Mercury goes retrograde more frequently than any other planet - typically 3 to 4 times per year, each lasting about three weeks. That means Mercury is retrograde about 18-20% of the year!
During retrograde periods, Mercury appears to move backward in the sky due to the difference in orbital speeds between Earth and Mercury.
Despite its bad reputation, about 1 in 5 people are actually born during Mercury retrograde, and they often have unique communication styles and may be less affected by future retrogrades.