But I keep doing it…
…over… and over… and over…

Mercury rules communication, thoughts, travel, and what some people might call luck or what others might call opportunism.

A retrograde period is a chance to go back over what has been done before and fix any mistakes. It’s a time for reflection and repair.

Maybe I’m explaining the joke too much.

In any event, I love Mercury Retrograde, and I find there’s a lot of not-helpful information that flies around in pop culture about this cycle. So let me show you the beauty of Mercury Retrograde.

Many of us, when we get overwhelmed or stressed, ask the Universe for a little break, a vacation. You get one 3-4 times a year. This is it. Sorry if it’s not on your timetable, but there were billions of people to try to coordinate with, and this is the best the Universe could do.

Your task list for this cycle is simple, but do them in this order or you’re going to trip yourself up:
(1) REgroup
* Stop.
* Breathe.
*Find your feet (sometimes they’re not where you remember leaving them).
REview
* Figure out how you got to where you are now.
REpair
* Are there any loose ends that need tying up?
* Is there anything that could benefit from a “do over”?
REflect
* Where do you want to go from here?

This is a time for slow, deliberate, conscious action. Move slowly. Savor the thickness of the energy; there’s a sensuality to it. This is a great time for a very specific type of manifesting. Don’t waste time and energy trying to make things happen. Do spend at least 5 minutes a day feeling what it would be like to have your heart’s desire. How real, how concrete, can you make that sensation?

This is not a time for shortcuts, rushing, cutting corners, or unconscious communication. At best, you’ll frustrate yourself. At worst… Well, let’s not go there.

So stop, pour yourself a nice cup of tea, put on something comfortable, and break out your journal. Or go putter in the garden. Take a nice, leisurely walk. Remember what it’s like to breathe deeply. Enjoy this. You’ve earned it.