Mercury Retrograde

For millennia, astrologers and astronomers alike have observed that, on a regular basis, the planets (except for the Sun and Moon) seem to stop on their path through the Zodiac and back up. Then this reverse movement stops and the planet resumes its forward or “direct” motion. This phenomenon is referred to as RETROGRADATION.

In the general public’s understanding of astrology, one of its most well known effects is what is called the “Mercury Retrograde.” It has to do with terrestrial or earth bound behaviors during the period of time of the apparent backwards motion of the planet Mercury. The late British astrologer, Vivian E. Robson, proposed the following analogy to illustrate this apparent motion:

"Picture two trains side by side, heading the same direction. Both are accelerating as they leave the station, but the one you are riding is traveling just a bit faster than the other. If you look out your window it appears as though the other train is backing up even though, in reality, both trains are moving forward. As Earth turns and moves through space, Mercury is also turning and moving in an orbit around the Sun. Planetary orbits are not perfect circles so speeds vary dependent upon the distance to the Sun. The different relative speeds produce the retrograde phenomena."

As seen from Earth, (most of the time) Mercury moves through the sky in the same East-West, forward direction as the Sun. However, when it is closest to Earth, Mercury appears to turn backwards. This period usually lasts for three or four weeks. This year will see 3½ of these Mercury retrograde periods, the second of which is happening right now. It will last until May 31^st.

The planet Mercury influences communication, transportation, education and thinking. During Mercury retrograde weeks thinking either somehow lacks clarity or it is turned inwards, becoming introverted. In the outer world, while Mercury is retrograde, familiar channels of communication become tangled and confused. It is at these times that Mercury becomes “the wretch,” corresponding to all manners of confusion and muddled thinking.

EXPECT delays and changes in plans. Schedules flounder uncontrollably. This time is best used for research, problem solving, re-evaluation and rethinking old solutions.

DO NOT initiate or finalize projects during this phase. Hold final decisions or approvals until Mercury goes direct. The contents of verbal or written contracts and plans made now may seem inadequate or unclear later. Major repairs or surgery during this time may be incomplete or plagued by unexpected repercussions. You may want to allow extra time to get where you are going, especially if yours is a first time destination. Nor is this a time to sign papers, buy, sell, divorce, marry, or fly - if you can at all possibly avoid it!

DO double check and reconfirm every detail. Typed or written errors are easily overlooked, paperwork mislaid and appointments forgotten. It is good to have a sense of humor during Mercury retrograde for you will surely need one in order to cope with the unexpected adjustments you'll have to make. On the other hand, people born when Mercury was retrograde will find this time easier to deal with since its irregular movement feels more natural to them.

For those of you who like to plan ahead, here’s the Mercury Retrograde calendar for the next time the Wretch is on the loose.

Now, just when you thought you had had enough bad news about Mercury’s retrograde, here comes yet another blow.

I suggest that an extra note of caution is appropriate regarding the retrograde, which will not be found in most of the warnings associated with Mercury’s retrograde periods. This has to do with what is known as its retrograde “shadow periods.” Mercury, whose symbol is the speedy winged messenger, is normally the fastest moving planet, aside from the Moon, traveling as much as 2° 12’ per day. However, as it approaches the end of its direct period, it gradually slows its forward motion until it falls below 1° a day. This marks the start of its first shadow period. The smooth flow of information begins to falter. Regardless of obstacles, pressure is felt to maintain a pace of orderly progress, while second thoughts and messy alternatives emerge. This slowing down “shadow” period may last for as few as 7 and as many as 18 days and in actuality has the same effect on earthly affairs as the full-on retrograde.

As Mercury goes direct again it picks up speed, but is still moving at a relative snail’s pace. This second shadow period will typically occupy two additional weeks until it returns to the degree at which it went retrograde, once again accelerating to more that 1° a day. The full effect of Mercury's retrograde will finally be over and logical communications will begin to prevail. Problems generated during the retrograde will now be resolved. However, issues that do not reach a resolution in the weeks immediately following a retrograde may recur during the next retrograde Mercury period.

It may be informative to look back at the last time Mercury was retrograde. That period began on January 5th and extended through February 21st of this year, with the period of greatest intensity from January 12th to February 1st. During that six or so weeks you should have experienced the type of difficulties mentioned above. How did “he” treat you then? If the problems were acute, then perhaps you have Gemini or Virgo rising or have your Sun in one of these signs. This would be because Mercury “rules” both of them giving it more influence over these two mental signs.

The current Mercury retrograde period began on April 26th, when it started to slow in its direct motion. It stopped its forward motion altogether and turned retrograde on May 7th and will remain retrograde until May 31st when it once again resumes its direct motion. It comes to its "station" again on June 15^th. Try to get everything contractual done before May 7^th and put off those things that you can until June 15^th. However, you can expect the kind of snafus mentioned above, so let your sense of humor take over, stay centered and know that "this, too, shall pass." And remember that during any given year, Mercury will be retrograde or in its shadow for approximately 20 weeks. That’s almost 40% of any given year! There’s a lesson to be learned here: always pay attention to the details or, as any carpenter will tell you, measure twice - cut once.

When we think of Mercury retrogrades we usually associate His Wretchedness with gumming up the works of the relatively few items mentioned previously. Not so fast. One of the books of the "Bible of Astrology" is Rex Bil's The Rulership Book. In short, it associates the signs, planets and houses with pretty nearly all of the activities, circumstance and characteristics know to man. Over 900 of them, as a matter of fact.

absentmindedness	accountants	accuracy
ad writers	air travel	announcers
architects	attorneys	Automobile trips
Bills	breath (bad)	brethren
broadcasters	brothers & sisters	busses
carrots	certificates	charts
all means of communication	conceit	contracts
crafts and craftiness	crazy people	diction
dictation	education and educators	essays
sense of feel	food sellers	gossip
grammar	girls	hair
harvests	business forms	humor
ingenuity	insomnia	juveniles
literature	logic	looms
medical professions	memory	mirrors
mischief	morons	money
naturopaths, naturopathy	needles	office machines
orators	things that come in pairs	oxygen
young people	perjury	pilfering
postage	professors	prose
public speaking	quizzes	railroads
records	sarcasm, satire	secretaries
selling and buying	self-expression	sewing
slander	telephones	twins

The lesson from all this remains the same: measure twice; cut once, especially during Mercury Retrogrades and their shadows.

Part IV: Mercury’s Peak Weeks

Now Mercury is really not all that bad a character as far as zodiacal personages go, even considering the havoc he can wreak during the retrograde weeks. As a matter of fact, he’s usually quite helpful, and in particular during what I call his “Peak Weeks.”

If you’ll recall, I mentioned above that there are times when it will be traveling at more than 2° per day. This swift movement falls pretty much between the retrograde weeks and can last from seven days to more than three weeks. It is during these very few days of any year that just about any intellectual pursuit will turn out well.

Here are your two remaining sets of Mercury’s Peak Weeks for this year:

These are weeks that will see communication flow freely and clear headed thinking. They are the days when your mind should turn to outer pursuits and expansive ideas. If you have an idea which you would like to present, to your boss, the public or that special someone, take advantage of the energy flowing during these times. Think of it as catching the crest of a wave, of being in the zone, of “being there.” Getting on top of this energy allows you to feel what it is like to live up to your intellectual potential.

THIS IS THE TIME to initiate or finalize projects. Go forth confidently with final decisions and seek approvals. The contents of verbal or written contracts and plans will be up to snuff and clear. Major repairs or surgery can be safely completed. Now is this a time to sign papers, buy, sell, divorce, marry, or fly. In short, now is the time to go for it.