Mercury in retrograde is here to make work drama – how to avoid getting fired this month

Mercury retrograde has arrived, pulling no punches and throwing all kinds of wrenches.

Because Mercury rules communication and commerce, its retrograde cycle has a direct impact on both our personal and professional lives.

Contrary to the nomenclature, Mercury and the other planets never move backwards in space; they simply slow down, a slowing down that looks like an inversion from our position on Earth.

When is mercury retrograde?

Beginning its deceleration, Mercury stations retrograde on August 5th at 12:56 AM ET at 4 degrees in the punctilious sign of Virgo. In the middle of the month, Mercury returns to Leo before going direct on August 28. We’re not really far from disaster until the planet closes its post-retrograde shadow on 9/11.

Meaning of Mercury Retrograde

When a planet is in retrograde, its energy works in the opposite direction, not necessarily ANTI us, but certainly not as a trusted assistant. As Mercury rules the mind, its retrograde signifies a period of challenge in organizing, expressing and creating order in our lives.

The first half of this retrograde will have a particularly sharp effect on our work lives as it occurs or slows down in Virgo, the sign that rules daily habits and service.

How this adversarial energy plays out in the workplace: sexts accidentally sent on the company Slack channel, well-intentioned jokes will be reported to HR, constructive criticism will be interpreted as personal attacks.

Mercury retrograde August 2024

According to a recent survey by Promova, 64% of people feel that Mercury retrograde negatively affects their communication at work, and 65% specifically notice more miscommunication occurring in their workplace during that period.

The first half of this retrograde will have a particularly sharp effect on our work lives as it occurs or slows down in Virgo, the sign that rules daily habits and service.

But take heart, my babies – it doesn’t have to be doom in the office and gloom in the bedroom.

Kate Protsenko, Head of Business Operations at Promova and an international Cambridge CELTA/DELTA trainer, is ready to help us manage communication and get out of this Mercury retrograde cycle and unharmed.

1. Take your time

Mercury rules both the mind and the mouth – brain fog, forgetfulness, word vomit and cerebral constipation are common symptoms of this retrograde.

This fog/view can make simple tasks and basic communication feel like Sisyphean. However, as Protsenko told The Post, when Mercury slows its rotation, we are advised to follow suit.

“To avoid accidentally attaching a nudge instead of that file you need to share in a work email, you should definitely give yourself a little more time to process and proofread. Slowing down on the little things, like composing emails or writing messages, can feel excruciating, but in the end, you’ll be thankful for your time and for getting your messages out loud and clear, without misunderstandings (or scandals).

2. Use basic language

Unless you’re a poet, there’s no room for abstract sentences and mystical metaphors during Mercury Retrograde. Everyone with two legs and a beating heart is feeling the effects of this transit, so keep it straight and keep it grounded, folks.

Protsenko advised: “Try to have some empathy for the people who will be reading your emails and messages or listening to you in meetings. Make sure the sentences you use are short and simple. When you pack in a few thoughts or add details through asides and parentheses, you’re likely to lose your audience. Breaking down your text or speech into simple sentences will make communication much easier, so you can be sure you’ve got all your points across clearly.”

3. Rely on grammar and spell check

Mercury is also the realm of technology – when the trickster planet slows down, machines and technology perform notoriously.

Protsenko recommends that we all take preventive measures to double the triple check during this transit.

“Don’t be shy about using AI or grammar checks to make sure the text is square. But remember that they are also considered technology, so you might want to check everything yourself one last time. Just to be sure.”

4. Cut the corporate jargon

Show me someone who understands business jargon, and I’ll show you a reliever of all that is unhappy. Intended to impart a sense of belonging in the cold and cruel corporate world, this language is trite at best and confusing at worst.

Protsenko offers, “You may want to keep jargon like ‘ducks in a row,’ ‘bandwidth,’ ‘deliverable,’ or ‘synergy’ in your work communication during Mercury retrograde. These terms aren’t the simplest, so you don’t want to cause more confusion by using them when the powerful planet is creating communication breakdowns.”

She claims that dropping this language during Mercury retrograde is especially important if you work with or for an international company where English is not the native language.

If you’re stubborn, Protsenko stresses the importance of a corporate translation sheet.

“If you can’t, won’t, or won’t give up the corporate language during Mercury retrograde, create a corporate vocabulary sheet and share it with your team, especially if you’re working with people who are just starting out in the world of corporations.”

Better yet, use this retrograde cycle as an opportunity to banish corporate jargon for good. After all, research shows that eliminating jargon helps avoid misunderstandings while supporting effective and efficient communication.

On that note, let’s go back to… NEVER.

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Astrology 101: Your Guide to the Star

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Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and reports irreverently on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience.