Tag Archives: Mercury Retrograde

On the Coming Lunar Eclipse July 5

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Lunar Eclipse In Capricorn: Clearing Old Blockages

We are having a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn on July 5th in most of the world, and on the night of July 4th in the Americas. Similarly to the Full Moon that occurred a month prior, it will be a penumbral eclipse which only has a subtle shade on the Moon. It will be visible (weather permitting) wherever it will be nighttime in part or all of its duration. This includes most of North America, most of Africa, Western Europe, parts of Central Europe, New Zealand, and all of South America.

This is the third of three eclipses occurring back to back, with this one following a more powerful annular Solar Eclipse in Cancer during the recent Solstice and a penumbral Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius on June 5th. This one is also the last of a series of Eclipses occurring in the Cancer-Capricorn axis which began in 2018. This specific eclipse season marks the transition into the Gemini-Sagittarius polarity.

Eclipses reflect evolutionary changes in specific areas of our lives which can play out over the following 6 months and can begin up to 6 weeks prior. However, they are also part of a 1.5-2 year process in which the Lunar Nodes and most Eclipses are in the same signs. The changes that occur are connected to the sign they are in, the planets they are configured to, and how this all lines up with our individual astrological blueprint.

Lunar Eclipse In Capricorn

This eclipse is the final one of a process in which we have been experiencing a collective recalibration in how Cancer and Capricorn energies are expressed. This slightly began in summer of 2018  but kicked in more strongly later that year and in 2019.

This eclipse puts an emphasis on Capricorn themes as it is near the South Node which has recently entered Sagittarius. This indicates changes associated with Capricorn that can have a decreasing effect in how its energies are expressed, however, negative expressions of this sign can also come up more so to bring it to our attention.

The shifts that could occur, both challenges and developments, are more about changes or what we need to let go of, in relation to the energies of Capricorn to help facilitate a different balance with Cancer. Capricorn energies and aspects of life can be more constructive when they are expressed towards a Cancerian focal point. The areas of life in which it manifests also depends on how it is interacting with your natal astrology chart/blueprint.

Capricorn is the sign of ambition, career, duty, business, achievement, responsibility, discipline, mastery, and authority. It can be calculated, strategic, practical, orderly, conservative, realistic, authoritative, controlling, cautious, and worldly. It is a social climber and concerned with status.  It is also associated with governing and banking structures with this eclipse opposing the Sun of the United States, similarly to 1982 and 2001 in the months before 9/11.

Negatively, Capricorn energy can be serious, cynical, cold, unrelenting, and seek power over others. It can be overly focused on work and/or materialism while creating an imbalance with emotional, personal and domestic areas of life which is where the focal point has been considering previous North Node eclipses in Cancer.

Lunar Eclipse Near Jupiter-Pluto Conjunction 

Now and in recent weeks, Jupiter and Pluto (also in Capricorn) are in their second exact conjunction of 2020 which is strong until July 10th, but gets triggered by the Sun from July 13th-16th. However, this energy is a part of the backdrop until late in the year with this eclipse highlighting it as well.

As mentioned in previous articles, this energy can be revealing of hidden matters or perhaps issues connected to abuse, control, manipulation, obsessions, shadows, or power dynamics. However, it can also be a time of acquiring deeper perspectives and can have transformational potential as well. Considering that this is a South Node eclipse, it can be a time of releasing or changing negative qualities of this energy.

Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, is not too far from these planets in the same sign. The combination of the three  (especially Saturn-Pluto) in close proximity reflects the heavy energy of 2020. Saturn brings a level of seriousness and minimizes the expansiveness of Jupiter with restrictions and limitations, especially as Saturn rules the sign that they are both in.

Lunar Eclipse Square Mars-Chiron, Trine Uranus, and Sextile Neptune

Mars in Aries is approaching Chiron which will be exact around July 13th and 14th. This is also in a T-square with the Full Moon Eclipse (and Mercury Retrograde) carrying its themes for an extended period. This reflects similar energy in the lunations of previous months.

Mars’ conjunction with Chiron (configured to the eclipse) can reflect action and assertiveness that is healing, integrating, bridging, whole-istic, unorthodox, and addressing wounds. With it being in Aries, it could be connected to identity, individualism, or  individuality. It can also be about addressing negative expressions of Mars such as anger, aggression, or abuse.

The square to Mars can play out as conflicts, competitiveness, and intensity. We have already been seeing this on a collective level as the eclipse a month prior was also in a square with Mars. In the following 5-6 month window of this current eclipse season, Mars will be going retrograde which reinforces the energy of these Mars flavoured eclipses.

