Earlier today, I attempted to host a Facebook Live event to let friends and students in Atlanta, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville and Miami know about my upcoming tour.  The broadcast didn’t happen – for some reason, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make the audio work.  Was it a faulty iPad or iPhone? I tried both! Perhaps it was a change in the Facebook algorithm or an incorrect setting? Or was it…MERCURY IN RETROGRADE?

The Planet Mercury rules all types of communication, contracts and agreements, and codes (which is where computers and technology come in). When Mercury is in retrograde, expect misunderstandings with friends and family, glitches with phones and all kinds of devices, and legal agreements that go mysteriously awry!

Hang on – It’s not just Mercury!

Currently, a total of 4 planets are retrograde – Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto. So, expect the unexpected in all of the areas that these four planets rule.

What does it really mean when we say that a planet is in retrograde? The term refers to an apparent change in the movement of the planet through the sky. The planet isn’t really moving backward but it appears that way because of the relative positions of the planet and Earth and how they are moving around the Sun. This positioning causes an energetic shift that impacts our lives here on earth.

Are planets in retrograde really a bad thing?

My friend Peggy and I were joking that with four planets in retrograde, there should be some sort of a warning for people – perhaps a siren going off all around the world! But really, with all of this crazy retrograde energy, it’s a good reminder to LET GO! Don’t try to control things – because now, more than ever, you’re not in control.

Retrogrades are not negative, they simply shift energy around so you can get back into alignment, and during times like this, when so many planets go retrograde, it’s time to slow down and to go with the flow, rather than trying to take action.

This is an opportunity to tune into and work with your feminine energy of feeling and intuition, rather than your masculine energy of doing and controlling.

Here are some tips to get through the next few weeks – planet by planet.

Mercury: Mercury will retrograde from April 9th to May 3rd, 2017. During this time, slow down. Avoid endless debates about touchy issues and for a few weeks, agree to disagree. Avoid signing contracts and negotiating legal agreements. Give yourself extra time when traveling and anticipate changes and delays.  Exercise a little extra care with your electronic devices (maybe get a new case for your iPhone or tablet) and be sure to back up your data!

Jupiter: Jupiter retrograde can be a time of fun and creativity, although you might also find yourself doing a little too much “Netflix and Chilling.” Once you pull yourself off the couch, you can find success by doing things differently and following your intuition. Jupiter is retrograde from February 6th to June 9th, 2017.

Saturn: Saturn will go retrograde on April 16th and will be guiding us to own up to the choices you have made. Good or bad, your karmic energy will amplified during this period, so listen to your inner voice, there are major karmic lessons to be learned. You’ll have plenty of time to learn them, because Saturn will be in retrograde until August 25th, 2017.

Pluto: Pluto will go retrograde on April 20th and will be guiding you to really uncover the skeletons hidden in your closet. It’s time to deal with your shadow side – so plan to do a little “spring cleaning of the soul and spirit”. Unlike Mercury, Pluto works on such a deep, subconscious level that it’s influence is east to miss- so be proactive and take advantage of this opportunity to clear out some karmic debris that might be blocking your path! Pluto moves direct on September 28th, 2017.

So after I carefully save this blog, I’m off to Atlanta- leaving for the airport a little early! I hope to see you during my 4-city tour 4-city tour. Join me and we’ll tackle this planetary turbulence together with love and intuition!