Well folks, it’s that time of the year again. And no, I’m not talking about football season, or Halloween or Taylor Swift dropping a new album. I’m talking about Mercury Retrograde: the weeks where your astrology-obsessed friends refuse to exit their houses or text you back — unless extremely necessary. But do we really know what that means? Or do we just smile and nod? Do we just blindly scroll through TikTok and Instagram, not quite understanding what all the fuss is about? If — like me — you can say “yes” to those questions, here is all you need to know about these next three weeks!
What is Mercury in retrograde?
In an interview with Vogue Magazine, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a renowned space scientist with a doctorate in mechanical engineering, explained that the Mercury Retrograde is nothing more than an optical illusion. Yes, you read that right, an optical illusion. Mercury doesn’t actually retrograde (which means “backward step” in Latin), it just appears to do so from our point of view because Mercury finishes its orbit around the Sun before Earth. So, during the 3 ½ weeks it takes for us to catch up to Mercury, the planet seems to go backward in the night sky three to four times every year. It will happen one more time this year: Dec. 29-Jan. 17!
Why should I be “scared” of it?
As I’m sure you remember from your middle school science, the planets in our solar system were named after Ancient Roman gods and goddesses. Mercury is the messenger god, so his namesake planet rules over that area in our lives, according to astrology legend. Therefore, during the time Mercury is in retrograde, all areas and forms of communication can become a bit haywire and chaotic.
How can I survive it?
Now, there is absolutely no reason to lock yourself at home and go into a phone cleanse (unless you want to), but there are some ways to avoid turning your life completely upside down. During these three weeks you should expect delays and misunderstandings to occur. So, don’t rush to conclusions if your crush doesn’t immediately message you back or ignore your friends because they thought you knew about the hangout they didn’t invite you to. Moreover, triple-check if you have your door keys and student ID before leaving your dorm, as retrograde week can make you more forgetful. Lastly, you should definitely not submit assignments in the last hour, for Canvas and all electronics are more prone to fail us during this time.
Is there anything I should be doing?
Believe it or not, there are some good things that can happen while Mercury is in retrograde. This is a great time to go back to tasks and ideas you gave up on or forgot about, so pick up that book you never finished, see that old friend you miss and haven’t talked to or rewatch Gilmore Girls for the tenth time. Additionally, if you have been meaning to slow down and reflect on what has been happening in your life, this is the moment to do so. While the weeks that Mercury is in retrograde may not be the best time to start something new, it is a time where you can stop and think about the past and even revisit it.
All in all, these following weeks until October can either be normal, good or catastrophic. It just depends which mindset you choose to go into with them, for nothing is ever set in stone and your future is yours to mold. Best of luck, Tigers!
Edited by Ever Cole | ecole@themaneater.com
Copy Editor — Grace Knight
Copy Chief — Jacob Richey | jrichey@themaneater.com