This eclipse is in a trine with Uranus in Taurus which can be innovative, inspiring, original, revolutionary, rebellious, and good for shaking things up. It is also in a sextile with Neptune, although this isn’t too strong, it can be supportive in a compassionate, creative, spiritual, or idealistic way.

Mercury Retrograde, Venus in Post-Retrograde Shadow

Mercury has been retrograde since mid-June and will be going direct a week following this eclipse. It is in Cancer reflecting a time of adjustments and re-orientations around home/domestic life, family, security, land/property, emotional comforts, caregiving, and emotional connections with others. As it begins to move forward in the days after July 12th and over the following weeks, we may see that we are proceeding in an adjusted way around Cancerian matters or developments that have come up since early June.

Venus ended its retrograde on June 25th and we are now in a time in which we are progressing differently around Venus ruled areas that have been playing out since the first half of April.  It can be connected to relationships, love, values, social dynamics, desires, worth, aesthetics, art, or perhaps financial matters.

Things To Consider

What have been some of the major themes for you over the past 1.5 years and what are they leading you towards? What area(s) of life do you need to let go of negative ways of expression? differently? What aspects of your ambitions do you need to release? Where should you be applying yourself in a healing way? Are there fragmented parts of your life that should be integrated to bring more harmony into your life? How can you achieve this?

These are just some examples of what can be playing out for you but not limited to these either. Keep in mind that the themes of this specific eclipse will play out until the Fall. It is best to try to tune into this energy as it happens and pay attention to your feelings to help you in decisions you need to make in the future.

astrology

 

The two weeks following this eclipse can be a good time to initiate any sort of releasing process if you feel necessary. The eclipse begins at 3:07am Universal Time on July 5th with it peaking at 4:30am and finishing at 5:52am. The Moon begins to wane after 4:44am GMT. You can click here to see when the peak will be in your time zone.

from:    https://www.collective-evolution.com/2020/07/04/lunar-eclipse-in-capricorn/

Upcoming Retrograde Mercury

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Mercury Retrograde this Week!

Adam Elenbaas •

Mercury is stationing to turn retrograde by Wednesday morning…

Things to remember about Mercury retrogrades and what to watch for:

* Mercury retrogrades are common. They happen several times each year. In fact the very meaning of the planet Mercury, as an astrological symbol, cannot be separated from its regular retrogrades. Mercury’s swift speed and back and forth motion were classically what related Mercury to contests and athletics. Some astrologers in fact say that one of Mercury’s core actions is to “contest.” Think for example of your foiled travel plans, think of detours, intellectual debates, technological snafus, argumentation, and skepticism. Think of messages and messengers, think of plans and challenges to plans, think of words and the failure of words to communicate. Think of negotiation and the challenges of arranging or organizing agreed upon terms. Think of money and bargains and deals and merchants in old city markets. In each one of these themes we have Mercury’s swift speed and we have Mercury’s back and forth…contesting, debating, analyzing, scrutinizing, and explaining. So the first thing to remember about Mercury retrogrades is that they are present and implied in almost all “normal” Mercury themes…and in fact retrogradation itself, as an astrological symbol, is in some ways lent to all the other planets by Mercury…the back and forth, speedy merchant and messenger of the Gods!

* In this particular Mercury retrograde Mercury is in his own rulership and exaltation, so Mercury is in an environment that will allow him to accomplish more than if he were the guest in another planet’s home. He runs the show in Virgo! Also during this retrograde Mercury is conjunct with Jupiter, and Mercury will be the planetary host of both a solar and lunar eclipse in the month ahead. This means that much of the astrology of the next month will feature Mercury ruled topics or themes.

* Watch for changes or challenges to the Mercury ruled areas of your birth chart (the houses ruled by Gemini/Virgo).

* Watch for changes related to money, finances, markets, or the organization of businesses, offices, projects, and jobs.

* Watch for changes of direction with regard to learning, reading, writing, or communication styles or approaches to communicating with someone or something.

* Watch for changes of travel plans, technological challenges, important communications along with misunderstandings or misinformation. Read the fine print, think twice before entering into long term agreements that you’re not sure about or that appear suddenly and require and impulsive decision.

* Watch for the sudden desire to reorganize, clean out clutter, or create a more effective or efficient method for doing something.

* Watch for the return to consider, learn, or discuss something from the past.

* Watch for bargains or offers from someone or something that want you to return to something from the past.

The solar eclipse this week opens a powerful new door, and the opening of this door may involve completing something from the past or returning for to someone or something from the past. Or it may involve any of the above Mercury retrograde themes coinciding with a special opportunity or new beginning. More on the eclipse in the days ahead.

