Last Updated on December 1, 2021 by astrologerbydefault

Mercury will be going retrograde from 14^th Oct to 3^rd Nov 2020 in Libra, he will transit Swati and Chitra nakshatra during this period. And in the present time it is a bit complicated. Mercury goes retrograde for about 3 weeks, thrice a year. Mars goes retrograde once in about 2yrs. Now Mars is already retrograde and has entered Pisces retrograde on 4^th Oct, he will go forward on 14^th Nov 2020. So these two are in the 6/8 axis, going backwards together. And Mercury is combust from 16^th Oct to 2^nd Nov. Plus the Sun is debilitated in Libra.

Mars is the energy of passion, desire to live, take risks, transform, compete and win. Mercury is the thinking process within your mind and the choice of action in your hands. The energy of a retrograde planet cannot be expressed outwards as it has turned inwards into the subconscious self, so often gets bottled up. Both these Mars and Mercury energies going retrograde together are going to create typical psychological issues. Suffocated emotions, internalised stress, frustration, internal rage, inability to express, loneliness, depression, taking unacceptable risks, illogical thought patterns, senseless risky actions. Some of us will face significant failures in life as the passion to Live and the analytical Mind do not cooperate. A tendency for exceptionally risky behaviour or self-harm or suicides can be triggered.

Communication of all sorts is linked to Mercury, so misunderstandings are possible. Tact and understanding are both lost. And inner bitterness and outer arguments afterwards are going to be fuelled by the retrograde Mars which would be intense. The choices available to you may not be appropriate and create more problems. You might take rash decisions and then hasty actions. Think before you speak, always. Spoken and written words both will be confused. This can manifest as mis-reading the question in your exam paper to making serious mistakes in filing your income tax returns. Those appearing for competitive exams must be careful. Your mental processes, logic, analytical skills, understanding will be affected.

Sense of trade can mislead, ie the risks that you take in your business may cause more losses than profits, so businessmen should take due precautions. There is often unexpected expenditure in such retrogrades. In office, you might get into arguments with your co-workers, team-mates as mis-communication coupled with short tempers will disrupt things. Finance related figures should be double checked. Read and understand important communications carefully. Papers or messages might get lost/ misplaced. Your electronic items like mobile, laptop, hard disks etc can get damaged.

At home, mutual trust between siblings, friends, extended family will be low. You might face unpleasant issues caused by them as relationships will show strain. Bitter, illogical arguments are possible so avoid talking about controversial issues or politics. Do not overdo things or react without thinking first, try to be patient. The power to think and the power to act both are affected for everyone. Then traveling will be tiring. Now is not the time to take a vacation or go on a tour. But fit you need to travel, know that there will be delays. Also keep a small first aid kit of medicines with you.  On the health front specifically digestion can get affected. Those suffering from migraines can see an increase. Skin and nervous complaints can get aggravated. If you feel unwell, take proper medical treatment do not postpone going to the doctor.

Confusions in taking decisions. If possible, always try to finish all major work one week before Mercury goes retrograde. eg shifting house, signing new contracts, new job or appointing new staff, important meetings etc. During a Mercury retrograde, try to stick to the projects which you had started before. There will be issues popping up in these projects, but rather than ditching them try to resolve these issues or wait it out. And this applies to relationships too. If you are in a long-term relationship and feel upset during this retrograde, do not break it off till he resumes his forward movement. Remain patient and try to adjust. In case you meet a potential new partner, romantic or business, during Mercury retrograde, better wait till he goes forward again before committing yourself. Starting any new projects during this period is not good. He will make you re-do them after he goes direct again. At least this time he is retrograde in only one sign Libra. If in case, a planet crosses into another sign while retrograde then all his negative results are intensified. (There are 8 types of planetary movements which I have listed out in this post here.)

If you have your birth Mercury or Mars or Moon in an inauspicious position or your current Dasha/ transits are not favourable, you must take efforts to keep your mood light and happy. Listen to uplifting and relaxing music, Sanskrit shlokas, stotras of your favourite deity, nature sounds etc. Wear clothes of light and bright colors. Keep yourself active but do not overdo it. Do not let your mind get stuck in a rut, if you feel that thoughts are looping in your mind then do something that will break the pattern, avoid over-thinking. Go out for a walk, sit in the fresh air. Try to keep a regular schedule, eat, sleep, work on time. Read light-hearted books or see happy romantic movies if you feel like it. The best way of utilising the energy of the retrograde is to complete any long pending tasks. eg Sorting out old clothes is a good way of utilising Mercury’s organisational skills.

