I first used the term Mercury retroshade to refer to the two weeks before and after the real planetary retrograde fifteen years and many moons ago. Why? Because bizarre and wacky things tend to happen then. Before I did a detailed analysis of it, I was unable to comprehend why there were so many communication breakdowns in both my life and the lives of others just before and after the Mercurial backspin.
More people link their plans and activities with their personal horoscope during uncertain periods like this one. This explains why the phrase “Mercury retrograde” has become so common in today’s language. Mercury retrograde is to fault for all of life’s inconveniences, including when an ex returns, rumors about you are disseminated, or you encounter frustration when traveling. It makes sense: Mercury rules knowledge and access to the truth, therefore it stands to reason that a delay in its motion would cause chaos.
In This Article...
What transpires while Mercury is in retrograde?
Think of Mercury retroshade as the prelude to the main act and the end credits. Two weeks before and two weeks after the actual retrograde, Mercury is in its shadow period. Now you know why you could feel a little weird before the planet truly begins to travel backwards!
The planet often moves more slowly before Mercury retrograde and more quickly after. All planets, not just Mercury, experience pre- and post-shadow phases, which each have their own astrological mysticism.
It’s not unusual to get a preview of the event before it happens, which can be a little intimidating. Mercury is reviewing the same zodiacal moves it made during the retrograde when it is, however, in its post-retrograde shadow. but this time, according to astrologer Nina Kahn, it’s progressing and gaining speed.
What does the shadow duration of Mercury retrograde mean?
About two weeks before and two weeks following the planet’s backspin, Mercury goes retrograde. A planet passes through a time known as “stationing,” where it is adjusting to the U-turn, before and after it is in retrograde. Our perception of its effects may change over time, like the lingering emissions from a car with a damaged exhaust system.
Step 1: Find Where Mercury Retrograde Begins and Ends
The Mercury symbol and the retrograde dates are highlighted in yellow in the example below, which uses the Mercury retrograde of October 426, 2014. If you squint, you can see a little R symbol for a planet turning retrograde and a D symbol for a planet turning direct.
yet another sign of a retrograde? The column’s numbers are reversed. These figures represent the angles at which Mercury transits a given sign. In the given instance, the retrograde began on October 4 at 2o Scorpio and finished on October 25 at 16o Libra. Math time! The 30o space on the spherical zodiac wheel is occupied by one of the 12 zodiac signs. Understand that 12 x 30 equals 360 degrees of the circle? Yes, astrology is unquestionably a sort of geek art.
We can determine where the shadow started and finished for this Mercury retrograde from the ephemeris because it started at 2o Scorpio and moved back to 16o Libra.
Step 2: Find The Shadow’s Beginning
Mercury retrograde is like going backwards when driving, so to determine the start of the Mercury retrograde shadow period, we look at the end date of the retrograde. We turned back in our ephemeris to find when Mercury was last at 16o Libra after it finished its retrograde on October 26 at 16o Libra. Aha! It was on September 14, 2014!
Then, it’s possible that we’ll start to see indications of the approaching Mercury retrograde: fuzzy thinking, jumbled communications, and former lovers and close pals emerging from hiding. This is the perfect moment to prepare for Mercury crazy as well: back up digital data, talk to loved ones about anything that’s bothering you, and make sure all of your key papers and codes are locked up and password-protected.
Step 3: Find the Shadow’s End
Again, since Mercury is in retrograde, which means it is moving backwards, we must look at the START date of Mercury in retrograde to determine when the shadow of Mercury in retrograde ends. We look ahead in our ephemeris to see when Mercury returns to 2o Scorpio after it entered retrograde on October 4 at 2o Scorpio. In this instance, we can observe that on November 11, 2014, it successfully crosses the 200 Scorpio point.
Processing and integration are the main themes of the second Mercury retrograde shadow. Sure, Mercury retrograde might completely upend our life, but what are the priceless lessons to be learned? What necessary gains and modifications did Mercury’s retrograde bring about? Make significant, audacious changes during the period when Mercury turns direct to the end of its shadow. For instance, you might come to see that your abusive lover was merely reacting to YOU when YOU quietly criticized his every move. Eek! You may test out a new, more assertive style of communicating with him and resolving disputes during the second half of the shadow. This might be the solution you need to save your relationship.
Shadows of Other Planetary Retrogrades
You should be aware that EVERY planet experiences retrograde motion. Retrograde has taken on a sinister connotation. These are also crucial periods to fully evaluate, improve, and restructure, despite being rather irksome. These spells are necessary for us to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater. While Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all reverse annually for a significant portion of the year, Mars and Venus only do so every other year. The same method can be used to determine their shadow phases as in the case above. Seize your ephemeris, and get to work!
The definition of a retrograde shadow
The period between Mercury Retrograde and now is known as the shadow period. The shadow period might be to blame if you’ve ever felt like your luck was running out but a retrograde hadn’t yet started. Even when the earth is no longer in a tailspin, do you feel bad? That is indeed the post-retrograde shadow era.
According to Stephanie Campos-Powell of Leona Moon Astrology, it’s the precise degree the planet is at before and after a retrograde.
What happens before Mercury goes retrograde?
This time span allows three chances to ensure that our efforts and decisions are correct and is the planetary embodiment of the adage “measure twice, cut once.” The first happens when Mercury first crosses a celestial degree during the pre-retrograde shadow phase. Mistakes may be evaluated and repaired during the second, which occurs when Mercury is retrograde and reverses back over this degree. When Mercury completes its final transit over the degree, during what is referred to as a post-retrograde shadow, we have one last opportunity to make progress. In general, Mercury retrograde has effects that begin to manifest approximately two weeks before the planet starts to appear to travel backward from the earth and last for up to two weeks after it stops.
