Have you ever had those times when all just didn’t seem right with the world — comments from folks seemed out of sync, behaviors just didn’t make sense, or your computer keyboard only responded intermittently?

Well, I was mentioning something to my oldest daughter about how it seemed like everything was topsy-turvy, really just as a joke, when she very seriously said that it could be because of Mercury retrograde.

Mercury retrograde? I asked, “What the heck is that?”

She began to tell me how certain times of the year, the planet Mercury travels backward across the sky.

Initially, I thought she was just making this whole thing up — you know, trying to calm down her old mother. But when pressed she said “No, it’s a real thing.”

Well of course that statement sent me right to Google to see what I could find out about a Mercury retrograde. And guess what? I think there could be something to this.

Now hear me out before you think I have totally gone nuts.

I mean, we all know crazy things seem to happen when there is a full moon out. And for sure when the barometric pressure changes joints can predict rain. There are no solid scientific studies to back any of this up, but as one who has some osteoarthritis going on, I can attest to the weather having an effect.

According to almanac.com there are four times a year when apparent Mercury retrogrades happen and we are currently in one now. An apparent Mercury retrograde is when it only appears the planet Mercury is spinning in a backward motion.

As explained by an astrologist, “retrograde motion starts with understanding that the planets in our solar system orbit the sun at different distances and speeds. And while we orbit the sun ourselves, we can observe the other planets moving across our sky, following their own paths.”

This may seem confusing but stay with me.

Sometimes, however, the website stated, this can make it appear to us that a planet has switched directions and has started to move in reverse across the sky.

This is just an illusion, because a planet in orbit always travels in one set direction and can’t suddenly reverse course. That is why it is actually called an apparent retrograde; it only looks like the planet is moving backward, the website stated.

I then ask, “So why, if this is just an illusion, do folks think it messes with our psyche?”

Well, for practicing astrologers, which I do not claim to be (but, what’s the harm in listening?), they perceive Mercury “as the planet that rules communication in all forms — listening, writing, reading, and speaking. They say Mercury also affects activities closely related to communication, like negotiations and contracts and that it also rules travel, automobiles, shipping, and mail.

Well, there you go. My aunt sent a package to me last week, and it never arrived!

Another question I was curious about: When will Mercury stop messing with us?

The website stated this is the third time in 2024 an apparent retrograde motion has occurred and it will cease on Aug. 27— three more days — thank goodness.

However, the fourth and final apparent retrograde for this year will begin on Nov. 25 and continue until Dec. 15.

Dang it. Right around the holidays.

I guess I need to mark those dates on my calendar so I can remember that it’s just a Mercury retrograde going on, so I can be prepared for a little wonkiness.

I can also, according to the website, consider my actions.

The website stated, “A Mercury retrograde can be an excellent time to take a step back and reanalyze who you are and what you are doing” but also warned to refrain from making any drastic changes until after a retrograde has ended.

I better write that part down too!

Terri Cowart Frazier writes features for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.