In astrology, Mercury is thought to rule all types of communication, such as writing, research, contracts, agreements, travel, transportation, etc. During retrograde periods, all these things have the potential to go wrong. So you may wonder how to handle Mercury retrograde periods. Read on to learn why Mercury retrograde is the perfect time to restart abandoned projects.
Maybe you’ve heard of Mercury retrograde, but did you know there are at least THREE of these periods each year? I love the way Susan Miller of Astrology Zone describes Mercury Rx:
“When a planet retrogrades, astrologically it is in a resting or sleeping state. Therefore, while Mercury naps, the activities that it governs don’t have the benefit of a well-functioning, wide-awake planet to supervise them. Expect a certain degree of pandemonium to ensue!”
Since this happens multiple times in a year, learning what to do during these periods will serve you well.
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What not to do during Mercury retrograde
Okay, before we talk about what you should do, let’s talk about what you shouldn’t do. It’s definitely not a good time to buy electronics, sign contracts or introduce complicated written stuff to your audience or team. It’s also not the time for intricate business deals or multi-city business trips. These things tend to go wrong.
“So, enough already, Willow, what should I do during Mercury retrograde?”
What Mercury retrograde means for your business
Mercury retrograde is simply not the time to launch new ventures, but it’s actually a great time to revisit and rework things from your past. For example; think back to what’s worked well for your business in the past. Or, remember old contacts or clients you’d like to work with again and contact them.
Revise your CV or business mission statement. Get clear on your finances. Use old content to create new marketing campaigns or products. These are all activities Mercury retrograde supports.
Consider working on a plan to restart a program that was popular in the past. Maybe it’s time to add more features to it, or to make it even more robust. Remember what worked well with it, and what could be improved. Get your plans in place, and be ready to act on them by the time the retrograde period is over.
For example, if you’re a coach, think about bringing back a popular coaching program that you offered in the past. If you own an ethical clothing business, consider reworking a popular garment using a newly available sustainable fiber. If you’re a wellness practitioner, consider grouping old offerings in a new way.
Give yourself some time to think about past programs, projects or promotions. If you think you won’t remember, don’t worry, because Mercury has a helpful tendency to remind you of things from the past.
Whatever you plan, make sure to put it into action after Mercury retrograde is over. You can get all the behind-the-scenes planning done ahead of time, then get into the doing once retrograde is over.
What to do during Mercury retrograde: restart old projects
Mercury retrograde is a great time to tackle projects that you started but didn’t have a chance to finish, for whatever reason. It’s also a great time to plan projects you envisioned but never got to begin. Revisiting old ideas is the perfect retrograde activity, as is reworking ideas to make something new.
How I help coaches, online service providers & creatives make the most of Mercury retrograde
Mercury retrograde is one of the best times to revisit your content. That blog post you never finished. The email series you outlined but never sent. The offer you created but never properly promoted. Sound familiar?
This is exactly the kind of work we do together in a Content Clarity Session. This is a 90-minute working session where we dig into what you already have, figure out what’s worth reviving, and leave with a clear plan and one or two pieces of content ready to go.
It’s not about starting something new. It’s about finishing what you started, which is very much in the spirit of Mercury retrograde.
One more thing: Mercury retrograde is said to be a great time to work with people you already know. If we’ve crossed paths before, that’s even more reason to reach out now.
Recap: Although Mercury retrograde can cause problems, you can also use it to your advantage
Mercury retrograde is considered one of the most fraught times of the year. And let’s acknowledge that things do have a tendency to go wrong. But if you get ahead of Mercury retrograde, you can use some of its unique properties to support your business or creative work.
Leave a comment below with one way you plan to use Mercury retrograde to your advantage. You may help someone else who is reading this post.
3 Responses
I have purchased a vintage bicycle frame (for rebuild project , daily commuter rebuild )in mercury retrograde pre shadow period, is it ok ? But now I suspended buying other components till post shadow period
Sorry for my English
Hi there, thanks for reading this blog, and your comment. I am no expert on astrology but what I think is interesting is that you bought something that’s been used before and it sounds like you’ll be fixing it up. I think especially the work of fixing up old things is supported during retrograde periods, hence why I always like to do content repurposing work during Mercury Rx. I hope it’s all going well, and good luck.
Great insight on Mercury retrograde as a reflective, revision-friendly time—love how you reframe the “chaos” into intentional recalibration. For those wanting precise timing (e.g., when exactly Mercury goes retrograde this year) or deeper context—like how it interacts with your birth chart or current transits—I want to share a resource. AstrologyWiki offers free, astronomy-grounded tools: real-time planetary positions, personalized birth charts, and clear Saturn return/synastry insights. Perfect for creatives and coaches who value psychological depth over mysticism. Highly recommend pairing Willow’s practical advice with their accurate transit data to plan those revived projects with confidence.