SURVIVAL TIPS
Mercury Retrograde is here! It happens from August 4th to 27th. In fact, its "shadow" phase – one week before and one week after – began last week. These times can seem extremely heavy, difficult, turbulent… However, not everything is as it seems! What seems heavy now will be perfect in time.
Mercury Retrograde is here! It happens from August 4th to 27th. In fact, its "shadow" phase – one week before and one week after – began last week. These times can seem extremely heavy, difficult, turbulent… However, not everything is as it seems! What seems heavy now will be perfect in time.
Mercury Retrograde has been making headlines, mainly because of how it interferes with the normal cycle of our lives. Even if the esoteric universe doesn't particularly interest you, it's truly curious how this time of year influences our routines, causing communication breakdowns or technological disasters, and also triggering various extraordinary coincidences.
These heights are super powerful portals that help to "clear" blockages that are no longer serving us, but that we are afraid to resolve. If we are attentive and ready to take advantage of these unexpected situations, we will "come out on the other side" with more energy, stronger and more aligned emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Life may seem to be falling apart and collapsing over the next couple of weeks. It's important not to cling to anything and to believe that sometimes certain things or situations really need to dissolve and dissipate to clear the way for what is truly meant for us .
This Mercury Retrograde asks us to exchange our worries and fears for a new confidence – the confidence that everything is happening perfectly, exactly as it should. It's a reminder that we don't need to understand the exact reasons why certain things seem to explode or not happen the way we envisioned. Sometimes, the Universe needs to intervene and decide for us what needs to go and what needs to stay – especially if our lives are not balanced and aligned, if we feel more lost and far from what we dreamed of.
Okay… Sorry, if this is the first time you've heard of this expression, I might have worried you :) Let me explain: according to Astrology, Mercury Retrograde is the name given to the apparent effect when Mercury begins to "move backward" in relation to Earth, an illusion related to how our planet interacts with the orbits of other planets. This phenomenon usually happens three times a year: for example, in 2024, it will be from August 4th to August 27th and then from November 25th to December 15th.
Moreover, Mercury is known as the planet of communication, which justifies the influence we feel in the way we express our ideas or even how we get around: I'm talking about situations as commonplace as flight delays or cancellations, or even the loss of information I had stored on my hard drive.
But don't panic! Of course, it's a good time to be more attentive and cautious about what's happening around you, but also see this period as an opportunity to stop and reflect on the past and everything that bothers you currently. It's essential that your routine slows down and that you think twice before making any decision (whether it's booking a trip or signing a new contract).
But do you know how to counteract this phenomenon? Of course, you won't be able to avoid many of the events you'll encounter, but it's essential that you maintain an optimistic mindset instead of constantly looking for obstacles! We're generally more irritable at this time, so it might not be a good time for deeper conversations or definitive decisions. But why not see this period as an excellent time to reset, perhaps? I always see these cosmic moments as a challenge to rethink my life and eliminate a lot of "stuff" I've accumulated over the past few years.
In practice, there are a few things you can do. Take note!
Back up everything!
This is rule number 1! Back up your documents, either to external drives or online platforms – or both! Make sure you save everything a million times.
When Mercury is retrograde, our computers and phones are more prone to malfunctions, and suddenly, really important documents that you were sure you had saved disappear.
Don't let the little things get to you.
Yes, there are small but very significant things that deserve our attention, but this is not a time to make a mountain out of a molehill. Relax and accept the natural course of things, without letting yourself be brought down by things that don't go so well. If you remain calm and confident in what you are doing – and with the necessary backups! – believe that everything will be alright.
Do not sign any contract.
If possible, avoid signing contracts right now. If possible, wait a week after the retrograde period ends. Of course, not everything can be postponed, and in those cases, my advice is to read the documents in question many times.
Read and reread documents.
I've told you to read this several times, but it's really important to reinforce this idea! I'm not just talking about contracts, but about work to be delivered or important communications to someone.
Get a second opinion.