Prayer: Teach us the wisdom of a discerning heart.

from:    http://realitysandwich.com/320558/mercury-retrograde-this-week/

Mercury Retrograde

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What to Expect from the Upcoming Mercury Retrograde

Adam Elenbaas • 4 days ago

Today a special longer treatment of our upcoming Mercury retrograde!

First we should recognize that Mercury will turn retrograde in a Venus ruled sign, just as Venus is moving out of a Mars ruled sign (Aries), and into her own sign of Taurus where she is much more comfortable and empowered. Simultaneously we should notice that Mercury is being strongly emphasized through Jupiter’s upcoming station in Virgo. Both Mars and Saturn, as well as Neptune, are all moving through Jupiter ruled signs, and Jupiter is slowing down to station and turn direct in both the rulership and exaltation of Mercury (Virgo).

Putting this all together we can see some simple themes coming forward. Mercury is a planet whose broadest archetypal actions include analysis, investigation, consideration, skeptical inquiry, curiosity, deconstruction, and critical thinking. So during a retrograde period, especially during the stations, we may find ourselves seriously questioning, analyzing, or deconstructing something. Or we might find that various systems are being broken down into their parts or that they aren’t working correctly or that there is something standing out that needs more careful attention or revision.

From here the question becomes, “WHAT is being analyzed, deconstructed, broken down into its parts, or analyzed?”
Well, remember that this Mercury retrograde leads us back to Mercury’s position over Jupiter and Jupiter’s position in relationship to Saturn, Mars, and Neptune. Learning to see the community dynamics of the planets is an important part of any analysis.

Jupiter in Virgo represents a kind of puritanical, careful, perhaps naive but also meticulous breaking apart of various systems of doctrine, dogma, and belief or praxis. Whether we’re looking at politics or carpentry, religion, philosophy, or accounting, wherever there is a some outdated or unexamined system in place Jupiter in Virgo suggests a second look or a critical evaluation. This is naturally uncomfortable for Jupiter whose nature is more akin to building greater wholes and coordinating successful growth projects rather than taking systems apart or weeding through the parts of vast networks. However, the entire transit of Jupiter in Virgo may also represent a kind of “take it apart” so that it might eventually become better or stronger on the whole.

But it gets even more specific. Jupiter in Virgo is related to the interests and challenges of Neptune, Mars, and Saturn as well. Let’s start with Mars and Saturn.

Both planets in a Jupiter ruled mutable fire sign emphasize separation, schisms, feuds, and factions. Both planets represent the contentions, competitions, and crusades we are fighting on behalf of various new/old ideas and beliefs. With both of these planets being dominated by the square from Jupiter in Virgo, we are seeing not only the feuds of our underlying values and prejudices, many of which represent serious generational or historical divides, but we are seeing these feuds play out as they relate specifically to the deconstruction or critical analysis of entire systems of thought or practice (analysis of both our ideals and the practical implementation of ideals).

Underlying Jupiter’s disposition in Virgo is also the transcendental dream of Neptune in Pisces. Underlying all of these conflicts and systemic analyses are the images of our dreams, of the reaching for something transcendent, for something non-ordinary, for utopia, for salvation, for whatever we want most deeply but cannot see or name. We are looking for God, you might say, in the individual grains of sand..taking apart our sand castles, one grain at a time, until we’ve found the sacred source in each of them and can then, finally, rebuild our castle with renewed integrity…restored faith…a future worth living for.

The problem is that the waves keep coming and interrupting the process! Exception after exception slips in and confuses our counting, until we are forced to reckon with the unaccountable truth…we will never get to the bottom of this. In this sense Jupiter in Virgo is doing his deconstruction on behalf of that which cannot be satisfied. At some point we will say, “This will have to do.”

Now, let’s return all the way back to Mercury retrograde. If Jupiter in Virgo is emphasizing systemic inspections, then this retrograde is going to be an especially important time for these investigations. Because Mercury and Jupiter are stationing simultaneously, and then during Mercury’s retrograde Jupiter will turn direct…signalling the implementation or the change over, or the positive results of the analysis…the first fruits of a process that has been taking place since the beginning of winter when Jupiter went retrograde.

Why can we be so certain that this transformation will be beneficial? Because Mercury will be with Venus in Taurus and in a superior trine to Jupiter. All of which point to the positive integration or joining of disparate parts for the sake of growth. Out of the careful analysis, something cohesive, beautiful, and harmonious is likely to emerge. And remember that by August Jupiter will enter a Venus ruled sign for an entire year.

