Credit: Getty
Astrology
How to stop Mercury retrograde 2024 taking a toll on your relationships
By Amy Beecham
10 months ago
9 min read
The first Mercury retrograde of 2024 kicked off on 1 April and it’ll stick around until 25 April… here’s how to avoid having it wreak havoc on your dating life.
For the past few weeks, if anything has gone wrong in your life – be it work or relationships – the likelihood is that you’ve (jokingly or otherwise) blamed it on Mercury retrograde. A retrograde simply means that a planet appears to be going backwards, rather than its usual forward orbit, but each planet has an association with different facets of life. Mercury is believed to govern communication, technology and travel, so when it starts to reverse its motion, the areas that the planet is associated with also go awry.
From delays with transport and travel to dodgy technology and crossed wires in communication, we’ve come to expect a fair bit of disruption during this time. However, according to Matty Galea, author of How To Spot The (Star) Signs, there are two major ways that Mercury could affect your relationships, too.
First, because Mercury messes with communication, prepare for any texts between you and a romantic partner to be a little misunderstood. “If you’re questioning a message you’ve received, take a breather and pause before you react, and then simply ask to clarify to avoid any misunderstandings,” he explains. Secondly, retrograde can play havoc with your plans, so Galea suggests recapping any date plans over text so there is no room for doubt. “Triple check your reservation so it’s not a case of the wrong place, wrong time,” he adds.
And remember, with every Mercury retrograde, there is a shadow period to be mindful of too.
The shadow period sees an astrological zig-zag of sorts. Pre-shadow, the planet slows down in the lead-up to the retrograde, where we see backward motion and the influx of unexpected issues. Then as the retrograde ends, we enter the post-shadow period, a time for the planet to get back up to full speed and for normality to resume. So while this retrograde officially runs from 1–25 April, the post-shadow period continues until 13 May, so brace yourselves for an even longer period of chaos.
How each star sign should approach dating during Mercury retrograde
Aries
“When you’re on a date, you tend to dominate the conversation and can sometimes forget to take a breather and let your date speak too. You don’t mean to do this, it’s just part of your take-charge Aries attitude,” says Galea. “The problem is, Mercury retrograde makes communication go haywire, so you might end up saying something that gets lost in translation and is misconstrued by a date or your partner.”
The solution: Practise being more thoughtful when speaking, texting and engaging IRL. Find the beauty in listening and taking in what the other person has to say before responding – you might just find yourself with an opportunity for a true connection to blossom.
Taurus
According to Galea, one of the nasty side-effects of Mercury retrograde is that it brings ghosts from our past back to haunt us, including ex-partners. “If a pesky ex comes back out of the woodwork, don’t allow them straight back into your life as Mercury retrograde will be clouding your better judgment and your decision-making skills may be off.”
The solution: Don’t be tempted to throw away the good vibe you’ve got going with your current date or partner in favour of something, or someone, who has brought you chaos in the past. Take a moment to assess and soul-search what’s really right for you.
Gemini
“Mercury is your ruling planet so these retrogrades pack quite a punch for you, Gemini,” warns Galea. “You’ll find moments during retrogrades when you’re unsure of where you stand with others, whether it’s someone you’re chatting to on Tinder, someone you’ve been dating or your partner.”
The solution: The key to solving this is communication. Sure, communication is on the fritz when a retrograde is in town, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions and clarify where things stand with someone. All it means is that you need to be more thoughtful and patient in your conversations. If helpful, practise what you’re going to say in the mirror before you meet the person and make sure you listen carefully and take their point of view on board. Just remember, honesty and openness can help you stay true to who you are.
Credit: Getty
Cancer
“A warning: Mercury retrograde may also take its toll on your work,” says Galea. “The chaotic energy emanating from this tricky cosmic time will likely bring some annoying tasks or mishaps at work that you’ll have to deal with. While you’re putting out fires, don’t allow this to seep into your personal life. Continue to go on dates or spend time with your partner and try not to bring that frazzled energy into your romantic zone.”
The solution: When things go awry at work, look at your love life as the calm away from the storm. Leave job stuff at the door when you go home for the day and fill your cup by having fun with that person you’re messaging, seeing or with your partner. Give yourself the time and space to decompress and enjoy life.
