Brain Food #758

In our stars

Thoughts of the day

There has been much talk lately about the planet Mercury being ‘in retrograde’, perhaps one of the most familiar and alarming phrases in astrology. There have been countless articles about it, and even a dedicated website that can confirm its status.

The phrase is used to describe how Mercury appears to travel backwards in the sky, something that happens three times a year due to its orbit around the Sun taking only 88 days. According to astrologists, this event can also negatively affect our moods, our relationships, and our ability to communicate, and cause issues in technology and travel.

The phenomenon is nothing but an optical illusion, perhaps similar to how astrology itself is an attempt to provide the illusion of control. After all, people turn to astrology during times of stress.

I often think about how much of our pain stems from trying to control what is beyond us, to predict what is entirely unpredictable. The markets, the weather (it was supposed to rain last weekend but instead we got an early taster of the summer, and due to our lack of plans, we ended up in the park, which was not too bad), the thoughts, feelings, and actions of others, and the direction of life itself.

The truth is that we can never be perfectly prepared for or aware of what will come our way. But, perhaps having an explanation for why things might go haywire, despite the best of our efforts and despite the hours we invested in preparing, provides a strange and momentary sense of relief, particularly when knowing that this is not only in our stars, but in everyone else’s, too.

---

Thank you for reading today’s Brain Food. Brain Food is a short daily newsletter that aims to make you think every day, without taking up too much of your time. If you know someone who would like it, why not forward it to them? And if you have just come across Brain Food, you can subscribe to it below:

For longer thoughts and Brain Food highlights from the archives, visit Medium.