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As of the 27th of this month (January 2021), Mercury is now officially in the pre-shadow phase of its retrograding process. This meaning it is not quite retrograding just yet but the energies associated are making their way here.

The retrograde of Mercury officially begins on the 30th of this month (January 2021), but because we are currently in the pre-shadow phase the energies associated are quite present and making themselves known. When retrograde finally begins it will last from the date listed above until the 21st of February. This retrograde for those who do not know will be in the sign Aquarius, to begin with, but move into the sign Pisces before all is said and done.

This retrograde like all Mercury retrogrades is going to be one that forces us to reflect as best we can. While that is easier said than done, it is important for a lot of reasons. Moving forward we will feel torn in many directions and thinking things through is crucial.

While this kind of thing does bring a lot of tension to the surface, it’s not the celestial event that is causing the issues in our lives, it’s just more or less making them more apparent to us. With Mercury in retrograde, the things we are facing and feeling are much harder to ignore than they typically would be. We should all use the energies surrounding us to think before we speak and work through things internally before bringing them out and in the open.

Astrology Horoscope Readings wrote as follows on Mercury when retrograding and the things it tends to bring forth within:

One way of looking at Mercury Retrograde is that it reveals the shadow or disowned component in our awareness, communication, and interaction with others and with the world around us.

Mercury rules the signs Gemini and Virgo. With Gemini, Mercury expresses the way that we reach out into our neighborhood, interact and discriminate. The shadow of Gemini is Sagittarius.

When Mercury is retrograde, it often expresses the negative or disowned nature of Sagittarius. When this happens, the tendency is to generalize, anticipate, gloss over, judge or assume, without reality checking.

The other expression of Mercury Retrograde is through the shadow of the sign Virgo. With Virgo, Mercury expresses the way that we integrate what we experience and how we make sense of the world around us through our minds. The shadow of Virgo is Pisces.

When Mercury is retrograde, often the negative or disowned nature of Pisces is expressed. We may think that someone else will do it, or we may imagine that things will turn out for ‘the best’ or we may imagine or hope instead of doing something for ourselves. Often the disowned nature of Pisces is revealed in our disconnection to our core and in seeking that connection outside of ourselves instead.

All in all, we should do our best to make the most of these energies while they are here. We should work to clear out our shadow and grow as best we can. These energies are meant to help us progress not hold us back and that we should do our best not to forget.