Missed Texts, Frozen Screens, And Tech Glitches? Blame Mercury Retrograde (Obviously)

If you’ve ever stared at your frozen phone mid-Uber booking, watched three Slack messages disappear into the void, or had your flight delayed after you sprinted to the gate in your brand new & Other Stories boots  – you may have uttered the classic millennial mantra: “Ugh, Mercury retrograde.”

Astrology’s favourite fall guy has become the internet’s go-to explanation for every technological hiccup, delayed Deliveroo, or confusing situationship text. 

But is Mercury actually out to get us, or is this cosmic scapegoat simply misunderstood? According to astrologers, including renowned psychic medium and author Joanne Jones of Trusted Psychics, the truth is a bit more nuanced.

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Why Mercury Gets All the Blame

Mercury rules the mind and movement – so basically all the things your life runs on: communication, tech, travel, logistics, decision-making, and the messages you send at 1:07am that you immediately regret.

As our sources at Trusted Psychics tell us, this petite planet governs:

• communication and messaging
• problem-solving and learning
• travel and daily transport
• tech-mediated information
• contracts and negotiations
• curiosity and mental agility

“Mercury is often misunderstood. Its influence is all around us, shaping how we communicate, make decisions, and move through daily life,” Joanne notes, “Learning to work with its energy can make even its tricky phases feel manageable.”

In other words: Mercury isn’t trying to ruin your Google Calendar. It’s just highlighting all the areas of modern life where we’re stretched thin – especially when everything we do depends on tech behaving perfectly.

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So What Is Mercury Retrograde?

Three or four times a year, Mercury appears to move backward – a cosmic optical illusion that astrologers say correlates with disruptions in the areas Mercury rules. This can manifest itself as: missed emails, confusing messages, delayed travel, tech failures at the worst possible moment, resurfacing exes AND resurfacing unfinished admin.

When Mercury’s in retrograde and your online dating is not at all in alignment.

“Mercury often gets a bad rap, especially during its retrograde periods. But it’s important to remember that this planet isn’t a cosmic villain,” Jones explains, “its influence is subtle, like a gentle nudge rather than a puppet pulling strings.”

If your phone glitches, your AirPods disconnect during an important call, or your Google Docs crash while you’re on deadline (we’ve been there) – Mercury’s retrograde energy isn’t causing chaos, but it may be amplifying and signalling areas where we need to slow down.

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An IT-Girl’s Guide to Surviving Retrograde

Mercury retrograde isn’t a command to go off-grid. It’s an invitation to double-check, stay flexible, and maybe back up your camera roll for once. “Astrology is a guide, not a rulebook… By understanding Mercury’s influence and learning to navigate its energy consciously, we can transform potential frustrations into moments of insight, clarity, and growth,” Jones says.

Translation:  Update your apps. Charge your devices. Communicate clearly. And for the love of Wi-Fi, don’t sign anything without reading it twice.

Whether you believe in astrology or simply enjoy blaming Mercury when WhatsApp goes down, understanding the symbolism behind retrograde can turn cosmic chaos into something more empowering – and maybe even helpful.

)n a world ruled by algorithms, notifications, and constant connectivity, a planetary pause might be the reminder we all need.