Friday, October 26, 2012

Mercury Retrograde

What exactly is Mercury Retrograde?


By Sarah B. Weir
Is Mercury messing with you?Have you noticed that your carefully mapped out plans are going awry or your computer has been crashing at the worst possible moment lately? Maybe your credit card payment really did get lost in the mail. Have you and your best friend's daily e-mails suddenly turned sour? This spring's Mercury retrograde began on March 12 – so you could blame it all on your horoscope being out of whack.

And you could have an excuse for more annoyances. The planet doesn't do a U-turn until April 4.

Astrologists describe planet Mercury as the ruler of communication and transportation. Three to four times a year, it appears to stop in the sky and travel backward through the constellations of the zodiac for approximately three weeks. This retrograde motion spells bad news for all of us tech dependent, over-sharers who live, labor, and love in the age of high-speed connectivity.

Now would be a good time to send your inner control freak on an extended yoga retreat in Bali (since you will have to be home actually dealing with all the mess ups and misapprehensions). Astrologers recommend using Mercury retrograde as a kind of breather when you can reflect on your life and goals. It's a great period to let go of unnecessary activities and take a moment to think about yourself and your key relationships. Maybe consider what changes you might want to make in the future.
You can also use the downtime to evaluate your career rather than just spinning on the hamster wheel. Cleaning up your desk, reviewing old ideas, and organizing your files can help prepare you to make positive strides when Mercury does change its course. 
To minimize frustration during this period:
  • Double check that you have everything you need before you leave the house. Keys? Wallet? Bag? Phone?
  • Avoid making big decisions or signing contracts if you can.
  • Finish half-done projects. Rather than taking on something new, tie up any loose ends.
  • Hit "save" on your computer frequently and back up files.
  • It's a great time to research making a significant purchase such as a home appliance or a car, but don't put any money down yet.
  • Have a sense of humor. Mercury is known as the "trickster" and problems you encounter during this period probably aren't as dire as they seem.
The next Mercury retrograde will occur on November 6th-26th

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