mercury retrograde

Mercury, the planet of communication, turns retrograde in Virgo from August 20 to September 12.


Three or four times a year, Mercury appears to move backwards in the sky for approximately three weeks. This is an optical illusion since no planet actually moves backwards or even slows down in their orbits around the Sun. However, it appears to move backwards from our perspective on planet Earth, since the planet may be orbiting at a different speed than the Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Mercury retrograde periods introduce a certain level of confusion for us earthlings. As the planet of communication, Mercury rules speech, our listening abilities, negotiations, buying, selling, travel formal contracts and documents amongst other things -- all of which are affected when Mercury seems to slow down. Mercury rules how we perceive and interpret information and how we in turn act and react to that information as we interact with others.

The Leo Sun also opposes Neptune on August 20, which can have a lackluster, low energy, and marginally disappointing influence leading to muddled thinking and lack of motivation as we start this retrograde period. However, Neptune can be healing and very spiritual, and this can be an excellent time to chill out. August 20 can also have the thrill and flavor of romance about it and definitely a time to make your feelings known since we have a delightfully passionate and enthusiastic meeting of Venus and Mars in an exactly aligned conjunction in Libra.

Mercury retrograde periods affect each one of us differently depending on the placement of this planet in our individual birth charts. The effect on Gemini and Virgo signs, ruled by Mercury, will be stronger, but for other signs it is a time of trivial irritations. Being forced to slow down and develop patience can, however, be a blessing in disguise. It gives us all time to stop, go inward and reflect. Mercury retrograde periods can be times of heightened awareness and creativity, and an excellent time for out of the box thinking, which can sometimes lead to startling revelations.

Use the energies of this Mercury Retrograde period wisely and productively. Take an inward look at your strengths and potential and keep focused on the dreams and goals most important to you. 

Although Mercury retrograde is not the time to start any NEW projects, it is a great time to tie up loose ends and complete projects that are unfinished.

(Source:  http://www.astrology.com/)

Bleeeeck - Mercury Retrograde

Ever have a week when nobody understands you? Your cell phone erases itself, people argue over nonsense, traffic sucks, and your computer crashes as you're typing the last sentence of your Great American Novel?


Bleck! It’s mercury retrograde time again! Although Mercury doesn’t “officially” go retrograde until April 17, the backward energy started being felt on April 10th.

Three or four times a year, Mercury passes the earth in its orbit. From a space-geek's telescope, this creates the illusion that Mercury is spinning backward. Mercury rules communication, travel, and technology -- so all of these areas go haywire for about three weeks.

Are we having FUN yet? Just wait.

Now, most people know Mercury as the ruling planet of all things ‘technological.’ Phones, computers, cars, appliances, electronics, etc. Computers crash, emails disappear, cell phones start random dialing, washing machines bite the dust (and eat the laundry), and the car starts acting up or breaks down., or both.

(A special note: Back up your computer, calendar and cell phone address book. Expect delays if traveling, and pack a book to entertain yourself while you wait for the tardy bus or plane. Get in touch with old friends – and don’t be surprised if people from your past track you down. RANDOMLY and without reason or notice. Mercury also rules contracts, so think before you ink. Either wrap up important negotiations before the cycle starts, or wait to sign documents until Mercury goes direct.)

Mercury is also the ruler of all things joined together - closely associated with all realms of communication; thinking, writing, concentrating, expression, comprehension and speaking. Finding yourself tongue tied, searching for words, misunderstood or forgetting what you were saying in the middle of a sentence? Blame it on Mercury’s retrograde action!!

There are plenty of upsets and snafus that go with Mercury retrogrades – which is why many of us shudder, shake and stick out our tongues at the mere mention of one. How does one avoid a nervous breakdown during a Mercury Retrograde, you ask? For starters, focus on the prefix “re-“, which means to go backward. Don’t start anything new. Review all your contracts before you sign. Renew your commitments, rather than making new ones. Prepare to repeat yourself often.

And remember, (this is really important) the purpose of a retrograde is to slow us down and make us take notice - forcing room in our busy and hectic lives for retrospection, introspection and contemplation.

Now before you get all mopey and despondent, there IS a silver lining….. Mercury retrograde is a great opportunity to handle unfinished business. Most of us start a million things that we don’t complete, never realizing how much psychic clutter this creates. The retrograde is like a quarterly review, a chance to tie up those loose ends and create a clear vision for the future. Take advantage of it, and you’ll emerge fresh and ready when Mercury goes direct. As the cliché goes; what you resist persists. So the more you can embrace having zero control (and isn't control an illusion, anyhow?), the better you'll survive this cycle.

That and a few tips from the “I survived Mercury Retrograde” files.

WHILE MERCURY IS RETROGRADE:

Stay in bed and pull the covers over your head. This one only lasts until May 12. A little too extreme for you? OK – be out in the world, but take these “Retrograde Survival Tips” along with you:

(warning:  this most probably falls under the redundant catagory, but some people like bullet pointed lists.  If you aren't one of those people you can skip past this part.....)

• Mercury is a mental planet, and much of how we experience it (whether direct or in retrograde) involves our attitude.

• Remember all the “RE” WORDS such as Re-confirm, re-assess, re-evaluate, re-commit, re-view, re-new, re-start, re-vise, re-search, re-write and re-submit! (And any other “re” words you can think of!!)