Leo
As Galea suggests, don’t allow your fierce sense of pride to sully any connections you might have. “Miscommunications are running rampant right now so you need to be patient in your conversations with your dates or partner. Always try to see where the other person is coming from and the intention behind what they’re saying before firing back with a sassy response.”
The solution: In the moments when you feel tempted to argue something for the sake of your pride, take a beat and ask yourself if proving your point is worth killing the good vibe for. Sometimes keeping the peace is better than being right.
Virgo
“Since Mercury is your ruling planet, you’re likely to be hit the hardest by this tricky cosmic occurrence,” says Galea. “You may find times in your romantic life when you need to make tough decisions, but the problem is that your mind will be clouded by the general disarray of this period. When you find yourself in a state of confusion or you’re unsure what to do next, you always tend to apply logic and reason to cut through the chaos. That won’t help here, especially in your romantic life.”
The solution: Get out of your head and instead think with your heart. In other words, stop thinking and start feeling. Take calculated risks in your dating life and with your partner. It may go wrong, but it may also go right.
Credit: Getty Images
Libra
“As a pensive air sign, Mercury retrograde will have you pondering the role you play in relationships, whether it’s with someone you’re dating or your long-term partner,” he says. “You might suddenly fancy a role-switch, of sorts. If you feel like you’ve been calling the shots, you may want to take a more passive role and let them lead. Or if you feel like you’ve been playing by their rules, you might want to step up and start leading the charge.”
The solution: Three words: go for it. Mercury retrograde isn’t all doom and gloom. Sometimes it’s an opportunity to break free from systems that we’ve been following out of comfort that don’t actually serve your best interests anymore. Have fun with it.
Scorpio
“When life becomes a little hectic, you tend to approach the chaos in one of two ways: either you’ll throw yourself in headfirst without thinking or you’ll run away and hide, hoping it’ll sort itself out. Neither solution is going to protect you from the confusion of Mercury retrograde as you find yourself in an awkward situation with the person you’re either pursuing or involved with.”
The solution: No matter what uncomfortable situations you find yourself in – be it a tiff over a misunderstanding, an accidental text or showing up an hour late to dinner – just face it head-on. Be your usual charming self and apologise, share your thoughts and ask them for theirs to avoid another mishap.
Sagittarius
“Have things been feeling a little stale in your love life? That’s all about to change, and not a moment too soon. If there’s one thing a Sagittarius won’t tolerate, it’s a dull time. The thing about Mercury retrograde is that it doesn’t always bring negative energy into our lives: sometimes it can open the door to new opportunities and that’s just what you’re going to find with a special someone.”
The solution: No solution needed. Just allow yourself to fully embrace whatever sweet opportunities come your way. When it comes to planning date nights, be as adventurous as possible and don’t let yourself overthink your way out of a good situation. And remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a good time – just bring together your passion and creativity, Sagittarius.
Capricorn
“While you may find stressful situations with your work or with your family and friends during Mercury retrograde, your love life will be a calm away from the storm. Spend some time nurturing new and emerging connections, and step back from negative situations that are holding you back.”
The solution: After a long and stressful day, if you’re single, you should tap out of the chaos by jumping on Tinder and spark some meaningful conversations with people who light your fire. In a relationship (whatever the form…) plan some exciting date nights so that you have something to look forward to after those work-filled days.
Aquarius
Since communication is on the back burner at this time, you’d be wise to tread carefully in your conversations with your partner or other singles. Your desire to be right might be standing in the way of the remedy to whatever disagreement you might find yourself in.
The solution: If you find yourself locked in a tense discussion with someone you’re dating, try to avoid talking your way out of the situation and over-explaining your point – you may end up digging yourself a deeper hole. Instead, agree to disagree and find common ground to rest on, rather than your laurels.
Pisces
Mercury retrograde is likely to hit you where it hurts: your finances. “After realising you may have blown the budget, you may notice this problem bleed into other areas of your life, including your romantic zone,” says Galea.
The solution: Don’t let this hold you back. Explore inexpensive and fun date options, such as movie nights in, a walk in the park or even stargazing. You shouldn’t have to rely on payday to enjoy the magic of dating.
Images: Getty
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