The Sky At Night: Book Of The Moon was written by Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a prominent space scientist, science communicator, and author. The science underlying Mercury retrograde is explained in the book A Guide To Our Closest Neighbor. When compared to Earth, Mercury is closer to the sun and has a shorter orbital period (88 days as opposed to 365.25 days). This implies that for each of our orbits, Mercury circles the sun more than four times. Mercury appears to move through the sky from west to east when Earth and Mercury are on the same side of the sun in their orbits. It appears as though Mercury has changed directions and is traveling backwards as it passes Earth in its inner orbit. Three times a year on average, this occurs.
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What zodiac signs will be impacted by the 2022 Mercury retrograde?
When you believe you have everything under control and your troubles solved, Mercury retrograde seems to mix things up. There’s always a problem lurking around the corner when it comes to astrology, and nothing illustrates this more than when Mercury, the planet of thought and communication, starts to move backward through the zodiac rather than ahead. Taurus, Gemini, Scorpio, and Sagittarius are the zodiac signs that will be most impacted by Mercury retrograde in spring 2022, so you *might* want to get ready for some technical issues soon.
Mercury usually stirs up temporary turbulence and commotion when it stations retrograde. This retrograde, which occurs three to four times a year, is nothing new to you because you’ve already encountered it numerous times. In other words, there is no need to be concerned; the world will not end, and you will survive it unharmed. Although miscommunications and misunderstandings frequently occur when Mercury is retrograde, it is also a lovely time to reflect on your life, look back on previous endeavors, and take care of any unfinished business.
Mercury retrograde this spring starts on May 10 at 4 degrees Gemini, going backwards. Mercury rules this mutable air sign, so this will be a typical retrograde experience marked by confusion and diversion. Think carefully before you speak, especially if you’re twisting the truth. On May 22, Mercury will reenter Taurus, slowing down the intensity of this retrograde and making it more frustrating for Mercury, who already finds it difficult to move through this rigid fixed earth sign. Fortunately, everything will finish on June 3 just as swiftly as it began.
What the astrological signs listed below should be aware of is:
How frequently does Mercury go backwards?
The night sky’s objects appear to “travel from east to west through the night sky” due to the Earth’s daily rotation. The other planets in our Solar System all orbit the Sun at different rates, whereas the stars’ positions in relation to the Earth are fixed, at least from our vantage point.
The wider orbits of the outer planetsMars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptuneallow them to orbit the Sun more slowly than Earth does. As a result, throughout its orbit around the Sun, the Earth frequently passes in front of these planets.
An outer planet that the Earth passes over temporarily appears to be moving backward in relation to the stars.
Imagine two vehicles traveling in separate lanes along a highway in the same direction. Even if the slower automobile is still moving rather quickly in the same direction, if one car is moving faster than the other, it will appear to the person in the faster car that the slower car is moving backward.
The same mechanism that causes Mercury and Venus to become retrograde also causes them to move backwards. When they lap us, Mercury and Venus seem to go into retrograde.
Mercury’s 88-day orbit around the Sun causes the Swift Planet to turn retrograde three or four times a year, for a total of around three weeks at a time. Retrograde motion is less frequent but lasts longer for outer planets.
Why does Mercury turn backwards so frequently?
Let’s first double-check that this section is correct: The more ardent astrologers take offense when this idea is wrongly referred to as “Mercury in retrograde.” Mercury is moving forward, although you wouldn’t say that because the word retrograde means backward. No.
Therefore, the term “Mercury Retrograde” describes a moment when Mercury looks to move backward but does not actually do so. Astronomers were the ones who first detect and describe this optical illusion. All of the planets in the solar system orbit the sun in the same general direction, but because Mercury’s orbit is shorter than ours (88 days as opposed to our 365), it occasionally “laps” the Earth, appearing to reverse course. The same process occurs when Venus laps us and when Earth laps the outer planets, except in this case, Mercury is the object of our concern.
Is Mercury always in retrograde motion?
The following retrograde motion of Mercury will occur from May 10 to June 2, 2022. We are all impacted by Mercury’s retrograde motion, according to the ancient practice of astrology.
What activities should you avoid when Mercury is retrograde?
Ellen Bowles, an astrologer and co-author of Astrology SOS, claims that “we can have technical or mechanical troubles, and our wires can seem crossed in all our channels of communication.” “Planetary retrogrades are occasions for everyone to stop and think. We are being advised to slow down and double-check the details when Mercury is retrograde.” The urge to meticulously examine every last aspect extends beyond the three to four weeks of the retrograde period itself. The same guidelines for what not to do during Mercury retrograde also apply during this time, which lasts for a week or two before and after the actual retrograde. This period is known as Mercury’s shadow phase or “retroshade.”
