The Truth About Mercury Retrograde Astrologer Aura Galadriel Wright discusses and demystifies Mercury Retrograde. A planet is described as retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. According to modern science, this traditional concept arises in the illusory planetary motion created by the orbital rotation of the earth, with relation to other planets in our solar system (like mercury). Planets are never actually retrograde or stationary, they just seem that way, due to this cosmic shadow-play. in Public bookmarkswith astrologygeminihoroscopemercuryretrogradevirgozodiac Note: The Truth About Mercury Retrograde