Mercury retrograde 2016

Mercury will be in retrograde until Jan. 25. It's a time of confusion and delays, but it's also a time for reflection.

What does Mercury in retrograde mean? Sometimes it appears as though planets are moving backwards through the zodiac, which is called “retrograde motion,” according to Almanac.com. Mercury does this three to four times a year. When this happens people can experience confusion, frustration and delay.

How do you handle Mercury in retrograde? Because of the negative effects Mercury in retrograde has, it’s best to be as laid back as possible.

Travel and automobiles: One of the things people can do to make commuting easier is allow for extra time to travel. It’s also considered a bad time to buy a new car or sign a lease.

Communication: Tradition says that there’s a lot of miscommunication when Mercury is in retrograde, so people should choose their words carefully. Try not to get frustrated if there is an issue understanding friends and family-- just blame Mercury!

Technology: One way to not be too affected by breakdowns is to anticipate that electronics might not work as planned. Double-check spelling in texts, emails and social media since people are normally accident-prone during this time.

Contracts: Don’t sign any contracts. Instead, look over projects and plans during this time and wait until Mercury is out of retrograde to make final decisions.

Finding the positive: Mercury in retrograde is normally associated with negativity, but it can be a good time to reflect. Since it’s happening early in 2016, why not set goals for the new year?

Mercury will be in retrograde from Jan. 5-25. 
April 28-May 22
Aug. 30 to Sept. 22 and 
Dec. 19 to 31.