Mercury Retrograde Isn't Actually Scary

Many people get spooked by the term “Mercury retrograde,” and some astrologers hype it up for sensationalism, leaving those who are already worried even more anxious. But is Mercury retrograde really that scary? Are the shadow periods truly full of pitfalls?

In my view, Mercury retrograde is simply a short-term astrological event that shows up now and then. It can bring small adjustments, but it doesn’t have the sweeping, world-changing influence of the outer planets. Yes, we might set certain causes during the shadow period and experience their effects during the retrograde. But isn’t cause and effect happening all the time, not just when Mercury is involved? From another angle, many marketing-savvy “astrologers” like to claim that the “Mercury retrograde” effect extends beyond the three weeks of the retrograde itself to include the shadow periods before and after. If that were true, with three Mercury retrogrades a year plus those shadow periods, nearly half the year—around 180 days—would be considered “troublesome.” If so, wouldn’t it be wiser for everyone to hibernate like bears during the first half of the year? What’s more, the issues that arise may not be due to Mercury retrograde at all, but rather other astrological aspects happening at the same time or the stall that comes as Mercury slows down. Think it through and you’ll see Mercury retrograde isn’t the thing to fear; what’s truly concerning is a mindset of cutting corners and the habit of being underprepared. Personally, I often choose to travel during Mercury retrograde. It may not be perfect, but there are always pleasant surprises. Whether you feel happy has more to do with your mindset than with Mercury retrograde.