However, given the simultaneous Mars/Saturn retrogrades, it’s likely that this entire sequence will also continue to feature factions, feuds, and ongoing conflicts or sharp distinctions or debates between various ideas and practices. It’s also possible that the Mercury/Venus signature in relationship to Jupiter reflects compromises that are strategic but also somewhat divisive (driving a hard bargain, forcing someone’s hand, reluctantly giving up any ground to a perceived opponent, etc).
We’ll look more carefully at this over the next few weeks, but hopefully this gives everyone more to think about!
​
Prayer: Help us to reconsider, to hold each part up to the light, so that we might see as the one who sees everything.

from:    http://realitysandwich.com/319935/what-to-expect-from-the-upcoming-mercury-retrograde/

Robert Phoenix on Mercury Retrograde

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All You Need To Know About This Mercury Retrograde

September 18, 2015

Keeping minds open.

It’s that time of year again and Mercury Retrograde is with us. It starts at Libra 15 and reverses to Libra 0. So it basically starts in the Aquarian/Uranian Decan and retreats back into the Libran Deacn, which means that on a collective level, the dialog starts with fairness and rights (Libra) at the collective level (Aquarius) and retreats backwards into the Libran Decan where we turn our attention away from what’s not right in the world, to what can I be better at between you and I. So we start off dialoging about refugees and end in talking about abandoned relationships, and lost connections, vowing more fairness in our lives, perhaps even giving people we had written off second chances. Of course this is going to really impact Libras in specific, but also the opposite sign Aries, who are rarely wont to look back. Over the next few weeks, they’ll depart from their forward thinking attack on life and take a rare retrospective journey.

Libra is also supposed to be a very artistic sign and for the most part, it is, but Libras are basically lazy. Yep, I said it. What gives me the right to say and judge Libras so harshly? Well, it’s because I have Mercury/Moon/Venus in Libra, so I ahem, have a little insight into the process. Actually, Libras aren’t lazy (I just wanted to get your attention) they simply have really great ideas that exist perfectly in their minds which unfortunately generally stay there in the ideal atmosphere of the un-manifest. Here’s advice to all Libras out there; Keep your plans and creations to yourself until they actually take shape and form–just sayin’.

As far as September 23rd goes, The Blood Moon, etc., whatever goes down, Mercury Rertrograde in Libra has the potential to remind us to stay polite and retain our social graces as the troops hit the streets to round us up for the FEMA camps. While all Hell is breaking loose we’ll be able to hold the space of fairness for our oppressors; “Can I help you get those cuffs on me?” “Don’t worry, I understand that you have to taze me, I know you have a quota. Go ahead and do it twice if you’re behind.” That sort of thing. Don’t forget to be fair, even with the so-called unfair and that’s really the nexus of this Mercury Retrograde. Life isn’t fair, but it is just (ultimately) and those are two, very different aspects to consider.

Understanding that life isn’t fair is a big, big, lesson in this Mercury Retrograde phase and once we disabuse ourselves of that notion, we are much better off, because at that point we can deal with our lives as they are and then direct them to where we would like them to be. Mercury Retrograde in Libra takes some of the old varnish off of our thoughts and perceptions and that’s okay, because we need to get down to the base and then come back with a new sheen and a brighter shine once Mercury goes direct on 10/10 at ZERO degrees, which equals “Reset.” To hell with Shimitah or the Jubilee where we are given the reset from some other authority. Claim it for yourself.

from:    http://www.robertphoenix.com/content/all-you-need-to-know-about-this-mercury-retrograde-and-on-gaiam-tv-with-regina-meredith/

Some Thoughts on Mercury Retrograde

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Revisioning Mercury Retrogrades 10.4.2014

Adam Elenbaas •

Today Mercury turns retrograde in the sign of Scorpio…it’s a great day to discuss the mythology of Hermes and to eliminate some of the the negative hype surrounding Mercury retrogrades.

One of the first things to note about Hermes in Greek myth is that he is a journeyer rather than a traveler. Whereas a traveler has a goal, a mission, or a heroic deed to perform, a journeyer is someone for whom motion is a constant, and goals, however noble or lofty, are often rejected because of their limiting nature. Mercury represents the sudden turn of plot that provides a strange exit from a deterministic story line, or a sudden abundance of opportunities in contrast to an overly restrictive sense of fate or destiny that is possessing our consciousness.

It is so easy for us to plan the future and live in the present according to preexisting ideas. We often feel beholden to a certain fate or course of action and we forget that there are green pastures surrounding us everywhere, if we can only open our eyes.

Hermes, not coincidentally, ruled sleep, enchantment, dreams, and the sudden snap of the fingers that awakens us.

So when we talk about delayed or cancelled travel plans, or breakdowns of communication or the planned flow of events or activities during a Mercury retrograde, we’re missing the point. In fact, we’re trying to stay asleep by these explanations. For all of these events, Mercury’s gesture is always toward the limitless and overflowing multiplicity of options that for whatever reason we are forgetting about. It’s therefore important that we not bemoan, begrudge, or rant against Mercury when things break down during these times…but rather turn our eyes toward the winged footed god, and learn to pay attention to the interesting alternatives and the immediate freedom he brings.

