Monday 3/4/2019: Mercury Retrograde in Pisces, Ya Think?

Good Morning!

(It’s actually Sunday evening as I’m typing this — and I am laughing laughing laughing  because I saved this forecast in draft mode — and it was sent out to all my Avid Readers who subscribe via email  — before it was supposed to — and  without a subject line. Coincidence or conspiracy? Happy almost Mercury retrograde!!)

The work week begins with the Moon still in Aquarius, looking to connect diverse groups together, treat everyone as equals, but still appreciate each for his/her uniqueness. Do it with cooperative gusto, aided by a harmony between the Moon and Jupiter, exact at 11:30 AM ET on MONDAY.

We are in the last days of the lunar cycle, a time to wrap up projects (if possible), clear your desk and prepare for the new marching orders, which will arrive on WEDNESDAY at 11:04 AM ET, when the Pisces Moon meets up with the Pisces Sun. Until then, a dead Moon suggests a listlessness or restlessness. Add to that the following significant patterns:

  • TUESDAY — After an 8-minute Moon void, Moon enters Pisces at 3:11 AM ET — still dead. Big news of the days is Mercury, which turns retrograde at 1:19 PM ET. DID YOU BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS? Here’s what you need to know about Mercury in 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 — these are all actual events that happened within hours of Mercury changing direction. 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 between March 5th and March 28th. 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.

On the first of its three retrogrades of 2019, Mercury starts at 29 degrees of Pisces. Avid Readers will instantly recall that 29 Pisces is closerthanthis to 0 degrees Aries, a.k.a. the Aries Point. Instantly — because you have been reading this forecast long enough to retain Certain Important Things — you will recall that  a planet near the Aries Point demands attention. In the case of Mercury, we thus anticipate that anything symbolized by Mercury (mindset, communication, travel, commerce) is more likely to be prominent at this time (watch the headlines).

But what kind of communication, ideas, etc? In Pisces, Mercury is not interested in thinking as much as it is interested in believing. That is the Pisces mantra: I BELIEVE. Who cares if it defies logic and reason? Pisces feels it — and believes it.  And feelings can’t be argued. They are as valid as any hardcore fact. In the realm of feelings, truth is subjective.

Mercury in Pisces has an upside. It can facilitate vision, dreams and intuition.  If you are an artist, scammer, healer or spiritual type, perhaps you can take Mercury in Pisces straight to the bank. Do pay attention to your dreams — especially this week — write them down!  On WEDNESDAY, the Sun and Neptune will meet up in Pisces at 8:01 PM ET,  adding to the potential for vision, especially visionary leadership, as well as wigginess. Not to mention fish, as you can see from one of my favorite Sun-Neptune headlines from 2015:

Here is an apt Sun-Neptune headline from the past few days:

Back to Mercury retrograde:

Mercury will be at 29 Pisces for most of the week. When a planet stations and turns on a particular degree, picture an impatient driver leaning on the horn. It’s a point of focus, right? Perhaps the Sabian Symbol for this degree offers clues. It is “The Great Stone Face,” and it was the focal point four years ago, on a New Moon/Eclipse in Pisces, which happened right after the last of seven squares between Uranus and Pluto. Here’s what I wrote back then:

…“The Great Stone Face” recalls a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne about “a boy who lives under and looks up to a mountain formation resembling the face of a man“.  The story was written in 1850, when Uranus and Pluto were conjunct in Aries and Neptune was in early Pisces (about where it is right now). How interesting that it was created under the influence of planetary patterns that are not unlike what we are currently experiencing.

There is a spiritual element to the story and a search for greatness outside the self, What does it takes to become the embodiment of an ideal and how do you know if it’s the Real Deal? Here is the Wikipedia summary; here is the full text of the story. If you like The Wizard of Oz and/or The Alchemist (by Paolo Coelho), you’ll like The Great Stone Face.

Of this Sabian Symbol, expert Blain Bovee writes:

The projection of self culminates in an expression that seems to transcend the temporal existence of the individual, echoing for the ages, the face of mankind.

Well, that sounds deep and wise and all-encompassing, doesn’t it?

Pisces is the end of the zodiac. So the last degree of Pisces is the end of the end of it all. That’s it. We’re toast. Or are we? When we sense we’re at the end, we may fall into despair. And if the zodiac were a straight line, maybe we would have good reason. But the zodiac is not a straight line; it is a circle. This suggests a new beginning is just around the corner, regardless of what the “end” demands we leave behind. We may have to wait until April 17th, when Mercury finally leaves Pisces and enters Aries, to get a sense of what the new beginning (new mindset? new deal?) entails.

Here’s how to handle Mercury retrogrades — regardless of what sign it’s in:

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 has 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 advises 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.

Would you like to know how this Mercury retrograde will activate your horoscope? Toss $48 into my Cosmic Tip Jar and email me your birth time, place and date. I will email you a few paragraphs of insights in a day or so. For a more detailed discussion about all of the planetary patterns that are hot in your horoscope, here’s the 411.

Coming up next: Uranus enters Taurus on Wednesday — same day as the New Moon in Pisces. Should be an interesting week.

Thank you for reading this forecast.

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