KEishin
November 14th, 2005, 09:50 AM
Being that today is the day when Mercury has slowed (aka stationary or S/R, in astrologer shorthand) in order to start going backwards, I'd thought I'd share some more information on what Mercury Rx is and isn't. Many people have heard of this period, but very few know WHY it's considered so important. Even people who know nothing else about astrology know about Mercury Rx and sigh knowingly.
Three times a year people look fearfully to the skies for Mercury to start going backwards (the rest of the time people just tend to ignore him). Mercury doesn't really go backwards; the orbit of our planet makes it appear that way.
First off, why the heck does everyone panic so much about this transit? In ancient mythology, Mercury was the guy that ruled communication, all technology (granted back then it consisted of wagons, catapults and the like) traveling and sending knowledge. Mercury was frequently depicted as the winged fellow (you see him on the FTD logo even today) who trucked all over creation, delivering messages from the gods to the humans. For this reason, astrologers consider the planet Mercury as symbolic of the transmission of knowledge and ideas. So in our society today when clear communications are essential to our lifestyle, Mercury Rx is a little more frightening than it was 2000 years ago. There's so much more to go wrong! But there's plenty that this time is great for.
Typically people will over-extend themselves in matters governed by the sign of the retrograde. This causes rushing and corner cutting. That causes disasters to just wait in the wings. That's why all the overlooked details, ignored steps, skipped information will come out to bite the next available target! Americans especially live such a frenetic lifestyle that 'slow down' is often a foreign concept. Mercury retrogrades are the Universe's way of telling us to slow down and pay attention.
Many people want things to go on as normal during this time and perhaps even be more productive. But then somebody comes along and says 'Oh no, it's Mercury Retrograde, so I can't do (insert action)." And before you know it, like Chicken Little, you're convinced the sky is falling. Have you heard of paralysis analysis? That's where we get so worked up about the many different possibilites that we do nothing.
Common Myths:
1. My life (job, car, email, TV, computer, phone) will break now
2. Traffic accidents will happen/travel disasters occur
3. It's bad to sign contracts now
4. Nobody will understand what I'm saying (miscommunication)
1. I can assure you that email viruses don't propagate faster now, technology doesn't always break, planes don't fall out of the sky or miss their schedules more than usual, contracts are sucessfully signed and global commerce and daily life still go on. Life gets wonky with or without Mercury, but it doesn' go to pot MORE during this period than usual.
2. My advice, drive safely. But I always advise that, no matter the astrological conditions. :D There are some crazy drivers out there. I have also made many long journeys during a Mercury Rx without incident.
3. Well, anytime you don't read the fine print is going to suck. If you normally don't check the details, that won't change for the worse now.
4. Actually, all the fluff and nonsense is usually blown out of proportion by people. It's never as bad as the dire predictions some make. Okay, so maybe your phone breaks down, or you send that private email to your entire address book - that's life. You don't need a Mercury Rx to do something silly. (I'm silly all the time!) And maybe your kids will talk back to you now. When don't they?
Do you know what this period is good for? Organizing, revising, updating, revisiting ideas and wrapping up projects. Almost all of us want to get to this stuff, but very few of us know when we're going to get around to it. Mercury loves to feel organized, so mark these three times of the year on your calendar and then you can say 'I'll file my paperwork during this time." Couldn't hurt right? Whether Mercury retrograde has an effect, it makes a very convenient excuse to remind ourselves to get it together. Sometimes it's good to go back and read those old emails, bills, phone messages magazines, newpsapers or all the other things that clutter our lives. Also it's good to clean out your basement, fix your house, your car, update your website and many other activities.
Remeber that we are the ones who determine our destiny. As an astrologer I can warn about the roadblocks ahead, but it's up to you to climb them, step around them or sit at the bottom and mope.
PS: If you want to see the traditonal interpretation, and perhaps freak yourself out, head over here: http://www.astrologycom.com/mercret.html
Three times a year people look fearfully to the skies for Mercury to start going backwards (the rest of the time people just tend to ignore him). Mercury doesn't really go backwards; the orbit of our planet makes it appear that way.
First off, why the heck does everyone panic so much about this transit? In ancient mythology, Mercury was the guy that ruled communication, all technology (granted back then it consisted of wagons, catapults and the like) traveling and sending knowledge. Mercury was frequently depicted as the winged fellow (you see him on the FTD logo even today) who trucked all over creation, delivering messages from the gods to the humans. For this reason, astrologers consider the planet Mercury as symbolic of the transmission of knowledge and ideas. So in our society today when clear communications are essential to our lifestyle, Mercury Rx is a little more frightening than it was 2000 years ago. There's so much more to go wrong! But there's plenty that this time is great for.
Typically people will over-extend themselves in matters governed by the sign of the retrograde. This causes rushing and corner cutting. That causes disasters to just wait in the wings. That's why all the overlooked details, ignored steps, skipped information will come out to bite the next available target! Americans especially live such a frenetic lifestyle that 'slow down' is often a foreign concept. Mercury retrogrades are the Universe's way of telling us to slow down and pay attention.
Many people want things to go on as normal during this time and perhaps even be more productive. But then somebody comes along and says 'Oh no, it's Mercury Retrograde, so I can't do (insert action)." And before you know it, like Chicken Little, you're convinced the sky is falling. Have you heard of paralysis analysis? That's where we get so worked up about the many different possibilites that we do nothing.
Common Myths:
1. My life (job, car, email, TV, computer, phone) will break now
2. Traffic accidents will happen/travel disasters occur
3. It's bad to sign contracts now
4. Nobody will understand what I'm saying (miscommunication)
1. I can assure you that email viruses don't propagate faster now, technology doesn't always break, planes don't fall out of the sky or miss their schedules more than usual, contracts are sucessfully signed and global commerce and daily life still go on. Life gets wonky with or without Mercury, but it doesn' go to pot MORE during this period than usual.
2. My advice, drive safely. But I always advise that, no matter the astrological conditions. :D There are some crazy drivers out there. I have also made many long journeys during a Mercury Rx without incident.
3. Well, anytime you don't read the fine print is going to suck. If you normally don't check the details, that won't change for the worse now.
4. Actually, all the fluff and nonsense is usually blown out of proportion by people. It's never as bad as the dire predictions some make. Okay, so maybe your phone breaks down, or you send that private email to your entire address book - that's life. You don't need a Mercury Rx to do something silly. (I'm silly all the time!) And maybe your kids will talk back to you now. When don't they?
Do you know what this period is good for? Organizing, revising, updating, revisiting ideas and wrapping up projects. Almost all of us want to get to this stuff, but very few of us know when we're going to get around to it. Mercury loves to feel organized, so mark these three times of the year on your calendar and then you can say 'I'll file my paperwork during this time." Couldn't hurt right? Whether Mercury retrograde has an effect, it makes a very convenient excuse to remind ourselves to get it together. Sometimes it's good to go back and read those old emails, bills, phone messages magazines, newpsapers or all the other things that clutter our lives. Also it's good to clean out your basement, fix your house, your car, update your website and many other activities.
Remeber that we are the ones who determine our destiny. As an astrologer I can warn about the roadblocks ahead, but it's up to you to climb them, step around them or sit at the bottom and mope.
PS: If you want to see the traditonal interpretation, and perhaps freak yourself out, head over here: http://www.astrologycom.com/mercret.html