What Happens During Mercury Retrograde - 7/20/05

The Meaning of Mercury Retrograde

Mercury, the planet of interpersonal communication, goes retrograde in Fire sign Leo at 10:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time this Friday, July 22. It stays in retrograde until Monday, August 15th at 11:49 pm.

What does that mean for you? Why should you be concerned about some big rock in the sky?

Well, each planet acts as a magnet or "lodestone" on our psyches, kicking up emotional themes and generating trends that are observable on a global level. It doesn't much matter whether you "believe" in astrology or not. The neat thing about astrology is that it is accurate with or without human input, which to me means it's something worth paying attention to.

Our bodies are composed of up to 70% water, and scientists determined long ago that the moon's gravitational pull creates the tides here on Earth. So why wouldn't the moon (and other planets) create effects on our own bodies, minds and spirits? Aren't we creatures of the Earth? Don't we have our own cycles, our own psychic "tides?" Astrologers have spent millennia monitoring these things, and they weren't all ditzy wizard types tripping out on one too many psychedelic mushrooms. "See that planet up there in the sky? I think it's talking to me! Hiccup!"

So Does Mercury Retrograde Mean the End of the World is Nigh?

Um, sorry to disappoint you Apocalypse surfers, but no. Oh, some astrologers ascribe all manner of "doom and gloom" to Mercury retrograde times. Cat got stuck up a tree? Mercury retrograde must have something to do with it. Tire blew out in the middle of rush hour on a busy freeway, ruining a good pair of pantyhose while you crawled on the ground changing it? That $%&ing retrograde! Your significant other decided to elope with Rolanda, a pre-operative transsexual he met at a yuppie bar? Well, who can blame him? He must have been under Mercury retrograde's spell. There's nothing you can do about it.

Wrong.

In case you haven't guessed it yet, I'm an astrologer who is crafted from a more contemporary "reality is what you create" mold. Yes, Mercury retrograde times can be challenging. There's no doubt about it, these periods can sometimes be tough going emotionally, financially, personally. But whenever things get especially dramatic in our lives, these are incredible opportunities to learn from the experience. Sometimes, we don't pay attention to pressing issues until they get REALLY pressing. And if glitches are happening and we're forced to interrupt our busy schedules, we have the perfect opportunity to sit and examine the underlying life patterns which may be out of whack and contributing to whatever momentary chaos we're experiencing.

I believe it was Socrates who once said, "The unexamined life isn't worth living." So make like a smartypants Greek philosopher and do some personal homework, will you? Stop whining and complaining. Roll up your sleeves and get moving.

Mercury Retrograde Not for the Faint-Hearted

Okay, I admit it. Mercury retrograde times are not for the faint-hearted. Usually, if a crisis is happening during Mercury retrograde, it invites us to take a long, hard look at ourselves. Sometimes what we see ain't pretty. But if we're not taking notice, how can we hope to get any better? How can we expect to experience improvement when we don't even know there's a problem in the first place? Mercury retrograde shines a light on all that is imbalanced in our lives, revealing those personal wrinkles or blemishes with harsh, unforgiving lighting.

But without enough light, how do we see?

Mercury retrograde offers us illumination unlike any other time of the year. Mercury retrograde periods happen for about three and a half weeks roughly three times a year, and the character of each one is influenced by the sign that Mercury is traveling through at the time.

Mercury is Now in the Sign of Leo

Leo energy is strong during this Mercury retrograde. The sun moves into Leo July 22nd, starting a four week power time for Leos and Fire signs Aries and Sagittarius. Venus is just leaving Leo and heading for Virgo on July 22nd, having recently stirred up some excitement in the romantic sector for Leos and Fire signs. And there's a new moon in Leo on August 4th at 11:05 pm Eastern Daylight Time. So there's a lot of frisky, progressive energy happening throughout this time, in spite of Mercury being in retrograde.

If you were born under the sign of Leo, Aries, or Sagittarius, this Mercury retrograde shouldn't affect you too much. So many other marvelous things are going on with the planets that you won't be overly disturbed.

If you were born under the sign of Aquarius, you could be pretty grumpy throughout this retrograde time. Leo is your opposite sign, and with tons of Leo action going on, you might not be at your best. You could experience a dark night of the soul during which you question the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. I'm not guaranteeing that you'll find the answers, but there's a good chance you'll at least identify the right question as Mercury continues on its retrograde journey.

Themes of Leo Surfacing During Retrograde

We'll all be inspired to take on some of the finer qualities of Leo while Mercury continues it passage through Leo - retrograde motion or not. Mercury is the planet of communication and interpersonal flow, and Leo is a dynamic and outgoing Fire sign. This is a good time for connecting with friends, having heart to heart chats, and doing some creative networking if you have a business venture you'd like to expand.

It's best not to sign any major contracts or do big deals during Mercury retrograde, mainly because there will usually be important details forgotten by one or both parties, and paperwork may have to be redone later on. Or the signees of a contract may realize post-retrograde that certain terms of the agreement were not in their favor, and there could be ill will because of this.

But this should be a great time to DISCUSS terms, to brainstorm, and to reach out to like-minded people who share your goals and dreams. Seek mentors, solicit feedback from clients or customers, and get communicating. Whether retrograde or not, Mercury will be helping you to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Don't Cower Inside Waiting for the Apocalypse

So don't cower inside, afraid to go out, sucking your thumb in anxiety during this Mercury retrograde. There's a lot of good that can be accomplished now. If you are brave enough to engage in some real introspection, taking stock of what is and isn't working in your personal and professional life, you could learn a lot throughout this retrograde period. And if you do have an amazing insight, take a moment to talk things through with a colleague, a close friend, or a supportive significant other. You could be on the trail of something marvelous and creative with imaginative Mercury kicking up sparks in dynamic Leo.

Mercury retrograde is what you make of it, and with positive Leo overseeing this retrograde time, there should be plenty of smiles to go around.