When Is Retrograde Mercury

I am not an astrologer, this page is for the the astrology novice. I have simply provided the research that I found while learning more about Retrograde Mercury for myself. This includes answering these questions "What is Retrograde Mercury", "How does this effect me", and "What can I do about it?"

Sometimes the planets appear to be traveling backward through the zodiac but this is an illusion. This illusion is called retrograde motion. Retrograde Mercury refers to the planet Mercury appearing to move backwards in the sky when viewed from the earth. This phenomenon occurs on an average of three times a year, for about three weeks at a time.

photo credit Astrology - Mercure

In 2015, Mercury will be retrograde during:
January 21 – February 11
May 19 – June 11
September 17 – October 9

This favorite astrology book by Erin Sullivan makes the movements of the planets understandable.

"Erin Sullivan's book, Retrograde Planets, was a landmark of sorts in astrology at the time it was first published in 1992. It was the first user-friendly astrology text/book to really address the issue of retrogrades in an in-depth and thought-full manner." ~Astrology Down Under

"The phenomenon of retrograde motion is based on our Earth-centered view of the solar system. The movement and cycles of retrograde planets are based entirely on the apparent motion of the Sun through the zodiac."

Astrologers say that when a planet is retrograde, its energy turns inward and becomes reflective, with its areas of influence subject to dysfunction or malfunction.

In the case of Mercury the areas of influence have to do with communication and transportation, memory and thinking.

Mercury retrograde can be a time of frustrating delays, mistakes and u-turns, a spike in incidents of miscommunication, electronic failure, transportation problems, missed appointments and so on. These conditions usually start occurring a few days before the planet goes retrograde and last for a few days afer the planet goes direct.

"Mercury Retrograde is a time to review, revisit, re-examine, rethink and reboot."

http://www.spaceweather.com

Astronomy can be a fun family hobby all year long. A telescope can provide many hours of enjoyment for adults and children alike. One of these telescopes will make planet viewing fun and educational with great views of the Moon, planets, and many bright deep-sky objects. Great for personal use or as a gift.

In Shaking up Perception Molly Hall writes that Mercury's role is to show us that what we perceive is not set in stone. She writes that during Mercury retrograde,"the picture gets jumbled, sometimes beyond recognition. There's a fated aspect to the cycles, since they seem to bring back old ideas, friends and exes. You can get new pieces of a puzzle, by paying attention to what (or who) crosses your path."

"It's a fallacy that more things "go wrong" during Mercury retrograde. And it's helpful to keep in mind that many things 'go right' and are untangled." ~Nick Campion, noted astrologer

When the planet Mercury is retrograde, astrologers say, we experience a few weeks of missed connections and communication breakdowns. Things like a package never arrives, or you sign a contract that turns into a disaster. You may feel it's bad luck, but they say "It's Mercury Retrograde and it's happening to everyone, all at the same time"

Use this practical workbook with a calendar to look up the times when Mercury is retrograde and to plan ahead. It's a survival guide with techniques to help you sail through these periods.This guide explains how Mercury Retrograde is a gift to make your life more fulfilling.

The work of Philip Bentham in gilt metal and enamel, it has echoes of the formality and sophistication of a dial. Embellished with Roman numerals, it depicts months of the year, signs of the zodiac and a sunburst motif. ~~photo by Remko van Dokkum

Mercury retrograde is the thrice yearly cycle when the planet Mercury appears to run backward in its orbit Want to know how Mercury retrograde can help rather than hinder us? Peay offers a practical, incisive analysis of how Mercury retrograde can be a tool for growth and insight into our fast-paced contemporary existence.This book is said to present a literate new understanding of "one of the most intriguing and widely talked about concepts in astrology."

The Amazon Book Description says "According to the astrological interpretation, this is a time when everything associated with the Greek god Mercury-contracts, travel, communication, and commerce-seems to run backward with the planet. The Internet crashes. Cars break down. Words can wound or are misunderstood. It is considered an especially poor time to make large new purchases or enter into new agreements."

I hope this information about Mercury Retrograde was helpful for you. Did you learn something from this lens? I love to hear from my readers. Comments are monitored and no links are allowed, they get deleted before anyone can see them.