We all know that when Mercury is in retrograde, it’s a bad thing. However, if you’re anything like us, you have absolutely no idea why that’s the case, or what the phrase even means. Well, rest assured, Zazzle is here to be your astrological guru, and will guide you through the mystifying minefield that this phenomenon supposedly induces.
The Science Behind Mercury Retrograde
Mercury retrograde is when Mercury appears to be moving backward within the zodiac, a specific arc of the observable space above Earth. The effect is an optical illusion, as the planet does not actually travel backward. Imagine you are traveling on a highway, and a car ahead of you in the next lane slows down, so you pass them. The other car appears to be traveling backward, but it is still moving forward. This is the same illusion as a retrograde.
So, for example, Mercury would move from Aquarius to Pisces, and then appear to move back towards Aquarius again. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, and orbits about 3-4 times faster than Earth, which is why retrograde occurs 3-4 times a year. It has long been associated with negative events, as the illusion is said to cause confusion and misunderstanding. This confusion creeps into different areas of life and supposedly wreaks havoc on our day-to-day. The type of effect that Mercury retrograde has on our lives, though, is dependent on what zodiac phase it coincides with.
Mythology of Mercury
In Roman mythology, Mercury is the god of communications, translators, and interpreters. He was considered extremely clever and acted as a messenger for other gods. The word ‘Mercury’ comes from the Latin word ‘merx’, referring to ‘merchant’ or ‘merchandise’, so he also governed business and commerce, as well as theft, wealth, and fertility. This is why it is believed that, during Mercury retrograde, communications can get crossed and generally just break down altogether. In the astral plane, fate and destiny can be negatively affected by the retrograde; order is lost and all rules are halted. Interestingly, Mercury is also the god of tricksters, so it seems very appropriate that he spends his retrograde meddling with people’s messages and playing pranks at big events.
Lost in Translation – What To Avoid
You know all those social faux-pas that keep you awake at night? Like that time you sent a text message to the person that that message was about? Or when you sent an important work email but forgot the attachment? That’s the sort of mischief that Mercury gets up to when it’s in retrograde.
There is a very comprehensive list of tasks and activities that you should avoid during retrograde in order to side-step any unsavory outcomes. In fact, the list changes depending on which house of the zodiac Mercury is in during its retrograde. In 2020, for example, Mercury retrogrades 3 times: February 17th – March 10 in Pisces and Aquarius, June 18th – July 12th in Cancer, and October 14th – November 3rd in Scorpio and Libra. February’s retrograde occurs in two Water signs, which represent emotion and imagination, so you can expect to feel a little out of sorts and creatively stunted during this time. Whereas, during the summer’s retrograde, you should focus more on business and family affairs. Studying birth charts can help you navigate your way through these astral danger-zones to make sure you emerge unscathed.
So that’s it, your crash-course in Mercury retrograde! You can now proudly wear this fetching t-shirt. So next time you’re scrolling through your feed and someone mentions something unfortunate that happened to them, you will be able to correctly identify whether it was the act of a celestial prankster or just run-of-the-mill bad luck. Be sure to tell them, too. You’ve learned all this new information, you may as well tell everyone about it!
Love to see this every day !