Mercury in retrograde is a phrase that refers to an astronomical phenomenon that occurs three to four times a year and lasts for about three weeks. The next one will begin on November 25th of this year. A planet in retrograde refers to the appearance of a planet moving backward across the sky in the opposite direction it typically moves. However, this is simply an optical illusion that occurs when Earth overtakes a planet that is moving slower in its orbit around the sun, or when Earth is overtaken by a planet moving faster. Today, we will focus on Mercury’s retrograde and the fascinating controversy surrounding it.
Mercury In Retrograde
Image from Unsplash by NASAMercury only takes 88 days to orbit the Sun, while the Earth takes 365 days. Because Mercury is moving much faster than Earth, it passes us, or overtakes us, three to four times a year. As mentioned, this event lasts about three weeks, due to the timing and speed of the Earth relative to Mercury. Humans have observed this retrograde for thousands of years. So then, what is the controversy?
Well, many people are convinced that this phenomenon affects humans in a bad way. To them, it is more of an astrological event than an astronomical one. On the other hand, some individuals believe this is nonsense and that this planet’s retrograde has nothing to do with humans and their lives on Earth. Then there are individuals who don’t really have an opinion one way or the other. They either don’t care or they aren’t sure what to believe.
Examining This Belief
In astrology, Mercury is known as the planet of thought, intellect, communication, and transportation. Because of this, some people believe that its retrograde can negatively affect these very things in their daily lives. For example, many of these individuals feel that all forms of communication are negatively affected at this time. Things such as speaking, writing, and reading are thought to be impacted. This even holds true for activities that are related to communication, such as negotiations and contracts. There is also an expectation that misunderstandings or miscommunications will occur in their relationships.
Because Mercury is also regarded as the planet of transportation, some people are convinced that they should avoid all forms of transportation during this time. Thought patterns are also believed to be affected, resulting in one becoming irritable and having a lack of focus. People suffering from mental health issues are thought to feel worse at this time, their depression or anxiety becoming more severe. It is also considered to be a very bad time to start a new job or anything new for that matter. During these times, some people literally live in fear that something bad is about to happen at any moment.
It may be hard for some to believe that someone could be so strong in their conviction of this. However, it is more common than one may think. The belief that the movements of celestial bodies govern our lives is more common than ever before. In fact, it is estimated that over 27% of people in the U.S. believe in astrology, which is defined as the belief that the position of the stars and planets influences people’s lives.
The Dispute
Many scientists do not believe this event has anything to do with humans on Earth. They say that this astrological belief that this event causes confusion and chaos goes back thousands of years to a time when it was believed that Earth was the center of the cosmos. From the perspective of Earth, Mercury appears to move quickly and erratically. Seeing this erratic movement caused the people in ancient times to believe this planet was some type of messenger or trickster. It took thousands of years for humans to figure out that the appearance of Mercury changing direction and moving backward was just an optical illusion.
Jean-Luc Margot, a planetary astronomer and professor at UCLA, disputed the belief in astrology altogether when he said, “The idea that the gravity from these very distant bodies affects our lives in some way just doesn’t work in the framework of physics.” The main reason most scientists oppose this belief is because they consider it to be a pseudoscience, meaning it lacks any evidence-based research. But what can be said about the psychological aspect of this belief?
A Psychological Consideration
It is important to discuss the psychological connection to this belief and astrology in general. In a world of many uncertainties, astrology can provide a sense of understanding and in some cases, control. It’s also important to consider that if a person believes something will go wrong, and then it does, the belief is reinforced. Because bad things happen all the time, some may argue that blaming these things on an astronomical event that takes place three or four times a year is foolish.
Another angle that should be discussed is that an individual could actually be the cause of the very thing they fear will happen. For example, one belief is that because of this astronomical event, a type of emotional mania will occur within oneself. The anticipation and expectation of this happening could inadvertently cause the person to experience the very thing they feared.
Since things go wrong every day in life, it’s easy to blame these things on Mercury’s retrograde if this is what one believes. Conversely, if someone experiences something positive during this time, cognitive dissonance may come into play. They might downplay the positivity of this event in order to maintain their belief in the negative effects of this astrological phenomenon.
Somewhere In The Middle
We have talked about the two opposing sides in this controversy, but there are certainly varying degrees in this belief as well. For instance, some people like to use this as a topic of conversation during Mercury’s retrograde. Others use it as a sort of comic relief when something goes wrong during this time. “That must have happened because Mercury is in retrograde,” they might say. They might consider it to possibly be true but not believe it wholeheartedly.
Final Thoughts
The planet Mercury will soon go into retrograde on November 25th of this year. Humans have been watching this occur in the sky for thousands and thousands of years. Some people believe this event will negatively affect their lives, while others think it’s nonsense and will go about their daily lives as normal. Those who believe in the negative effects will experience fear and possibly a sense of dread or impending doom, while others will not think twice about it. Fascinating.
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