Mercury Retrograde

What are you talking about about when you have a sentence similar to the following: This week Mercury is in retrograde… Is there an opposite term as well?

Thanks,
John

A planet being in retrograde means that, to us here on Earth, it appears to be going backwards. The opposite of retrograde motion (or Rx for short) is direct motion.

Of course, the planets are not really going backwards. It is an optical illusion¹. Take Mercury retrograde for example. He travels around the Sun faster than we do, and every 4 months, he passes us in his orbit. We here on earth witness Mercury appearing to go backwards for three weeks.

When you were a kid, did you ever go on long car trips, lie in the back seat and stick your feet out the window? If a big car or truck passed you, it felt like you were going backwards. Retrograde motion is kind of like that.

Mercury Retrograde

Astrologically, when a planet goes into retrograde, the conditions that the planet governs are altered and do not function as expected.

As the messenger of the gods, Mercury in astrology governs communications and travel. Mercury turns retrograde for three weeks, every four months. In general terms, this is Murphy’s Law time. Machines tend to go a bit screwy— cars, computers, phone, fax, printer, bulldozer, and the doctor’s machine that goes ping. Miscommunication is also a common byproduct of Mercury retrograde. Contracts signed and matters begun during Mercury retrograde tend to take unexpected twists and turns in the future.

Expect heavy traffic, delays, machinery malfunctions, computer problems, and typos. Mercury retrograde is typically not a huge deal unless having accurate information is of utmost importance. Surgeries and medical tests, for example. What might happen is the test, or gods forbid, the surgery, must be repeated at a later date².

On the positive side, retrograde planets draw our attention inward and to the past. Mercury retrograde is a great time to review or finish up an old project, contact an old friend, or clean out the closet. It’s also a good period for introspection, dreaming, and deep thought.

Dates for upcoming Mercury retrogrades:

2007
October 11 – November 1

2008
January 28 – February 18
May 26 – June 19
September 24 – October 15

¹ See this article by Dr. C. McConnell of Cal State Fullerton for some great animated diagrams.

² See E. Naumann’s The Planets and Operations for more information.

* * *

1. Do you have a schedule of when the next Mercury retrograde will occur?
   Thanks,
   Jen
   
   — Jennifer    5 July 2005    #
2. Just added them, Jennifer. Thanks for the suggestion!
   
   — Molly    19 July 2005    #
3. When did Mercury go into retrograde in the year 1973?
   
   — Gala    4 August 2005    #
4. How do you tell what the influence of Mercury Retrograde
   is on your particular chart? For instance; this Mercury
   retrograde is in Sagittarius, and the only thing I have
   in Sag in my chart is Saturn in Sag in the third house...
   so what might I expect to be influenced by this current Rx ?
   I thought a brief outline for how to determine the influence of a particular Merc Rx might be useful to your
   readers....
   
   thanks for a great site, and your easygoing downhome
   manner!
   
   — peter    13 November 2005    #

5. Hi

   Can you tell me, for how long after a retrograde are the effects felt? Is it 3 weeks?

   Thanks,
   
   Lauren

   
   
   — Lauren    15 December 2005    #

6. When did Mercury go into retrograde during 1981 and 1983?

   Thanks,
   Jen

   
   
   — Jen    2 March 2006    #

7. Hi Jen, go look it up in the ephemeris at astro.com.

   
   
   — Molly    2 March 2006    #

8. Hi Molly,

   Would Mercury Retrograde affect someone with a Rising, Sun or Moon Sign of Gemini or Virgo (Mercury-Ruled) on a stronger level, or more internalized and pronounced than someone who doesn’t have this sign pronounced in their charts?

   Or no, does Mercury Retrograde generally affect all of us equally, no matter what signs our planets are in?

   
   
   — Britney Skye    2 March 2006    #

9. Hi Britney— people having Gemini and Virgo placements are more likely to be involved in communications and highly detailed work.. so this is probably true.

   Many people say that people with natal Mercury rx fare better during transiting Mercury rx.. and this may be true to an extent.. I have natal Mercury rx for example, and I find myself updating software and doing a lot of highly detailed stuff.. but I also get nailed by the trickster at times. Nobody gets a free pass!

   If you have an astrological calendar (highly suggested), watch the aspects that transiting Mercury makes to other planets in the sky. Sometimes Mercury retrograde isn’t that bad. (I closed on my house during Mercury retro, for example.. it was trine Pluto in the sky and trine my Moon. I had no qualms about it at all!)

   For individuals, you can run a transit list to predict times of stress or opportunity by watching transits of Mercury to the natal chart.

   If you want me to run you a transit list, e-mail me and I’ll do so.

   
   
   — Molly    2 March 2006    #

10. where can I learn this stuff from start? I was told by someone I was a mecury ruled person I am a virgo,but would like to know more.Like how to read or see things like this.

    
    
    — Gerry    6 March 2006    #

11. Hi Gerry—
    I started by reading all the books I could get my hands on, then I found a class in my area.

    I keep a list of my favorite beginner level books on del.icio.us.

    
    
    — Molly    6 March 2006    #

12. Hi, can you tell me when there was a retrograde during 1965. Thanks

    
    
    — Heather    20 March 2006    #

13. Hi, can you tell me when there was a retrograde during 1965. Thanks. Catherine

    
    
    — Catherine Filarski    28 June 2006    #

14. Heather and Catherine-- you can easily find this information yourselves by consulting the ephemeris files on astro.com. There's a link on the left side of the page, labeled "3000 years ephemeris."

    
    
    — Molly    28 June 2006    #

15. I am trying to figure out past mercury retrograde dates. I am trying to find out when in 1985 and 1986 mercury was in retrograde. Any way to find out?

    
    
    — Hilary    13 August 2006    #

16. Molly I would like you to do a natal chart for my boufriend and I , first individual then compatibility.. How do I attain that from you,and the cost?
    Wynette

    
    
    — Wynette    21 November 2006    #

17. Hi,

    I am trying to figure out past mercury retrograde dates in 1985? Could you let me know via email message? Normally it is 3 times a year and it is important.

    Thanks

    
    
    — Bluesky    29 January 2007    #

18. Bluesky,

    Please see comments #12-14 on this page.

    
    
    — Molly    29 January 2007    #

19. I am asking for a friend of mine who was born September 3, 1985…what was going on with the planets at that time, specifically retrogrades or eclipses.
    Thank you.

    
    
    — Betty    10 April 2007    #

20. Hi Betty—

    Comment #14 on this page instructs you how to find that information.

    
    
    — Molly    22 April 2007    #

21. [sorry if this seems a bit mucked up – for some reason the comments didn’t show up :(]

    Mercury retrograde, hmm… it doesn’t usually hit my computers/phones but for the first time I have had a car accident!

    On Saturday (Oct. 27) had a collision – or rather, I was driving on the straight road and a car turned into the driver’s side. I’m ok but the admin stuff to handle and the loss of the car is most annoying!

    Mercury is my friend and foe – my moon, Mars and Jupiter are in Gemini and I have Mercury and Midheaven in Virgo :P

    And of course, I deal both with communications and detail: I write financial news for a living!

    Oh boy!!

    Is this retrograde in action?

    
    
    — Iridine    29 October 2007    #

22. Can you tell me if Mercury was retrograde on 11/26/63?

    
    
    — randy    19 December 2007    #