Aligning With Planetary Cycles 101
Updated: Aug 31
There are moments in life when things go phenomenally well and other moments when things just don’t move forward the way you would like them to, despite your best efforts. As astrologers, one of our main responsibilities is to study planetary movements and their cycles to understand a broader narrative that may be unfolding, whether for an individual or a collective. The purpose of the study is not for prediction. Rather, it is meant to help us understand what may be required of us during a given period and to decide how we can better respond to it. That said, my hope is to share some of the ways I believe someone without extensive astrological knowledge can engage with cosmic cycles. My approach is simple: data gathering and observation.
So the question is, where can one begin? From my own experience and recent observations, I would suggest beginning with the Mercury cycles, with particular attention to its retrograde period. If you are on social media, you have probably come across funny memes like “Is Mercury in lemonade?”. In a recent movie, The Wrecking Crew, actor Jason Momoa’s character Johnny says, “Is Mercury in retrograde or is Detective Sergeant just... I don't think he likes me very much". This is such a great example, suggesting that Mercury in retrograde may be linked to misunderstandings. The fact that this vocabulary has become extremely common suggests that, for better or worse, it is a cycle that does not go
unnoticed.
Mercury in retrograde: When does it occur and for how long?
Without getting too technical, Mercury retrograde is a period when the planet appears to slow down and move backwards from Earth’s perspective. This occurs three or four times a year and lasts roughly three weeks each time. Mercury, named after the Roman messenger god who carries a winged staff and wears winged shoes, is associated with the mind, communication, information, technology, exchange, travel, and the speed at which they all flow. So when Mercury is retrograde for three weeks, thought processes may slow down, and miscommunication, plot twists, sudden inconveniences, and unexpected delays can occur. After its retrograde period, Mercury goes direct, meaning it picks up speed and resumes its forward motion, bringing back mental clarity, smoother communication, and fewer issues with technology and travel plans.
Mercury in retrograde: What does that look like?
To give you an idea of how it can present itself, below are two of my recent Mercury retrograde experiences.
The sofa I didn’t need (April and August 2024)
While Mercury was retrograde (April 2nd – 24th), I purchased a sofa online. I know … I should have known better than to do this, but at the time I had been looking to replace an old sofa for quite a while and did not have the patience to wait any longer. I had taken measurements and was sure that I had purchased something that would work for the living room. However, when it arrived, I was very disappointed. The sofa did not fill the space as I had intended, and, on top of that, the material was low quality. I was convinced to replace it very soon. In August 2024, while Mercury was in its retrograde phase again, I decided to put it up for sale. There was immediate interest, and it sold within 5 days of being posted online.
The package that travelled around the world (June 29th – July 23rd, 2026)
Right before Mercury entered its retrograde phase, I ordered clothes online. Again, I admit this was a very poor decision on my end. And I should also add that there were signs not to make this purchase, such as my credit card being declined for unknown reasons. As a general rule, it is better to avoid making online purchases or making any important decisions when Mercury is slowing down and is about to enter its retrograde phase. Throughout the retrograde period (June 29th - July 23rd), I could see that the package was being sent to various addresses. It travelled across the Pacific Ocean, not once but twice! On July 18th (Mercury was still retrograde), I received an email confirming that “The product was delivered”. I checked my mailbox and found that nothing had arrived, so at that point I had completely given up. I waited for Mercury’s retrograde period to end and sent an email requesting a refund for my order. On August 4th, the package miraculously arrived after travelling for six and a half weeks.
The next one is a very interesting Mercury retrograde experience of a close relative.
Redirection in life (July 2025 ~ July 2026)
Unlike my own examples, this individual’s Mercury retrograde scenario spans a longer time, beginning in July 2025 and closing in July 2026. This relative recently graduated from college and was seeking job opportunities that might allow them to move abroad. After many months of interviews with multiple companies, he finally received a preliminary offer for an overseas internship. This was during the first week of July 2025, when Mercury was still direct. However, when the official offer was signed on July 18th, Mercury had entered its retrograde phase. During the next 3 weeks while Mercury was retrograde, he arranged his move and signed a lease agreement. Everything seemed to be going well despite Mercury being in retrograde. He liked the work environment and enjoyed being on a new adventure. However, during the following Mercury retrograde period in November 2025, the three-month internship ended, and he was not offered an official position due to internal restructuring and budget cuts at the company. After the holidays, he started reapplying for jobs, hoping to find a job in the same area. However, circumstances forced him to change his mind. The appliances in the apartment broke one after another during each storm, and, for unknown reasons, they could not be repaired. On top of that, the unemployment and crime rates had risen sharply since the turn of the year. Now, he pledged to himself not only to get employment but also to move out of the area he had just moved to. By April 2026, he received a job offer from another company in a different location. In July 2026, during a Mercury retrograde, he moved out. However, this time he made sure to sign the lease for his new house and start his new job once Mercury went direct.
In these examples, you can see the plot twists, disruptions, and unexpected delays that Mercury retrograde can bring. Another quirky thing about Mercury is that it can be a trickster at times, so during a retrograde period it may hide things from you and present them once the planet goes direct again. All of this may seem chaotic, but there are ways to navigate through these periods with awareness.
How to work with Mercury’s cycles
As I mentioned above, my approach is simple. It is just data gathering and observation. Here are a few things I personally do to prepare myself for Mercury retrogrades.
First, gather data. I check when the Mercury retrograde periods occur for the previous year and the year ahead. You can easily find this information online, or, if you use a reliable astrology app, it should tell you when Mercury retrogrades occur. If you can read an ephemeris, that would be most reliable, but it is not required.
Continue with data gathering. Once I have listed the Mercury retrograde periods, I will first review the previous year and make a list of any anomalies related to Mercurial themes that occurred during those periods. Also, note if there was anything that you were required to review or reflect on again. For the upcoming Mercury retrograde periods, I highlight them in my calendar or notebook and try my best to plan around them. The rule of thumb is to avoid communicating anything new or important, making important decisions, making travel plans, negotiating, and signing contracts during Mercury retrograde. However, sometimes life must go on. If you are in a position where you have to make important decisions, just make sure to double-check and triple-check details.
Then, observe. During the actual Mercury retrograde, pay attention to any anomalies. Make note of anything that is pending, stalled, cancelled, confusing, lost, requires reconsideration and adjustment. Allow this observation process to help you slow down, reflect, and respond flexibly. Once its retrograde period is over, take note of the before-and-after. Is there a certain mental clarity that emerges? Is there a topic of conversation that has returned with more transparency? Maybe something that bothered you simply doesn’t bother you anymore. Was something lost and reappeared again? If insight does not arrive immediately, there is not need to worry. Allow the time to process and synthesize.
Lastly, I want to point out that Mercury retrogrades can be intentionally used to fix, end or undo situations that began during a previous Mercury retrograde. Like in the examples above, my own decision to sell a sofa I didn’t like, or my relative’s decision to move out of a place and start anew. In a future blog post, I will share how to navigate Mercury retrograde periods with more awareness and less resistance.
FYR, here are the Mercury retrograde periods for 2026.
1st Retrograde: February 26 - March 20
2nd Retrograde: June 29 - July 23
3rd Retrograde: October 24 - Nov 13
From time to time, it can be extremely helpful to get insight from a professional astrologer, but with the technology and apps available today, anyone can track general cycles and integrate this knowledge into their day-to-day. All that is required is curiosity, openness and some patience. I hope this blog post helped you in some way.
If you would like more personalized insight, please book a consultation with me.