We Survived Mercury Retrograde. But Apparently It's Not Actually Over Yet
Mercury retrograde is a period when Mercury looks like it is moving backwards in the sky. It is not actually going backwards. It only appears that way because Earth and Mercury are moving around the Sun at different speeds.
The internet still blames it for everything. Missed texts, cancelled plans, broken laptops, bad decisions and exes returning at the worst possible time somehow all become Mercury's fault.
The latest Mercury retrograde ended on July 23 or 24, depending on your time zone. We survived. Congratulations. Unfortunately, astrologers say it is not fully over yet.
The post retrograde shadow lasts until August 6 or 7. Apparently, Mercury retrograde needs an extra two weeks to leave the building.
What is the post retrograde shadow?
The simple answer is that Mercury is moving forward again, but astrologers believe the problems connected to the retrograde may take time to settle.
Think of it like this: during Mercury retrograde, you send a text to the wrong person. During the post shadow, you deal with what happens after they read it.
This period is supposed to be less about new problems and more about fixing old ones. A delayed plan may finally move forward, a confusing conversation may start making sense, or a decision you made during the retrograde may need another look.
The planet has stopped looking like it is moving backwards. Your life may still need a few business days to catch up.
So what could happen now?
In astrology, Mercury is connected with communication, travel, technology and decisions. That is why people watch these parts of their lives during a retrograde.
Now that Mercury is moving forward again, astrologers believe unfinished conversations may return, delayed replies may finally arrive and misunderstandings may become easier to fix. You may also realise that a plan or decision made during the retrograde was based on missing information.
This retrograde happened in Cancer, which astrology connects with family, home and old memories. That is why so many people have been talking about old friends, family problems and suddenly thinking about people they had not remembered in years.
Of course, none of this means every delayed message is a sign from the universe. Sometimes a late reply is simply a late reply. Mercury does not need credit for everything.
Does retrogrades bring exes back?
Mercury does not have a secret deal with WhatsApp, but the internet is convinced that retrogrades bring exes back.
The idea comes from Mercury being linked with communication and retrogrades being linked with the past. When those ideas are placed together, people expect old conversations and old connections to return.
It may not always be an ex. An old friend could message you, a family issue could return, or you could suddenly start thinking about a person you believed you had moved on from.
There is also a popular theory that people from the past return during a retrograde to “test” whether you have learned anything. This theory is very useful for Mercury because it works with every ending. If the person stays, they were meant to return. If they leave again, they were only there to teach you a lesson.
Did Mercury really cause any of this?
There is also a simple reason Mercury retrograde can feel so real. Once we expect strange things to happen, we notice them more. A cancelled plan during a normal week is annoying. A cancelled plan during Mercury retrograde feels like evidence.
You do not have to fully believe in astrology to enjoy the idea. A retrograde can still be a useful reason to slow down, check your messages, think before replying and fix something you have been avoiding.
Are we free now?
Almost. Astrologers say the post shadow will end around August 6 or 7. Until then, you can clear up unfinished conversations, check important plans and reconsider any rushed decisions.
If your laptop is still acting strangely, please update it or take it for repair. Apple Support will probably help more than Mercury.
The good news is that we can finally stop blaming the planet. The bad news is that some of those decisions were actually ours.