However, this doesn’t mean that Hermes is always benefic or kind.To the Greeks, Hermes was a god who took people for a ride, enjoyed deception, trickery, and lies for the purpose of a lesson, and loved catching people with their pants down, so to speak. What looks to us like misfortune, in other words, looks like something else to Mercury.

For example, when Hermes stumbles across a mountain turtle outside of the cave he was born in, he talks to the turtle and delights in knowing that it’s greatest gift will be found in its death (when he kills the turtle and invents the Lyre).
During Mercury retrogrades there is sometimes a sense that someone with a sick sense of humor is trying to screw everything up for us. But if we learn to appreciate Mercury’s dark comedy, then the metaphorical death or breakdown we experience becomes the simultaneous crafting of a magical instrument. Hermes is always giving us gifts by stealing things away from us that we prize or hold with the most stubborn and moronic kind of ignorance. He’s like the fart in a yoga class that comes from the stuck up person whose totally vain and ruining it for everyone. And if he has his way with you, then you’ll laugh along with him the next time that person is you!

The story of how Hermes was created is also important because Hermes was born out of a love affair between Zeus and a nymph, hidden away in a secret cave. Hermes is thus a god of secrets. He is in a sense the god most symbolically begotten out of Zeus’ hypocrisy.

Zeus’ hypocrisy represents the tyranny of monotheism. The proud, singular, unifying, all important, goal oriented, heroic, solar, upward climbing, spiritual elitist. Accordingly, Hermes becomes like a gadfly to both his father Zeus and his sunny brother, Apollo. In fact, in one of the most well known Hermes’ stories, Hermes steals his brother Apollo’s herd of cattle. Apollo is the god of clarity, integrity, marksmanship, rationality, divination, and archery. Of course it is Apollo who owns the cattle…where the cattle are to some extent the docile, the fertile, and the masses of submissive folk. Those who are easily won over by Apollo’s ultimate claims are represented by the cattle. Hermes theft of Apollo’s cattle is therefore about the destabilizing of certainty and absolute thinking in general. Hermes theft of Apollo’s cattle back to the cave where his nymph mother still dwells is about the heretic, the rabble rouser, the goddess versus the god, and the exposing of the hypocritical or “rational elite.”

Hermes is not surprisingly called the magician, the trickster, the heretic, the one who moves against the pregivens and the high priestly or kingly figures. During retrogrades we often encounter breakdowns of various kinds because Mercury’s work is almost always about exposing our hypocrisy, opening up ambiguity, and confusing us where our certainty is most dubious.

As the guide of souls, psychopompos, Hermes has easy access back and forth between Hades. As the prince of thieves, Hermes also has a relationship to sudden discoveries, finds, and lootings.

Often enough during Mercury retrogrades, things that went missing show up again, back from the underworld. We lose things and find things out of the blue. We are guided through a dark period, uncertain, and yet mysteriously confident because we can sense the winged footed invisibility of our soul guide just around the corner.

Since I’m getting married in just one week from now, under a Mercury retrograde, I’ve gotten a number of emails asking me why we chose the timing. Wouldn’t it have been better to choose a different time?

First, I’m not big on the perfect astrological timing of things. Mercury is constantly foiling our plans, all the more so when we get too controlling and Apollonic about these things. My experience thus far with strong Mercury signatures in my birth chart has been that Mercury seems to screw with things at any point in time if you’re too confident about being in the “right” about something.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, Hermes has a beautiful relationship to oaths in Greek myth that is worth talking about. Worth talking about because one of the classic pieces of advice is always to “watch out for contracts signed or oaths or promises or agreements made under Mercury’s retrogrades.”
When it comes to oaths and promises and holy vows we have to ask ourselves who values these things the most? In the story where Hermes steals Apollo’s cattle he is eventually questioned by Zeus and Apollo, at which point he swears and offers oaths of his innocence (which are lies). As much as these oaths may seem like simple lies, Hermes is far too crafty and humorous to be a simple charlatan. We have to ask ourselves why he would choose the oaths and vows as deceptions before Zeus and Apollo? And of course the answer is that sacred and holy oaths and vows are just the kind of high moralizing and egoic things that Zeus and Apollo love. An oath is also exactly what Zeus broke when he had his love affair in the cave with Hermes’ nymph mother. When Hermes uses a “vow” or an “oath” to try and trick and deceive Apollo and Zeus he is essentially pointing out their hypocrisy in a kind of humorous evasion of their accusations.

