By 
Have you ever, even just once, had a day that consisted of so many missteps and miscommunications that you found yourself googling if Mercury was retrograde... even though you’re not entirely sure what that means? Then congrats, you’ve found yourself in the right place. “I want to say, ‘Oh, don’t blame the stars,’” says Tali Edut, one half of The AstroTwins, ELLE’s resident astrologers. “But I’ll be damned if Mercury retrograde didn’t just cost me $3,000 in car repairs.” But what exactly happens during Mercury retrograde? And what connections do astrologers make between what occurs in the sky and what transpires here on Earth? Edut takes us back to the basics, below.
What is Mercury retrograde?
Though they might not know it, when people talk about Mercury retrograde, they’re referring to an actual scientific phenomenon. As Edut explains, the planet Mercury takes 88 days to orbit the sun whereas Earth takes 365 days. Since Mercury is traveling much faster than Earth, about three or four times a year, both planets will be in the same part of the sky at the same time. “It’s an optical illusion, but from our vantage point on Earth, it does look like Mercury is moving backwards,” Edut says. “It’s like two trains at different speeds.” This illusion is what gives us the name “Mercury retrograde” or the more common—but grammatically incorrect—phrase “Mercury in retrograde.”
When does Mercury retrograde happen?
Since Mercury moves about four times faster than the Earth around the sun, this illusion happens every three to four months and lasts for about three weeks. This year, Mercury retrograde will occur:
- April 21 to May 14
- Aug. 23 to Sept. 15
- Dec. 13 to Jan. 1, 2024
You can find out if you were born during a Mercury retrograde using the AstroTwins’ calculator here.
What does Mercury retrograde have to do with astrology?
“Astrology is kind of the metaphor of what’s happening in the sky,” Edut says. Each planet, she explains, is assigned as the guardian of a certain part of our lives. Mercury governs areas like communication, transportation, data, information, schedules, socializing, friendships, and flirting. “When the retrograde happens, it’s like we’re moving full steam ahead, and then it’s like, oh, we better back up. It’s like someone slams the brakes on our progress.” In essence, the areas of life that Mercury rules go in reverse. For example, Edut offers, you may have to redo your schedule or exes might come back into your life. “It’s just pure glitchy-ness. The ultimate galactic glitch.”
How does Mercury retrograde affect different astrological signs?
The planet Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, so Edut explains, those signs will often feel Mercury retrograde more than others. But no one is really free, she says. Tauruses and Libras? They’re affected when their ruling planet Venus retrogrades every 18 months. Aries? Its ruling planet, Mars, retrogrades every two years. “When your ruling planet goes retrograde, you’re going to feel it,” Edut says. Even Cancers and Leos, who are ruled by the moon and the sun, are affected by solar and lunar eclipses. “No one’s going to make it through without a lesson.”
Every year, Mercury also retrogrades through specific signs, and if it’s yours, “you’re going to get some extra lessons,” Edut says. This year Mercury retrogrades in earth signs, e.g. the retrograde period Aug. 23 to Sept. 14 aligns with Virgo season, Aug 23. to Sept. 22.
What should people do during a Mercury retrograde?
Although people often complain about Mercury retrograde, Edut says this period can also be ripe with opportunity. “Look for the silver lining in the breakdown.” She continues, “We live in a very progress-driven society...but Mercury will put you in timeout and be like, sit down and review, reconsider, research.”
“I think it’s something we all need to learn how to do better,“ Edut adds. “We’re not very well-prepared anymore...Plant buffers and cushions. Block any people that you don’t want to hear from. Get your car tuned up. Don’t put your iced coffee down next to your laptop. Get a bumper on your phone. Change your passwords...Address brewing tension with friends.” Plan accordingly and think of Mercury retrograde as “quarterly review periods,” she says. But remember, there’s only so much you can do: “Expect curveballs.”
Madison is a senior writer/editor at ELLE.com, covering news, politics, and culture. When she's not on the internet, you can most likely find her taking a nap or eating banana bread.
