Hello Reader,

Mercury turned retrograde last Tuesday, May 10. Three times each year, the astrology community gets agitated about Mercury retrograde. And to an extent, they have a reason. But it’s not as bad as you might think. In fact, these retrograde periods are “nothing either good or bad,” to borrow from Shakespeare: “Only thinking makes it so.” And thinking is Mercury’s domain. So let’s think this through together.

Mercury rules perception, intellect, and the stories we tell ourselves and others. When Mercury appears direct, communication flows outward. We interact with the world — learning new skills, traveling, speaking, writing. Our focus is external: on relationships, transactions, movement, and exchanges. When Mercury turns retrograde, the focus shifts inward. We listen to our inner world. It’s a time for insights, ideas, and imagination.

The trouble comes when people don’t honor this shift and try to push ahead as if nothing has changed. If your attention is turned inward, it’s natural to forget an appointment, miscommunicate with a neighbor, or overlook a flaw in a purchase. Instead, arrange your activities around reflection, meditation, brainstorming, or revisiting old ideas. Few of us can retreat to a monastery for a month, so be realistic. Daily life goes on. Just accept that projects may take longer, conversations may get tangled, transportation may be delayed, and purchases or returns may run into glitches. Your focus is simply elsewhere. Be alert — but also give yourself some grace.

How long will this last? Mercury stationed retrograde at 4° Gemini on May 10. It will appear to move backward in the sky until June 3, when it stations direct again. But Mercury won’t return to 4° Gemini until June 18. The period between June 3 and June 18 is called the “shadow” — a transition phase. Only after Mercury clears its shadow can we say our focus is fully outward again.

Best,

Tatiana