It’s Mercury Retrograde — and I’m glad. (Words I never thought
I would write, but words that are true.) Glad because I feel as if I
have complete permission to recuperate, not just from the opening days
of the New Year, but more importantly, from the last two months of the
old one. A lot has shifted since Mercury last enforced a review, and
while the end of the year is usually the time for quiet reflection, for
many of us too much was happening too quickly to simply sit during the
Solstice season and do some very necessary thinking. Brooding, maybe,
especially as the economic picture turned gloomier than even Dickens
could have imagined. So I’m glad to have a Retrograde that will allow
me to process through what still remains to be understood, digested,
and metabolized into consciousness. And during this particular
Retrograde, the possibilities for understanding and refining on the
basis of that understanding are great.
For those of you new to astrology, Mercury signifies communication
and travel. Three times a year, it appears as if it is moving backward
across the sky. And when that occurs, it seems that all things related
to communication and travel seem to go awry. It causes such a great
gnashing of teeth, I’m sure they can hear the collective frustration on
Mars. But despite the delays and hassles generally blamed on Mercury
Retrograde, this phase does have a beneficial side: The pace of life
slows down, which seems to provide the time to review, reflect, and
reconsider what is already set in motion. Which is why I’m so glad it’s
here and that I have nearly three weeks — it lasts until February
1 — to hear myself think.
And here’s what I’m thinking about this week, as Mars, the Planet of
the Warrior, moves into a trine with Saturn, the Planet of Authority,
as well as a sextile with Uranus, the Planet of Change, all of which
coalesces into a strident “might for right” unless its force is
channeled into non-violent efforts: November’s election ended an
eight-year “reign of the bullies,” whose “bring it on” mentality just
wanted a fight, and whose belligerence gave permission to all despots,
powerful or petty, to exacerbate rather than soothe existing
polarization. Now that we have a “convenor” in the White House, perhaps
we can start to listen to disparate points of view and find creative,
peaceful ways to settle our differences. The problem is settling down
the bullies won’t be easy, for what we know about bullies is that they
are often more afraid than the rest of us. And given the current
climate of anxiety, extra effort is needed to calm all of us down, not
just those who are most afraid. A positive interaction between Mars,
Saturn, and Uranus can supply an indefatigable effort to work for
peace, especially if we are willing to slow down and practice patience
with others and ourselves.
So rather than despair about the normal retrograde snafus, welcome
Mercury’s review and use it to think deeply about issues that concern
you, both personal and collective.
If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.
ARIES March 21-April 19
Mercury mulls over recent business interactions with an eye toward
discovering any overlooked details. Embrace, rather than resent this
review, and you’ll be pleased with the results.
TAURUS April 20-May 20
Mercury revisits issues of faith, particularly your belief in you.
As this phase unfolds, use this time to increase your awareness about
how to improve your self-esteem.
GEMINI May 21-June 21
Mercury reviews “political” issues, personal or professional, with a
focus on how to handle differences of value. The solution is not
abandoning what matters to you; the remedy is being willing to
contemplate why certain things matter to others.
CANCER June 22-July 22
As Mercury reexamines patterns with significant others, you may find
several “old” relationships returning for reconsideration. Be open to
the possibility of positive resolution, and you’ll make good use of
this time.
LEO July 23-August 22
Mercury reevaluates several situations at the workplace, a process
that translates into you reconsidering certain choices. Avoid brooding
over mistakes by learning the lesson and then, letting go.
VIRGO August 23-September 22
Mercury refocuses your attention on self-expression, and while that
may seem like a frivolous theme, creativity is an essential part of
transformation. Use this phase to focus on how you can better
articulate your vision.
LIBRA September 23-October 22
Mercury reassesses “home” improvements and invites you to think
about how you might renovate your lifestyle, internal and external,
through time spent at “home,” again, inside, in mediation, or outside,
in the company of family.
SCORPIO October 23-November 21
As Mercury reconsiders several conversations, you may find yourself
revisiting choices made in the heat of the moment. Instead of holding
onto harsh words, think about how to make peace and reestablish your
equilibrium.
SAGITTARIUS November 22-December
21
Mercury ponders how to reinvigorate your financial situation, so
don’t be afraid to look at the numbers. While you may not like what you
see, you may also discover previously hidden ways to make
improvements.
CAPRICORN December 22-January 19
This Mercury Retrograde phase is another dimension of your ongoing
identity crisis and the emphasis is on how to redefine your physical
appearance. So start with the basics and see what unfolds.
AQUARIUS January 20-February 18
As Mercury retraces its path, you may experience a need to retrace
your own, especially joint financial decisions. This is not about
dwelling on regrets; this reexamination is about improving your
plan.
PISCES February 19-March 20
Mercury reviews old acquaintances, and you’re tempted to revert to
old habits. Resist that temptation by staying open to awareness of just
how much you’ve grown.
