The positive side of the transit. Old friends, previous coworkers, people you've lost touch with—Mercury retrograde is prime time for reaching back out. I think this is the one point where the practical advice breaks down a bit. In my experience, reconnecting during retrograde isn't always positive—sometimes you get clarity on why you lost touch in the first place, and that can be messy. I carved a set of Elder Futhark runes years ago and I've noticed that Berkano and Ansuz readings during these transits tend to flag old connections that resurface for completion, not necessarily renewal. Your other prep tips are solid though—I've definitely learned the hard way to back up everything.