• Slow down! Take a breath! Rushing often works against us, but particularly during a Mercury retrograde. Take the time to really think things through.

• Be careful with communications. Misunderstandings are almost guaranteed! Don't put ulterior motives where they don't exist!

• Don't make major purchases during a retrograde. This is not the time to buy a house, car or that big screen TV.

• Avoid making long term commitments. Just about anything can wait. If you do commit to something, be prepared for it to get shuffled around, be more challenging, work out differently, have delays, and generally work out differently than you planned.

• The way to make commitments is not words, but actions. The things you do during a Mercury retrograde establish a pattern, and you can use the time to get the pattern the way you need it. It may be challenging, but you will get some good opportunities to tune your routines and work out the bugs.

• Work on resolving the past. Take the emphasis off of new projects and plans and wrap up those things you may have started but not finished.

• Things that seem broken usually aren't, so don't try to fix them - it will usually make things worse! If something isn't working 'right' - leave it alone and 'do' nothing until the station-direct in three weeks.

And on the lighter side, here are 10 reasons to love a Mercury Retrograde from the astro-twins at “astrostyle”;

1. If your computer crashes, at least you don't have to work.
2. If the train doesn't show up, well, you can't really work either.
3. You have an instant excuse for being a raging bitch.
4. You can pretend that you "just didn't understand" annoying people.
5. You no longer have to drunk-dial an ex to hear his voice-- he'll probably call you first.
6. No need to invent elaborate stories when you run late; just blame Mercury.
7. You'll finally lose the contact information of all those toxic people you needed to ditch anyway.
8. When the Internet goes down, you'll actually go outside this spring.
9. If you're a control freak, you'll be forced to learn the art of surrender (okay, so maybe it's not so great -- but we'll blame Mercury retrograde for giving us this crappy idea).
10. Procrastination is no longer a bad habit, it's an "essential coping strategy."

April Astrological Influences

Pluto turned retrograde on April 2nd signaling in a time for new beginnings and dead ends. This retrograde (in Capricorn) signaled in a time of destruction and rebuilding along with rejuvenation and regeneration. This is a time for fresh starts and dead ends. The things that are most important to us and we hang on to the tightest may suddenly be taken away from us. In addition, we may be forced to reevaluate the things we cherish most.

A Pluto retrograde period makes us focus on, eliminate and release the old, outworn, outdated and obsolete in our lives. We will be urged to let go of old attitudes, communication and thinking patterns that no longer serve our purpose. We may feel the need to re-evaluate our needs for security and asked to eliminate rigid emotions that no longer serve us. This is an excellent time to undergo an internal form of house cleaning, and look into ourselves to determine exactly what we do and do not need.

Pluto retrograde imparts an intense power for investigation, so we should use this time to assess what reoccurring patterns in our lives make us feel out of control, where and why do we continually give our power away, and under what circumstances do we react so defensively that we elicit attacks from others. Pluto retrograde marks a time wherein we should seek to gain greater control over our lives.

Retrograde Saturn, the planet of duty, discipline and hard work, reversed into Virgo on April 7th to make sure that we learn the lessons of realism and discipline that Saturn has been trying to teach us for the last two years.

Saturn is the planet of self-discipline and duty and Virgo rules work and health, so now is the time to get serious about everything practical. Evaluate work processes and streamline for efficiency. Saturn is firm about putting down limits so at times it will feel like all work and no play. Learning to be good to yourself is also part of Saturn's lesson, so now is the time to learn not to overdo things. If you're realistic now, then by mid July when Saturn moves on into fair minded Libra, you will be healthier, better organized and ready for Saturn's direct influence.

We have the New Moon in Aries on the 14th. This New Moon in Aries is all about releasing and purging old worn-out and tired emotional trash, and learning to balance power.

Aries Strengths:

• Natural leadership; creative thinking; innovative approaches; courage; high energy; vigilance; taking initiative and/or action; strength; boldness.

Aries Shadow Issues:

• Self centeredness; arrogance; superiority; anger; impatience; over assertiveness; narcissism and self- absorption.

• Issues with controlling, blaming, intolerant of others’ views, unaware of others' needs and of the effects of their behavior on others, and insistent that others see them as they wish to be seen.

Questions to ask at this lunation:

• Where are the shadow issues of Aries showing up in my life?
• Where do I send my energy?
• What is my relationship to Power?
• Am I afraid of my own power?
• Am I afraid of my “inner knowing” and intuition?
• How do I give my power over to another?
• How do I steal power from another because I am afraid to lead?


Back to retrogrades, Mercury turns retrograde in Taurus on April 17 for the second time this year. Postpone significant purchases, don’t start new projects, and count to ten (or twenty) before you speak. This is dreamtime - allow your right brain to drift, dream, and lead your daily flow. Let your left brain relax and repair, renew, rethink, review.

And lastly there will be a Saturn in Virgo opposition Uranus in Pisces to contend with on April 26th . Oppositions are planets sitting exactly across from each other on the zodiac. Saturn and Uranus will pull us in two contradictory directions at once. For Saturn, the old ways are the best, however Uranus will demand that we go for innovations, experimentations, and encourage us to be somewhat rebellious and follow our own intuition instead of listening to others.