Are you having a terrible time? Are you questioning your existence? Do you find yourself in the darkest place? Nobody understands you? Your cell phone erases itself; your partner breaks up with you over a text out of nowhere when you just felt that everything was just beautiful? People argue over nonsense, traffic sucks, you get sick or sharp pains in various part of your body, headaches, eye pain, upper body pain, middle body pain, lower body pain, and as a result you find yourself in ER and the hospital for few days, The doctors keep misdiagnosing you and keep changing their diagnosis from bad to good and good to bad? Not only that, but your brand new computer crashes as you’re typing the last sentence of your essay, homework, project, or your message? Flights are delayed or cancelled, or you forget your passport at home on the way to the Bahamas. Plans change without warning and your friends stand you up. Even if you’re already a drama queen, this is just BEYOND what is called Normal or Coincidence. Well, chances are, you’re smack down in the middle of Mercury retrograde crisis.

The timing for Mercury Retrograde is December 19, 2016 to January 8th, 2017:

What IS Mercury retrograde, really?

Three or four times a year, Mercury passes the earth in its orbit. As it rounds the bend, Mercury slows down and appears to stop (station) and spin backward (retrograde). Of course, it really ISN’T moving backward, but much like two trains or cars passing each other, this creates the optical illusion that one (Mercury, in this case) is going backward.

In astrology, Mercury rules communication, travel, and technology—so all of these areas go haywire for about three weeks.

So you may feel the retrograde a couple weeks before and after it actually happens.

I myself have experienced it but forgot about it, until few hours ago, everything made sense to me. And I can say that I have almost listen every freaking list I am sharing with you, can you imagine, not one or two incidents, but almost every think I have listed. Just unbelievably insane! So I have decided to give you the thumbs up and at least educate you about it, so you can be prepared, or at least understand this craziness before panicking as I was.

So what do you do so you don’t have a nervous breakdown? Take a deep breath, and remember its “Mercury Retrograde”, and don’t start anything new. Review all your contracts before you sign. Renew your commitments, rather than making new ones. Prepare to repeat yourself often. It’s like learning a new dance.

HOLD ON with any repairs that you want to have them done until after Mercury Retrograde ends, as repairs usually have to be made to the repair! WAIT to sign contracts and generally entering into agreements. POSTPONE any non-emergency doctor appointments, x-rays, and dental work!

Mercury Retrograde is definitely NOT the time to start a new relationship, a new job, or long-term project — let alone a new career; it is not the time enter into binding commitments (marriage, financial, or otherwise) without the absolute expectation of necessary modifications, alternative compromises and/or reversals in the original plan and/or intent. Unless it’s an emergency, it is generally not a good idea make or goes to medical appointments during Mercury Retrograde.

Interpersonally, communications at all levels are problematic, and we are inclined to think slower – process communications slower! We have to be patient with each other and ourselves. Try to see and use humor. Expect computer issues – not the least of which will likely include slower connections (also, back-up data).

EXPECT misleading information — if not deception (especially with Neptune in Pisces); EXPECT missed appointments, traffic problems, the failure to keep one’s word because of a promise that could not be kept; misplaced documents, more compute-related problems.

REMEMBER: Sleep deprivation during Mercury Retrograde causes extreme confusion, inflexibility, and general difficulty staying in reality-based thought. When we feel the least bit sleepy it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, not to mention — refreshing — to STOP what we are doing, and close our eyes just long enough to allow the sleepiness to subside. It can be as little as 2-5 minutes.

Mercury retrograde to do and not to do.

DO…

1. Review all contracts and legal documents before signing.
2. Take a deep breath pause and breathe before speaking. (Repeat yourself if necessary!)
3. Read all emails and documents before you send.
4. Insure/track important mail and packages (Mercury rules the postal system).
5. Get your vehicles (or bikes) tuned up, pack an emergency roadside kit.
6. Leave early for any travel and appointments, since Mercury Rx can delay flights.
7. Renew your commitments instead of making new ones.
8. Focus on the prefix re-,which means to go backward (renew, review, revamp, redecorate, et al.)
9. Plan reunions with old friends & loved ones (but prepare for possible mishaps!)
10. Expect to hear from/run into people from your past at the weirdest moments.
11. Get sentimental. Reconnect with your roots, walk down memory lane.
12. Practice forgiveness. Finish processing what’s unresolved so you can let it go.
13. Confirm all dates, plans, meetings, appointments.
14. Think of the retrograde as a quarterly review period, a chance to pause and finish what you’ve started.
15. Back up your digital data (photos, contact lists, files) before the retrograde or ASAP if it’s started.

DON’T…

1. Buy new vehicles, electronic equipment or gadgets (unless they come with a good return/repair policy).
2. Sign contracts without a thorough review (delay until Mercury turns direct if you can).
3. Fly off the handle or jump to conclusions if someone misunderstands you.
4. Run into the arms/bed of an ex without careful screening (Mercury reunions aren’t always meant to last).
5. Shoot the messenger if someone from your past comes around.
6. Put anything sketchy into an email or text (you could hit “Reply All” or send to the wrong person!).
7. Leave late for flights or appointments.
8. Start anything new on top before finishing what’s ahead on the to-do list.
9. Lead people on, give mixed messages, or believe everything you hear (actions speak louder than words).
10. Spread rumors, rant on social media or share unconfirmed information.
11. Turn in sloppy or unchecked work, cut corners, dash off hasty communications. Inspect to protect!

The silver lining of Mercury retrograde is a great opportunity to handle unfinished business. Most of us start a million things that we don’t complete, never realizing how much psychic clutter this creates. The retrograde is like a quarterly review, a chance to tie up those loose ends and create a clear vision for the future. Take advantage of it, and you’ll emerge fresh and ready when Mercury goes direct. As the cliché goes, what you resist persists. So the more you can embrace chaos or a lack of control (and isn’t control an illusion, anyhow?), the better you’ll survive this cycle.