These days, from the Earth's perspective, Mercury is
moving backward against the zodiac. On April 26, Mercury "stopped" or "stationed" (the term preferred by
astrologers) at 21 degrees of Taurus. It will head backward toward 12 degrees of Taurus, where it will stop again on
May 20. Then it will slowly begin to move forward, gaining more speed every day. On June 6, it will have
caught up to where it "stationed" at 21 degrees of Taurus, and it will be moving along at its usual brisk clip. And,
at that point, we'll all be ready to get on with the new.
What Should I Do During a Mercury
Retrograde?
So what should we be doing right now? That's easy. Just
take a look at your desk and see what needs to be completed. Look in your closet and see what needs to be recycled
or thrown out. Pick up your address book and think about who you haven't talked to for a long time. It's a wonderful
time for makeovers, do-overs, reruns, and renewals. If you've done something before, this is a great time to do it
again!
Suppose you want to travel and your choices are a
completely new destination, or one that you've had some experience with before? Choose the one you’ve been to
before. Or you're at the video store and it's down to two films, one you've seen before, or a new film, with no
outstanding recommendations, a shot in the dark, so to speak. You choose the one you’ve seen, of course. Or you need
new pants and there you are at the mall staring at five brands of designer jeans, one of which you are wearing at
the time.
What If I Bend the Rules?
OK, you've got the general idea. But what happens if you
dare to choose something new? Will the sky fall on you? Probably not, but 30 years of personal observations points
to the following. Either what you've chosen will need to be returned (like a pair of shoes that don't fit right),
the route you've taken turns out to be the wrong one, or whatever it is that you've chosen turns out to be something
you'll do again and again. Unfortunately, the first option turns out to be what happens more often than not.
Let’s give you a few examples of how this all works.
Years ago I bought a camera. Later, I decided to build up a camera system and so I purchased a few lenses and
accessories, while Mercury was retrograde! Everything worked out fine because I was building on a foundation that
had already been established. I also bought brand names and took no chances with unknown manufacturers. Another time
I took a 3-day backpacking trip in an area that I had never hiked in before. I planned a long hike in which I
retraced my steps, beginning and ending at the same place. It turned out great! There are plenty of things to do
under Mercury retrograde, so don't let the bad press cripple you.
Some dumb things have been done while Mercury was
retrograde. Mercury rules vision and, wouldn't you know it, NASA sent up the Hubble Telescope when it was
retrograde. Right away it needed some special space-age contact lenses, and later more adjustments. Some smart
things have been done, however, while Mercury was retrograde. New Star Trek movies, which are continuations of an
established theme, have been released during these periods with very good results. The David Letterman Show hit big
when it first aired late at night when Mercury was retrograde—but this was its second shot!
Don’t Panic!
Don't ever let anyone scare you with the words "Mercury
retrograde." Sure, it can be frustrating when there's a problem with your email, or your plane flight has been
cancelled, or the mechanic fixing your car finds a broken part that is back-ordered and won't be available for three
weeks. But think of how much you can accomplish by adjusting to the special meaning of this astrological signpost on
the road to the future. Think of this time as Mercury's down-time, a sleepy time for this normally wired and
fast-moving planet. We'll all be caught up and ready to move ahead in late February. Don't rush it!
For more information on Mercury and Mercury Retrograde,
check out the following articles:
Mercury Retrograde: A Modern Look by Rick Levine
The
Mercury Retrograde Story by Rick Levine
An
Interview with the Messenger by Alice DeVille
