I had an ex who would declare "Mercury must be in retrograde!" every single time we came to a disagreement. It wasn't that he (a Capricorn, by the way) was into astrology—actually, over the course of our relationship he came to loathe being guided by the sun, moon, and stars, except for one thing—blaming things on the chaos caused Mercury going into retrograde.
Well, no matter how deep your belief is in astrology: mark your calendars, because Mercury is going into retrograde four times this year: January 14th to February 4th, May 10th to June 3rd, September 9th to October 2nd, and December 29th through January 18th. If you just let out an audible groan (same), it's okay. We've tapped the AstroTwins, aka ELLE's official astrologers Ophira and Tali Edut, for some sage advice on how to make it through the tumultuous times in one piece.
"When Mercury in retrograde is coming up, just try to get ahead of it," advises Tali. "If there are people that you're dreading talking to, block them; or if you know there's a conversation that might occur, reach out ahead of time; or if there's some information that you don't want to come out, pull a Kris Jenner and spin doctor it. Also really create some better boundaries with people who are draining you of your energy."
The AstroTwins also suggest using aromatherapy and crystals to protect yourself during Mercury in retrograde.
"This particular retrograde begins while we are in Aquarius, which is an air sign, so think about literally clearing the air with something like a spray or a candle." Tali suggests palo santo as a place to start—and if you're fire adverse, this hydrosol that has a blend of palo santo and frankincense is a great alternative. (It's also perfect for travel—hotel rooms can have weird energy, too.)
"The throat chakra is associated with the color blue," Tali says. "So reach for any blue crystal like lapis lazuli, amazonite, or turquoise. Avoid any reflective crystal, I mean, you might think, Even though it seems like reflective crystals would bounce the negative energy away, it can create a feedback loop where other people receive that energy, then project more to you, and then it comes back."
Birthdate Candles The Survive Mercury Retrograde Candle
"If you're sharing space with people and you're concerned about friction and tempers, try calming scents like lavender." This limited-edition candle is a calming blend of lavender and vetiver—and inside you'll find an amazonite crystal (see above) to further shield your energy.
If only I had had this advice from the AstroTwins and products to keep my relationship safe through retrograde—maybe I wouldn't be calling the Capricorn an ex. Then again, Leos and Caps don't work that well together, anyways.
