Lavina Tilwani
15-Sep-2026
Mercury retrograde can also be a wonderful period for reviewing, correcting and reflecting.
By Lavina Tilwani - Founder of Beyond Tarot, Spiritual Healer and Tarot Card Reader.
Now, what is Mercury Retrograde?
Mercury goes into retrograde 3 to 4 times in a year, and each phase lasts for about 3 weeks. This is because Mercury is closest to the Sun and orbits faster than the Earth. This passing creates an optical illusion, and the planet looks as if it’s moving backwards, but actually it’s moving slower than other planets at that time.
What happens when Mercury goes into Retrograde?
Mercury, also known as “Budh Grah” Buddhi means intelligence and is known for its speed, powerful thinking and communication. It is also associated with paperwork, calculations, business, studies, electricity mobile phones, etc. Budh Grah is also associated with travel. Hence, when suddenly a fast-moving planet goes slow, suddenly it then impacts all of the above.
Imagine a fast train suddenly going slow and all other trains going faster. Then we feel that our train is going backward, thus causing delays and frustration.
Mercury retrograde doesn’t mean your life is falling apart. But suddenly, you observe glitches while using electronic items, sending emails or messages to the wrong people, and the blame goes to the cosmos. People usually get very upset and fearful when they hear about Mercury retrograde.
As an astrologer and practising occultist, I often observe this as a period of caution and pause rather than a punishment. During this time, things could be moving slower and business could be affected, but that’s not the end of everything. This period is preparing you to understand that everything in life cannot be hunky-dory. We have to slow down, as the cosmos is also on a break.
Being in retrograde, it can bring back an old conversation, a lover coming back, or an old version of yourself. This small shift changes everything. Sometimes, it makes you feel like a déjà vu situation. For me, Mercury retrograde prepares me to be more cautious and for all of you new to this topic, I recommend four simple practices:
I usually draw a few tarot cards for guidance in this period, which helps me to take actions accordingly. So, life does not stop during Mercury retrograde. It is more planned and driven with caution. Sometimes, what looks like a disruption is actually a redirection.
When someone tells me, “Hey, I’m really scared of Mercury retrograde,” I usually try to pacify them by saying, relax, it’s just a phase. Not every retrograde is bad. In fact, some retrogrades can teach us valuable lessons and help us become more aware, responsible, and mindful in the way we handle things.
Personally, I feel Mercury retrograde can actually be useful. It encourages us to slow down and become more careful about how we communicate and how we go about our daily tasks. We become more conscious of what we say, what we write, and even how we interpret what others are saying to us.
It is a good time to inspect every word. We may find ourselves double-checking documents, paperwork, dates, appointments, bookings, and other important details: things we might otherwise do casually or without a second thought.
Mercury retrograde can also be a wonderful period for reviewing, correcting and reflecting. Sometimes we get so busy moving forward that we forget to look back at what needs to be changed or improved. This period can give us an opportunity to revisit unfinished matters, correct mistakes and become more organised. My advice during Mercury retrograde is simple: continue living your life normally but be a little more mindful. There is no need to become paranoid or put your entire life on hold.
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