WHAT DOES MERCURY RETROGRADE MEAN?

Thank you for your timely question Julia.  Mercury just went retrograde for the 1st time in 2013 early Saturday morning at 4:41 AM, EST.  It will be retrograde until St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 at 4:03 PM, EDST.  It goes retrograde approximately 3 times a year.  In 2013 it goes retrograde on June 26 and forward on July 20, and the third time on October 21 and forward on November 10.

Retrograde is from the Latin which means to step backwards.  According to Webster’s fine dictionary: “retrograde” means moving or tending backward.  In Astrology it means having a direction of motion opposite to that of the earth or of the planets around the sun.   It refers to only an apparent backward motion of all the planets in their orbits.  It is due to the different speeds of the planets in relation to our position on the Earth.  It is similar to two airplanes of two different speeds passing each other in the air.  A jet would make a single engine Cessna look like it was going backward.

The Sun and Moon NEVER GO RETROGRADE.  Therefore the people born with their Sun in Cancer or Leo will never have the ruler of their Sun Sign going retrograde.  This is a bit of an advantage.

From ancient times Mercury was called the “Messenger” of the Gods.  He is NOT the one who creates the message, just the one who delivers it.  So when it looks like he is going backwards in motion many messages on planet Earth tend to come through garbled.   It will affect all forms of the written and spoken words.  For example the choosing of a new Pope will be unusually difficult.

Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo so anyone who has their natal Sun in those two Signs are usually more affected by Mercury retrograde than others.  They may feel like their mind is muddled without any use of drugs. If you Moon, Ascendant, or Midheaven is in either of those two Signs you will also be affected.  Your health should be watched if your Ascendant is in Gemini or Virgo. Your career should we approached with extra care if your Midheaven is in either of those two Signs.  Read and re-read any e-mail you send at work.  Do nothing in haste in regard to words. 

Mercury rules the mind, communications, the lungs and intestines, all forms of travel: car, bicycle, train, plane, and ship and much more.  Since Mercury is currently going retrograde in the Zodiac sign of Pisces which is water, there will be more accidents with shipping and/or bridges in the next three weeks.  Snow and ice are actually H2O so be prepared!  Troublemaker Saturn is in Scorpio which is fixed water, read that as ice.

It is best if you can avoid doing the following in the next three weeks.  Don’t start new projects, review old ones and make adjustments. Don’t sign contracts because there will often be hidden flaws.  If you do sign it most likely will need to be renegotiated after Mercury goes forward.  It is not a time to open a new business that deals with deliveries, trucks, fleets of cars or planes.  If you can avoid it don’t buy electrical equipment or cars or trucks.  Congress will have difficulty.  They will not meet their deadline.  X-rays will often be misread.  Ironically, the symbol for retrograde is very similar to the symbol for a prescription drug.  If you need the drug go for it, but far too many prescription drugs do harm to your body or the wrong prescription is ordered. Yes, the Doctors do actually make mistakes!  Your body is alive and natural.  It did not come from a test tube so what comes out of a test tube very often is toxic to your body.

Expect delays in all forms of travel the next 3 weeks. Don’t travel unless it is just necessary for your job.  While traveling be extra alert for the unexpected.  Decisions made during the next three weeks will often have to be adjusted once Mercury goes direct.

I would also not recommend you get married because that is a legal agreement.  Venus also goes retrograde but not as often as Mercury.  When Venue is retrograde it is NOT A TIME TO FALL IN LOVE OR GET MARRIED.  But that is a topic for another blog.

The following is a list of some things that are USEFUL or GOOD to do while Mercury is going retrograde.  It is a good time for meditation, dreaming, and wishing what you would like to change in your life.  The time for action is after Mercury goes direct.  It is a good time to proof read your past actions.  It is a time to sort and pitch what is just clutter in your life.  That may even include some people or jobs!  It is good to reflect on your past endeavors and take stock if the outcome was worth your effort in time and/or money or a pound of flesh!  Maybe a new direction is warranted. Wait to implement any new plans after Mercury is forward in motion. 

Many thanks to Julia!