The point being that in many ways oaths are like the prescripted storylines that we try to live by that can become a big target on our unsuspectings backs. It’s not that Mercury retrogrades are bad for oaths or that oaths are bad either…it’s that oaths made under retrogrades of Mercury are more naturally inclusive to all the doubt and uncertainty that oaths and vows are always in sacred relationship with (just like Mercury is the unavoidable son of Zeus…born out of Zeus’ oath breaking).

When Ashley and I met, during our first few months of planning and when launching Sky House Yoga, Mercury was retrograde. When I first started Nightilght, Mercury was retrograde. When we signed the lease on our second studio after the first, Mercury was retrograde. In each circumstance there has been the sense of an oath or commitment that is completely inclusive to the unknown, the potential for breakdown, and the ambiguity of a future we were both uncertain about at the time. And yet we’ve found this awkward uncertainty to be a critical component of how these things have evolved, including our own romantic relationship.

In our composite chart Ashley and I are also a Sun/Venus conjunction in Gemini (ruled by Mercury!). We will be married under a Sun/Venus conjunction in Libra, opposite Uranus in Aries, while Mercury is retrograde. We elected the chart with an astrologer friend of mine who specializes in elections. What was most important to us was to bring out into the open on the date of our wedding the tensions most enduring to the heart of our relationship. The subject of independent ambition versus coupled unity, the deep respect and love for each other and the presence of vows while also honoring the ambiguity of the future and our inherent suspicion of vows in general. Our priest is a practicing Episcopal, but our altar is pagan. We love these kinds of contradictions!
It’s been our experience, and it’s my astrological advice for the day, to embrace making commitments, purchases, oaths and travel plans during Mercury retrogrades if they come up. Because it’s not any of these things per se that Mercury likes to screw with or wreak havoc upon. Nope. That’s our superstition and laziness speaking. Mercury simply wants us to embrace the unknown and the uncertainties that can enter into any “plan” or “envisioned future” at any point in time.

Mercury is the “yes I’d do it again this way,” even when something breaks down or didn’t go as you hoped it would. Mercury is the “uncertainty at the outset” that creates heightened awareness..a kind of openness conducive to finding unexpected treasures. Mercury is the friendliness with ambiguity that says “I’m here to be guided, and I know that I can only control so much.”

Prayer: Stop me from trying to interpret every little thing, controlling every little ounce of certainty for my future. Let me embrace the deepest ambiguity of my holiest vows and let me laugh along with Mercury if and when he gets the “best” of me…

***

To learn more about the Nightlight Astrology School, or to follow Adam Elenbaas:

www.nightlightastrology.com

from:    http://realitysandwich.com/223712/revisioning-mercury-retrogrades-10-4-2014/

Your Color Vibe for Friday, 2/28

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Friday, February 28:    Golden Amber

Things are definitely looking better, but whether this is because they are actually better or because you have changed how you are seeing them is for you to decide.  There are more opportunities coming your way today.  You will also be getting some news about something that you are working on, a project, a sale, a proposal, who knows!  The day also begins some challenges.  They are there for you to decide just how it is you are choosing to go forward in this new energy.  There is a dimensional shift happening, and if you are choosing to move forward, then many so-called rules and expectations will be changing.  The disconnect between cause and effect will become more obvious so sometimes the totally irrational, illogical is the best way to deal with things.

PS:  Mercury Goes Direct Today, but while we are still in that energy, step back from too much activity.

Your Color VIbe for Wednesday, 2/12

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Wednesday, February 12:    Burnt Orange

Things are shifting today as you begin to become more aware of the dimensions at work.  You will be finding yourself not quite centered or into things when you are out and about, at work, dealing with people, in conversation, in your car.  It is a good day to be focused, especially in traffic, for some of the energetic bursts can make things seem to be what they really are not in the 3D.  This is a day of distraction.  It is a good time to make your distractions work for you.  Some of then are really in-between times when you are contacting more than the mere here and now.  If you find yourself moving into a shimmery kind of moment, then it is good to ground yourself.  If you are doing something that needs your attention in the 3D, ask for the moment to return, and know that the impression come back when you are able to deal with it.  This a kind of pivotal day in many ways, so when you are able take time to be with WHO you are in all that you are and to know your connectedness and open the conversation with Goddess/God, All That Is, the Universal Consciousness, however you deem to call it.  There are answers there.  Open, allow, and receive.

Note:  This Mercury Retrograde has started out on a very tough note and will continue so.  You can ride the waves peacefully and harmoniously if you will work with the energies that are there and not attempt to run counter.

