This can lead to everything from emails getting lost to travel disruptions, with astrologers also believing that it can result in:
- Shifts in friendships or falling outs
- Miscommunications and general misunderstandings
- Brain fog, anxiety and headaches
- Uncertainty around work and personal projects
Lovely, huh?
Tell-tale signs Mercury retrograde is affecting your relationships
According to a survey by Flirtini, a shocking 71% of people believe the retrograde has a negative impact on their relationships, while a further 46% said their loved ones act unusually during the astrological phenomenon.
Some of the most common issues reported include communication struggles, fights and arguments. And get ready for another wild statistic: apparently, 1 in 4 people have been dumped because of a retrograde.
But can a retrograde really have a tangible impact on your relationship?
Well, according to Flirtini’s dating expert Anastasiya Pochotna, while there’s no scientific evidence that Mercury’s movements have an impact on love life, “research shows that, for many, the phenomenon is real.”
Edward Berthelot
One of the potential factors behind this is that we’re simply overthinking things more than we usually would during the phenomenon.
“Those who believe in it are likely to be experiencing heightened stress and anxiety as they worry their relationship is about to come crashing down,” she says. “If their partner doesn’t show understanding, it’s highly likely that the astrological event will lead to fights. So, even if astrology isn’t your thing, it’s best to be tolerant and mindful until Mercury (and your partner) are feeling themselves again.”
“Those who believe in it are likely to be experiencing heightened stress and anxiety as they worry their relationship is about to come crashing down.”
Likewise, astrologers believe that Mercury retrograde can have a very real impact on our mood, with some believing it to some believe it can even lead to brain fog and stress.
“During these periods, we’re prone to saying the wrong words and taking things the wrong way,” says Pochotna. “A simple misunderstanding leads to a full-blown argument, and it starts to feel like our love life is spinning out of control. Even experts who don’t believe in astrology recognise the phenomenon — but they attribute it to heightened feelings of stress and anxiety simply because we’re waiting for something bad to happen.”
What to do when Mercury is in retrograde
Mercury retrograde affects everyone differently, and there are ways to make navigating this uncertain time a little easier. Here’s what you can do to set yourself up for Mercury retrograde this year:
Above all, don’t panic — embrace the shift
It’s important to remember that potential impacts of Mercury retrograde are ultimately theoretical. So even if it does feel like things might be out of their usual rhythm, don’t neglect to acknowledge that this could be due to you being more conscious of potential changes and so paying more mind to these.