First Day of Mercury Retrograde

I’m touching wood because I have to say that even though today is the first day of Mercury Retrograde, it has been a lovely normal day. No delays, no difficulties with communications or electronics devices … no, wait a minute … now that I think of it, I have been having trouble with my cell phone. Well, there you have it. A problem with communication! That’s it, Mercury Retrograde!

Mercury Retrograde less than 12 hours away!

So, I tried to get all my Christmas Cards written and sent but just didn’t get them all done. However, I did manage quite a few. And now, in spite of my best efforts, Mercury Retrograde is almost upon us. Here is some advise from a wonderful long article MERCURY RETROGRADE, 10 to 30 December, 2010 by Sharita Star at Astro Dispatch on what to expect and how best to handle the Mercury Retrograde period from December 10th to 30th:

With Capricorn being the sign of reverence, conservation, caution, and ambition these are the virtues we are meant to adhere to the most as we gravitate to the actions of: REdoing, REassessing, REading, REvisiting, REjoicing, REaligning, REsting, REviewing, and by all means RELAXING! Once back in Sagittarius upon 18 December, our sense of perspective, honesty, optimism, and expansion urge our attention for those RE’s to unfold upon.

Furthering upon the caution, REsponding vs. REacting is the key to finding reward during this passage. There will be buzzes of changes that will undoubtedly occur while this Retrograde plays out. While we are wise to avoid important decisions and initiations at this time, our activity and behavior while in reassessment is imperative.

Look to the 05 deg Capricorn to 19 degree Sagittarius piece of your personal Zodiac Pie to see where reflection urges to find you under this upcoming passage. Remember as well…

The DO’s & DON’TS of Mercury REtrograde…

DO:
REmain Calm!
Expect CHANGE: in travel, routines, & schedules to occur suddenly
Give yourself extra time to get where you’re going
Spend time in the RE’s: Relax, Revisit, Reflect, Redo, REcharge!
Gravitate to REsponding vs. REacting!

DON’T:
“Freak out” when changes come up
Rush: speaking, driving, doing anything!
Sign important documents
Initiate anything new

Keep in mind, those events and situations that have occurred since 22 November- fall under the approach of this REtrograde. We tend to start to see the things that will undergo reassessment emerge over these couple weeks, in the specific areas of your life noted above. Equally before the shadow completes upon 17 January 2011, you will see further opportunities for final adjustments that need to be made from all action occurring within the retrograde period.

Mercury Retrograde only one day away!

Here is a sweet article, Mercury is Retrograde December 10th 2010, on the upcoming Mercury Retrograde from the website Aligned for Mercury Retrograde by Julie Simmons, Astrologer. I call it a sweet article because she’s very specific about this particular upcoming Mercury Retrograde and she gently advises, “The sense of ambition to achieve a goal is very strong but the time is not quite yet,” which I find really helpful.

Mercury is retrograde in Capricorn and goes back to Sagittarius when it goes direct. There are a lot of tangles in this particular retrograde period. It makes the retrograde station on December 10th very close to Pluto and the North Node as well as Mars. (Mars catches up between the 12th and 15th of December). This indicates that the best of intentions need to be patiently and seriously reconsidered. There could be reasons that we should do this which have to do with far reaching consequences. The sense of ambition to achieve a goal is very strong but the time is not quite yet.

As Mercury travels its retrograde path it will then square Uranus (December 21st) and Jupiter (December 22nd). This reminds us that we are a planet on the brink. On the 21st there is a visible Full Moon eclipse at 2:12 AM, in the last degree of Sagittarius. as well as Winter Solstice at 6:39 PM the same day. This is a strong statement of endings and beginnings. It suggests that we are feeling the tension of changes that must be made but the retrograde feeling is that we are not quite ready.

After Mercury goes direct many of these issues will hopefully resolve themselves with care and consideration of all involved parties.

Some Benefits to Mercury Retrograde

According to Cafe Astrology, there are some positive aspects to Mercury Retrograde. That’s what I like to hear! You’ll find the benefits described in the second paragraph of the following excerpt:

As the planet of communication, Mercury retrograde tends to breed a certain level of confusion. Mercury rules our “lower” mind–how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. Mercury has rulership over such things as speaking, negotiating, buying and selling, listening, formal contracts, documents, travel, the mail and shipping, and so forth. All of these areas of life are affected when Mercury is functioning in a sluggish state. Decision-making is challenged during Mercury retrograde. Needless to say, it is not advised to sign contracts, engage in important decision-making, or launch a new business. Delays and challenges are more probable with Mercury retrograde. It’s a time when being careless with money, our personal information, or paperwork can be costly.