Mercury Retrograde 11/24-12/14

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At 07:20 UT (Universal Time) Thursday, November 24th, 2011, Mercury the wise communicator—and universal trickster—turns retrograde at 20°06′ Sagittarius in the sign of the Archer, sending communications, travel, appointments, mail and the www into a general snarlup! The retro period begins some days before the actual turning point (as Mercury slows) and lasts for three weeks or so, until December 14, 2011, when the Winged Messenger reaches his direct station. At this time he halts and begins his return to direct motion through the zodiac.

Everything finally straightens out on January 1st, as he passes the point where he first turned retrograde. Mercury normally turns retrograde three times a year, but last year he turned tail four times, which is unusual, and his shadow phase was still active in early January 2011. The effects of each period differ, according to the sign in which it happens (see box for Retrograde Periods in 2011).

A planet is described as retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. According to modern science, this traditional concept arises in the illusory planetary motion created by the orbital rotation of the earth with relation to other planets in our solar system. It’s a bit like travelling on the road watching another car beside you: when the other car slows down, or you speed up, it looks as though the other car is moving backwards. Planets are never actuallyretrograde or stationary, they just seem that way due to this cosmic shadow-play. Click here for some neat graphics and more on the science of retrograde planetary motion.

Retrograde periods, although often problematic for us earthlings, are not particularly uncommon. Each planet retrogrades, except the Sun and Moon. Although a powerful astrological influence, Mercury is quite a small planet that travels at a relatively fast speed through the zodiac. Despite being the closest planet in our solar system to the Sun, Mercury is not always in the same sign as the Sun. This time Merc turns in Sagittarius while the Sun too is in Sagittarius and both of these celestials remain in Sagittarius till the end of the retro phase on Dec 14. However, by way of illustration, Mercury turned retrograde last time in Virgowhile the Sun was in Leo, then moved back to Leo on the 8th to join the Sun, but the solar orb moved into Virgo on August 23 (with Mercury by then back in Leo). Mercury turned direct in Leo on August 26 with the Sun still in Virgo, but Mercury remained in Leo till Sep 9, when he entered Virgo again. The Divine Messenger remained in Virgo until Sep 25.

 Fated Events

As a rule, the planets are more emphatic during their retrograde phases, marking periods of seemingly inevitable or fated events that relate to their spheres of influence. By fated events I mean those that circumstances thrust upon us, rather than matters we have consciously decided to implement or resolve. In particular, unresolved issues from the past tend to rear their heads and demand to be dealt with.

Retro phases present us with a series of events over which we seem to have little or no conscious control, relating especially to the sign in which the retrogradation occurs—although this need not mean that our responses are outside our control! By way of example, Mercury retrograde in Virgo (analysis; critical ability) awakens quite different sets of circumstances from those generated when he retrogrades into Leo (dramatic; generous; egocentric).

A retrograde period is best seen as a cycle, beginning when the planet begins to slow to a halt before travelling backwards through the zodiac, and ending when it returns to the point where it first paused. However, during the cycle, a planet’s energy is at its most powerful—and more likely to generate critical events of universal importance—when it is travelling slowly, and particularly when it makes a station: appearing motionless in the sky.

How conscious are you? Mercury’s stations reveal much! Stations occur twice during the cycle, beginning with the

  1. retrograde station near the start when Mercury first halts ready to hit reverse gear
  2. and then again midway through the cycle at the direct station, when the retrograde planet slows to a stop before moving forward again.

The direct station is the most powerful and can be used for maximum benefit. It is often thought of as the psychological peak of the retro phase, rather than the end, thanks to the shadow phase.

 Mercury Shadow Phases

Many astrologers consider that the “Mercury Shadow” begins between two and three weeks before the actual retro station; so the shadow phase begins this time on November 5, when Mercury passes the point of direct station for the first time in this cycle (see the date for the beginning of each shadow period in the table). Weird things often start to happen then, but the really noticeable peculiarities begin when Mercury slows significantly, a few days before the retro station.

The Mercury Shadow extends to the return date, something under three weeks after the direct station. Bear this in mind, because experience shows that the effects of the retro period are still marked during the shadow phase. Some of the most characteristic annoyances often occur just after Mercury makes the direct station, while he is crawling forward before picking up speed.

 What does Mercury affect?

In general, Mercury rules thinking and perception, processing and disseminating information and all means of communication, commerce, education and transportation. By extension, Mercury rules people who work in these areas, especially those who work with their minds or their wits: writers and orators, consultants, commentators and critics, gossips and spin doctors, salespeople, teachers, travellers, tricksters and thieves. Mercury also has an occult side, so healing, astrology and the transmission of spiritual knowledge are also in his area.

Mercury retrograde gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains. And all of these problems usually arise because some crucial piece of information, or component, has gone astray or awry.

