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by Vivian Manning-Schaffel / Dec.03.2017 / 8:47 PM ET from
nbcnews.com
According to astrology, Mercury retrograde happens when
Mercury zips around the Sun at a faster speed than the Earth.NASA / Johns
Hopkins via EPA
Ever hear talk about Mercury retrograde? That astrological
phenomenon that seems to wreak havoc on all things involving communication and
movement, such as travel, electronics and he-said, she-said mumbo jumbo? It
turns out another Mercury retrograde is upon us, beginning December 3rd and
lasting until December 22nd.
As for me, I’ve noticed this phenomenon somehow seems to
defy science. Without fail, during a Mercury retrograde, I will be forced to
sit at the Genius bar for hours, my flight will be delayed, someone will
misunderstand something I did or said and so on, making the planet a really
easy scapegoat when things go awry.
So, what is Mercury retrograde,
exactly?
Tali Edut is one half (along with her twin Ophira) of the AstroTwins
— popular astrologers with a website that counts approximately 10 million page
views per month — explains that Mercury retrograde happens when Mercury zips
around the Sun at a faster speed than the Earth, passing us in orbit 3-4 times
per year, making it seem like its moving backward from Earth’s vantage point.
“According to astrological lore, all areas of life that are
associated with Mercury go ‘backwards’ during a retrograde,” says Edut.
“Mercury is the messenger planet, so it rules communication, mobile devices,
transportation, email, snail mail, and all things data. Networks go down
mysteriously and messages get stuck in the either. Minor grievances can
escalate into major blowups if we don't choose our words wisely,” Edut says,
adding it’s also prime time for old friends (and exes!) to suddenly appear out
of the blue.
A Mercury retrograde during holiday season is inopportune,
so double-and-triple check your travel plans, and be prepared to go with the
flow. Explains Edut, “Flights get delayed and there are long lines at the
airport. Packages get lost in the mail and information can get into the wrong
hands.” Also, the potential for misunderstandings are rife.
What science says about Mercury
retrograde
Science does not endorse astrology in the least, let alone
Mercury retrograde. “There is absolutely no evidence, or reason to expect from
science, that Mercury or any other planet has any effect whatsoever on life on
Earth,” says Michael Shera, Curator and Director of
Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. “Astrology has no more
scientific basis than alchemy or belief in the existence of unicorns. Any
theory that claims to be scientific must explain a set of observations, and
must make predictions that can be tested, and shown to be true or false. There
is no published study in existence which shows that (for example) Leo’s are
more likely to be brave or strong (or any human quality,) than, say,
Capricorn’s. Whether or not Mercury was in conjunction with the Moon, or in
Gemini, or in retrograde motion, or whatever, has zero effect on your fate,
health and personality. No study ever been published in any peer-reviewed
journal showing otherwise, or that any other aspect of astrology is correct.”
Astrology has no more scientific basis than alchemy or
belief in the existence of unicorns.
Astrology has no more scientific basis than alchemy or
belief in the existence of unicorns.
Believing it exists may give us some
sense of control
So what’s the appeal? “People need to feel some level of
control over their lives,” explains Kim Nuttall, Licensed Mental Health
Counselor in Framingham, MA. “Astrology and it’s like offer some feeling of
knowing the future, of being able to feel ‘prepared’ for it. We know that we
cannot control the future in our logical minds, but it can be emotionally
comforting to feel like there can be something to guide us. It’s not unlike
religion in a lot of ways. It’s a way to make sense of the chaos of life. Life
is just chaotic and it’s difficult to accept that there is no reason.” With
respect to Mercury retrograde in particular, Nuttall says it makes for an “easy
scapegoat for a bad day.” “There is a confirmation bias,” she says, ”My commute
was awful! Oh, Mercury is in retrograde, that must be it.”
All this said, Edut remains unfazed. “We understand the
skeptics. We are skeptics ourselves! But how does one develop a scientific
theory? But observing data and drawing conclusions based on what is seen.
Astrology has been around since the time of the ancient Babylonians and was
developed by the Greeks,” she says.
To prepare for this coming retrograde, she advises
backing-up your electronic devices and to choose words wisely. She also
encourages anyone who has to deal withcontracts to comb through the fine print
and hire a lawyer, if possible. Most importantly, think in terms of “re-. “It’s
a good time for researching, reviewing and reuniting. Ping an old pal who you
find on Facebook, pull an old project out of the bins and revive a retro style
or tradition. Some of the slowdowns can be blessings in disguise, as they give
people a chance to reconsider their actions before making any binding
decisions,” she says.
As for me, I’ll likely take some of Edut’s advice. Because
I’m also superstitious enough to realize if I prepare for the worst, it
probably won’t happen.
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Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is commonly known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum. chemistry analysis
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