Alright, let’s get this out of the way—Mercury in retrograde is not the reason you forgot your password, dropped your toast jelly-side down, and accidentally replied-all to your boss’s passive-aggressive email. I mean, maybe it is, but also, maybe we’re giving that poor little planet way too much credit.

1. Retrograde is real—but it’s not a curse Yes, Mercury does go into retrograde a few times a year. That just means it looks like it’s moving backward from our view on Earth. It’s an optical illusion. Astronomers are like, yep, totally normal. But astrologers? They’re out here treating it like it’s a cosmic DEFCON 1. Communication breakdowns, travel issues, tech meltdowns—they blame it all on Mercury doing a moonwalk.

2. You’re just noticing patterns you already live with Stuff goes wrong all the time. Like, all the time. But when it happens during a retrograde window, suddenly we’ve got something to blame. It’s a classic case of confirmation bias. You stub your toe during retrograde? Cosmic sabotage. You stub your toe during any other week? You’re just clumsy. Same event, different meaning.

3. Burnout, not the stars, is probably the real villain A lot of people hit weird funks multiple times a year. Newsflash: that aligns suspiciously well with Mercury’s retrograde cycle. But it’s also when seasons shift, when deadlines stack up, and when sleep schedules get trashed. That foggy, frazzled feeling? It might be your own biology yelling at you to slow down—not the solar system throwing shade.

4. We love a scapegoat Let’s be honest. It feels good to blame a planet. Makes the chaos feel less personal. Less like you left your laptop on the roof of your car (again) and more like the universe is just playing games. It’s comforting in a weird way. External forces. Bad luck. Star vibes. All easier to digest than “maybe I’m overwhelmed and disorganized.”

5. Mercury retrograde is the astrology version of “Mondays” It’s a vibe. A meme. A cultural shorthand for feeling off your game. Blaming Mercury is like saying “ugh, Mondays”—even if it’s Thursday. It doesn’t have to be accurate to feel true. But maybe instead of panicking every time Mercury takes a step back, we use it as a little reminder. Back up your files. Don’t start drama. Maybe chill on the online shopping.

So yeah. Mercury might be in retrograde. But maybe you’re also just tired, undercaffeinated, and due for a nap. Planets don’t care about your inbox. But your brain sure does. Treat it kindly.