Yep, it’s time. I just updated the info spot, so we can easily refer to it and see when Mercury went into retrograde and when it will return to direct. Why we had to wait this long to discuss it is beyond me, but as I said, I am just the radio here.
I have already gotten a few reports from folks that there have been some minor problems, and the people Daniel works with have noticed some more-than-the-already-usually-odd happenings the past few days as well. I am continuing with my positive attitude and “working with” focus about it this time. So far, so good. But keep your fingers crossed, it’s only the beginning.
Here’s some re-run details, in case you haven’t read all the other posts I’ve written about our planetary nemesis. It’s a good idea to familiarize ourselves with valuable background like this anyway.
Mercury symbolizes such things as mental activity, communication, perception, and commerce. Mercury retrograde periods frequently include a marked increase in reviewing and reconsidering things from the past and possibly finding new solutions to old problems. Delays in personal and business matters, any type of new project, travel delays, scheduling conflicts, and miscommunications are all common problems that can be affected during this time.
Never sign important documents, buy new machines or appliances that deal with communication. Be prepared for mail, legal paperwork, and all kinds of messages to go missing or end up not where they were intended to go.
There is an astrologer I was recently “introduced to” who has turned the negatives around, she talks about uncovering information that’s been eluding her, understanding concepts that have been escaping her, or discovering hidden sources that were unknown to her. (Thanks Skye, for sharing this site with us.)
I like the way this woman has made a traditionally negative appearing feature into a more beneficial one. If we do the same, no longer cringing in fear over all of our machines suddenly jumping ship, but move our focus onto what we can learn during this phase, we promote the positive. And we all know, the more we send out those well-intentioned vibes, the more they come back to us.
Another good source on the over all subject of backwards Mercury in general is this one. Here’s an aspect of these phases that we also have to be aware of:
Mercury retrograde tends to cycle through the signs of one element (though sometimes straddling signs) in a given year. This suggests that there are some common themes that may run through each retrograde period for the year. This year, Mercury retrogrades through the Fire signs…
The central theme of Mercury retrograde in the Fire signs this year may be to stop and take stock of our ideas, speech and communications, and to find the balance between passion and prudence, between doing something and simply talking about doing it.
I like this as a validation for how we are approaching things with our new positive focus. Instead of running around in a panic as if our head has burst into flames, we are advised to be more contemplative. Putting our energy into the looking at, not so much the doing right now. We don’t need to fear this planetary condition, but should remember to treat it with respect. Going with what we know will be easily fixed, should something happen to go sideways.
May I pause here? You will never believe what just happened. (Or actually, you probably will.) I was type type typing away, just moving around the interwebs, gathering bits and pieces so we’d be all informed and prepared, putting it all down here, the better to keep us safe, all opened up and tuning in, striving to get us all nice and centered, when… whoosh! The power is gone! My plug had been kicked out of its socket. Shiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!
Everything I had just written for the past hour or more, was gone. Just… gone. The atrocious way our cords and connections are arranged here in the Burrow is bad (and I am being kind when I say “bad”). Extension cords, power strips, crap dragged across the room and under pieces of furniture. Others with ratty little throw rugs tossed over the top so Daniel and the dog don’t trip over them. Like I said, bad.
There is a baseball game on TV, Dan is watching it. His team is not doing well. They are playing the enemy from up the coast (and he is forced to watch it through the lens of said enemy because that’s the station that is broadcasting it). The feelings in this room are about as charged with negativity as they could possibly be. Guess who has his feet near one of our octopus-like power cord arrangements? Yep. His shoe got tangled up and he ripped the electricity right out from under me. WHILE I was writing about Mercury retrograde. Insert big huge dramatic sigh here.
I just sat there, staring at my powerless dark screen, thinking of all those words fading away. Being lost from my brain, no longer typed into the post. (I repeat: shit!) Then I looked at him and said, “I am SO going to tell everyone what you just did!”
He feels terrible. It was an accident. The game is not going the direction his team needs it to. The announcers are just rubbing salt into his wounds. And now, he’s ruined my post. Poor guy. (Still, I’m blaming him.)
We’re done for now. I’ve put back what I can remember, and I’ll return to this topic later, when it seems appropriate and when there’s no losing televised baseball in the same room with me. And hopefully when Dan is in a better mood. “Laugh it off” I told him, “that’s what I have to do!” For now, here’s our card. We are back to The Druid Animal Oracle.
“Water Dragon (Draig-uisge pronounced as Droo-y-en) ~ Passion, Depth, Connection.
The Water Dragon brings that which is hidden into the light of day. Memories and wishes, which may have long lain forgotten or repressed in the Unconscious, may emerge to frighten or overwhelm you with their apparent negativity or destructiveness. Facing these experiences with compassion and courage will, in the end, bring you to an experience of a greater depth of soul and a greater sense of connectedness to all life. Although you may at times feel overwhelmed with emotion, with time you will be able to achieve a sense of balance and stability, as these strong feelings are integrated in your consciousness.
Drawn reversed, this card warns us to approach an exploration of our psyche and our past with caution. The conscious self can absorb the impact of only a limited amount of repressed or unconscious material being released into awareness. It is wise to work fractionally, little by little, to integrate unconscious material into consciousness. It is often best for healing and wholeness to be achieved slowly. Beware also of allowing your emotions to rule you in a way that later you may regret.”
