What Does Mercury in Retrograde Mean?
It seems likes everyone is talking about — or rather blaming — Mercury being in retrograde. But what does Mercury in retrograde mean? People drop something, it’s Mercury’s fault. Locked themselves out of the house, cosmic happenings. And sure, to be totally honest, we’ve hopped on the bandwagon too and have blamed the stars being misaligned for the fact that we slept through driver’s ed this morning.
So why is all of this happening and what exactly does Mercury in retrograde even mean? We try to explain it all to you — the science and the superstitions — in the 10 GIFs below. So buckle up, because from February 17 to March 10 it’s going to be a wild ride.
1/10When a planet goes into retrograde it means that instead of moving across our sky from east to west like it normally does, it appears to go in the opposite direction.
2/10This makes Mercury appear to be moving very slowly if you’re watching from Earth, and create loop-like figures in the sky. Groovy.
3/10Mercury stands out to us on Earth because it’s so much closer to the sun than our planet is, meaning it orbits at a faster rate. It can finish its orbit [around the sun in 88 Earth-days] (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/people-are-freaking-out-about-mercury-in-retrograde-this-is-what-s-really-going-on-a7009566.html).
4/10This means that unlike other planets, Mercury [goes into retrograde] (http://www.aquariuspapers.com/astrology/2016/04/the-guide-of-souls-in-april-2016-mercury-slowing-down-preparing-to-go-retrograde-at-24-taurus.html) multiple times a year — usually three or four.
5/10And that’s not great for us, because things here on Earth go a little bit kooky when good ol' Mercury decides to spin in reverse.
6/10The reason that everyone is so obsessed with this phenomenon, and that Astrologists write and speak so much about it is because it affects everyone. No one is safe.
7/10Astrologists will tell you that communication is the first thing to go when Mercury slows down. People may misunderstand you, you may misunderstand them, and you’ll probably get into a fight with your best friend. Basically anything can be misconstrued — so if you’re signing a contract or making any kind of deal, be sure to check the fine print.
8/10Technology also goes on the fritz. So if your laptop is acting up or your Nike fuel band refuses to turn on — it’s probably Mercury’s fault. Also avoid making big new tech purchases, but if you must upgrade your iPhone, for example, make sure to splurge on Apple Care.
9/10Astrologists also warn that traveling is a big no-no while Mercury is retrograde, since plans nearly always get complicated. Think delayed flights, canceled trains, lost luggage, and reservation mix-ups. If you must fly, we suggest carryon luggage only.
10/10What else can go wrong? Well, just about everything. Astrologists say to basically lay low and avoid any risky behavior. No spontaneous tattoos or haircuts, and now is not a good time to take up parkour. Of course, how much or how little you want to believe in the power of the planets is entirely up to you.
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