Friday 3/22/2018 & the Weekend: Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide; Action & Power Plays

TGIF!

So much for my plan to write more often this week.  A dear friend is in the hospital. That’s been my focus in recent days.  To Avid Readers who are Reiki healers, chanters and senders of love and light, I invite you to send some healing beams to Avid Reader Frank. He was one of the first Avid Readers of this forecast, and his constant support in those early days kept me inspired to keep on writing.  He’s a sensitive soul — highly intuitive — and I know he will sense you are thinking of him. Gratitude.

Big news on Thursday (yesterday) was Mercury turning retrograde at 8:19 PM ET. I hope you BACKED UP COMPUTERS and other electronic devices. Here’s what else you need to know about coping with Mercury retrograde:

Even if you know nothing else about astrology, you may have heard the term “Mercury retrograde” before. Often it’s accompanied by curses and groans, and that’s a shame. Yes, all of the flights on American Airlines might be grounded because of a computer glitch. Or the entire country of Finland might be offline because there’s a transportation strike. Or some trickster might set off all the tornado warning alarms in Dallas — those are all prominent news stories that happened during recent Mercury retrogrades. But there’s much good that can be accomplished when the Messenger Planet appears to be retracing its steps.

Mercury—which in the language of astrology refers to mindset, travel and communication—will appear to move backward through the sky from March 22nd until April 15th. It’s not really moving backward, but that is how it looks from our perspective here on Spaceship Earth. Mercury goes retrograde 3-4 times each year, for a period of 22 days. This time it’s backing up in Aries, a sign that falls down stairs because it’s faster than walking. Plenty of impulsive outbursts that one might live to regret?

Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrogrades are no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. You know what that gets you? BURN OUT. We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down. And as you slow down, it is vitally important that you FOCUS.

When Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said. Use your FOCUS and double check important details, like whether the restaurant you’ve chosen for a meet-up is still in business. Or whether it is booked for a commercial shoot or a private party — all of which have happened to me during Mercury retrogrades.

If you are looking for a job, Mercury retrogrades are a perfect time to reach out to people from your past. Mine your address book and trust that your contacts will be happy to hear from you. However, do not be frustrated if your target is away on vacation or keeps rescheduling meetings. Also, triple check your emails and resumes before you hit “send,” as there is a higher probability of typos and other sloppy snafus.

In your business, you’ll need to make sure all communications have been received and are clearly understood. Be mindful of the higher potential for communications equipment to go on the fritz. MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE BACKED UP. Also be aware of a higher than average probability for delays in shipping and travel arrangements. For this you will need an extra dose of patience.

You may also find it profitable to REview a project from the past. Maybe you shelved it then, but now is the time to REconsider. However, be advised that a spontaneously, “out-of-the-blue” idea for advancement may not be so sound when Mercury turns direct. This is why the conventional wisdom cautions against finalizing and/or signing contracts on deals during Mercury retrograde. An exception might be supported if you are REnegotiating or RElocating. If you absolutely must close a deal, triple check everything. The key is not to RUSH.

This is a good time to schedule a corporate REtreat. Any activity that affords the opportunity to REview past performance is encouraged. REsearch on a new strategy is also favored.

Mercury retrogrades are not favored for launching a new website or a new communications systems. There is a higher than average probability of technical glitches and confusion. REvisions, however, are A-OK.

In general, adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter. Avoid making major purchases (especially electronic ones). Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the papers. Rumors have a higher probability of spreading during Mercury retrogrades. Avoid losing patience — that’s a big one.

When in doubt, be silent!

Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating….and REviewing your life with your astrologer.

The Sabian Symbol for this Mercury retrograde is fascinating: “two prim spinsters.” Harmless enough, until Sabian Symbol Guru Blain Bovee gives us his two cents: “two unmarried proper ladies spinning yarns of mutually reinforced personal realities….a reality spun out of a need to compensate for what didn’t happen” i.e., that they never married. So whaddaya they know? We are advised to be on the look out for “stories that reinvent the past; that maintain a precision about a shared experience; that spin around a central point”…and that’s just for starters. You’ll feel this more personally if you have a planet or point around 17 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn.

Gratitude to Beth Owls Daughter for creating this fun Mercury Rx illustration:

Meanwhile…

Friday is driven by the Moon in Gemini, seeking  the buzz, buzz, buzz of who, what, when and where. But remember — Mercury is REtrograde — so be careful about believing what you hear!

The impulse to act and/or lash out is especially heightened over the next few days. On Friday at 7:13 PM ET, potent Pluto squares Venus in Aries. Be especially mindful of the potential for emotional overkill, power plays and witchy-bitchy women. The sign of the Ram is a tough placement for Venus, often suggesting a consummate flirt with an overwhelming need for approval and great sensitivity to rejection. On the plus side, this aspect can also suggest passion of the juiciest kind.

Moon enters Cancer on SATURDAY at 4:53 AM ET,  after a five hour void.  A Cancer Moon suggests a need to build and preserve emotional/family/home/homeland security — but that need may well be fraught with conflict. Why? Because at 11:35 AM ET we’ll have a clash between the me-me-me Aries Sun and the family-centric Cancer Moon, with an added dose of provocation from warrior Mars. Minutes later, at 12:08 PM ET, Mars squares the Sun. If you’ve got a planet or angle around  4 degrees of Aries, Capricorn, Libra or Cancer do something productive with those high-octane physical and creative urges.

SUNDAY features the Moon’s weekly clash with Pluto at 4:41 PM ET, followed by Uranus at 2:58 AM ET on MONDAY. Pluto suggests power plays and emotional catharses; Uranus suggests upsets to the status quo. Well that should give us something to talk about that morning. No sleeping in — the Moon will be void at 2:58 AM ET, but it roars into regal Leo at 7:45 AM ET.

 

Thank you for reading this forecast.