As if it hasn’t felt like Mercury is perpetually in retrograde motion, messing up all kinds of things, Mercury is actually, for real, moving retrograde on September 10 and will move retrograde until October 2.

Mercury is already slowing down this week to its 10-day shadow period of the start of the retrograde cycle. Mercury will station retrograde (appear to halt as directions change) at 8 degrees Libra and will retrace the degrees it has already passed all the way back to 24 degrees Virgo. When Mercury finishes its retrograde cycle and begins to move forward it will return to 8 degrees LIbra on October 17, when the shadow period of the cycle’s end will complete.

Mercury stations retrograde on September 10 at 8 degrees Libra

Mercury stations direct on October 2 at 24 degrees Virgo

Mercury returns to 8 degrees Libra on October 17

Which is all to say…from now until October 17 Mercury will engage in to-be-expected mischief.

You will notice Mercury’s mischief especially in the areas of your chart that are stimulated by

Mercury’s movement.

This Mercury retrograde cycle spans the energy of two signs, Libra and Virgo. I would imagine that relationship stuff will be up. You get to experience your relationship with yourself as reflected in your experience in relationship with others, most significantly those relationships that are contractual and in-your-face. Re-visiting and re-evaluating your relationship patterns can be really helpful in guiding you in making better and best choices around your relationships. Where are things out of balance? What do you need to check out in yourself to get your relationships back in appropriate balance? Are your individual relationships supporting you to evolve and grow or do you feel drained and constricted by some of your conscious and unconscious contracts? mmmm…interesting and provocative areas to investigate.

As Mercury moves back into Virgo (24 September through 10 October) be super aware of any negative self-talk, self-criticism, and self-judgment. If you notice any of these demons rearing their ugly heads, replace them with Virgo’s meticulous discernment and ability to use collected information to make good, practical decisions to support your mental and physical health. Anything toxic in your environment, be they relationships, habit patterns, or discordant thoughts percolating in your own mindspace, Virgo is ready to take care of those through recycling, re-inventing, or discarding altogether. Mercury retrograde in Virgo is like a roomba working your mind for an errant dust bunnies clogging the works.

Mercury retrograde periods push you to get out of your regular routines, opening doors of perception to magic and wonder lurking around every corner, waiting for you to bump smack into it. Mercury retrograde periods prepare you to open to experiences normally outside your field of awareness. That’s why it’s fun to travel during Mercury retrograde, when glitches are no longer perceived as hassles but are part of the adventure. A potent reminder that you are traveling all the time through your life and you can experience that ride any way you choose. Look for the magic, expect it, rejoice in it and it is yours.