Today we welcome the first of 3 Mercury retrograde periods for 2013. I know for many people this is a cause of distress and they start getting paranoid about their computer; fearful they’ll miss crucial emails or phone messages; afraid to book their travel; anxious if there’s a possibility they’ll have to sign a contract; and all manner of worries. But truthfully I don’t experience Mercury retrogrades that way all. I like to welcome them as times to intentionally engage in all those “re-” activities – reflection, revisioning, reassessing, revisiting, reorganizing; even finding things from the past making reappearances.
Today I was reminded of the truth “expectations shapes perception” and so I gently invite you to entertain that possibility as well, and see if you can find some positive ways to experience these inevitable pauses in our regular routine.
For me I celebrate the beloved messenger god in his guise as Hermes. Winged cap and shoes, god of communication and travel, Hermes was also known as a psychopomp, able to move between worlds above and below, escorting and rescuing. He was clever and quick, an inventor, creator of musical instruments, a powerful conduit, bringer of sleep and dreams, and yes, sometimes a trickster.
It took me a while to recognize how active Hermes is in my life, but once I made the conscious connection it was truly like recognizing an old friend. I call myself a Messenger and Illuminary in my work; my work in the Akashic Records is certainly messenger work as is my channeling. And let’s not diminish the importance that actually sending messages through the post has held for me. I’m pretty sure Hermes steered me into mailart. And my life-long devotion to dreamwork – I think we can guess the inspirer.
So when I found the wonderful vintage Victorian Revival style brooch of Hermes (in the above photo) I mustered those proverbial mercurial reflexes and grabbed it pronto. Isn’t it wonderful?! I think I’ll make it into a necklace, but in the meantime, I’m keeping it near just so I can admire it. And I’m thinking I really DO need to get wings for my head and my feet. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for those next.
Do you pay attention to Mercury retrogrades, or aren’t they even on your radar? Any tales to tell? Help me honor communcative Hermes by leaving a message.
Deborah, I usually don’t find out about Mercury retrogrades until after the fact & sometimes it does correlate with technical difficulties. I love your empowering take on this . . . and I must say I am in the midst of happy travel & communicating at this very moment. Thank you.
Glad to hear Mercury is wearing his benevolent face. Enjoy your travel and keep communicating. 😉
I try to remember to use Mercury retrograde as a reminder to metaphorically dot all my “I”s and cross all my “T”s. Back up your data, balance your checkbook, “bitch-proof” your emails before you send them, and call to confirm EVERYTHING.
These good practices are good at all times, but absolutely necessary when His Winged One is about to get recalcitrant. It’s taken me years (many, many, many years) to figure out that good practices in the good times cover your ass in the trying ones.
Very wise Kate!
I don’t usually find mercury retrogrades are on my radar, but I am currently under some very uncomfortable mis-communication pressure, and am at least trying to attribute some of it to mercury retrograde. I do love this perspective though, it could be a helpful re-visiting of unresolved issues… Maybe a gift of “work this out” which I have been avoiding.
I have to say, I love love love the word “psychopomp” and upon looking it up after your reference, find it even more fascinating.
thanks Deborah
Thanks for stopping by Monica. Psychopomp IS a wonderful word (and concept) isn’t it?!
Wishing you all kinds of ease and grace navigating this Mercury retrograde.
Oh, and the brooch is stunning. What a lovely find, for you both…
Thanks – I feel quite lucky!
Technology can be a big problem for me. I tend to short things out: lights, computers, printers, etc. It can be any time but especially when I’m stressed. Currently (oh boy where did that unintended pun come from) I”m more peaceful and perhaps the technology will cooperated. Off to work where the tech thing I need most, the copier was broken last week. Thank you for the post. I love your re list.
Yay for peaceful attitudes Sheila. May you ride yours throughout this time and find technology is your always-cooperating friend. 🙂
I recently heard that it is a good time to travel when Mercury is in retrograde. Im ready to restart!
Thanks for this lovely post.
kathy
Yay for restarting – and for traveling.
I like what Kate said about good practices. It’s hard to put life “on hold” for the 9+ weeks a year Mercury is in retrograde, but I think we can make efforts to navigate it with as much ease and grace as possible.
I especially enjoyed reading love how you intentionally engage during Mercury Retrograde… “in all those “re-” activities – reflection, revisioning, reassessing, revisiting, reorganizing; even finding things from the past making reappearances.” Last evening I spent hours sorting out and organizing computer passwords, a job I had been procrastinating with doing it had made too many years.
This time around I didn’t realize that it was Mercury Retrograde coming up. Usually I’m on the ball with that. I also often will sense that time period as one that feels more restrictive for some reason. Great post. Thank you!
Good for you for tackling that password project Suzanne! And I understand what you mean about that sense of restrictiveness. That can be a helpful reminder that forward movement might require a bit more care.
I do pay attention lightly to Mercury Retro. It’s not on my calendar or anything but I tend to notice it’s presence because others are commenting on it. One time I had a bunch of things go “wrong” and someone pointed out it was M.R. but other than that, I see it more as a reflection time as well. For some reason, though, this one was on my radar and I felt some anxiety around it. I haven’t slept well the last two nights and seem to be working through something in my sleep. I am a bit tired from it all but trust that it’s all good and will move along soon.
Oh I like that attitude Michele – pay attention to lightly! And I have no doubt winged-sandaled Mercury would approved. Light touches sounds like the perfect way to navigate.
I watch Him like a hawk. I use cinnamon more during this time as it is one of His sacred herbs. I also focus on the, as you put it, “re’s”. Love that. I edit. I rewrite. I revisit. 😀
I didn’t know about cinnamon Arwen – thanks for the hedz up about that. I’ll certainly incorporate that.
I like your take on retrogrades, I need to become more intuitive and pay more attention to what the universe is giving me and trying to tell me. This was good for me. I love the brooch you found too. I’m trying to change my mindset to celebrating each and every day what I’ve accomplished, away from beating myself up for what I didn’t get done. Thanks for sharing this – it struck home
Oh I’m glad Vickie. Celebration is such a different energy than that I-didn’t-do-enough chastisement. And I always think it’s most helpful to lean into the feel-good – it’s so much more expansive.