The First Retrograde of 2021: Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius
What an electrified week we’ve had under a Leo Full Moon.
And, now, Mercury retrograde is upon us.
What exactly does it mean?
From our vantage point on Earth, a retrograding planet appears to be spinning backward, moving in reverse direction. Astronomers refer to this as “apparent retrograde motion,” because it is actually an optical illusion.
In reality, a retrograding planet doesn’t all of a sudden stop on it’s axis and reverse directions.
Every planet in our Solar System travels in the same direction in its journey around the Sun. Yet, from time to time, every single planet appears to be spinning backwards.
Here’s an easy way from the Farmer’s Almanac of understanding how the optics of a retrograde work:
The Outer Planets
The outer planets are Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune — and they each take longer to orbit the Sun than the Earth does. This happens because their orbits are larger than ours. Because of this, the Earth often laps these planets in its journey around the Sun.
When the Earth overtakes an outer planet, that planet appears to travel backward, as compared to the stars, for a time.
The Inner Planets
For the inner planets, Mercury and Venus, the mechanism that causes them to turn retrograde is the same, but in reverse. Mercury and Venus appear to go retrograde when they lap us.
What does Mercury Retrograde Mean For Us?
You may think that when a planet is retrograding, depending on what that particular planet rules, things will go a bit haywire.
As Mercury is the messenger planet, perhaps you’re fearing tech glitches, delays and miscommunications — but there’s more to it than that.
I personally find that it’s a time to be the most intentional. Be conscious in your communication. Think before you speak. Double check your work. Slow way down.
Allow the energy to guide you rather than being in a place of superstition or fight.
This retrograde falls in Aquarius.
Influenced by Uranus, a planet of inner genius and free-spiritedness, take this time to really do you!
Be weird, do things your way, use your super powers, and even if you’re going against the grain know you’re exactly who you’re meant to be. 〰️
Use this retrograde to:
ARIES —
Turn up the heat on your strengths and share those talents with organizations important to your mission.
TAURUS —
Re-discover your earthly gifts. Be intentional with career moves.
GEMINI —
Explore your duality. Be a messenger of the yin and the yang.
CANCER —
Find a planetary flow. Study the little moments of daily magic.
LEO —
Evaluate your relationships. Stand in your confidence, worth and inner power.
VIRGO —
Explore ways to own your expertise. Remember your perspective makes you uniquely you.
LIBRA —
Show yourself grace. Connect to your mental energy and find ways to share what's unique to you.
SCORPIO —
Find comfort at home, be joyful in your sacred space.
SAGITTARIUS —
Light up your inner wisdom through teaching others.
CAPRICORN —
Bring your authentic essence forward through collaborative conversations.
AQUARIUS —
Reflect on ways to give, use your voice for the greater good.
PISCES —
Hold space for others to be creative, inspire others with your generous nature.
