay attention to how you communicate, especially at work and in your personal relationships. Mercury retrograde reminds us, not only how important communication is, but also to appreciate the little things, like phones, email, computers, as well as something as simple as transportation and travel. We always notice the things that go wrong in our lives, but we rarely notice all the things that are running smoothly. That applies to our relationships as well. We are quick to notice everything that’s wrong, but sometimes overlook all the things that are right. Take the time to stop and smell the roses, and don’t forget to appreciate the little things. Remember, gratitude leads to greater happiness.
10. Read my daily reports!
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In the meantime, I am providing a list below of Mercury Retrogrades in 2013, something to look forward to. 😉
Note: All Mercury Retrogrades in 2013 will be falling in water signs, Pisces then Cancer and then Scorpio. Very appropriate for the Chinese Year of the Water Snake. Water denotes emotions, moods, sensitivity, creativity, intuition, dreams, and the subconscious. Tap into your subconscious, and you may receive an important life message.
MERCURY RETROGRADES 2013:
(All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time Zone.)
February 23, 2013 at 4:41am ↔ March 17, 2013 at 4:03pm
(Pisces 5°38′ ↔ 19°52′)
June 26, 2013 at 9:07am ↔ July 20, 2013 at 2:22pm
(Cancer 13°22′ ↔ 23°7′)
October 21, 2013 at 6:29am ↔ November 10, 2013 at 4:12pm
(Scorpio 2°30′ ↔ 18°24′)
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