by The Old Farmer’s Almanac
PHOTO CREDIT: Parts of this image sourced from NASA
Mercury’s first period of retrograde motion in 2022 lasts from January 13 to February 3! According to the age-old practice of astrology, we are all influenced by the effect of Mercury in retrograde. What exactly does it mean for each of us, though? Read on to find out.
What Is “Mercury Retrograde”?
Three times a year, the planet Mercury appears to travel backward across the sky. We refer to these periods as times when Mercury is in apparent retrograde motion, or simply ”Mercury retrograde.” To those who practice astrology, these times in particular were traditionally associated with confusion, delay, and frustration. Think undelivered love letters, email blunders, and frazzled travel plans! This is an excellent time to reflect on the past, however, and it’s said that intuition is high during these periods. Coincidences can be extraordinary.
Mercury and the ZodiacThe type of influence you feel also depends on which of the 12 zodiac signs Earth is in when Mercury goes retrograde. What’s your Zodiac Sign? Check out the paragraph below and learn more about zodiac sign profiles in general. Make sure that your gardening does not go awry when Mercury is in retrograde by reading your zodiac profile for gardening in our Green Thumb Gazette – monthly!
Here’s THIS MONTHS ZODIAC SIGN PROFILE AND HOW IT CAN HELP YOU GARDEN:
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 19)quarius deepens the winter. Being an extremely independent individual, you favor easy-care plants like pumpkins and squashes (whose leaves quickly shade and kill weeds) meandering alongside your walkways and patios. Peas and snow peas can be found climbing radiantly up your porch railings, while tomatoes appeal to your egalitarian nature. The annual scattering of wildflowers brings great joy to your heart. In the kitchen, all manner of fruits can be found stacked in your bowls and on counters and tables. What can be simpler than wash-and-eat? Eclectic friends bring ethnic tabboulehs, ratatouilles, and couscous to share enthusiastically.
What Is Retrograde Motion?
The astronomical explanation for retrograde motion starts with understanding that the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun at different distances and speeds. While we orbit the Sun ourselves, we can observe the other planets moving across our sky, following their own paths. Sometimes, it can appear (from our perspective) that a planet has abruptly switched directions and has started to move in reverse across the sky. This is, of course, an illusion caused by the position of Earth in relation to that of the planet, since a planet in orbit always travels in one set direction and can’t suddenly reverse course. This is why we call the phenomenon apparent retrograde motion, as it only looks like the planet is moving backward (“retrograde motion”)!
When Is Mercury in Retrograde in 2022?
In 2022, Mercury will be in apparent retrograde motion during the following ranges of dates:
- January 13 to February 3
- May 10 to June 2
- September 9 to October 1
- December 28 to January 18 (2023)
Please note that dates reflect Eastern Time U.S., not Universal Time.
What You Should Do When Mercury is Retrograde?
The planet Mercury rules communication in all forms—listening, writing, reading, speaking, and so on—as well as activities closely related to communication, like negotiations and contracts. It also rules travel, automobiles, shipping, and mail.So, when Mercury is retrograde, try to remain flexible, patient, and understanding, allow extra time for travel, and avoid signing onto any new contracts that you’re unsure of. Double check your email responses and check in with reservations before you take that trip. Review projects and plans at these times, but wait until Mercury is direct again to make any final decisions. You can’t stop your life, but plan ahead, have back-up plans, and be prepared for people’s shorter fuses and miscommunication.
Take a Moment to Reflect
Some blame Mercury retrograde for all chaos that happens in their lives. However, this is a good time to sit back and review what you put your energy toward. For example, if family and faith are important to you, are you putting enough of your energy into them or have you become overextended in other areas such as your career or a hobby? Losing the balance between different parts of your life can cause all of them to suffer, so being aware of the connections between them—especially during Mercury retrograde—can help you to maintain or at least better understand how that balance works. Take a moment to reflect. Mercury retrograde can be an excellent time to take a step back and reanalyze who you are and what you are doing—but do refrain from making any drastic changes until after retrograde has ended.