Welcome to Mercury Retrograde in Cancer June 17-July 12.  Check, check and re-check, then check again ! And remember this: just because you said it correctly doesn’t mean it was understood correctly. And the shadow period of June 2 has been a doozie too ! OR at PITA !…or…..sigh…

Communicative Mercury is lost in emotions during its Retrograde, bringing deep feels to the surface from June 17 to July 12. Life: Mercury’s backstroke in Cancer will bring a lot of repressed emotions to the surface.

Life: Mercury’s backstroke in Cancer will bring a lot of repressed emotions to the surface. You’ll finally release what’s been buried. Love: Who do you love? This Retrograde allows you to focus on how you feel about those who have a place in your heart. Work: You’ll be reassessing your sense of security during these weeks—both professional and financial.

Mercury, planet of communication, travel, and the mind, goes retrograde three or four times per year. We say a planet is retrograde when it appears to move backward in its orbit, from our POV here on Earth.) The words “Mercury Retrograde” have the power to make our stomachs drop as we back up our computers and triple-check that we sent that snarky email to the right person. Oh yeah and watch that auto correct function !

Mercury Retrograde has gotten generous amounts of mainstream buzz in recent years, mostly of the fearmongering variety. However, as the planet of wit and information, one of Mercury’s lessons is that knowledge is power. So in the spirit of our tricky little messenger planet, let’s learn about all different stages of the nuanced Retrograde cycle.

Also known as the Retroshade, the pre-retrograde shadow happens when Mercury moves over the degrees in the sky that it will later go retrograde in, appearing to slow its roll. This phase has that *oh, it’s on* feeling. There’s an uncertainty in the air, and it’s often more intense and confusing than the actual retrograde. Watch out for people, topics, and tasks that will reappear during the actual retrograde stage. This was June 2.

This Month’s Mercury Retrograde Could Be the Moodiest One of the Year! And it’s coming to you in the emotional sign of Cancer ! As if the three planetary retrogrades that began last month weren’t enough, Mercury will join the fray and kick off its second retrograde of the year on June 18.

You can expect such logistical issues as dropped calls, forgotten passwords, and mixed-up plans, since all are part and parcel with Mercury retrogrades in general, but this one, in particular, could hit us where we live — literally and figuratively. That’s because, this time around, Mercury will be in the moon-ruled water sign of Cancer when it goes retrograde.

Represented by the crab, Cancers tend to be guarded, if not downright cagey — they’re deeply protective of their feelings and personal lives, and holding a safe space for those things is a top priority. They can be warm and fuzzy, but that warmth and fuzziness are usually hidden behind a hard shell. If you take the wrong approach to break through that barrier, you could incur a passive-aggressive rebuff. But, if you succeed in genuinely connecting with a Cancer, you’ll have earned yourself a new “mom friend.”

On that note, this sign is closely associated with family and the domestic sphere (the term “homebody” is used freely and frequently when describing Cancers). When this attention to home and hearth is combined with the energy of a Mercury retrograde, feelings of nostalgia and resentment could surge in equal measure.

On one hand, you might spend this period revisiting old stomping grounds or reminiscing about the good old days with your siblings. On the other, retrogrades love nothing more than to dredge up past unpleasantries — your ex might send an unexpected text or a previous mistake at work could require rehashing — and poring over our familial past can be specifically difficult. Don’t be surprised if an estranged relative reaches out, something needs fixing in your childhood home, or a dear loved one calls on you for support.

Family can be a touchy subject for some people, so be prepared to give others space (or ask for some yourself) during this retrograde. Take a deep breath and think through what you’re going to say — and how you’re going to say it — before you interact with loved ones. They might be more sensitive than expected or even raring for a fight from the get-go.

In fact, even if all appears to be well at home, it’s still a good idea to tread carefully. Although the emphasis will be on your family life during this retrograde, that doesn’t mean that drama of another variety is off the table. Whether you’re texting a friend, stuck in an endless video call for work, or ordering pizza delivery, be gentle with your words. This is an opportunity to take a closer look at how you show care to others — Cancer might be moody, but its energy is undeniably empathetic, too. If there’s a single rule to follow for this month’s Mercury retrograde it is, simply, to be kind and make space for others’ feelings, even when it incurs a slight discomfort for you.

Oh and Cancer is the sign of the United States. Riots, Protest, Police Reform. Want a cup of hot chaos and drama anyone? It’s free !