Healing Light

Understanding the phases – with dates – of this Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde typically unfolds in several stages, each marked by specific astrological events. Here are the stages of Mercury Retrograde along with corresponding dates for the current retrograde period:

1. Pre-Shadow Phase:
   • This phase begins when Mercury enters the region of the zodiac it will later retrograde through. During this time, you may start to notice the themes or issues that will become more pronounced during the retrograde period.
   • For the current retrograde period recently started (April 1, 2024), the pre-shadow phase began a couple of weeks prior to today, on March 18, 2024.
2. Station Retrograde:
   • This marks the official start of Mercury Retrograde. It occurs when Mercury appears to slow down in its orbit and prepare to move backward.
   • For the current retrograde period, the station retrograde date just occurred on April 1, 2024.
3. Retrograde Motion:
   • During this phase, Mercury appears to move backward through the zodiac, creating the potential for communication issues, delays, and misunderstandings.
   • The retrograde motion continues for several weeks until Mercury reaches its station direct.
4. Station Direct:
   • This marks the end of the retrograde period. Mercury appears to pause in its backward motion and prepare to resume its normal forward trajectory.
   • For the current retrograde period, the station direct date will occur in a few weeks, on April 25, 2024.
5. Post-Shadow Phase:
   • After Mercury stations direct, it enters the post-shadow phase, during which it retraces its steps through the zodiac, covering the same ground it traveled during the retrograde motion.
   • Issues that arose during the retrograde period may still need to be addressed or resolved during this phase.
   • For the current retrograde period, the post-shadow phase will likely extend for a couple of weeks after Mercury stations direct, on May 13, 2024.

It’s important to note that these dates are approximate, in part depending on your time zone, and can vary slightly depending on the specific astrological calculations used. However, they provide a general framework for understanding the stages of #MercuryRetrograde and how they correspond to the current retrograde period.