Have you noticed that people have been blaming Mercury for their mishaps and bad luck lately? For those who believe in astrology and star signs, the “Mercury in retrograde” effect is very real and can be responsible for anything, from your phone breaking to fighting with a loved one. What is this phenomenon all about? Does it have any basis in reality? Well, that’s a conclusion you will have to draw yourselves. We have gathered everything you need to know about the planet of communication and the strange phenomenon that zodiac fans think affects our daily lives. Want to know more?
What does “retrograde” mean?
First thing first: what does the phrase “Mercury in retrograde” mean in this context? Within the zodiac lore, Mercury is considered to represent communication, and there are about 3 to 4 years where it appears to be moving backward in its orbit. How?
The planet doesn’t actually move backward; it is only a visual effect. It is possible because Mercury is the closest body to Earth, and its orbit is much shorter. Due to this, it seems to go in reverse as we observe it flying by.
