So, What’s the Deal with Mercury Retrograde?

By: Kendra Franklin

No matter if you’re an astrology fanatic, casual enthusiast, or non-believer, the topic of Mercury retrograde is unavoidable. Due to its largely negative reputation, many view Mercury retrograde as a time period filled with bad luck, miscommunication, and emotional distress. Despite all of this, Mercury retrograde has more to it than just its effects on people and their emotions. 

Contrary to what many believe, the discourse around Mercury retrograde is nothing new. A planet “in retrograde” is a scientific phenomenon, describing when a planet appears to be moving in the opposite direction than it normally does when viewed from Earth.

So what is so important about Mercury retrograde in particular? 

Firstly, in the field of astrology, Mercury is the planet that rules communication. Encompassed within communication are listening, learning, speaking, negotiating, and many other related skills. Secondly, Mercury is the fastest planet in our solar system, bringing about three to four retrogrades a year, each lasting three to four weeks. This makes Mercury the most frequently retrograding planet in the solar system. 

Issues with communication, negotiations, traveling, and money are all commonly believed to be caused by Mercury retrograde. This is why astrologers suggest not to make major life, financial, or health decisions within these times.

But Sophia Cornelius, a freshman biology major and astrology enthusiast, believes Mercury retrograde is misunderstood.

“Mercury retrogrades are known for being extremely difficult and a hard time,” Cornelius said. “I feel like it is not just inherently negative. I feel like there can be positives from Mercury retrograde for sure. It’s just all about how you deal with it and how you analyze yourself.”

Depending on your own placements, along with the sign Mercury retrograde occurs in, can cause the retrograde to affect you differently.

If you’re unfamiliar with astrology, it is not just your sun sign that affects your life, as everyone has a specific birth chart depending on the date, time, year, and location of their birth. Your big three—your sun, moon, and rising—are especially important. 

Cornelius, a Virgo sun, Leo moon, and Gemini rising, felt 2021’s May to June Mercury retrograde effects the worst.

The retrograde of 2021 was in Gemini,” Cornelius said. “As a Gemini rising, that was pretty difficult. I was more confused during the Mercury retrograde than anything.”

Kayla Paul-Koch, a junior communication studies major, does not consider herself to be an astrology expert, however, always considered Mercury retrograde to be a time when bad things happen.
During the most recent retrograde, Paul-Koch went through what she described as a “long-overdue break-up.” Though it was tough at the moment, once retrograde was over, she no longer felt so upset about it. 

“I learned that things sometimes are hard and they suck and are painful, but they just have to happen and that’s life,” Paul-Koch said. 

Paul-Koch stated that her roommate and friends also felt the impact of Mercury retrograde, its weight lifting soon after its end.

For Cornelius, most of her struggles with the most recent retrograde were surrounding technology. 

“Technology has been a huge issue with me for all of the Mercury retrogrades this year,” Cornelius said. “Especially the last one with Facebook, WhatsApp, and everything crashing.”

Meta (previously known as Facebook, inc.) and all of the apps within its family went down for six to seven hours during the most recent Mercury retrograde that ended in October. Some believe this event was too much of a coincidence for Mercury retrograde to play no role in it.

“Part of the reason people believe in astrology is that it’s too consistent to not take it into consideration,” said Cornelius.

Paul-Koch believes that though Mercury retrograde can be tough, you can come out of it as a better person than before.

“I think Mercury being in retrograde is not an excuse to be a bad person,” Paul-Koch said. “I think Mercury retrograde is a good time to reflect on the things happening in your life and take a step back and look at it.”

With the first mercury retrograde of 2022 starting on January 13 lining up almost perfectly with the start of the spring semester, it’ll be more important than ever to lend yourself a little bit more understanding whether your frustrations are from your classes or the cosmos.

“I feel like we all deserve [not to be] so harsh on ourselves, and I feel like that’s what Mercury retrograde teaches a lot of people,” Cornelius said. “Take it slow and take it one step at a time. I feel like Mercury retrograde is definitely there to challenge you.”