Mercury turns retrograde today. Named after the Roman god of communication and commerce, Mercury retrograde signals a time when you will be plagued by misunderstandings, malfunctions, and faulty merchandise. This is why you always want to check under the hood (both literally and metaphorically) when this planet is traveling backwards. This allows you to identify any potential snafus or fiascos. The other thing you’ll want to be careful about is the way that you backpedal out of situations where you’re in over your head. Panic and you’ll surely sink; work to find a solution that everyone can live with and you will successfully negotiate your release from a dire predicament. Signs most affected: Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, and Capricorn