If you groan every time you hear Mercury is about to go retrograde, you are not alone. When communication tangles, tech glitches multiply, and plans unravel, it can feel like the last thing anyone needs. Life is already full. Our days are busy. People and dogs in our lives depend on us. The idea of any more chaos on top of it all can feel overwhelming.
But what if Mercury retrograde could actually help us?
Mercury retrograde isn’t a cosmic punishment. It’s a chance to re-do, re-try, re-learn, and reconnect. That might not sound glamorous, but there is magic in the mess. When we let go of perfection and meet ourselves where we are, we can show up more fully for the people and pets who count on us most.
Here are four gentle, practical ways to work with Mercury retrograde energy that support your own self-care and help you be the best version of yourself for your dog and your life.
Permission to Mess Up
Dropped your dog's leash? Snapped at your partner after a sleepless night? Forgot an important work email or fed your dog an hour late?
Mercury retrograde is the perfect reminder that perfection is not the goal. What matters is presence. Your dog does not need a flawless version of you. They need a version of you who is here, who is trying, and who is willing to repair when things go off course. Let the retrograde be your permission slip to get it wrong and try again without shame.
The Magic of Do-Overs
One of the gifts of Mercury retrograde is the opportunity to revisit something and give it new energy. Maybe you tried a training technique months ago that never quite stuck. Or maybe you tried to start a journaling habit or meditation practice and it slipped away.
This is your nudge from the universe to try again. You are not behind. You are returning. That return can build more trust and confidence, for both you and your dog. Do-overs are not failures. They are proof of commitment.
Go Back to Go Forward
Sometimes we give up on things because the timing was off or life got in the way. Maybe there is a daily walk route you stopped using, a creative project gathering dust, or a playful ritual you and your dog used to share. Mercury retrograde invites you to revisit what once brought joy.
It might feel a little clumsy at first, but often what we revisit has something new to teach us. Growth is rarely linear, and progress does not require constant forward motion.
Try Again, Just Because You Want To
Not every do-over is about failure. Sometimes we return to something simply because it still lights a spark. Mercury retrograde is a wonderful time to revisit what you genuinely care about, even if it never "went wrong."
Maybe it's a song you loved playing on guitar, a long-abandoned blog idea, or that agility class you and your dog enjoyed but drifted away from. Trying again can be a joyful act of devotion. When we follow the tug of our own enthusiasm, we create more space for delight. That delight can ripple outward, helping us show up more brightly for our dogs, our relationships, and our creativity. Let this retrograde be a reminder that you can begin again just because it feels good.
Life with dogs is a wonderful reminder that the present moment is always the best place to begin. Mercury retrograde gives us the space to pause and begin again with intention, not shame.
Let it be messy. Let it be enough.