MERCURY RETROGRADE – understanding and coping
The best known astrological phenomenon in astrology besides Sun signs is Mercury retrograde. It has an awful reputation. I have had a client in tears about the fact that her chosen wedding date fell on a Mercury retrograde period and she was told she should not be married under such bad auspices. In offices around the world when things get messy and muddled someone always asks. “Is Mercury retrograde?”
The purpose of this article is to explain what is the Mercury retrograde phenomenon, why does it have such bad reputation and how to cope successfully with these periods.
Mercury is a planet that orbits the Sun. It always moves in one direction as do all other planets including planet Earth. It never really goes backwards. But since all planets move at different speeds at some point, as seen from the Earth viewpoint, each planet will appear to stop, move backwards – what is known as retrograde motion - stop again and then resume moving forward – what is known as direct motion. In astrologuese, when planets appear to stop we call them stationary. The mechanics of the solar system determine that Mercury is retrograde for about three weeks three times a year.
Mercury rules all forms of communication, travel, commerce and the documents that support business. During the retrograde periods all these areas suffer. Some of the most common experiences (and personal experiences) are:
- computer problems - lost files, hard drive crashes, new software installation hurdles.
- telephone problems – takes a long time to reach the person that we need to reach, accidentally erasing a phone number that you need on your cell.
- mail – letters or packages take longer than usual and some get lost, sometimes due to our own fault because we mislabeled the address.
- email – private message sent to All.
- travel – car breakdowns, traffic jams, delayed planes.
- conversations – misunderstandings due to failure of communicating our rightful intentions.
Everybody feels the effects of Mercury retrograde differently depending on your personal chart and which sign Mercury is in.
However, there are times when the whole world notices the Messenger God in action, muddling on a large scale. The 2000 US election was held on a day when Mercury was stationary at the end of its retrograde period (a especially potent energy of miscommunication) and we can recall the recounting problems that ensued. More recently in mid April 2010 the ashes from the Icelandic volcano created an unprecedented air travel mess all over the world… and yes Mercury was in retrograde motion.
What can we do and how can we use more effectively the retrograde energy?
Follow up your emails with a confirming phone and vice versa.
Before pressing send check the email addressee.
Mail your important letters, invitations and packages prior or post retrograde periods.
If you cannot postpone signing a contract make sure you read it a few times to spot errors and typos.
Back up you computer files and postpone installation of major software.
Be extra vigilant in your personal communications making sure that the other party understood what you meant.
Be prepared for travel delays and take a good book with you.
If possible avoid launching major initiatives as they may need to be refined.
It is a very good time to clean up your email box and other archives, to complete projects that have been lagging, to revise articles, presentations and documentation and to rethink and plan projects in the works and new initiatives.
If after all this good advice you still experience minor setbacks and delays remember that Mercury is the Trickster of Olympus so take all these annoyances with a grain of salt. Prepare… but laugh and recognize that you are not immune to cosmic energies.
Luiza Azancot
November 30, 2010 posted before Mercury goes retrograde.
Here are the next Mercury Retrograde dates:
2010
December 10 to December 30
2011
March 30 to April 23
August 3 to August 26
November 24 to December 14
2012
March 12 to April 4
July 14 to August 8
November 6 (which by the way is the date of the next US election) to November 26
