What is Mercury Retrograde?

Melody Gatorade. Mackerel Rhinoceros. Manifest Recreate. Militant Renegade. No. No. No. Mercury Retrograde - that’s it. That’s the one. The one that’s got everybody talking and thinking about all that there is to talk and think about. Is this the cosmic Big, Bad Wolf, coming to wreak havoc on all that we love and hold dear?

No, I don’t believe it is. I’d like to help break it down for you, part by part, to make it a little less intimidating. Let’s start with some background on Mercury itself. Mercury is the planet closest to the sun, never more than 28 degrees away. It is also the planet that experiences the most frequent retrograde periods - about three to four times a year, for three weeks at a time. Mercury is named after the Roman God of trade, language, travel, and thieves, equivalent to Greek’s Hermes. Mercury is known as the messenger. In astrology, Mercury rules communication, short distance travel and transportation, siblings, intellect, thought processes, commerce, awareness, logic, important documents, technology, and learning styles. Mercury rules Gemini, Virgo, the third house, and the sixth house.

Mercury retrograde is the most commonly talked-about retrograde because it happens more often than any other planet. However, retrograde is an event that all planets experience. A retrograde happens when a planet appears to go backward. The keyword is “appears” because planets never move in any direction but forward in their orbit around the Sun. Retrogrades are based on our vantage point here on Earth. Earth orbits faster than the outer planets - Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. So, when Earth laps the outer planets, this creates the illusion from our viewpoint that the planet is moving backward. While in all actuality, Earth has just surpassed that planet. On the other hand, Earth orbits slower than the inner planets - Venus and Mercury. Yet, when they surpass us here on Earth, we also view them as going backwards. Either way, it’s all an illusion and a narcissistic, Earth-centered belief that what we perceive is the truth.

Another effect of retrograde, besides our change in perspective of the planet, is our proximity to the retrograding planet. Venus, Mercury, and Mars are the closest planets to us. When they go into retrograde, it changes the path of their orbit. The retrograde causes them to become even closer to the Earth than usual and closer to us than they are to the sun, whereas they would be closer to the sun in their typical orbit. This all means that the retrogrades of these planets hit closer to home, literally, for us here on Earth and impact us quite intensely. Whereas, since the other outer planets are further from Earth and their retrogrades last for longer periods of time, their retrogrades tend to be less impactful on us. 

The optical illusion created physically by retrograde planets translates symbolically. Retrograde periods bring attention to illusions, what we avoid, and what we need to improve in the arenas of the retrograding planet. Retrogrades are a time for rest and reflection to sort through all of your baggage. Retrogrades aren’t the best time for starting new projects or making any drastic decisions. It is a period that is to be utilized by improving what already is, reflecting on what has already been said or done, and considering what we could do differently moving forward. A planet is direct more often than it is in retrograde. So, when a planet is in retrograde, it is deviating from its norm. Therefore, during retrograde, we can be witnesses or participants in bizarre behaviors.

When Mercury, specifically, retrogrades, it creates chaos in our communication with others, our own mental spaces, and our day-to-day transportation. We can see our own thoughts taking turns we don’t expect and it can be challenging to get them back on course. Mercury forces us to have the conversations that we have been dreading and avoiding. Mercury can make us overthink about our issues until we are driven crazy enough to search for a solution. During these times, learning and academic pursuits can be more of a challenge than usual and you could be left scrambling to understand. It can be difficult to organize your thoughts, let alone anything else.

Mercury in retrograde can have your brain feeling like it’s running a mile a minute and in all directions. Plans of travel could fall through or face a few hiccups. Your car could be at risk of an accident, a tire blowout, or any kind of mechanical malfunction. I, myself, have been in three car accidents during three different Mercury retrograde periods. I have heard plenty of tales of phones and other devices glitching or breaking during a retrograde in Mercury. There could be arguments and miscommunications with others. Some of your texts and emails just might not ever get delivered. Or maybe your laptop crashes while you’re working on a project or that project mysteriously gets deleted. None of these events are coincidence - it's the result of the out-of-the-ordinary movements of Mercury. 

Those are some of the general effects of Mercury in Retrograde. We will all have one or more of those troubles, to some degree, because Mercury impacts us all. However, the degree to which you are affected and in what way are dependent upon your own natal chart. The sign Mercury retrogrades in has an effect on us all, but the house Mercury retrogrades in is specific to you. You can find out what house Mercury is transiting for you during its retrograde by checking the house in your natal chart that inhabits the zodiac sign Mercury is currently in. It is important that you know the degrees of the transiting Mercury and of the sign in your natal house. This can help you to better specify Mercury’s movement through your houses. For this 2021 Aquarian Mercury Retrograde’s horoscopes, based on the house placements, read this.

Mercury’s retrograde, or any retrograde for that matter, is nothing to fear. They are just an astrological event to be mindful of and prepared for. We can stay prepared by being aware of the retrograde dates and where they take place in our own houses. Also, be aware that, surrounding a retrograde motion period, there are the pre- and post- shadow phases that take place before and after the actual motion. These shadow phases are generally 2-3 weeks long and carry the same energy as the actual retrograde motion, but less intensely. Whenever you know Mercury is about to retrograde, even before the pre-shadow phase, backup your devices, get a check-up on your car, secure your travel plans, double-check all of your important paperwork, and be conscious of your communication. Enter each retrograde with an open mind and a confident approach. Soon enough, you’ll be an expert retrograde survivor.