Photo by Jon Rawlinson (cc)
Yes, my peeps, it’s about that time. Mercury will turn retrograde next Friday morning for the last retrograde round of the year. Sneaking one more in before New Year’s! Lucky us. I’m posting this now so you can get your house in order beforehand.
A few points, if you like to read fast:
- No, Mercury retrograde will not cause mass panic and mayhem
- This lasts about three weeks each time.
- No, everything electronic you own will not break (unless you’re having a Mars or Uranus transit at the same time; then I can’t promise anything)
- Nevertheless, it would be very smart to back up hard drives, give your car some love, and make extra time in your schedule for commuting and errands
- If Mercury is retrograde in your birth chart, you might enjoy the next few weeks
On your mark
Mercury will station retrograde (visually slow to a stop and then start moving backward) at 4:06am PST (1206 UT) next Friday, December 10. We’ll be in the retrograde period for just under three weeks, until late on the 27th. It will be in the sign of Capricorn, then rewind back into Sagittarius for a bit.
Mercury goes through retrograde periods about three times a year, for about three weeks each time. People are more easily overwhelmed with information at these times, and are processing internal information more thoroughly. It’s also pretty common to have more commuting, communication, or technology issues than usual.
Another reason that things get weird during Mercury retrograde periods is that everyone is focusing more on their internal workings, and less on external functioning. When a huge group of people does that all at once, you have weird breakdowns in everyday things.
Get set
Things to take care of beforehand, over the next week:
- Back up your hard drive. If you have a blog, back up your files and your database. WordPress users can check it out here.
- Take a look at your car. If you need the oil changed soon, or need repairs, it’s better to do those things now than during the retrograde period. If you take public transit, buy your pass beforehand AND carry change as a backup.
- Make clear task lists for yourself. Be prepared for them to not work, but having a plan to deviate from is better than no plan at all.
- If you’re thinking about a technology purchase, do it beforehand or after the retro period is over. This applies to holiday presents too!
- Speaking of holidays: if you’re traveling, be sure to budget plenty of time if you can. This is a given during the busy season, but even more relevant than usual when we’re in rewind mode.
- Get as much holiday shopping done as you can ahead of time. Try not to wait until the last minute, especially if you’re having things shipped. If the shipping goes awry…
- If you use online banking or billpay, double-check everything before, during, and after.
Some ways to survive and thrive while Mercury is retrograde:
- Have patience and a bit of humor. Things may be quirky, especially anything dependent on technology or smooth communication.
- Make lists. Practice clearer communication with yourself about your needs.
- Reread your favorite books.
- Recommit to a healthy routine: maybe it’s time to return to taking a vitamin every day, or meditating for a few minutes.
- Revive an old project or idea.
- Write a letter or an email to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, and reconnect with them.
- Renew your living space with a vase of flowers, a new photo frame, or a lit candle.
- Get plenty of rest and take time to relax.
If Mercury is retrograde in your own birth chart, you may find this to be one of the more productive times of year for you; quite simply, it’s because everyone else is on your wavelength for once. You have an advantage by being used to it!
Not sure if you have a natal retrograde Mercury? Get a copy of your chart. Look at the bottom for Mercury- if it has a little “r” next to the word, you’re one of us 
Go!
Above all, try to maintain a sense of humor about things. Setbacks and miscommunications are inevitable, but you determine hour you react to them. Keep your cool, and be patient!
Here are some past posts, if you want to read more:
Good sensible advice for Mercury Rx. Generally it is the few days at each end of a retrograde when the effects are the strongest. Mostly I do my best to ignore them. *grin*
Some astrologers go all out with the scare tactics for these periods and it annoys the heck out of me!
Slight change of topic: I can sure feel Uranus preparing to go direct! Uranus HATES being slowed down whether stationing direct or retrograde.
xo diane~
Twitter: LibraSeeksBalan
Oh, I’ve got words for Uranus soon. This has been one weird weekend.
Twitter: clover
Nicely done. I plan to take your advice! xo
Twitter: simonebernhard
Forewarned is forearmed! Back up yer blog, for sure.
Twitter: clover
Shannon! This is too bizarrely perfect.
I had no idea what was up in the stars on Friday, but I came here tonight in specific curiousity about Friday, because it was a disaster on many counts.
Here’s what my day was like:
1. Accidentally sent a personal email out to 100+ professional colleagues which was inappropriate. (that has never happened. I must have not looked closely at the “to” address.)
2. Had two more difficult, odd communication snafus with a colleague.
3. Internet wouldn’t work at an appointment.
4. Sent an email that really I should not have written. Bad judgement.
5. Accidentally sent an inviting text to a man I just broke up with, causing immense confusion and more necessary breaking-up.
6. Had an appointment where I felt like the woman was speaking Greek.
7. Ran out of gas suddenly.
That’s it. Whew.
Twitter: playwithamy
Oh, just noticed it doesn’t start until Next Friday. *sheepish grin*
I wonder what it was?
Twitter: playwithamy
This has been a busy few days regardless. If you have a strong Mercury, or much Virgo or Gemini in your chart you will tend to react more to a retro and the period leading up to it.
Or there might have been parts of your chart that were especially affected by what was going on upstairs yesterday. Digging into your chart will tell what that was all about! Sounds uncharacteristically dramatic for you :S
Twitter: clover
@shannon Ah…interesting!
Twitter: playwithamy