Mercury Retro Info & Dates

The Basic Dates of Mercury Retro 2019

Full dates including Shadows of 2019 Mercury Retro below…

Mercury Retro, good can happen!

Mercury is all about networks and connections. Think computers, smart devices, social media, public transport and traffic; even the nerves and impulses within our bodies. When this planet retrogrades, there’s the potential for plans, devices, deliveries and health to glitch, but it is also possible for good things to happen.

How often is Mercury Retro?

Mercury goes Retro three times a year for three weeks at a time, which means that for about nine weeks each year, Mercury is Retro.

What’s a shadow period?

The weeks before and after a Mercury Retro are called a shadow period. These shadow weeks help us prepare, and later integrate, the actual three retro weeks.

What should I do?

Mercury’s three actual retro weeks are a great time to complete unfinished projects, have check-ups (health, financial, car, anything!), review, edit, study, retreat, do background preparation, back up, clean up errors, check and double-check, assess the details of a decision, work hard on improving and perfecting something, and get your life in order all round. Some people have productive Mercury Retro periods, catching up on everything and making great progress, as Mercury Retro can help us zoom in and focus. Others feel slowed down, delayed or disrupted.

Should I back up?

Mercury Retro periods can be good times to do back ups. That way you’ll end up with at least three back ups a year, which is better than none!

What does ‘retrograde’ actually mean?

When observing Mercury through telescopes, when retrograde it looks as if it’s slowly going back over the parts of the zodiac it’s just been in. During Mercury Retro, we sometimes feel as if we need to retrace our steps as if carefully wandering back seeking something that’s lost or an important missing detail. Or we might feel as if things are ‘going backwards’ by not happening in the normal way. Mercury Retro is perfect for personal reflecting. When we slow down like Mercury does, and think things through during this time, we can have extremely useful insights.

Does Mercury actually travel backwards?

No, Mercury doesn’t ever travel backwards. It just appears that way to us on earth when we look up.

Should I avoid signing contracts?

There’s ancient astrological advice about not signing contracts or buying things when Mercury’s Retro, but sometimes it’s unavoidable, and in ancient times maybe they didn’t shop every five minutes like we do. Perhaps the advice might’ve been given because people tend to think differently when Mercury goes Direct again and change their minds. While Mercury is Retro, we are in a different mental framework, often a soul-driven one. So try to get at least one good night’s sleep, preferably more, between negotiations or considering a purchase. Carefully check all fine print before signing a contract. I know people who have signed successful contracts under Mercury Retro, but also people who regretted their decision.

What if you’re born under Mercury Retro?

If this is you, in your birth chart Mercury will always show as retrograde, but will change ‘by progression’ (astrological life movement chart). Remember, positive things do happen under Mercury Retro. People born with Mercury Retro are affected the three times a year Mercury goes retro, either by the glitches, or by the focus possible.

Got the message?

Mercury was the god of messages, so the biggest thing to keep in mind is that whatever happens under Mercury Retro, life is trying to give you a message. Be careful though not to jump to conclusions about what the message is.

Messages others got

Check out this blog, “Mercury Retrograde: Trials and Triumphs”, to read more about what’s happened to others under a Mercury Retro and the messages they got.

The Full Dates with Shadows Merc R 2019