lessons from mercury retrograde

learning to embrace slowness

Practical Magic is a newsletter about ritual, creativity, and modern magic for the 21st century witch.

It’s written by Dana Cooper of Ritualist, a Hudson Valley-based witch shop & plant shop. ✷

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We’re one week into Mercury retrograde, with two more weeks to go. If we allow ourselves to open up to the wisdom of this transit, there’s so much we can learn about slowing down, being intentional, and operating at a sustainable pace.

And while we’re at it, let’s stop blaming the planet of communication for every little hiccup in our lives, shall we? ☻

sweet august blooms + cards for mercury rx

Thanks to so many thoughtful and insightful folks who approach astrology as more than just a source of clickbait-y headlines and oversimplified generalizations, it’s no longer a hot take — I’m happy to report — that Mercury retrograde isn’t something to be feared. Somewhere along the way, the planet of communication got a terrible rap, becoming a scapegoat for anything and everything in our lives that doesn’t go according to plan. Sure, it’s fun to lament with friends that a retrograde is the cause of chaos in your life or to blame your typos and mishaps on Mercury, but when it comes down to it, the planet’s thrice-yearly slowdown shouldn’t actually be cause for concern.

While its effects can certainly feel frustrating and inconvenient (no one particularly wants to experience potential tech issues, miscommunications, or last-minute schedule changes), I’m pretty certain that the real reason we’ve all learned to dread the Rx comes down to a fun little thing called capitalism. Why is that? Because retrogrades ask us to slow down, which is the antithesis of capitalism (which asks us to go go go, 24/7/365, no matter the circumstances.) Once we recognize and acknowledge that it’s not natural or healthy to be *on* all the time, we can start to see Mercury retrogrades not as a nuisance or a hindrance, but as cosmic course corrections that remind us to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.

Think about it this way: if you’re used to forging ahead at full speed — as most of us are, most of the time — any sort of slowdown, speed bump, or check-in point is going to feel annoying and unnecessary. Even though we know that things like getting enough rest, taking breaks, and pausing for reflection are crucial, it’s become second nature for many of us to ignore those needs under the guise of being more productive (and therefore more valuable or worthy.) Why would we want anything to stand between us and the most efficient, effective version of ourselves? Why should we step on the brakes when we’re on a roll?

Because we’re meant to take our foot off the gas from time to time — and if we won’t do it ourselves, the universe is going to do it for us.

So rather than hold your breath and hope for the best over these next couple of weeks, see if you can learn to embrace a slower pace and accept the sacred pause. Even if your schedule is as packed as ever, try to approach tasks with a little extra care, presence, and attention to detail. Aim to avoid over-scheduling yourself, multitasking, and being too quick to respond without thinking things through. Carve out time to check in, reflect, and regroup as needed.

For me, this looks like fighting a false sense of urgency. I have a tendency to push my workload to the max (hi, four planets in Capricorn / the 10th house 👋🏻), and while I enjoy staying busy this time of year, I get really overwhelmed — really quickly — when everything starts to feel urgent. An email that I’ve been waiting on? Guess I better respond immediately! My phone buzzing with texts and DMs? If I don’t get back right away, I’m a bad friend / business owner! Someone reaching out with a question for me? I should drop whatever I’m in the middle of, because it can’t wait! While I know that these things aren’t true, they certainly feel true in the moment. When people have access to you 24/7 — via text, DM, email, and whatever else — it can feel like you’re playing a constant game of whack-a-mole, fighting off notifications as they pop up.

If you fall into that trap too, then this advice is for both of us: try to stop, take a breath, and ask yourself if whatever it is really needs your attention right this minute (I’m willing to bet that the answer will be “no” more often than not.) Remember that choosing not to respond immediately doesn’t make you irresponsible, lazy, or incompetent: it just means that your response will be more thoughtful and composed.

do’s and don’ts for Mercury Rx

1. Do ✷ leave yourself plenty of time: since careless errors and mindless mistakes seem to run rampant during Mercury retrogrades, give yourself extra time for things like proofreading, editing, and making adjustments as needed. Review instructions, check your work, and consider different perspectives before you submit or commit to anything important.

2. Don’t ✷ react, but respond: during Mercury retrogrades, it’s more important than ever to think through your decisions and intentions before taking action. Try not to let impulsive thoughts or heightened emotions lead the way — instead, wait until you’re feeling more grounded and clear-minded, so you can respond rather than react.

3. Do ✷ consider your words: Mercury rules communication, so be extra mindful of the things you say (and send) to others. Think about how your language and messaging might be received or perceived: are you getting your intended point across clearly? Could your words be taken out of context or misinterpreted? Consider your word choice, tone, and method & timing of delivery.

4. Don’t ✷ live in fear: there’s no shortage of articles & posts advising that making big life decisions and signing contracts are big no-no’s during Mercury retrograde — but life must go on! If you have significant decisions or commitments to make during a retrograde, don’t let astrology stop you: just proceed with presence and patience (and don’t forget to read the fine print!)