There is a positive side to Mercury Retrograde. This period is best used for re-organizing and reflecting. We look at the world a little differently–through different filters–and can come up with some very important inner revelations. It may be difficult to communicate them under this influence, but not everything needs to be rationalized. Mercury retrograde periods can be times of heightened inner awareness, when meditation, benefiting from keeping a journal, reworking old plans, and reviewing past work are favored. Minor breaks in the mechanical aspects of communication can actually re-connect us to other means of communication, such as when there is an unexpected power outage and we’re forced off the computer and television, finding different and often satisfying ways to entertain ourselves.

It is important to note that there is absolutely no reason to suspend projects or anything of the sort during the Mercury Retrograde cycle. It’s not an ideal time to start new ones or to sign contracts, simply because a change of mind is very possible once Mercury turns direct. However, it’s a fabulous time to do some “outside of the box” thinking. Acting on our ideas, however, might be best left for a Mercury Direct period.

Mercury Retrograde May Get Explosive – December 2010

Here is an excellent article on the upcoming Mercury Retrograde posted on the Ezine Articles website by Janet Moon.

December 10th through December 29th, 2010.

Those who celebrate the Islamic and Jewish holidays will find that this year their major holidays will be over before Mercury’s retrograde begins. But, those who will be celebrating their holidays closer to the Winter Solstice had better get their holiday shopping done early. (Like in November!)

Planets don’t actually switch directions in their orbits. They just appear that way when they are passing the Earth or we’re passing them. When a planet is in retrograde, it is usually closer to the Earth in its orbit and exerts more gravitational force in our direction.

Well, little Mercury is passing between us and the Sun once again. Because his orbit is so fast, he does it 3 or 4 times a year. Typically when Mercury is in retrograde, issues from the past resurface. Past relationships are more likely to reunite during Mercury’s retrograde. Also, its easier to connect with the other side, and we may receive messages from past over loved ones in ways that are not always so subtle. Its not a good time to sign contracts or start something new, like a new job. Often things initiated during a Mercury’s retrograde with fizzle out.

This Mercury’s retrograde is going to be most difficult when Mercury is at his retrograde station and a few days before and after. When a planet is at retrograde station, it is at the point where it is changing from a forwards to a backwards motion. Mercury will cross Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth, on the New Moon, December 5th. There could be jealousy, arguments, transportation problems, and especially computer problems beginning then. Then from the last day of Hanukkah, December 9th, through December 14th, Mercury, Pluto, and Mars will all move to an exact conjunction! Mercury rules communication, transportation, and short trips. Pluto governs passion, criminal behavior, and transformation. Then add Mars, the warrior, who represents sex, energy, and fights! There will be all kinds of mishaps, misfortunes, and misunderstandings, especially on Monday December 13th.

Once Mercury, Pluto, and Mars begin to separate, and Mercury gets moving along his backward path (around December 15th), we should see the typical Mercury retrograde behavior. An old friend may call, or we may find ourselves digging out old boxes of stuff and sorting through them. Leave extra time for travel, and make sure important files on the computer are backed up.

There could be a second Mercury retrograde flare-up around December 20th and 21st. Mercury will be at negative aspects to Uranus and Jupiter while we have a Full Moon lunar eclipse. There could be a lot of misunderstandings and just plain selfish decisions in the air, and the eclipse will be amplifying them.

Mercury will turn direct on December 30th (29th in some areas), and luckily, we should find this transition almost uneventful.

Mercury’s retrograde path will begin at 5 degrees 56 minutes Capricorn, and will end at 19 degrees 39 minutes Sagittarius. If you have any inner planets (Sun through Mars) or any power points on your natal chart in Mercury’s path, you may want to consult an astrologer for more information.

Janet (Sparrow) Moon is a professional psychic and astrologer. You can visit her web site for more articles about upcoming events in astrology, and to read her daily astrology general tendencies forecast. (This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this bio are included.) http://www.sparrowmoon.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Moon

Mercury Retrograde only 4 days away!

