Mercury Retrograde… Stay Calm and Hang On!

I’m a casual astrologer. Yeah, yeah, I know. But despite growing up believing it was witchcraft, and now being surrounded by people who think it’s a ticket to Crazy Town, I find it a fascinating lens through which to interpret my world. So, whether you want to pray for me, or slap me upside the head, think about this: Is your life currently a crap-sandwich?  Is everything difficult? Everyone against you? Well, it’s possible – crack your mind open now – that this isn’t just all about you. Maybe the Universe is sending you a wake-up call.

The following is an excerpt from star astrologer Jeff Jawer, on the current Mercury Retrograde, with occasional pithy remarks by me:

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I hate my computer. Traffic’s a disaster. No one understands me.

The communication planet Mercury turned retrograde on Monday, October 21 and will continue moving in reverse until November 10. (From Roxanne: retrograde planets aren’t actually going backwards, of course; they only appear to do so because of their speed relative to the speed of Earth.) Astrologers describe this event as a period when we tend to make more mistakes. Misunderstood messages, misinterpreted information, technology, and travel troubles are expected more frequently during this period. However, this is an extra special Mercury Retrograde cycle that presents additional problems as well as unique opportunities.

Yay. Extra special mistakes. I can’t wait.

Mercury’s occurrence in mysterious Scorpio can drive minds deep below the surface to uncover hidden fears and desires — which can be painful — but is excellent for gaining psychological insights. It’s vital to work with these uncomfortable truths rather than sweeping them under the rug.

Nobody loves me. Everybody hates me. I think I’ll go out to the garden and eat worms. (Anyone else remember that song?)

Trust is at a premium in this sometimes suspicious sign, so don’t share your secrets or those of others unless you have complete confidence in the person with whom you’re talking. Discretion is a must, and when in doubt, keep intimate information to yourself until you can express it in complete safety.

As if that’s not enough, Mercury meets stern Saturn, which is in the midst of its two-year stay in Scorpio. This triple transit of mental Mercury and demanding Saturn can force the mind into narrow spaces and manifest itself as depression or doubt. (Thank you very much, Universe.) Yet the focus of these aspects can also filter out distractions and enable us to deepen thinking and master critical details.

Argh! Change?? WHY?

A key quality of any Mercury Retrograde is that it offers second chances to correct errors, reconnect with people, and absorb information that we didn’t get the first time around. Doing this in dense, dark Scorpio requires us to stay calm in what can feel like threatening situations. True, change is inevitable and in many cases it’s scary, yet the constant movement of the planets is a reminder that life is a dynamic process and that there are times like these when standing still is more dangerous than making changes.

Alright, already, Mercury! I’m paying attention! Now, can Windows 8 start making sense?

Mercury in Scorpio represents the mind of a skeptical researcher. It’s about using negative thinking to get positive results. Still, Mercury is a trickster and is especially adept at fooling us when retrograde and in mysterious Scorpio. Therefore, this is a time to learn – or relearn – that thoughts and reality are not the same thing. Our perceptions can mislead us with false clues and erroneous assumptions, which is where the value of a doubting mind comes in. We can and should question facts and conclusions based on what we see and hear.

You know what they say about assumptions. They make an ass out of you.

The truth lies in our emotions. Those feelings that lie below the level of conscious thought are powerful and meaningful forces. Perhaps we can use this Mercury Retrograde period to step back from the obvious to sense, feel, and connect with the unexplainable mysteries in ourselves and the world around us. Since our primary explanations about human existence are either dimmed by religious or limited by scientific analysis it’s time to open new channels of information. Don’t let doubt and fear keep us from discovering the deeper answers that we need to face the challenges of these transformational times.

Enlightened, emotionally aware zombies, vampires and werewolves ahead?

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Go here to read the full article, sans pith and pathos.

And Happy Halloween, everyone!