Mercury Retrograde is many people’s worst astrological nightmare. It has been blamed for tickets being lost, computers crashing, emails being lost somewhere in the cloud, and miscommunications between couples.

What is Mercury Retrograde? It is the orbit of the planet in retrospect to the orbit of the earth. The earth rotates on its axis as it also orbits the sun.

Mercury orbits around the sun too, but at certain times of the year, Mercury’s orbit looks like its going in reverse direction. It isn’t of course. Its just an optical allusion with a mile long scientific reason for why that happens, but I am not going to write it.

Mercury is the planet of communications. In ancient mythology, Mercury, better known as Hermes, was known as the messenger god. He delivered the Olympian gods messages and acted as emissary between the gods and humans.

He is also known for being very mischievous and loving to play pranks on the gods as well. When Mercury goes retrograde, which is usually three to four times a year, that is supposedly when Mercury’s playful side shows up.

What does that mean to us mere mortals? Mercury is also the god of commerce, travel, communications, and electronics. So, when Mercury goes retrograde? Everything can and will happen in those areas.

Luggage gets lost, emails get wonky, computers crash or get gremlins in them, tickets get lost or misplaced. Trade deals fall through, communications fail. Fights can occur, or misunderstandings can happen.

It is said when Mercury is retrograde DO NOT SIGN ANY CONTRACTS. Contracts can fail, get lost, delayed or rewritten.

Yet, it isn’t when Mercury is retrograde that affects people. When in retrograde, the energy is stagnant. So, it primarily affects anything electronic. or mass communications. It’s when Mercury enters its shadow period, the two weeks following the retrograde, that tends to affect us.

All that stagnant energy gets released like it had been building in a pressure cooker. It explodes with very interesting results.

Mercury will be going into its shadow period August 19 through 3 September 2018. Mercury will also be in Virgo which can be both good and bad.

Good, because Virgo is ruled by Mercury, but bad because the energy can be doubly critical.

So, how will Mercury affect each of the signs? Well, Mercury is considered a personal planet, so this is going to be a double whammy as it will affect each sign personally as in how they communicate with others.

In Aries, Mercury may not have any filters. They will be like a volcano spewing forth after being restrained by the stagnant energy of the retrograde. They will not think before they let loose with their communications, but they are just venting so try not to let them get to you.

In Taurus, Mercury may cause us to become more withdrawn and silent. When Taurus is unsure of themselves or upset, their communication is more silence. We work through what we want to say and how we want to say it, so in situations requiring a quick response? It isn’t going to happen with Taurus.

In Gemini, Mercury will make them even more communicative than usual as both Gemini and Virgo are ruled by Mercury. They might talk so much, you wish you could gag them. Of all the signs, Gemini will thrive during this period. They will be wittier than usual, more communicative and, if you are a writer? Even better. Great time to get caught up on your writing or homework.

In Cancer, Mercury will not do well because Cancer is ruled by the moon. They are homebodies, and this air energy will not do well in water. It just churns their emotions which will make them easily hurt during this period, and they might whine about it. Suddenly, they will be telling everyone about their illnesses, about their feelings being hurt, family shunning them, or some bodily function.

In Leo, Mercury will feed their fire. They will become even more talkative about themselves-how great they are and how their bosses love them. They’ll go on and on about their awards and their careers. Leo is ruled by the Sun and Mercury revolves around the sun. Leos tend to believe they are the center of their world and everyone especially revolves around them. They are also fun-loving and the life of the party.

In Virgo, Mercury is in Virgo for this period. Virgos-be careful during this time as you can be even more critical than usual, and although you mean well? It can come across as you not being happy with anything or anyone. You are a perfectionist at heart and you just want the best, but during this period your delivery may not be the best. You also might be concerned more with your health and diet during this time as well.

In Libra, Mercury might restrict Libra’s carefree spirit. Libras love socializing and enjoy being around people, but Virgo’s critical outlook might make Libra rethink their decisions. Maybe they are partying too much, or maybe people they once thought as their friends will be getting a second look. Just take a deep breath and not make any choices about your friends during this period.

In Scorpio, Mercury’s earth energy is a good stabilizer for Scorpio’s water energy. It might actually bring intense Scorpio out to communicate more. Even “God Forbid” socialize more with others. Scorpios tend to be blunt too and Virgo’s more critical nature might make Scorpios more selective in what they say and how they say it.

In Sagittarius, Mercury might make them even more selective on who they hang out with. They love their freedom and they love to travel, so with Virgo’s stabilizing energy, they might choose to travel less or be more selective on where they want to go. Maybe staying closer to home or visiting family.

In Capricorn, Mercury will make these guys even broodier than usual. You have double earth energy here, and not even Mercury the god of communications can make this sign communicate or socialize more. It can make them really good in business though. This is a great time for getting the business going and creating business contacts.

In Aquarius, Mercury can actually be a good incentive. Aquarius is our inventors and abstract thinkers and with that earth energy of Virgo? Could help our scientist choose those thoughts and ideas with better clarity. It could also keep them grounded and see with critical awareness which theories will work.

In Pisces, Mercury in Virgo will not help. Virgo is the opposite sign of Pisces so these poor people will be pulled in two different directions of dream and reality. These two weeks will be especially hard on them. They are water and empathic. With the critical energy of Virgo playing on them, it could be really hard for them to know what is real and what is in their emotions. So, take a deep breath and just know that this will end in two weeks.

Things will be interesting for the next two weeks. So, just take a deep breath and know that this too shall pass.