I’ve never
been a big believer in astrology. Sure, I peek at my daily horoscope on occasion
but I know those horoscope writers are rarely experts in the field of astrology.
If I were to truly delve into astrology there would be more to it than just a
sun sign. I’d be researching birth charts and educating myself on all sorts of
things that I just don’t have the time or interest to invest in.
Now, moon
phases and their effects on human behavior is something else. I’ve always been
intrigued by full moon madness and since the moon effects the tides and we are
made mostly of water, I can get behind that scientifically. This leads me to
the topic at hand. If the moon really does affect us as a species do the
planets in our solar system affect us as well?
Since 2019,
it seems that I have been informed by the media and social media every time Mercury has gone into retrograde. I’m
not sure why this information suddenly became so important. I’m fairly certain
Mercury has been doing this for as long as there has been a Mercury but since
we are currently experiencing our first Mercury Retrograde of 2022, I decided
to look into it.
What is Mercury Retrograde
A Mercury
Retrograde occurs once every four months. It was previously believed that during
this time the planet changed direction and moved “backward” in its rotation
around the sun. Later, astronomers determined that this is simply an optical
illusion caused when Mercury briefly overtakes Earth in its orbit.
The Planet that rules communication
Verbal,
written, and internal communications are said to be affected by Mercury. Not
only the way we communicate with others, but, also the way we communicate with
ourselves in our internal dialogue. It’s said that it’s best to slow down and
reflect before communicating thoughts or ideas during this time.
Energy influence
Mercury
Retrograde is said to cause some people to feel drained and lethargic while
others are feeling restless and full of chaotic energy.
Intuition
They say
that if you are sensitive to intuition you may become overwhelmed during
Mercury Retrograde. Thoughts, premonitions, and empathy will be at an all-time
high. Maintaining emotional boundaries will be difficult and will lead to
energy drain.
The past comes back to haunt us
Mercury
retrograde is a time of reflection and in that reflection things from the past
return to us. Sadly, in some cases, this includes our exes.
Don’t make big changes
They say
that you should never sign a contract, make a big life decision, invest in a
major purchase or cut your hair during Mercury Retrograde.
Your place in the zodiac
It is also thought
that how Mercury Retrograde will affect an individual is directly related to
their astrological sign. For me, a Pisces, this current retrograde is supposed
to cause past trauma to resurface. Cancers will be tempted to break their New
Year’s resolutions and sink back into comforting habits.
What does it all mean?
For
believers, Mercury Retrograde is a real
phenomenon that causes real, though not life-changing, shifts in our daily lives
and overall sense of well-being.
For
skeptics, planetary retrogrades are merely an optical illusion with no capacity
to impact humans, energy, or human behavior.
For me, I’ll
be on the lookout for communication from my ex and swiftly delete any texts
that I might receive. Talk about past trauma resurfacing!
This article was originally posted here: https://medium.com/@BonnieJTaylor/mercury-retrograde-78d9438e3540