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.
In This Article...
How does the retrograde of Mercury effect me?
According to Daisy, Mercury’s retrograde phase could lead to serious marital problems like infidelity, betrayal, or loss of closeness. It may seem like everything is going wrong in your love life when you bring up old concerns and disagreements, the astrologer warns, as this planet looks to be moving inside.
Communication is essential, but it’s especially important right now because Mercury, the planet of communication, seems to be going backwards. By communicating and being open-hearted and honest, put your attention on strengthening your relationship.
How many times does Mercury go retrograde in a year?
Mercury stops going forward through the zodiac degrees and appears to be moving backward three or four times a year, according to senior astrologer at Vice and author of The Moon Sign Guide and The Astrology of Love & Sex Annabel Gat. In astrologers’ ephemerides, Mercury appears to be travelling backward in space, although this is not the case. Retrograde describes how the planet appears to be travelling backward in the sky.
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 long does Mercury typically stay in retrograde?
Mercury’s 88-day retrograde period lasts for about three full weeks, during which the planet circles the Earth. However, it has been said that the two weeks before and after it will also have an impact as the cycle intensifies and concludes.
Which 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:
When Mercury is in retrograde, do you yearn for your ex?
Old lovers always manage to find their way back into your DMs around this time, but don’t act foolishly. You might feel the want to reunite with an ex when Mercury is retrograde, but you might later regret it. The answer to the questions, “Why do I keep thinking about my ex?” and “Should I keep my ex as a backup?” is obvious: no.
In 2022, will Mercury be in retrograde motion?
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.
What actions are prohibited in 2022 when Mercury is in 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.”
What effects will Mercury’s retrograde have on 2022?
Right, Sagittarius? You have never, ever, never in a million years left a relationship before. Ha! You’re the first to do it, so leave right away without turning around! It will be extremely important to consider how you collaborate with others and whether you are on the same page during this Mercury retrograde phase. Exes can even be waiting around right now, or you might discover that you keep thinking about someone from your past. You are advised to do so if you’d like to try to get back in touchor, at the absolute least, bury the grievance, forgive, and go on. Later on in the trip, either your career and occupation or your physical routine and health will be confused. Avoid making snap judgments.
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.

