You may know, because I mention it enough, that I have a great love of Mercury/Hermes. Given that today planet Mercury turns retrograde, making one of its three-times-a-year journeys, I thought I’d post some thoughts about this. To be clear, I’m not an astrologer and there are so many others much more qualified to speak about the specifics of this retrograde. But I certainly do have opinions to share and perhaps some useful suggestions about the ways I navigate during these times.
I think it’s a gross over-generalization and probably not all that helpful to limit your view of Mercury retrogrades as annoying periods where all things involving communication and travel are fraught with snafus, and that the best possible policy is simply to simply not travel, not communicate, not sign contracts or buy anything, and basically hole up and hibernate.
Ha. As if that were even possible. But I’d like to at least nudge you off the position that this is nothing but a challenging time. Because holding the energy that way – fretting that your computer will explode or your travel plans will evaporate into missed connections and arrival at wrong destinations – only keeps you on edge and invites anxiety. Who needs that?
What if instead we opened this up a bit more, and considered that this is actually a gift? What if every Mercury retrograde period was an invitation to slow down a bit, to turn inward and reflect, to engage in review, and rethinking, and re-working. What if these were cosmic gifts of a brief pause period where we catch our breath and re-consider the direction we’re heading and what we’re doing before we go barreling on forward again. What if we spent a little time thinking about what we’re communicating – are we being authentic with our truth and communicating it clearly? What if we just took a bit of time to make sure to realign with ourselves and recommit to what we hold as our values?
When we give ourselves this little margin of spaciousness around things, it also turns out we’re then in a little bit better position to handle any little snags that do come up. Emails may get lost, technology may glitch a bit, we may need to be careful that what we’ve said is heard the way we mean it. But if we hold all this with loving-kindness towards ourselves and each other rather than automatic distress or disheartenment things certainly tend to be less disruptive.
There are nuances that can be considered with each retrograde period as well if you like. Each is unique with distinct energies and focus, depending on what sign Mercury is “backing up” through. This time around it’s through Gemini, and Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of Gemini so there’s some added emphasis here on our thoughts. What needs to be cleaned up? What is old and stale and not working? How can we expand our perspectives and hone our perceptions?
I’m certainly going to be pondering these things.
The Sabian symbol for this particular retrograde at 14 degrees Gemini is “Bridging physical space and social distinctions, two men communicate telepathically.”
I’ll be thinking about that as well. Doesn’t that feel expansive, like leading-edge work to move our perspectives out even further? I think we could use a lot more of that in our world today.
So what do you think? Do you even pay attention to Mercury retrogrades? Wish you could ignore the whole thing? Or look forward to this time as a cosmically-sanctioned little reprieve, with some breathing space and mandate to reflect? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Other than our freezer deciding to crap out today and having to find room in the two fridge freezers for the meat that was stored in it… I love the effect of looking back. It helps clear out what is no longer necessary. A motion to get us moving in a different direction creating all thing marvelous.
Happy days to your pondering. 🙂
I like how you think Kelli. 🙂
Mercury, the messenger between the deities and humans… Mercury the planet has a special influence over humans. I like to harmonize with the planet on a weekly basis. It really helps with reasoning. This morning I had a little argument with Freddy (my DH) so I grabbed the dog, jumped in the car and went off to the Long Beach on the west coast of the Vancouver Island. We had a lovely time during the ride and during playing on the beach. On the way home (it’s just little over an hour ride) I was reflecting… it felt good.
Your story makes me smile Evalina – how perfect! And as for harmonizing with Mercury on a weekly basis – you really are a woman after my own heart.
Deborah thank you so much. I read this last night and was heartened indeed because I knew I had flight bookings to make today (my son and brother coming up here from 2 different parts of the country at different times later on in the week) and a friend had warned me several days ago of Mercury going retrograde. She said about Hermes the trickster and I remember smiling …
I love your perspective on this particular time (yes I am a Gemini) and will take on board that it is a time to reflect on “What needs to be cleaned up? What is old and stale and not working? How can we expand our perspectives and hone our perceptions?’
I still haven’t seen the new moon – I looked again last night. But I will use my sighting of her to set an intention on all that you say above.
Thank you again.
What a great intention Susan. I always consider the first sighting of the moon after she’s new to be a special treat. Wishing you a Mercury retrograde filled with blessings, and have a lovely visit with your son and brother!
I know very little about Mercury and about retrogrades, but I remember a friend, an amateur astrologer, telling me that I had been born under something retrograde that would never move the other way in my lifetime and I burst into tears!!! Oh dear – I can laugh now but I was not a good space that day. Poor man never mentioned astrology in my presence again 🙂 🙂
I like the way you look at things Deborah. I wish I’d had this perspective back then. I thought he was saying that my life would be troubled for ever.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the labels we attach to things – illnesses, our beliefs etc and we can have a total new perspective on life by changing or ignoring the label… Retrograde now means something new .. thank you 🙂
Fil
Fil’s Place – Old songs and Memories
Oh Fil – what a story. Hugs to the younger you who felt so devasted. And shared laughter with the older you who now sees the humor in it all.
I’m totally with you about reconsidering labels. I’ve been calling that letting go of old stories. It’s really powerful to know (and practice) how changing our perspective changes everything.
I tend to not notice Mercury Retrogrades too much. An astrologer friend told me that’s because I have six retrograde planets in my chart. Which may also help explain why I enjoy introversion and slowing down so much. I’m with you, though, on not simply labeling any time in the cycles as simply “wrong,” or “difficult.” It’s all energy, part of a continuum. Good stuff, Deborah. Good stuff.
LOL – it does indeed sound like you’re a master at the retrogrades Linda! And here’s to flowing through all energies with ease and grace.