Last Updated on June 4, 2024
Hang on to your crystals, everyone. Mercury is in retrograde from April 1 to April 25, so brace yourselves for rash decisions, miscommunication, and travel mishaps.
The alignment of astrology with our daily lives is a mystery that even skeptics cannot entirely dismiss. We all know a bold Aries, a creative Cancer, an empathic Libra, or an intense Scorpio, even if they’ve never heard of the zodiac and how the stars influence human patterns. Maybe it’s the calendar. Maybe it’s subtle forces of gravity. Either way, we know the patterns established by ancient philosophers have an eerie connection to our lives today.
Right now, Mercury is in retrograde in the house of Aries. For those who are not total astrology buffs, let us explain this interesting astrological (and astronomical) occurrence and what it means for your month.
Mercury in Retrograde: What Does It Mean?
Mercury: Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and moves fast. We see it cycle in the earth’s sky about every 88 days. Because it moves so fast, it was connected to the Roman god of messengers, communication, and travel.
Retrograde: Retrograde is when a planet temporarily appears to move backward in the sky. This has to do with relative speed and position in the planetary orbits. It’s an optical illusion, but it freaked the original astrologers out because they associated it with a reverse of normal good fortune from specific stars or planets in the sky.
Mercury in Retrograde: When Mercury is in retrograde, astrology indicates that matters of communication and travel may be prone to mishaps.
Retrograde in the House of Aries
Retrogrades are also relevant based on which “house” of the sky the retrograde occurs in. The house is associated with a time of year and a section of the sky. Aries are born between late March and late April. This Mercury Retrograde is occurring in April and, therefore, in the house of Aries. That means everyone (not just y’all Aries out there) may be prone to Aries-related problems like rash decisions, charging into situations before assessing them, and getting into trouble.
Survival Guide: How to Avoid Disaster During an Aries Mercury Retrograde
As you may have figured out, retrogrades are unlucky times. Things are more likely to go wrong, and the planet + house of the retrograde determine where that bad luck or those negative impulses will come from. The good news is that being prepared can help you navigate this totally chaotic Aries Mercury Retrograde situation more smoothly and avoid the likely mishaps.
- Look Before You Leap
Any retrograde in Aries will make everyone a bit more impulsive – so make a note to look before you leap. Make decisions a little more carefully and avoid diving into anything big, potentially life-changing, or expensive during the month of April. Watch out for impulsive behavior, as it is more likely to lead you astray than usual. Aries should be particularly careful, as their nature may be misguiding, and non-Aries may be surprised at their sudden desire to do unwisely impulsive things.
- Plan Travel Very Carefully – With Backup Plans
Mercury represents good fortune in travel; therefore, Mercury in retrograde can result in misfortune in travel. If you must travel during April this year, do so carefully. Plan every little detail of your trip and get a few backup plans in place. Your flight may be delayed, your tire may blow out on the road, your hotel might be overbooked, or you could oversleep and miss your flight.
- Keep Your Phone Charged
Communication failures are also likely during a Mercury Retrograde. The most frequent communication failure in the modern age is a dead phone battery. There’s nothing quite like a dead phone to stop all comms, from scrolling social media to receiving phone calls and texts. This April, stay on your phone charging game. Place chargers around your home and office, and charge your phone whenever possible throughout the day.
- Triple-Check Every Message Before You Send
You also want to keep an eye on your messages. Typos and auto-corrects are sure to abound, and the Aries nature of this retrograde can make us all a little more impulsive in the messages sent. Stop before you send it and triple-check. Make sure you are saying what you want to say, that auto-correct hasn’t completely changed the meaning of your message, and that spelling errors are at a reasonable minimum.
You may also want to read everything you receive twice to ensure you understand the message correctly. It’s OK to decide not to reply if you realize your message is not what you really want to say or if you fully misunderstood what you were responding to.
- Put Off Shopping Sprees
Avoid impulsive spending. Aries are prone to shopping sprees and do not always make the most useful purchases. During this Aries Mercury Retrograde, it’s a good time to put off any shopping plans and put a hiatus on internet shopping until the astrological energies are a little calmer.
- Take New Relationships Slow
Lastly, be careful with new relationships. During a month of impulsivity and communication problems, the last thing you want is to overwhelm your new friend, dive into a new romance, or blurt out the wrong thing at the wrong time. Treat new relationships gently and take it slow, whether you’re making a new friend or a new potential love connection.
Taking Advantage of the Aries Mercury Retrograde
Of course, this Aries Mercury Retrograde isn’t all bad. While the stars may indicate miscommunication, unlucky travel, and rash decisions, you can also turn this kind of energy in your favor. Once you’ve cut off all the avenues for disaster, consider ways you can ride the wave until the retrograde ends.
- Try Something New
Retrograde enhances the natural Aries energy of April, which means you’ll feel more open to trying new things and diving into challenges without hesitation. Use that energy! Get started on something you’ve been meaning to try. As long as the potential for disaster is minimal, you’ll enjoy a more fearless start to your new project. For example, you might start practicing an instrument or join a band – just don’t suddenly start buying stocks to try the stock market.
2. Take a Social Media Hiatus
The whole Mercury Retrograde thing suggests bungled communication: messages taken the wrong way and coming out wrong. So why not take a break? Now is the perfect time for that social media hiatus you’ve been putting off. Log out of your accounts and rediscover your music collection, rewatch old favorite TV shows, and meet up with friends in person, where the good vibes can overcome any little communication hiccups.
3. Have a Staycation
With an astrological travel advisory, why not enjoy staying home? Plan a month of staycation fun. Stock up on popcorn and bubble bath. Get cozy for the next few weekends instead of going out. Invite friends over, or plan a few Netflix and Chill dates with your special someone. Or, if that Aries energy has you hyped, try taking on an at-home project like repainting a few rooms, deep-cleaning, or discovering lost treasure in the attic.
4. Reconnect and Reflect
Retrogrades are also a good time to look back. Reconnect with old friends and family members. Dig up old projects or unearth an artistic talent of yours that you want to rediscover. Go retro in the best possible way.