Yeah, It's Time for Mercury Retrograde Again
Well it’s that time of year again! Your quarterly opportunity to blame all of your troubles on Mercury retrograde. Beginning on Friday, April 21 (just a day after the solar eclipse in Aries and the start of Taurus season, for those of you keeping track), Mercury will do its apparent three-week moonwalk across the sky until May 14.
Since every Mercury retrograde is different — each has unique properties that shift the way we experience this calamity-prone transit — what you can expect from this upcoming Mercury retrograde isn’t the same as last time. But don’t panic! I’ve got you covered!
But first, what exactly is Mercury retrograde again?
Mercury moves fast — in fact, it takes Mercury only 88 days to complete an orbit around the sun — which is why Mercury was named after the Roman messenger god of commerce, who also governed communication, travel, and transportation. (Today, Mercury’s role has been expanded to include technology, digital expression, thoughts, and ideas.) Considering Mercury’s impressive scope, it’s no wonder we rely pretty heavily on this planet from an astrological perspective.
Not everything can run smoothly all the time of course, and, on an almost quarterly rotation, Mercury goes through a three-week-long retrograde cycle when the planet appears to stop, switch direction, and move backward in the sky — appears being the operative word, because retrograde motion is actually an optical illusion. Although the planet isn’t actually traveling in reverse, it just looks that way from our vantage on Earth.
More at the link on What to Do About This One..
https://www.thecut.com/2023/04/mercury-retrograde-april-2023-dates-what-to-know.html
Thought I'd give a Heads UP for this MercuryRX. Personally I always experience some sort of confusion and obstacles since I started pay8ing attention to it 42 years ago.. your mileage may differ.. I hope so!
= new reply since forum marked as read
that part, either.
It's been stated that it doesn't go backwards but yet in the charts it Goes Back in Degrees & then when it's ready to Go Forward again it Starts Gaining in Degrees.
I'm not an Astrologer.. I've just been paying attention to it for over 4 decades and how it affects me and other people.. It's been helpful and hopeful many times on a personal level.
Maybe there's an Astrologer on here who can explain that to us. I've been very curious about that too!
Mahalo!
"I have no idea why we exist!" - that's so good to hear! There are often times I have that same wondering. Nice to hear you say that. 
The dark line is the sightline from earth to mars:
Schematic animation of Mars retrograde. As Earth (E) passes a superior planet such as Mars (M), the superior planet (M') will temporarily appear to reverse its motion across the sky.
Wow! Thank You, Effete Snob
glad you asked the question
informative for you too.
I think it Helps to know this is going on so we can handle issues better on Earth.
My Pleasure.. I like sharing this Phenomenon with Kindred Spirits!
Thanks for the heads up................
I normally do a little extra saging, a little more meditating, and pay a little more attention during the Mercury Retrogrades.....
Mahalo to you for mentioning "Sage".. I'm going t do it this time!💙
I do believe it helps.. Continue and honor the practice of the Native Americans.
Mercury makes me pay Attention. 
lol
I was just getting ready to tell you about this OP if you would be interested.
I love talking about it with all these kindred Spirits.. it feels less Formidable! 💙 And only 3 this year. 
I did not know that.
Mahalo....
lets us know that. I had read that before but it's nice to be reminded.
She says this MercRX focuses on Taurus' and Scorpios More bc its RX in Taurus but, of course it affects all of us in different ways..
Hoping it hits. trump & deSadist bad.. both their b-days are in constellations ruled by Mercury.. Exactly Square each other in Gemini and Virgo. 
A ole pilikia 