I had written in a recent post that the COVID 19 health issue has stopped its active phase with Rahu/Ketu moving into Taurus/Scorpio. But Mars going retrograde in Aries-Pisces will cause deaths due to misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, carelessness, wrong medicines (intentional or accidental) coupled with human greed and corruption (post here). Intentional misinformation cannot be ruled out in this period. This should get resolved when Mars clearly enters Aries and moves onwards, from Jan 2021. Whenever a planet in retrograde motion enters the earlier sign it causes even more disruptions. So Mars’s current retrograde is rather significant. In this, Mercury too going retrograde will overall worsen the situation. Mercury, if afflicted in any way, always causes problems in medical diagnosis. Mercury being combust by a debilitated Sun means that the people in authority will behave in a high-handed and egoistic manner and might often be wrong. eg If you have your yearly medical check-up coming up, avoid it when Mercury is retrograde or combust. And if you have to get a medical procedure done in this period, opt for a second opinion if possible. In emergencies there is no option, but at least you or your family should recite a small prayer to Mercury before the medical procedure starts.

Now briefly about the Nakshatra, Chitra and Swati. Both are represented by bright single stars in the skies, currently seen on the western horizon after sun-set.

Swati is connected to Rahu and ruled by Vayu. Swati with the retrograde/ combust Mercury will give results somewhat like this. Loss of equilibrium in all ways. The smooth sailing of life will get temporarily turbulent. Medical problems related to the Vaat tendency can be aggravated. Increase in unrealistic materialistic desires and lots of thoughts/ thinking. Mind might desire addictive substances. Increase in aggression which will be primarily directed inwards. Lack of flexibility and compromise in all interactions as selfishness and ruthlessness predominate. Expected achievements will not occur. Losses in financial activities due to unreasonable risks. High degree of restlessness indicated. Avoid blindly following popular trends and mass movements.

Chitra is linked to Mars and its ruler is Tvashta. Chitra with the retrograde/combust Mercury will give these type of results. The systems, laws and the underlying structure within everything will be subject to misinterpretations. More illusions than reality will influence you causing internal frustration. Technical skills will be affected, you might feel like taking short-cuts. Creativity will be stifled. You might feel physically drawn to someone during this period, but this in itself will not be a good foundation for a new long-term relationship. Medicines may cause side-effects. Not a good time for home decoration or buying art/craft. Tact and diplomacy will not be there as imbalance and disharmony exists. If you know some confidential/secret stuff, now is not the time to tell it to anyone. Avoid manipulating others and self-centric behaviour.

Currently Jupiter and Saturn both in transit are in their own houses, so are capable of powerful results. Saturn is beneficial for birth Moon Pisces, Scorpio, Leo till he remains in Capricorn so will help them in several ways. Jupiter in Sagittarius is hemmed by malefics, Saturn and Ketu so is a bit hampered, but still will be of some help. Saturn is aspecting Mercury during this period (23^rd Sep to 27^th Nov), so lack of confidence while speaking, scattered thoughts, stammering etc will be seen. The act of ‘communication’ will require more effort. You might not want to talk to anyone. Or shut yourself down in personal isolation. Not go out of the house or shut out your loved ones. Saturn is aspecting the retrograde Mars too in this period, adding more negativity to any actions you might take. The power of Passion to Live is retrograde to begin with and also constricted by the nature of Saturn. Getting out of negativity can get difficult. So if you start feeling that it would be good to cut yourself from everything, do reconsider.

Overall this Mercury retrograde/ combust period will be reasonably good for the birth Moon signs Pisces, Leo and Scorpio. The birth Moon signs Aries, Libra, Taurus, Virgo and Gemini need to take care. There might be physical exhaustion and mental stress type of things. The rest of the Birth Moon signs will have an average time. The three Nakshatra, Asleysha, Jeyshtha and Revati are also linked to Mercury’s energies so if your birth Moon is in these you must take adequate care.