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.

Green Tea Ceremony

My daughter Miriam Balsley shared a Tea Time Ceremony with me during her recent visit. I learned about the ceremony while in Richmond, British Columbia, which has a huge Chinese population. I’ve heard it said that in Richmond you can get the best Chinese food outside Hong Kong. We shared fresh highly antioxidant green tea.

My mom was kind enough to include me in an abbreviated Tea Time, or Green Tea Ceremony that the Chinese still use today when drinking Green Tea. Sacred Green Tea! Copyright (c) 2010 Miriam Balsley

Astrologer David R. Roell on the 2012 Doomsday Prophecies

As I said yesterday, the Astro America website has a page on 2012 Doomsday Prophecies, including a list of books on the astrology aspects of 2012 prophecies.

David R. Roell, who represents Astro America ssuggests that “Before you get sucked up into this [2012] malestrom” consider that as far back as recorded history, there has never been an end of the world, not even on the August 13, 3114 B.C. date generally considered the start of the Mayan calendar.

2012 Assessment on Astro America Site

While buying my Jim Maynard’s Pocket Astrologer, I scouted around the Astro American website and found, to my surprise, a commentary on 2012. Interested in reading a view of the December 21, 2012 date and Mayan prophecy, I digested the article. However, I felt disappointment to find merely opinions on 2012 – and that the end of the world could not possibly happen. Not for astrological reasons, but for logical reasons. On retrospect, the article was interesting and brought up points I hadn’t thought about or read before.

2011 Pocket Astrologer

Every year I get a Jim Maynard’s Pocket Astrologer. I love the small, flat sized calendar packed with astrological information. I can keep it in my purse, pocket or backpack and consult it for void of course moon, planetary aspects, and woe of woes, Mercury Retrograde, coming up December 10th to 29th, by the way.

This year, because the store I usually buy it from is closed, I ordered the astrological calendar on Jim Maynard’s website, Astro America.

Happy Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for. This morning I woke up to see an intensely blue-red sunrise under a bank of clouds. The weather prediction forecast rain. However, as the day progressed, the sun blazed down on the carpet of leaves surrounding our house. It only rained about a half hour just before sunset. The rest of the day was gorgeous. That’s something to be thankful for.