5 tips for Navigating Mercury Retrograde from a Spiritual Mentor

     Mercury Retrograde is a celestial event where the planet Mercury, ruler of communication, travel, and thought processes, seems to reverse its path in the heavens. This energetic shift often brings disruptions, like misunderstandings, delayed plans, or unexpected technical glitches. But spiritually, it invites us to pause, reflect, and realign. Think of it as the universe’s way of asking you to slow down, examine what isn’t working, and course-correct so you can move forward with clarity and purpose.
     I see a lot of fear-mongering that happens with this astrological transit. As a spiritual mentor who has been on this path for over a decade (with a few degrees in understanding human behavior), I want to encourage you to ignore those messages. It can be tempting to blame Mercury Retrograde for all of your problems, but if we approach this energy with mindfulness and grace, it can greatly support our healing and expansion. 

#1 Practice Self-Reflection and Gratitude

Retrogrades are a time for looking inward and reassessing your goals, priorities, etc. This energy is not about moving quickly which can feel frustrating. Rather than meeting this slowdown with resistance, welcome it in. What you learn during this slower time may help your manifestations speed up in the long run. 
Practicing gratitude is the best way to shift your energy out of frustration. Even if it feels like everything is a mess around you, take the time to connect to the good within you.
​Incorporate these two mini-gratitude rituals during retrograde to stay grounded in gratitude. 

Ritual #1: Morning Gratitude 
Sit facing a window and open the window if the weather cooperates. Set a timer for one minute and place your phone down (do not pick up your phone until the timer has ended). During the minute, look out your window and reflect on what you are grateful for. 

Ritual #2: Nighttime Gratitude 
Open your journal or even a note in your notes app and write down one thing you are grateful for that happened that day. As you lay in bed falling asleep, direct your thoughts to list people, places, experiences, etc. you feel grateful for. ​

When you feel tempted to blame Mercury Retrograde for a challenge, try looking within instead. Here are some prompts to guide you through the type of reflection that this transit offers:

1. What areas of my life need more clarity? 
   
2. What is this challenge showing me about myself? 
   
3. What fears are being brought to my awareness now and why?
   

​2. Double-Check Communication

Mercury Retrograde will impact your communication. It’s not uncommon for misunderstandings, but by taking the time to pause and reflect before responding, you can reduce those misunderstandings.
​Take your time to proofread all written communication. Read your words out loud to make sure your tone matches your intention. Use your planners and don't hesitate to confirm plans and give yourself extra time in case of delays
The acryonyms WAIT and THINK will be your best friends for guiding your words, decisions, etc. 

Communication isn’t just between two people or more, you’re always communicating with yourself too. How is the tone of your inner voice? What words do you use to describe yourself when you’re in a stressful moment? What truth have you been denying? 

This is a time for major throat chakra heal. It is a time to re-examine your truth and how you share that truth with the world. If there is something you haven't been honest with yourself about, Mercury Retrograde will bring that to the surface.

Here are some tips for supporting your throat chakra: 

1. Get fresh air. 
   
2. Sing. 
   
3. Write your truth and notice how it feels to be honest in your body. 
   

​3. Embrace the Energy of Reassessment

When you feel lost on what to do with yourself, remember that retrogrades are a powerful time to realign, review, revisit, reassess, and relax. Instead of starting new projects, revisit an old one that you never finished but still think about. Reorganize your space so that it truly works for you. Reconnect with self-care practices that you used to love, but haven’t done in a while. 

Working with a trusted intuitive at this time could be extra beneficial. An energy healing session can help release the stagnant energy that builds up during the retrograde so that you can fully experience the clarity that waits on the other side. Pulling some tarot or oracle cards may provide a fresh perspective on the challenges you’ve been facing and help you realign.

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