Mercury is in retrograde until June 22, 2021.
If you are not familiar with Mercury retrograde, it is a time when the planet of communication slows down and appears to be going backwards. It is known as a time when we are more prone to breakdowns in communication, technology glitches and generally having misunderstandings, issues and arguments.
It is also a time when we are invited to take a step back and be more conscious and aware of how we are showing up in our relationships, and in our professional and personal lives. We are invited to be more mindful in our words, actions and to take our time with important decisions and do our due diligence.
I rarely discuss Mercury retrograde as I feel it is often used as an excuse to place blame on an external force for the challenges we might experience during the transit, rather than use it to learn and grow from. Right or wrong, this is the approach I have taken.
It can sometimes feel like everything is going wrong during Mercury retrograde and that can be frustrating. The reality of what is happening, is that issues from the past are rising to the surface to be worked through. It just so happens that most of this comes in the form of miscommunications and arguments.
When this happens, we can either choose to blame Mercury (or the other person) or we can use it for the opportunity to learn what truly lies beneath the surface.
This Mercury retrograde cycle has been particularly difficult for me and I have experienced two too many arguments in the past few days (I am allergic to conflict and confrontation).
I am also reminded of the difficulty I have with certain communication styles and how my hypersensitivity comes into play, when I am triggered emotionally. It makes for a very challenging discussion to work through since it is important for me to keep peace, balance and harmony at the center of all discussions (Mercury in Libra).
My point in sharing all of this with you is a reminder, that at the center of most misunderstandings is an underlying issue waiting to be discovered. It is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what triggered you in the first place. It requires taking time out to go inward and explore.
What is it, within you, that needs to be explored and brought to light?
What are you learning that needs integration into your life?
I am not saying that the other person doesn’t also have a role in this, they do. The key here is to remember, that even though both parties are here to learn something about themselves, we are not responsible for the other person and how they grow and evolve from this.
We are only responsible for what we learn from the situation and we need to let go of control. What the other person learns or doesn’t learn from it, isn’t within our purview. We are only responsible for our path and can only control our part.
Navigating this path is challenging enough on its own and I am grateful for the tool of astrology helping me better understand communication through the lens of the zodiac. It helps me to understand me, others and more about my role in these situations.
Astrology helps you understand yourself and the people around you
If you are interested in learning more about what’s in your astrology chart, visit my Astrology page on my website.