Ilana Friedman, Advanced Clinical Intern

You know those times when your alarm doesn’t go off, you miss the train, your computer crashes and you lose your big project, you get into a huge miscommunication with your boss, and everything just seems to be going wrong… We colloquially blame this on “mercury in retrograde” but what does that really mean?

The Roman God Mercury was the mythic messenger of the Gods and Goddesses, carrying messages and trade while flying on his winged sandals. Understandably, his namesake the planet is the planet of communication. Mercury deals with how we carry our messages of communication, namely, how we express ourselves. It also covers intellect, wit, information, awareness, and decision-making. Very important stuff!

3-4 times a year this important little planet Mercury appears to travel backward through the sky and we call this celestial event Mercury in Retrograde. During this time we can expect breakdowns in communication, less-than-stellar decision-making, transportation struggle-buses, and tech issues. It’s a time when everything that can go wrong, will go wrong! And, baby, Mercury is in retrograde right now, flying backward and turning everything upside down, from May 10th until June 3rd so buckle up!

I’ve created a little Mercury in Retrograde To-Do List to help you thrive during this challenging time.

Mercury in Retrograde
To-Do List

1. Be mindful of your communication. Double-check the wording of that email before you send it, remember to use those “I” statements, and take a beat to think before you speak. This is a time of lots of miscommunication and being mindful can help prevent communication issues.

2. Back up your tech! Even though the God Mercury sure didn’t have a cellphone with him as he flitted around, tech often malfunctions during this time. This is a perfect moment to do that solid backup of your computer that you’ve been putting off…

3. Leave yourself extra travel time. Expect the unexpected. A little extra time can go a long way in preventing the stress of being late due to bungled transportation!

4. Try not to sign any contracts or make any big purchases. Since this is a time of miscommunication, contracts and big purchases run the risk of something going awry. If you have to sign a contract, triple-check the fine print before signing!

5. Don’t start something new. This could mean a new relationship, reconnecting with that ex, a new business venture, etc. With all the miscommunication, it is better to use this time to reflect and prepare before you launch on June 4th!

Now, let’s apply a therapy skill to this often challenging time. If we reframe Mercury in retrograde, we can see it as a time to turn inward, reflect, communicate mindfully, and give ourselves a little extra grace and patience - all practices that we can benefit from daily no matter what the pesky planets are up to…