Mercury Retrograde is a phenomenon that has been observed since ancient times and is associated with various astrological beliefs.
Have you ever had a fight with your partner, experienced car troubles, or failed an exam, and then blamed it on Mercury—the planet closest to the Sun?
Mercury Retrograde is the phenomenon where Mercury appears to move backward in its usual orbit. (Image: Girlboss).
When people blame Mercury, they often refer to the concept of Mercury Retrograde, meaning Mercury appears to move backward for several weeks, typically occurring about four times a year. Currently, the Mercury Retrograde season is from April 1 to April 25.
While Mercury’s retrograde motion is a real astronomical event, the connection between this and issues on Earth is often dismissed as pseudoscience.
However, in many Western countries, people still believe that Mercury holds power and can influence human activities, according to National Geographic.
What happens during Mercury Retrograde?
The phenomenon of Mercury Retrograde is occurring in April 2024. (Image: Glamour UK).
In reality, Mercury is not actually moving backward in its usual orbit. The backward motion that we observe is merely an optical illusion, occurring due to planets moving at different speeds.
Carolyn Ernst, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University (USA), explains this phenomenon by comparing it to driving on a highway with multiple lanes going in the same direction.
If you pass a slower car in another lane, you may feel as though that car is moving backward relative to yours. The same principle applies to why we perceive Mercury moving backward relative to Earth.
In ancient times, astronomers centered their observations on Earth, so when a planet appeared to “move backward” relative to their central planet, they began to raise questions.
According to science historian Mathieu Ossendrijver from Freie Universität Berlin (Germany), the earliest observations of Mercury Retrograde were recorded by Babylonian astronomers around the 7th century BCE.
Specifically, these astronomers inscribed astronomical logs on clay tablets detailing the movements of planets, including how Mercury seemed to slow down and “move backward.”
Babylonian astronomers also created a series of formulas to predict where celestial bodies, including Mercury, would appear in the sky.
“They had a very clear understanding of those motions,” Ossendrijver said.
Ossendrijver further noted that in Babylon, planets and stars were considered embodiments of deities. Therefore, any movement or phenomenon related to those celestial bodies would be seen as signs of the fate of the king or the nation.
However, it was not until 400 BCE that astrology concerning individuals emerged. At that time, the Babylonians created a cuneiform table to detail the movements of planets.
Unfortunately, the tablet interpreting Mercury’s movements has been lost, so we do not know what omens the Babylonians saw during Mercury Retrograde.
“In the Babylonian language, the name for Mercury means ‘whimsical change.’ Mercury is the fastest planet, which is also why unusual phenomena were observed when watching the sky,” Ossendrijver explained.
From now until the end of 2024, we will experience three periods of Mercury Retrograde. (Image: Shutterstock).
Why is Mercury Retrograde of Interest?
During the medieval period in Europe, many believed that the position and movement of planets could predict the fate of a nation, a ruler, or even agricultural outcomes.
At that time, a powerful individual might consult an astrologer and ask, “I want to besiege a castle or attack an enemy; when is the best time?”
It was also believed that Mercury Retrograde would hinder the divination practices of astrologers. Astrologer Nicholas Campion at Wales Trinity Saint David University (UK) confirms this, stating that some medieval astrologers claimed they could not read the stars’ charts during Mercury Retrograde.
From the 12th century, astrology became more popular in Europe, attracting many to study due to the advent of mechanical printing. However, everything began to change over the following centuries, possibly due to influences from political, cultural, and scientific factors.
By the year 1700, astrological consultation had nearly vanished from Europe. Astrology persisted only in the publication of monthly or yearly almanacs.
Around the 1920s, astrology began to re-emerge with predictions about the 12 zodiac signs. The concept of Mercury Retrograde has gained significant popularity in the last five years.
Astrologer and psychologist Jennifer Freed states that retrograde is a somewhat fringe concept compared to the zodiac. Therefore, it may attract newcomers to astrology. Retrograde is also tied to personal experiences, making it quite relatable.
Due to its rapid orbit, Mercury goes retrograde multiple times a year when observed from Earth. After the retrograde period from April 1 to April 25, the planet will continue to move backward from August 5 to August 28, and then again from November 25 to December 15.
