Mercury Retrograde
Posted under Ephemera
Tags: 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:
2009
May 7-30
September 7-29
December 26 – January 15, 2010
2010
April 17 – May 11
August 20 – September 12
December 10 – 30
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.
Molly Cliborne Gauthier
1 · Jennifer · 5 July 2005
Do you have a schedule of when the next Mercury retrograde will occur?Thanks,
Jen
2 · Molly · 19 July 2005
Just added them, Jennifer. Thanks for the suggestion!3 · Gala · 4 August 2005
When did Mercury go into retrograde in the year 1973?4 · peter · 13 November 2005
How do you tell what the influence of Mercury Retrogradeis 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!
5 · Lauren · 15 December 2005
Hi
Can you tell me, for how long after a retrograde are the effects felt? Is it 3 weeks?
Thanks,
Lauren
6 · Jen · 2 March 2006
When did Mercury go into retrograde during 1981 and 1983?
Thanks,
Jen
7 · Molly · 2 March 2006
Hi Jen, you can look it up in the ephemeris at astro.com.
8 · Britney Skye · 2 March 2006
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?
9 · Molly · 2 March 2006
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.
10 · Gerry · 6 March 2006
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.
11 · Molly · 6 March 2006
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.
12 · Heather · 20 March 2006
Hi, can you tell me when there was a retrograde during 1965. Thanks
13 · Molly · 28 June 2006
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."
14 · s casey · 25 May 2008
If you go to contract on a real estate condo property on May 22nd, with Mercury still direct, can you go to closing before June 21st without having troubles, as the purchaser?
Kindly express your opinion.
sc
15 · Molly · 27 May 2008
SC, Mercury retro isn’t necessarily the kiss of death for house purchases. Just make sure it’s the right thing for you and read the fine print. This Mercury retro is not the roughest one I have seen. A lot depends on how it relates back to your chart. The Sun was square Saturn on May 22, so some kind of difficulty or complication wouldn’t surprise me.
16 · Missy · 4 June 2008
I learned from your article that the mercury retrograde period is better for understanding inner thoughts than clear communication with others. I suspect my boyfriend may have been cheated on me, however, since he mentioned he wants more space a few weeks ago. I don’t want to bother him too much. However, I have found the more I think about the relationship, the more emotional I feel inside me. I know this may be more of venus domain, however, if I want to have an open conversation with him about how I feel, should I wait till the mercury turns station in mid June, and utilize this period of time to sort out my thoughts? Or shall I not be bothered with the mercury Rx, and go ahead to talk to him?
Thanks!
Missy
17 · Molly · 4 June 2008
Yikes, Missy. I think regardless of the astro, I would give him space. But more importantly, give yourself space to sort out your own feelings. Do some fun stuff without him for a while. This week may or may not be time to have a conversation and find out if your hunch is true or not. I couldn’t tell you. But if you focus on doing things that make you feel good about yourself and your life, it should come more naturally and calmly when the time comes. Because you have reminded yourself that your entire happiness does not depend on his presence… right? And that should help you break through the emotional turmoil and get to the truth. I hope this helps.
18 · Hannah S-Q · 19 June 2008
WOOWOO. Retro is over! (well—I guess this is one of the gnarly days—the bookend dates of the retro?)
(toasts)
Happy End of June to all,
Hannah
19 · Joe Brooke · 8 November 2008
Hello: I am trying to figure out the precise dates when the planet Mercury was in retrograde in the years of 1977 1979 and 1986. Could you please help me??? Thank you.
Sincerely:
Joe Brooke
jaebkee@hotmail.com
20 · Molly · 9 November 2008
Hi Joe— see comment #7 on this page.
21 · Tommy · 13 May 2009
Hi Molly. Thanks for the this explanation. Does Mercury retrograde tend to effect signs with the planet as their ruler more strongly than others? (i.e. Virgo).
Thanks for the great site.
22 · april · 26 May 2009
Hi, my name is April and I am confused. My ascending sign is Pisces and I have 4 planets in sign of Libra, but governed by virgo in 7th house. My Libra-Aries axis is missing and I would like to know how this affects my chart,if at all. Please help me understand if this is conflicting. The plantets in Libra are jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Pluto.
23 · april · 26 May 2009
Hi again, I guess i should mention my sun sign is Leo, though very close to virgo cusp and my moon is in gemini and merury planted in virgo as well. I read that those of us with missing Libra-Aries axis were very confused individual and this seems to ring true!!
Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks, April
24 · Molly · 28 May 2009
Hi April – this is called an intercepted sign. You can find plenty of info on the web if you google that term.
25 · april · 3 June 2009
Molly,
Thanks for the term, I will research it more. I guess I was confused b/c I had 4 planets in the constellation Libra but no house governed by Libra. Now I see they are seperate issues. By the way, I really like this site, very informative. Sincerely, April26 · Carmen · 8 September 2009
In the past 3 days, the hot water heater stopped heating (but only in our apt.), we were doing laundry today and the washer we were using broke, and tonite my boyfriend was boiling water so I could take a bath and what? Oh yes, the STOVE doesn’t work now.
