Astro-logical Forecast for Wednesday & Thursday 4/27-28/2016: When Mercury Goes Retrograde…
Allll-riiighty then!
A Capricorn Moon drives today and tomorrow with an enterprising energy. Alignments to the Moon flow smoothly to the earthy Taurus Sun, expansive Jupiter and visionary Neptune today. Tomorrow the enterprising drive is challenged by an early morning clash with emotionally intense Pluto at 5:20AM ET, followed by Uranus at 12:59PM ET.
Be advised that mental Mercury is at a standstill now, about to turn retrograde tomorrow at 1:20PM ET. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS NOW — otherwise, there’s no need to panic. Here’s a reprint of helpful guidance on surviving this planetary pattern:
Even if you know nothing else about astrology, you may have heard this term 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 (actual Mercury Rx events). 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 until May 22nd. 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.
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.
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.
This Mercury retrograde happens at 23 degrees of Taurus, suggesting that whatever is up for REview and RElaxation likely involves steady, focused thought about its tangible reality, worth, comfort and/or security. If you have a planet or angle around 23 degrees of Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius and especially Taurus, you are more personally affected by this particular Mercury retrograde than most. This includes Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Mercury will move backwards through their respective 6th Houses, suggesting a focused review on health and work processes.
Astrologer Robert Wilkinson has written a whole book on Mercury retrograde; here’s an intriguing quote about its transit through the 6th House: “This is a time of practical adaptation and adjustment before something comes to the surface, a time of learning and reviewing the place and function of what has individualized up to this point in the process. See the possible practical application of power; prepare to take something public.”
This Mercury retrograde stations almost exactly atop Donald’s Trump’s 24 Taurus Midheaven. Did he get the message out yesterday — winning all five states in the so-called Acela primaries — or what? As Mercury retraces its steps through Donald Trump’s 9th House next month, we see an opportunity for him to reconsider the value of his message to the masses. How will it be revised over the next few weeks? UPDATE: a few hours after this posted, Trump gave a major speech on foreign policy — a 9th house “big picture” topic indeed.
And now, the news.
With Saturn (controls) squaring his Sun (ginormous ball of fire), the bern was tempered in last night’s primaries — as was speculated here last week. Hillary Clinton won four states; Bernie took Rhode Island. Transiting Jupiter conjunct his Virgo Sun should bring more expansive times in June, but with the third hit of Saturn to the Sun just after Election Day in November, it may not be enough to realize his current quest. We shall see.
Donald Trump is experiencing transits we would all willingly pay for: a yugely resourceful double hit of a Pluto-Jupiter square and a swoon of a solar arc to his regal Leo Ascendant from his Gemini Sun. The Ascendant-Sun thing is exact in July. It’s hard to imagine a hotter horoscope ruining his personal party before then.
And now, more news.
In the last forecast, we were writing about the surreal quality of the current tense T-square among Jupiter (expansion), Saturn (reality) and Neptune (dissolves whatever it touches). How apt to see a piece in The Atlantic entitled “The Case Against Reality.” Reading it recalled the nights I spent in college writing philosophy papers arguing that no one can perceive a chest of drawers in exactly the same way. Especially when reading bits like this:
So while neuroscientists struggle to understand how there can be such a thing as a first-person reality, quantum physicists have to grapple with the mystery of how there can be anything but a first-person reality. In short, all roads lead back to the observer.
Happy mulling over those deep thoughts, on a pre-Mercury-retrograde-in-material-security-building-Taurus!
Thank you for reading this forecast. Feel free to contact me to schedule a personal consultation about your own unique horoscope — Mercury retrograde is an excellent time for REview, doncha’ know…
thx to Beth Owlsdaughter for the creative Photoshopped Mercury Rx w/banana peel