2022's First Mercury Retrograde: What It Is and What To Expect

What better way to ring in the New Year than a Mercury retrograde—right? If you’re on astrology TikTok, you may have seen tons of videos warning you that things are about to spiral out of control, but no need to fear. I’m here to tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming Mercury retrograde.

The first Mercury retrograde of 2022 will begin on January 14th and end on February 3rd. The retrograde is in the signs Capricorn and Aquarius. According to Time Magazine, “Retrograde motion is when a planet appears, when observed from Earth, to reverse direction. This happens due to an optical illusion caused by differences in orbit.”

Typically, Mercury will retrograde about three times in a year, however, in 2022 there will be four Mercury retrogrades. Glamour concluded that three out of the four retrogrades will be in all of the Air signs (Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra) and will conclude with our Earth sign friend, Capricorn.

Let’s take a look at what you can expect during this upcoming three-week period.

Mercury is the planet of communication and rules the astrological signs Gemini and Virgo. The Mayo Clinic discusses the planet, stating, “In Greek mythology, Hermes (the Romans knew him as Mercury), the son of Zeus and Maia, was the messenger of the gods and the mediator between the realm of the dead and the kingdom of the living.” This is why the planet is often associated with communication.

A retrograde occurs when the planet appears to be moving backward. This can cause some recession on Earth as well. During this time period, you can expect some things to get lost in translation. This can lead to conflict or misunderstanding in relationships.

Astrologers Brandon Alter and Angel Lopez told TMRW x TODAY, “Anytime a planet goes retrograde, it's an invitation to slow down. In that stillness, we can be taken back to where we skipped a step or missed seeing a vital piece of information.” The Mercury retrograde serves as a reminder to be more thoughtful in regard to the way you communicate with others.

One of the golden rules in life is to “think before you speak,” and that is especially important to keep in mind during this time. Though retrogrades are considered negative, the universe makes no mistakes, and I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. My best advice to you during this time period of twists and turns is to take everything as a lesson and work on navigating how to effectively communicate with the people in your life.

If you are experiencing anxiety due to the shift in communication during the retrograde, you can seek comfort in various ways. There are many crystals that contain healing properties to help with focus and clarity such as Malachite, Red Jasper, and Obsidian. If crystals aren’t your cup of tea, you can also burn incense to cleanse any negative energy in spaces such as your home or workplace.

It is important not to fear the Mercury retrograde. Though you may find yourself anxious and unsure how to carefully communicate through the retrograde, it’s important to remember that this mere optical illusion will not dictate the rest of your life. The universe works double-time to ensure what is meant to be in your life will be. So, take everything that occurs during the retrograde as a lesson.

Below are the dates for all of the Mercury retrograde in 2022.

January 14th-February 3rd.
May 10th-June 2nd.
September 9th-October 2nd.
December 29th-January 19th (2023).

How will you prepare for the first Mercury retrograde? Leave a comment below.