What zodiac signs will be impacted by the 2021 Mercury retrograde?
The other cardinal signs in the other elements will feel this particular backward turn the most because it is occurring in cardinal Libra. Aries (cardinal fire), Cancer (cardinal water), and Capricorn are included in this (cardinal earth). Aries, it will manifest in your fourth house of domestic life, Cancer, your seventh house of partnerships, and Cap, your tenth house of careers.
What do you do during the shadow of Mercury?
Typically, the pre-retroshade gives you a preview of what the retrograde will specifically imply for you. You should act upon any irrational impulses you may have at this time, no matter how slight. When you ignore your intuition while your head is still clear during a retrograde, things get nasty. Preparation for the retrograde should be done during the pre-shadow. Before Mercury Retrograde starts, the AstroTwins advise backing up data, updating your cybersecurity, and paying your bills. If you have a trip planned or a significant contract to sign soon, now is the time to double-check everything. Take use of this opportunity to evaluate your situation, routines, and outlook. Over the next few weeks, eliminate anything that isn’t working in your favor and think through your options.
What does Mercury going backwards represent spiritually?
Once more, the dreadful Mercury retrograde is set to start. Mercury retrograde, though feared by the majority of us, is a normal occurrence in our universe and offers us just as many benefits as it does drawbacks. Mercury is the planet that stations retrograde the most frequently, doing so three times this year for periods of three weeks each. We may create opportunities for realignment and inner growth all year long if we learn to navigate these periods appropriately.
Mercury looks to be moving backwards in our sky, but he is actually forward motion. This is the first thing to comprehend. The fastest-moving planet in the solar system, Mercury completes one orbit of the Earth every 88 days, or up to four times a year. Similar to when a car passes another, slower going vehicle, as he passes us, it creates an optical illusion. The quicker car looks to be temporarily moving backwards before completely overtaking the slower car. The same effect that causes Mercury Retrograde also causes this.
Mercury is the planet that governs all of our technological and information exchange systems, as well as communication. The portion of us that quickly assimilates knowledge and transmits it to others is ruled by Mercury. The regular flow of energy is reversed as he retrogrades. Instead of flowing freely to others, ideas and thoughts sometimes seem to get trapped in our heads. The same thing happens when we communicate digitally: email servers crash, social media platforms have glitches, and our standard methods fall short of our expectations. Undoubtedly, it may be a frustrating moment. Speaking, writing, and even producing art might be challenging for us. The energy seems to become caught before bursting through chaotically, confusing everyone, like a sling shot. Here are some suggestions to assist you get through this period and actually use it to improve your environment rather than make it worse.
What zodiac signs are impacted by Mercury’s retrograde motion?
Nothing in astrology is more notorious than the dreadful Mercury retrograde. Because it rules both cognitive and communication processes, Mercury has a significant impact on how you live your daily life. This quick-moving, very intelligent inner planet tends to confuse people and lead to errors in judgment when it goes retrograde, which can derail all of your goals. Fortunately, you don’t have to prepare for total disaster if you belong to one of the zodiac signs that will be least affected by Mercury retrograde in spring 2022: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
On May 10, as Mercury is transiting through Gemini at a 4 degree angle, the next Mercury retrograde will start. As a result of this mutable air sign’s propensity to think more quickly than it speaks, miscommunication is a major theme of this erratic and capricious retrograde. Mercury won’t stay in Gemini for very long, though, as on May 22 it will turn back into Taurus and travel through that sign’s obstinate and slow-moving zone once more. Mercury is returning to this fixed earth sign, so you may find yourself second-guessing every choice and finding it difficult to look past your attachments to particular beliefs and viewpoints. Be careful you know what you’re talking about and try to have an open mind.
Despite the fact that Mercury retrograde can throw your life for a loop, you must keep in mind that it only lasts for around three weeks. This retrograde, which will terminate on June 3 at 26 degrees Taurus, could transport you back in time and bring up unfinished business that has to be attended to. Let this retrograde give you another chance to attempt because there might still be things you need to say or decisions you need to make.
In either case, cardinal signs might not experience the full effects of this retrograde. This is why:
What activities should you avoid when Mercury is retrograde?
Ellen Bowles, an astrologer and co-author of Astrology SOS, claims that “we can have technical or mechanical troubles, and our wires can seem crossed in all our channels of communication.” “Planetary retrogrades are occasions for everyone to stop and think. We are being advised to slow down and double-check the details when Mercury is retrograde.” The urge to meticulously examine every last aspect extends beyond the three to four weeks of the retrograde period itself. The same guidelines for what not to do during Mercury retrograde also apply during this time, which lasts for a week or two before and after the actual retrograde. This period is known as Mercury’s shadow phase or “retroshade.”
How does the retrograde of Mercury effect me?
According to Daisy, Mercury’s retrograde phase could lead to serious marital problems like infidelity, betrayal, or loss of closeness. It may seem like everything is going wrong in your love life when you bring up old concerns and disagreements, the astrologer warns, as this planet looks to be moving inside.
Communication is essential, but it’s especially important right now because Mercury, the planet of communication, seems to be going backwards. By communicating and being open-hearted and honest, put your attention on strengthening your relationship.