Mercury Retrograde…Using It Wisely

Mercury Retrogrades can be found in the birth horoscope, by progression or as a temporary occurrence about three times a year that last for approx three weeks at a time. If you were born with a Mercury Retrograde you will not think like other folk. In fact you will probably feel quite misunderstood most of the time yet at the same time you are the person who provides valuable insight to a problem and are capable of thinking outside the square! When Mercury goes retrograde by progression developmental issues will surface and it is probable that your communication style will alter or alternatively you may misunderstand others. Typically, you become more measured in your comments or appear withdrawn. Usually, it is the transits of Mercury Retrograde that most people, including astrologers refer to as causing all round havoc. That is not necessarily the case!

As the fundamental purpose of astrology is to help us understand about the constructive use of energy, Mercury Rx periods can be very useful it just depends on the choices you make.

Mercury Retrograde: Examples of What Can Happen

In general, Mercury Rx is usually associated with silly mundane things going wrong. Mail gets lost and turns up weeks later, communications between people get confused or misinterpreted. You can find yourself playing telephone tag with others which can be a nuisance, particularly if you are in a situation where the timing is critical. A simple trip to the shop for milk may produce unexpected delays, etc. Mechanical problems are likely to appear during the retrograde period and disappear after it reverts back to direct motion. Computers and software programs can crash and do peculiar things or you may not receive email that goes into cyberspace. Business will either be quite or frantic and there tends to be no in between. Whether in business or just going about your daily life stop and consider the difference between activity and productivity. You may be busy producing nothing! Alternatively slowing down and focusing may produce considerable quantum leaps forward?

For those of you in sales, many a great looking deal will fall through. Be a little less eager to close the deal and focus on uncovering more specific client needs. They will have more than they have shared. Present relevant options. Build on that, don’t appear too eager and the results will be longer lasting as will the relationship. Conversely if you are presented with a deal…don’t sign up till Mercury changes direction.

If you’re in the business of doing presentations, a typical problem during a Mercury Rx is that microphones won’t work for example, there may be static and feedback through the sound system and the timing of the program will be out. Ideally, I would recommend that you avoid doing presentations during this time OR double and triple check the audio, the visuals, and function arrangements and then have a contingency up your sleeve!

If people make commitments to you during the period it will help if you drive the process a little. Check in with them to ensure keep up their part of the agreement and remain committed to the same outcome. Make all parties have the same understanding of what the outcomes are as they may change their mind and forget to let you know! Don’t be surprised if this happens. I have seen many managers ‘push’ to have a proposal on a matter only to find it incomplete or the brief misinterpreted

Mercury Retrograde can create troubles for travelers so I usually recommend that people check their travel arrangements. Things can and will go wrong if the planning of the trip occurred during a Mercury Rx, e.g. flights get changed, delays can occur or you may arrive at your destination to find you have no accommodation. The lesson is to not leave anything to chance! Conversely, I had a friend who was on an international flight and got upgraded to business class and could hardly wait to call me from the departure lounge to let me know. I was quite envious and then it happened to me on a recent trip to Europe at the time Mercury was retrograde and turning direct! It was great! However, prior to that we had awful time getting through security with my bag being checked three times.

If the planning of your trip occurred during 'normal' mercury motion and the trip takes place on Mercury Rx minor delays and longer flight times may result...just hang loose is the best advice.

Mercury Retrograde: Constructive Use of Energy

Knowing how to use the energy is the key. Knowing how the Natal Horoscope connects to any particular individual is also important as the Mercury Rx period will affect the general population and will be more powerfully felt if the individual is linked to it in some way.

Mercury Rx periods enable one to think, plan and contemplate. I recommend that people use this time to gather details, facts and alike about their ideas. Explore! Drill down and uncover what often people aren't telling you up front, particularly if they commenced a 'deal' or ‘proposal’ during the retrograde period!

One should never sign a contract...it will often fall through and there will always be some sort of problem with either the contract or the item! For example the house next to us was up for sale and had been for some time, frankly it seemed over priced but they finally got a contract....Mercury went Mercury Rx and the sale fell through! I knew a person who purchased a photocopier on a Mercury Rx and there was a problem with the copy of the entire lease period. In addition there were constant problems with the leasing company sending demands for late payment when this was, in fact, not the case. Ever bought a car that was a lemon...?

The Mercury Rx period represents focused energy and allowing creativity to manifest itself in the form of ideas, detailed planning and preparation is the best use of this time so that when Mercury changes direction one is ready to move into execution. It’s a great time to get into or back into meditation. Slow down, focus, refocus and or find clarity. Get centered. Further, its great time for a personal stock take or take time to tweak those goals in light of what you may discover during the Mercury Rx period. This is great use of the energy. If you are in business it’s an excellent time to look at business performance and do some strategic planning. Just don’t try to execute.

The reason people get so frustrated during this time is that they are not, in tune with the universes natural rhythms and want to keep pushing to make things happen. After all, were conditioned that way. They feel as if they are driving a car with the brakes on yet the lesson is one of patience and most of us are not good at that!

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