Is Mercury in retrograde? Hold tight, the motion of the solar system is about to get bumpy
Mercury is almost in retrograde. You may have heard people lamenting the astrological phenomenon, blaming their various woes on the planet's movement. But what does it mean for Mercury to be in "retrograde" and how does this particular planet scramble up our day-to-day?
"If we didn't have mercury retrograde who would people blame their disorganization on," astrologer Wade Caves jokes.
Here's what else Caves shared about the mystical properties of Mercury retrograde and which areas of your life might feel the greatest impact.
Learn more about each Zodiac sign
Pisces | Aquarius | Capricorn | Sagittarius | Scorpio | Libra | Virgo | Leo | Cancer | Gemini | Taurus | Aries
When does Mercury do into retrograde?
Mercury retrogrades more often than other planets, typically two to three times a year Caves says.
In 2024, Mercury will be in retrograde:
From April 1 to April 24
From August 4 to August 27
From November 25 to December 15
When does Mercury retrograde end?
Mercury retrograde ends April 24.
Is Mercury in retrograde?
Yes, Mercury is currently retrograde. Retrograde began on April 1.
Though it is popular slang to say, "in retrograde" this is grammatically incorrect, some say. It is instead "mercury is retrograde" because retrograde is an adjective and should be used as such.
What is mercury retrograde?
For planets that are inside our orbit like Mercury and Venus – though most of the time they appear to be going in the same direction as the other planets – every once in a while they pull off an optical illusion.
When they circle back around and get between Earth and the sun, for a chunk of time it looks like they are traveling backward, Caves explains. This is when they are in "retrograde."
If you were to zoom out, of course, you would never see a planet move backward, Caves says. But during the point when we are closest to Mercury (since it travels faster than Earth) it seems as if the planet is moving in reverse.
Despite it being an illusion, Mercury retrograde holds great weight in astrology.
"It's a metaphysical principle that the way things appear convey meaning," Caves explains, "it's a subjective reality."
More on Mercury retrograde: Mercury isn't the only planet that retrogrades. Every planetary 'step back' and what it means.
What happens during mercury retrograde?
In astrology, mercury retrograde symbolizes movement against the tide, Caves says. "On a global mundane level when everything is distributed kind of equally, you'll feel a little bit more institutional chaos than normal," he explains.
People might experience delays, hesitations, things breaking down, or exhaustion of energy, he adds.
How does Mercury retrograde affect you?
Mercury retrograde has a direct effect on the transmission of information, Caves says. "It has a direct connection to networks, communication networks, mail," he ticks off.
Getting things done might be difficult during this period. "Because things are moving backward there's very often also symbolism of things returning to us," Caves explains. He uses the metaphor of trying to swallow something and feeling it instantly travel back up your throat.
"Mercury retrograde isn't the one causing it," he cautions – if you find something kicked back up in your life it's likely because it wasn't sorted in the first place, and the universe always meant for you to settle the score.
What is Mercury retrograde good for?
In kicking back up issues from the past, Mercury retrograde might force you to slow down and be more intentional, Caves says.
What should you not do during Mercury retrograde?
Don't make big changes, Caves cautions – retrograde is the meditation period, not the action period.
"Avoid making new agreements or finalizing agreements," he warns, "it's good for revision, it's not good for executing."
What signs are affected by mercury retrograde?
"Not every retrograde hits everybody," Caves explains. It depends on the retrograde and your birth chart. In every mercury retrograde there will be some signs that have no connection to it, he says.
What is the mercury retrograde shadow period?
The illusion of retrograde shows the planet moving forward, then moving back, and then moving forward again. Anything within that zig-zagging period is considered the "mercury retrograde shadow period" Caves says. Some believe you will experience ripple effects of the retrograde during the shadow period.
Contributing: Olivia Munson
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Can astrology determine relationships?" to "Which Zodiac sign am I compatible with?" to "What is my Zodiac sign?" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mercury is (almost) in retrograde. 2023 dates for every sign to know