It is not exactly wise to make important decisions while Mercury is retrograde, since it is likely that such decisions will be clouded by misinformation, poor communication and careless thinking. Mercury is all about mental clarity and the power of the mind, so when Mercury is retrograde these intellectual characteristics tend to be less acute than usual, as the critical faculties are dimmed. Make sure you pay attention to the small print!

THE KEY ISSUE

The key issue here is one of focus.

to read more, go to:   http://www.astrologycom.com/mercret.html#sign

A Bit on This Mercury Retrograde

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with Barbara Hand Clow and Gerry Clow in http://www.aquasoul.com/index2.html

This Mercury retrograde pattern really catches my eye, and I think there’s a message in it: As soon as Night Five opens August 18, and possibly during the Full Moon at the end of Day Five, the financial wizards will run out of rabbits to pull out of their banking hats, while the people get jangled by shocks. The New Moon is on the 1776 USA North Node, so the focus of the world collapse will be the US, not Europe. Aspects to Mercury from Pluto, Neptune/Chiron, and Uranus will help us turn to spiritual matters and seek love in our families, the only real solution for money problems. These aspects indicate we will be highly susceptible to mystical breakthroughs, as well as very good at trusting our spiritual guidance during August. There are to be seven exact squares between Uranus and Pluto during 2012 through 2015, the period when the world will create new ways of life for a viable future. This square is very close during July/August 2011 amidst the high rate of change during the Universal Underworld. Time acceleration will build through October 28, 2011 (when our world will experience the imposition of a new fractal and holographic field), and then the structural adjustments will be continual through 2015. We are transmuting our minds in a hot alchemical furnace as Neptune and Chiron soften Pluto and spiritualize this difficult process. Mars in 28 Gemini is right on the point opposite the Galactic Center (GC), where Venus was located during the previous New Moon. (In the July 1 reading I made an error and said it was on the GC, not opposite). So, Venus opposite the GC opened our consciousness to cosmic realms during the previous lunation, and now Mars activates this point. Mars (which also sextiles the New Moon) guards the visual pathway out of our Galaxy.

Saturn in Libra is in a wide opposition to Uranus in Aries, and the influence is moving off. However, Saturn in 12 Libra quincunxes Jupiter in 9 Taurus while Jupiter trines Pluto, which is a stabilizing factor during this New Moon. Jupiter in Taurus is grounded and creates good future, which helps us during this unstable phase. And, the trine from Pluto (exact July 7) aids the transformation of structures. For example, this trine is causing the financial wizards to be more aware of the destruction they may cause, so they are cautious and respectful for a change. The quincunx from Saturn in Libra approaching its third and last hit of the USA’s eighth Saturn Return (exact August 28) causes Americans to get real about wanting to be the last empire. The exact Jupiter/Saturn quincunx does not occur until May 2012, because Jupiter retrogrades back to early Taurus starting in late August. This Jupiter retrograde period (August 30 to December 25, 2011) will occur during the most intense financial jitters, so the structural changes are going to be deep. The best thing the Roman Empire used to do was declare a Jubilee every fifty years, when all debt was forgiven. Maybe this is what the whole world needs now? Thank the goddess Jupiter is in Taurus until June 2012! Regarding personal finance, Jupiter in Taurus says take care of your essential needs first, since choice will be very limited for most during the great restructuring of our world.

Day Five (July 31-August 17) begins one day after this New Moon and will be an exciting life-changing time; there is no doubt it will be overwhelmingly stressful. The Full Moon on August 13 will add astrological fuel to radical transformations. If at all possible, be as calm and receptive as possible, so that you can receive the spiritual directions coming to Earth during Day Five. Be present, and nurture the strength of courage in your hearts through unconditional love; only you can do it.

Interestingly, earlier in the post, his analysis of the astrological significators indicated the following:

Mercury in early Virgo is a big player this month. The chart is cast for Washington, DC, home of the current world empire, and Mercury is right on the mid-heaven. Mercury exactly opposes Neptune (and closely opposes Chiron); trines Pluto; and is quincunxed by Uranus. This means we will be visionary (Mercury opposite Neptune) about the huge transformations (Pluto), while extreme change (Uranus) will push and push. But Mercury’s action is much more intense than that, and the dynamic suggests the financial crisis is deepening. Mercury will exactly oppose Neptune late on July 28 (after this reading gets posted) and will turn retrograde on August 2 (when the US may begin to default); then Mercury opposes Neptune a second time on August 8. Mercury gets back to a third opposition to Neptune on September 8. This suggests the US will be struggling with either a default or a downgrade on its debt rating during this period; the negative elements of Mercury opposite Neptune are fantasies and illusions about resources.

to read the full report, go to:   http://www.aquasoul.com/index2.html