How does sleeping when Mercury is retrograde?
There is no proof, according to science, that mercury retrograde can interfere with your sleep. However, the assumption that Mercury retrograde can affect your daily life may result in a nocebo effect, which is more accurately described as a placebo effect.
A nocebo makes you feel as though you are experiencing unpleasant consequences, whereas a placebo causes you to believe that you are experiencing beneficial results.
It’s possible that your uncertainty over Mercury retrograde’s propensity for negativity will keep you up at night. This is because instead of dealing with whatever problems that Mercury retrograde’s antics may have caused, you’re internalizing them.
This might seem incredibly familiar to people who routinely experience nighttime worry. It can be difficult to get a restful night’s sleep when your mind is racing or distracted with tension. But it’s not necessary to be.
What effects will Mercury’s retrograde have on 2021?
Mercury is regarded as the planet responsible for all communications, cognitive processes, and it also stands for reasoning, rationality, and other things. Mercury entered a retrograde phase on September 27, 2021, moving backwards into the astrological sign of Libra. Since then, it has had an impact on people’s life, causing a great deal of instability in their relationships, businesses, finances, health, and other areas.
People can finally exhale in relief that the planetary retrogression is over and anticipate things to calm down. Following that, let’s take a look at what each zodiac sign might anticipate now that Mercury Retrograde for this year has ended.
What zodiac signs are impacted by Mercury’s retrograde motion?
Nothing in astrology is more notorious than the dreadful Mercury retrograde. Because it rules both cognitive and communication processes, Mercury has a significant impact on how you live your daily life. This quick-moving, very intelligent inner planet tends to confuse people and lead to errors in judgment when it goes retrograde, which can derail all of your goals. Fortunately, you don’t have to prepare for total disaster if you belong to one of the zodiac signs that will be least affected by Mercury retrograde in spring 2022: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
On May 10, as Mercury is transiting through Gemini at a 4 degree angle, the next Mercury retrograde will start. As a result of this mutable air sign’s propensity to think more quickly than it speaks, miscommunication is a major theme of this erratic and capricious retrograde. Mercury won’t stay in Gemini for very long, though, as on May 22 it will turn back into Taurus and travel through that sign’s obstinate and slow-moving zone once more. Mercury is returning to this fixed earth sign, so you may find yourself second-guessing every choice and finding it difficult to look past your attachments to particular beliefs and viewpoints. Be careful you know what you’re talking about and try to have an open mind.
Despite the fact that Mercury retrograde can throw your life for a loop, you must keep in mind that it only lasts for around three weeks. This retrograde, which will terminate on June 3 at 26 degrees Taurus, could transport you back in time and bring up unfinished business that has to be attended to. Let this retrograde give you another chance to attempt because there might still be things you need to say or decisions you need to make.
In either case, cardinal signs might not experience the full effects of this retrograde. This is why:
Is Mercury currently in retrograde in 2022?
Mercury can go retrograde multiple times this year since it completes a solar orbit faster than Earth does: January 14February 3, 2022, is the first retrograde period. May 10June 3, 2022, is the second retrograde period. September 9October 2, 2022, is the third retrograde period.
Who is impacted by the 2021 Mercury retrograde?
There is a reason why Mercury retrograde is arguably the most notorious astrological occurrence. Even though the zodiac can experience much scarier events, Mercury retrograde frequently tops the list because of how obvious its consequences can be. Mercury is a planet that has an impact on you every day since it is the planet of speech, reason, and deception. Mercury is in charge of assisting you in coming up with ideas, making plans, speaking your truth, and getting from point A to point B. Aries, Gemini, Virgo, and Libra are the zodiac signs that will be most affected by the fall 2021 Mercury retrograde, and you may not even realize what has hit you.
Because this specific retrograde is in the cardinal air sign of Libra, it has the potential to cause some drama in your romantic relationships, friendships, and interpersonal interactions in general. People from your past, particularly those with whom you still have unfinished business, can appear out of nowhere. Even unspoken truths can come to light, forcing you to resolve repressed disputes with others. Furthermore, let’s not forget the awkwardness of Mercury retrograde, which is why it is certain that a Mercury retrograde in the refined, elegant, and spotless sign of Libra would make you feel anything but that. Be prepared to utter a joke that doesn’t land, drop your drink on your crush, and trip over at a posh event.
This retrograde, which starts on September 27 at 25 degrees Libra and ends on October 18 at 10 degrees Libra, can make you reevaluate everything you think you know about this lovely, passionate, and graceful sign of the zodiac. The following zodiac signs can anticipate the following:

