Mercury Retrograde in Aries March 19th through April 12th

Here are some quick thoughts on this current Mercury retrograde, since people have been asking me about it. Mercury, the communicator planet, went retrograde in the sign of Aries on March 19th and doesn't go direct until April 12th.

Mercury rules that part of us which wants to communicate, to reach out and to connect with others, and when this planet is in retrograde, we can find it harder to make those connections. And with Mercury traveling through the impatient, passionate sign of Aries, we could find it especially frustrating if our emails go awry, our voice mails remain unanswered, or our date fails to show up. Tempers could be high since Aries is a red-blooded Fire sign.

The secret during this time is to chill, to breathe, and to realize that your life isn't likely to end just because certain things are delayed a bit. In fact, this is a great time to take a break from the rat race and treat yourself to a tiny vacation (or a big one, if you can afford it!) Watch a funny movie, surround yourself with positive people, and realize that life is an absurd cabaret - and we are all players in it.

On a practical level, Mercury retrograde reminds us to slow down, to gain control over our emotions, and to be more compassionate towards others. It's also not the best time to start a new job, buy a house, or get married, if you can help it! And if you are taking any of those big steps during this Mercury retrograde period, give yourself extra room in your schedule and be well-prepared. Have a lawyer or a legally-savvy friend look over those agreements before you sign them. Phone your caterer, your DeeJay, and your hair stylist before the wedding to make sure that everyone is on the same page and is working from the same timetable.

Apply a little extra effort, and you can easily avoid retrograde snafus. Remember, the planets don't control our destiny. They just stir up energies that sometimes challenge us. It's up to us to meet those challenges with a positive attitude and an unbeatable spirit.

And, most importantly of all, don't forget to BREATHE!