Mercury retrograde again, does it three to four times a year, three weeks each time. But there is one aspect that many ignore: the effects of this period can be felt both before and after the downgrade.
There are actually two distinct phases that surround the retrograde itself: the retroshade and the storm. During these stages, the messenger planet can cause slowdowns, misunderstandings, and all sorts of minor roadblocks, as if the Universe is hitting the “buffering” button on our lives. Find out what Mercury retrograde’s shadow period is and why you shouldn’t look at it as a sign of chaos, but as a chance for recalibration.
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What exactly is the shadow period of Mercury retrograde?
To begin with, it is important to understand how Mercury moves. It is the fastest planet in our solar system, orbiting the Sun in just 88 days at a speed of nearly 180,000 km/h. It is this speed that makes any apparent slowdown or stop very noticeable to us.
Before Mercury goes retrograde—that is, it appears to be going backward from Earth’s perspective—it gradually slows down and stops for a short time. After that, when he comes out of relegation, he needs time to regain his usual speed.
The two phases surrounding the retrograde are known as the pre-shadow and post-shadow—or, more poetically, the “retroshade.”
In the pre-shadow, Mercury traverses the same zodiacal degrees that it will reverse during retrograde. And in the post-shadow, it returns to the direct direction and again traverses the points it “revisits” after resuming normal movement.
Basically, we have a cosmic zigzag:
- 3 weeks of slowdown (pre-shadow),
3 weeks of retrograde proper,
3 weeks of recovery (post-shadow).
In total, about nine weeks of Mercurian influences that test our patience, focus and clarity.
What does the pre-shadow phase mean?
As Mercury advances in its orbit and prepares for retrograde, it begins to send subtle signals about what is to come to the surface. It’s the moment when small malfunctions appear: lost mails, misinterpreted messages, inexplicable delays.
This phase gives clues about the themes that will return during the retrograde. Maybe you find an old journal that makes you reflect on an emotional pattern. Maybe you’re picking up an unresolved conversation.
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Everything that happens in the pre-shadow is a “preview” of the lessons to come.
Pay attention to the signs, your reactions and the way you communicate. Something that appears now will return—but with deeper meaning—once Mercury actually goes retrograde.
Read the continuation on ADVICE FOR PARENTS. RO.