That’s right! The planet Mercury will appear to be travelling backward – Mercury Retrograde – on Friday December 10th. If you’re in the Eastern Time zone, retrograde motion will begin at 7:05 a.m. I would imagine that Mercury appears to be slowing down right now.

You have four days to make those decisions you’ve been putting off. Otherwise, once we are in Mercury Retrograde, as Find Your Fate says:

The planet Mercury rules thinking and perception and all types of communication. When Mercury goes retrograde it gives rise to personal misunderstandings. There would be delays, flaws and hitches in all communication related areas like transportation,trade,etc. Astrologers advise not to make any important decisions while Mercury is retrograde, since it is likely that such decisions will be marred by misinformation, poor communication and careless thinking.

Mercury Retrograde compels us to revise … and revise again

Another excerpt from an article, this one from Alpha Life Trends, on Mercury Retrograde. The 4th Mercury Retrograde of 2010 will begin December 10th with Mercury in the earthy, business-oriented Capricorn, retrograding to the philosophical outdoorsy Sagittarius.

Because Mercury itself rules how we think, we will be adjusting everything related to thoughts, concepts, ideas, and communication, especially how technology and material elements play a part in the physical manifestation of ideas. When Mercury retrogrades, we find that many parts of our life are being revised. Often these revisions can be a surprise or throw us back a step. However, these revisions which occur during a Mercury retrograde, are a “course correction” and provide a stop gap measure until we can review situations. During this time of revision, change is compounded and confusion is created by our reactions to the ever-changing situations. Thus anything started during this time will ultimately be taken back or even revised further, making for a high-frustration time. This will be especially true with changing our minds, reviewing new ideas and our communication being improved and honed so not to be mis-understood.

I provided the highlighting in the quote above to emphasize this sentence to myself. I don’t want to get myself in trouble by wearing myself out trying to get something right when it won’t get right until after the Mercury Retrograde period.

Holiday Season Mercury Retrograde from the Celestrial Space Astrology Blog

Here are some great suggestions for the upcoming Mercury Retrograde between December 10 and 30th from Celestial Space Astrology Blog. I love that these ideas are very specific to the Holiday Season ahead – very helpful.

Best Way to Prepare & Suggestions:
The suggestion is: to finish up Holiday shopping in advance, writing out cards and any other preparation ahead of time. Due to Mercury being retrograde during most of December, people may encounter more mental stress and strain with delays or snags in travel. It is best to value the quiet time and appreciate the fact that the things slowing down will ultimately help you if you have the understanding. -Complete things that are left undone, projects, organizing, sorting out. -Triple Check all appointment details -Add extra space between appointments and while traveling -Back up your important documents, files and pictures onto an external hard drive. -Leave time to mediate, relax, dream and be in the non-linear space -Try not to force the mind to produce if you don’t have to. -Wait to sign important documents or make major decision until early January 2011. -Wait to purchase “brand new” electronic items if possible (renewal is fine) -Clear Away Clutter: old documents, paperwork, files & sort through the last 3 months. -Renew commitments. -Now is the time to review your thoughts, perceptions, words and actions to see if they are in alignment (Capricorn) with your goal(s).

The next moon cycle will include a Mercury Retrograde

Now, at the very end of this present moon cycle, is also the time to plan for the upcoming Mercury Retrograde from Capricorn to Sagittarius.

I found a good article on Mercury Retrograde at Astrology on the Web. Usually, Mercury Retrograde is described as a very difficult time for communication, travel, and writing – areas ruled by Mercury, for example, in this excerpt from the Astrology on the Web site:

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!

Since I am in the middle of making important decisions that will affect the rest of the year, I was encouraged to also read that:

It is also a time when matters begun under a previous retrograde period will come to fruition, or completion as the case may be.

In addition, firm decisions that have been previously made when Mercury is travelling normally through the zodiac may be implemented or finalised while Mercury is retrograde without too much worry, for experience shows that this can be done without undue problems arising.

Time to Plan for the New Moon

I like to plan my days by the circuit of the moon. Right now we are coming to the end of the present moon cycle. There will be a new moon on Sunday, December 5th.

Now, during the end of the old moon, is a good time to finish projects begun in this moon. Also, during these very last days of the old moon, to decide what to do in the next new moon.