Ever get those pounding headaches that seem to come out of nowhere? The kind that starts as a little ache behind your eyes and quickly turns into a skull-splitting torture. Yeah, we’ve all been there. If it happens to be during Mercury retrograde, though, there might be an astrological explanation for your cranial agony.
Mercury rules communication, travel, and technology. So when the planet appears to change direction in the sky—a phenomenon known as Mercury retrograde—it can wreak havoc on all of those areas of life. Headaches and migraines seem to be a common complaints during these periods of perceived backward movement.
What Causes Mercury Retrograde Headaches?
Mercury retrograde headaches are no joke. They can strike out of the blue and really knock you for a loop. So what’s actually happening during this astrological phenomenon to cause your noggin to throb?
Communication Breakdown
When Mercury goes retrograde, the planet of communication and technology appears to move backward in the sky. This can disrupt how we express ourselves and interact with one another. Miscommunications, misunderstandings, and frustration are common, which can easily lead to tension and anxiety – two major headache triggers.
Overthinking
When Mercury goes retrograde, it can trigger us to ruminate on things from our past, like old relationships, unfinished projects, or unresolved conflicts. We may revisit conversations or events from years ago in our minds and second-guess our decisions. All this extra thinking and analyzing can strain the mind and lead to tension headaches.
We may even obsess over “what if” scenarios, best-case and worst-case possibilities, and how to avoid potential issues down the line. This type of anxious thinking pattern can also contribute to headaches by causing us mental and emotional stress.
Sleep Issues
Many people report experiencing disrupted sleep cycles during Mercury retrograde. Whether you’re having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or just feeling perpetually drowsy, lack of quality rest puts strain on your body and mind. Some people even feel exhausted all the time, like they’re in a fog, even after a full night’s rest.
It totally makes sense why – when you’re not getting quality sleep, it really takes a toll on your body and your brain. You may start feeling it physically, too, with headaches and migraines becoming more frequent. And it’s easy to feel grumpy and on edge when you’re tired.
Electromagnetic Interference
It is believed that increased geomagnetic activity during Mercury retrograde may interfere with the human bioenergetic field. This could potentially disrupt energy flow in the body, specifically impacting the nervous system. The end result: pain signals firing in the brain, aka headaches.
How To Relieve Your Mercury Retrograde Headache Pain
I know very well how these pesky pains caused by Mercury retrograde can really put a damper on your day. However, there are a few things you can do to relieve the discomfort.
Rest And Relaxation
The best thing is just to get some good old-fashioned rest. When you start feeling that headache coming on, just find a place to lie down where it’s dark and quiet. Give yourself permission to just veg out for a little bit. No screens, no noise, just close your eyes and relax. Even if you can only rest for 20 minutes, it’ll make a difference.
Sometimes, it also helps to slow your breathing when you’re resting. Take some deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focusing on your breath is a great way to release tension. You could even try a guided meditation or mindfulness app on your phone. Just a few minutes of that can help ease the pain.
Stop Overthinking
Mercury retrograde just gets me overthinking everything! “Should I text her or just leave it?” “And what about that thing I was thinking of buying? Should I just do it or wait a bit?” There are so many little decisions like that where I just go back and forth, going in circles in my head. It always gives me such a headache trying to figure everything out!
I know it’s easier said than done, but you have to try not to overthink too much. Give yourself a break from all the what-ifs. Just go with the flow for a bit. Stop worrying about where it’s all going or what’s going to happen. Just live in the moment, in the here and now, especially during Mercury retrograde.
Stop Chasing Things And People
Mercury retrograde gets such a bad rap, but there really is some truth to taking it easy during that time. Everything just seems to get messed up or delayed. Plans fall through, communication breaks down. It’s like the universe is trying to tell you to slow your roll.
Chasing after dreams and new opportunities is usually not a great idea then. And definitely don’t pursue any new romantic interests either – things are almost guaranteed to get misunderstood. It’s just not a good time to start anything major.
If you take a break from chasing things, it doesn’t mean it all will disappear. Your dreams and goals will still be there when Mercury starts moving forward again. And if someone is meant to be in your life, a little pause in the pursuit isn’t going to change that.
Bottom Line
When dealing with Mercury retrograde headaches, the key is not to stress too much about the planetary shifts causing your pain. Take an aspirin, drink some water, stop overthinking, and stop chasing things and people. Get extra rest when you need it. This retrograde period will pass before you know it.
In the meantime, be kind to yourself and listen to your body. If your headache persists or worsens, don’t hesitate to call your doctor. But for now, unplug, unwind, and wait for Mercury to go direct again.
