Mercury Retrograde doesn't have to be awful...

Every year I make it a point to mark the dates when Mercury turns retrograde so that I can prepare for it.

For a long while I dreaded whenever I heard the words "Mercury Retrograde"; I avoided participating in life as much as possible, and I counted the days til it was over. Then I got a better understanding of this type of period and now I go into prep mode a week or so before.

The first thing you should know is that I'm not an astrologer.

Second thing is retrogrades are meant to revisit things/situations/people. It's why old boyfriends call lol.

The third thing you should know is Mercury Retrograde affects communication, travel and technology.

And the fourth thing to know is if you play your cards right, Mercury Retrograde can be lucrative. Come on, let me show you how.

1. Safety First

Astrologists will tell you to not buy electronics and avoid travel during this time. If it's unavoidable, then buy the extended warranty/travel insurance. You also want to make sure you back-up and sync your phones, hard drives, WEBSITES, errythang! If you're traveling, prepare for delays and mix-ups. If something semi-major has been broken for a little while and you've been procrastinating, fix it. Here's some links on how to download/backup your personal data from your social media sites:

Twitter https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/accessing-your-twitter-data

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/help/1701730696756992

Instagram https://help.instagram.com/contact/505535973176353

TikTok https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/personalized-ads-and-data/requesting-your-data

Pinterest https://help.pinterest.com/en/article/review-personal-data-options

2. Tighten up your to-do list and how it gets done

Don't just write a to-do list; actually do the stuff on your list. Go a step further and write/refer to your SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) so that you don't miss a step. Listen. Even if you have been doing what you do for the last 20 years, you can overlook a step, one that can cost you big time. Take your time and be methodical while you check off the items on your list. For help with developing your SOPs, check out 3 SOPs to Add to Your Business Today.

3. Be the blast from the past

Every time we're about to enter a Mercury in Retrograde period, you'll see & hear people talking about old flames sniffing around. You'll see tweets like "what is this? Blast from the past week?" Now. I'm not telling you to spin the block on the romantic side, but I am saying to dust off that list of former customers and shout them a holler. Also, answer the phone when that person who went missing with a balance calls and hold your composure. Unscientific fact: old debts can often be settled when Mercury is in Retrograde.

4. No new friends

Now here's where it gets tricky. Remember that big contract that didn't go through before? They may call again. The pros will tell you to not enter into new contracts during this period, buuutttttt if it's something you started with the other party previously then it should be okay to move ahead. Confused? Okay. "No new [biz] friends" = theme when Mercury is in Retrograde. I've seen it where folk enter into new contracts/biz relationships during this time and it gets really ugly, real fast. Read over every clause with a fine tooth comb and even then make sure there's an escape clause you can live with if you do decide to move ahead.

5. Trust your gut

You should do this anyway, but with Mercury spinning backwards, do not ignore your internal voice. Don't reason with it. Don't try to convince it. Listen to it. Do what it says. It will not lead you astray. You will regret it if you don't. I haven't decided if I'm being overly dramatic here or not, but I'm a witness to what happens when you ignore your inner voice on a 'regular' day. I don't like testing fate.

Bonus: Protect Your Peace

Your rates are your rates. Your process is your process. Your boundaries are your boundaries. If there is any time to be strict about how you work, it's now. This is no time to ignore red flags.

And then, don't fret!

That's it in a nutshell. If you take the time to prepare ahead of time, you reduce the risk of being caught off guard and you can recover faster if you are.

One last thing to note, the effects of Mercury Retrograde can be felt 3 days before and 3 days after (sometimes more, depending on who you talk to), so keep that in mind.

I also don't want you walking around looking for stuff to go wrong. Organization and preparation help to make any hiccups that do occur easier to deal with, no matter which planet is turning direct or retrograding.  

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Mercury Retrograde dates 2024:

• April 1 to April 24
• August 4 to August 27
• November 25 to December 15