Spirit of the Mountain Astrology

Mercury Retrograde Cycle: March 22, 2018-April 15, 2018

Mercury, our closest planet to the Sun, turns retrograde March 22, 2018, at 16° Aries.  Because of his proximity to the Sun, you can only see Mercury as a morning or evening star: Low on the horizon just before sunrise or just after sunset.  Even then, the little trickster is a very faint light, but be quick as you are more apt to miss him rather than see him!

Mercury rules all forms of communication, transportation, and commerce.  Such includes, but are not limited to, phones, all electronic devices, mail, writing, debate, speech, marketing, exchange or barter, all forms of public transportation, cars, commutes, but also the healing arts and death:  He has the ability to cross boundaries assisting in the transition between the various states of reality/consciousness.  Highly adaptable he is the consummate negotiator or meditator:  His intellect and language is his sword.  Sometimes his love of curiosity can get the best of him; however, it is always because of his intellectual urge to express any avenue of thinking, speaking, learning or reasoning.  But keep your guard up with Mercury during his retrograde as the contrary side of his sword is adept in the art of deception; thus, his reputation as the trickster.  Mercury turns retrograde for three weeks approximately every four months, or about three times a year.  When Mercury changes direction he appears to stop still in the sky:  This is an optical illusion as we are viewing this planet’s orbit around the Sun from Earth and Mercury’s orbit is faster than Earth’s.

So what can we anticipate from Mercury during his retrograde?  Well, for starters retrograde Mercury can be defined as “not behaving” as he normally would.  It is not unusual for an unforeseen change in direction to occur in the areas and topics that he governs.  One thing is certain, Mercury’s usual course of action doesn’t apply, and becomes needy and demanding extra attention.  He “acts out” by utilizing the prefix “mis”:  Misunderstandings, mistruth, misfile, misanalysis, miscalculate…you get the idea.  Such results in the utilization of the prefix “re”:  Readjust, readdress, readopt, reaffirm, redo, reapply, resupply…now you got it!  On a societal level, during these periods it is not unusual for confusion, delays, or breakdowns to occur, or significant announcements relating to changes in the areas ruled by Mercury.  For example telephones, internet, networks, business (merchant/commerce) or transportation.  Although, perhaps, unpleasant this may not automatically be detrimental.  Mercury is communicating what and where to implement change.

Mercury retrograde can be challenging at times; thus, preparation can lessen your stress load.  You’ll want to “reevaluate” any plans you may have to purchase property, take a vacation, launch a website, etc.  Make sure everything is in order, but be flexible knowing that there could still be unforeseen delays, miscommunication, mental fatigue, confusion in decision making, etc.  We can’t stop living our day to day lives, but we can come into it fully armed!  Knowing what house Mercury is transiting in your chart gives you the best armor in terms as to where you may experience its effect, and to what areas your vigilance is best put to use.  As Mercury also rules learning what better action to implement during his retrograde cycle than to learn about your deeper inner workings of communication?  Consider using this timeframe to spend quiet time in deep contemplation about where and how you communicate best.  Mercury turns direct on April 15, 2018, at 4° Aries.  Until then, be Mercurius!

Copyright ©Patti Burgess 2018