Make it go away.
27 · varun · 9 September 2009
Hi,
ive been told by some astrologer, that my mercury is in retrograde…..and after reading through the same coloumn (mercury retrograde) on your website, i feel i am actully going through all this… i need your help, pls help me understnd how can one overcome this issue… my DOB is 5th aug,1985…india,new delhi (birth place)..time 9:37 am……..pls mail me on my id with the solution
thanks for your help
28 · pj · 29 September 2009
hey Molly… can you give me your input…. I just broke up with my boyfriend ,tom,.. been together only 6 months, met during venus retrograde this past march 2009. and also, was in a 2 year relationship where I broke up with my ex in jan during mercury retrograde… is there a pattern here?
29 · Molly · 30 September 2009
pj, Mercury retro doesn’t have much to do with relationships. Venus does.
30 · Donna · 6 January 2010
If a business contract was started and dated before Mercury retrograde, should you still not sign it during mercury retrograde.
31 · Stephi · 7 January 2010
I wish I would have found this sooner…perhaps I could have avoided my accident. Then again “one often meets their destiny on the path taken to avoid it”.
Yesterday, I found myself broadsided by a drunk driver. Similar situation as the 20th post actually…car is definitely not fit for the road but neither my passenger nor I were harmed. My first and second house are in Gemini and I kind of see the accident both affecting myself [at the time I was shaken up but I only cried because I no longer had my car. :( my buddy…] and my possession [kind of under the second house rulership].
First time I’ve been in an accident like this. My other one, a retro Mercury situation no less, was a snowy night and I ended up in a ditch able to drive away with little damage [~$150 worth of replacing a missing part]. Then again I had Mr. Retro-Mars squaring my Pluto >:( I think these two retrograde planets and this square were to ‘blame’ for the severity of this one.
I think people who do have a strong Virgo or Gemini influence definitely should keep an eye out for squares and such regarding retrograde Mercury. ._.
32 · Molly · 7 January 2010
Stephi, thank you for sharing. You are lucky you weren’t badly hurt or killed. A car can be replaced. Were there any trines happening?
33 · Molly · 7 January 2010
Donna, when you sign the contract is when you seal the deal. So be careful about the timing. Sometimes it just doesn’t work to wait until the mess is over, but if you can, I would. There is some pretty good astro coming on the week of the 18th. I can help you pick the best date if you have some flexibility. Business services
34 · Stephi · 8 January 2010
At the time of the accident I had the moon trine Mars, a couple hours later there was the moon trine Saturn, then exactly at the time of the accident was the moon trine Venus.
35 · Joshua Medina · 19 April 2010
taurus is my rising sign in my birth chart, So how will this retrograde affect me?
36 · Sierra · 23 April 2010
Well Ive been dreaming every night this week since it started. It not about the same thing just random dreams. My be this is why
37 · Mr. Hellow · 27 April 2010
I ve found this, Mercury Retrograde Table, the table begins at 1900 and go up to 2000.
www.astropro.com/fea…
38 · kako · 5 August 2010
should one buy a car during retrograde mercuy. now jup is also ®. so, can i buy a car in sept when ven,mer and jup , all three will be retrograde. does retro venus makes any difference for purchasing a car. sorry for such stupid questions….but i am really confused as to when to buy a car as some or other planet is going retro.
btw i want to buy a car within next 2 months.
thanx and regards
kako
39 · Aries moon · 13 March 2011
The next Mercury retrograde on March 30, 2011 occurs right where my moon is which is Aries 24 degrees. My own Mercury is in Virgo in my 7th house. What would you make of that info just knowing this alone?
40 · Bob · 30 March 2011
Molly,
I’m considering acquiring a pet wombat during this retrograde, but am concerned about its resulting temperament. What would you advise?
Thank you.
41 · Molly · 30 March 2011
A wombat, interesting. This particular Mercury retrograde is hard because Mercury moves through some tough aspects. I say don’t do something you can’t easily un-do. See if you can get a wombat on a trial basis maybe? With Mercury rx your best bet is to have a contingency plan. Or you could wait for clearer skies in late April into early May.
42 · Deborah · 11 August 2011
I met my first boyfriend in 2009 during the retrograde of mercury in May. We actually went on a date during the retrograde and he asked me out June 5th, when we became ‘official.’ I just realized this because I read that mercury retrograde can mess up things in your life later on if you start them on the retrograde, and … Needless to say, my relationship with him has been tough, very, very tough; problems with his parents, problems with his friends, problems with literally anything and everybody. Me clashing with him mostly as well; he was also the one to pursue me, so what does this mean for him? Our major arguments have been close to Mercury retrogrades during the year or on mercury retrogrades too. Is it possible that this relationship may ever work?? Or is it always going to have complications??