If you really have to sign a contract and you've already read and reread it several times, ask for a second (or third!) opinion. Seek out friends you trust or lawyers. Four eyes see better than two, especially during Mercury retrograde.
Don't travel without plans.
This is really not the right time for unplanned trips, as flight delays or car breakdowns are common. If you really have to travel, try to be organized and don't schedule trips too close to important appointments to avoid being inconvenienced by delays.
Let go
In addition to Mercury retrograde, it will also be eclipse season. It's a cosmic reminder to slow down, relax, and let go… even when disasters happen! Yes, they will happen, it's normal at this time, and instead of beating yourself up, think about how you can work to improve the situation. Patience and self-understanding are even more important during these times when you shouldn't stress.
Prepare for the unexpected.
If you are aware that Mercury retrograde brings with it less predictable events, you'll be halfway to not being overly affected. It doesn't necessarily have to be something bad, just something more out of the ordinary. Be prepared and don't go against the cosmos.
Enjoy clean, quiet spaces.
Open the windows to improve air circulation. Keep your bedroom and living room well-ventilated and clean – why not use Palo Santo or White Sage incense in these areas to detoxify and restore your energy? This will help you release any negativity or stagnation that may be weighing down your home. A home with positive energy is the starting point for a life with positive energy, wouldn't you agree?
Tidy up the desk and the computer.
When Mercury is retrograde, our electronic devices become much more prone to malfunctions, so it's always a good idea to check that all your important documents are properly backed up. For example, if you have all your important documents on just one disk, ideally you should transfer everything to another disk or to online storage, on a drive or server. Always confirm that you save any file before closing windows on your computer desktop!
Make sure you communicate clearly
At this particular moment, it's very common not to be understood in the way we imagine or would like. Therefore, in order to avoid misunderstandings, take special care in how you communicate, whether at home or at work. When I say this, I'm talking about things as simple as always checking that the emails you send reach the recipient or that the work you have to deliver is properly received. It doesn't hurt to ask again, right? If you need extra help with a task, don't hesitate to ask for a second opinion. All help is welcome!
Be more patient and understanding.
Don't react to the first "inconvenience"! When Mercury is retrograde, there are times when events around us seem to get out of our control, but always remember to take a deep breath and try to deal with the situation in the best way possible. To err is human, and knowing how to navigate difficult moments with maturity and confidence is half the battle won in emerging victorious and learning from the situation. Take 2 teaspoons of Calm whenever you feel like you're going to "explode" or need to calm down.
Get at least eight hours of sleep each day.
It's crucial that you use this time to restore your energy and get adequate rest, so you can be more focused and productive during the day. Of course, it's important to do this year-round, but if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises, you should be extra careful during these days. Avoid spending many hours on your phone, take breaks from work during the day, and slow down. If you have trouble falling asleep... or getting a restful sleep (very common at this time of year!), take 4 droppers of Sleeping Drops after dinner; it will help you have a peaceful and truly restorative sleep.
Do a detox.
The best part of these hours is being able to take advantage of the moments when we slow down to rethink and assimilate many things around us that we wouldn't otherwise do. Take the opportunity to free yourself from everything that bothers you, whether it's people or even foods that you know are harming your health. In fact, it's a great time to try the Detox Kit , which offers safe tools to deeply cleanse the body, spirit, and mind. And don't forget the material cleansing so necessary for physical and psychological well-being! What do you really have in your home that is useful and gives you pleasure and tranquility? Or better yet, how many things are unnecessarily taking up space? Do this exercise and you'll see that you'll feel much better about yourself!
Relax and, who knows, maybe start planning.
As I mentioned above, this might be a problematic time to close a deal or make a drastic change in your life, but the truth is that by being less impulsive and more focused on what we have to do, we reduce the possibility of making mistakes and open a window of new opportunities. By keeping our minds healthy, we create space for incredible ideas to emerge and we feel much more inspired. Well, take note of all these ideas and save the fruits of this introspection because, when Mercury returns to its normal motion, it's the perfect time to start reaping what you've sown!
If you have another tip, please share it in the comments. ♡