Yow! I pondered why these last 4½ Weeks were so intense, extraordinary and wildly out of sync / in sync for Family and Friends, (quase)Beau and Business. Mercury Retrograde became a buzzword – or buzz phrase – recently, and probably for good reason. This is not something I have studied or paid attention to in the past, but after some incredibly exceptional & phenomenally difficult days this past month, it makes more sense that Mercury Retrograde could have been effecting things than to trying to interpret the outré events. Mercury’s shadow period began April 4th and was in retrograde from April 17/18th through today, May 11th. Mercury’s shadow period will end May 28th. My odyssey began on April 4th. Today/May 11th the odyssey officially ended and I know I was undoubtedly released from the intense and temporary illusion. I think we can all breathe again as the illusion of Mercury appearing to move backwards ceases, and (from our point of view on earth) it resumes a forward movement in the sky again. I think Mercury Retrograde is a state of mind and perception, but the brain has a powerful force over us – positively, negatively or otherwise. Thanks to a friend for pointing this out to me. Perhaps some day an astrophysicist will publish a paper proving there are quantum repercussions of Mercury Retrograde. Until then, i will not underestimate, and duly note, Mercury Retrograde dates~sb

Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde in Taurus: April 18 to May 11, 2010

What is Mercury Retrograde? Three, and sometimes four, times a year, the planet Mercury appears to be moving backwards in the sky for a period of approximately 3 weeks. “Appears” is the key word here, because, technically speaking, no planet actually moves backwards in their orbits around the Sun. In fact, they don’t even slow down. Retrograde-station-direct cycles are essentially illusions thatresult from our point of view from Earth, simply because the Earth is also orbiting the Sun at a different speed thanthe other planets. Mercury turns retrograde more frequently than any other planet. It can never be more than 28degrees from the Sun, and whenever it reaches its furthest distance from the Sun, it changes direction.

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.