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How Mercury
Retrograde
Manifests
by Robert Wilkinson
 Though
Mercury is retrograde only 65 to 70 days a year, its reputation makes it seem to
operate most of the time. Most people are somewhat relieved when these periods
are over. However, it should be remembered that it continues to operate directly
and indirectly well after its exact retrograde period. Though Mercury retrograde
periods are the times in which its influence is the most obvious, there are
other times when its influence is indirect. For example: direct motion planets
in Gemini or Virgo during a Mercury retrograde will demonstrate a retrograde
influence, even though they are not retrograde! A retrograde planet in Gemini or
Virgo often shows a Mercury retrograde influence because of Mercury's
dispositorship of planets in the signs that it rules.
Present retrogrades also influence affairs conceived or started in prior
retrograde periods, bringing returns which force us to confront that which was
left undone from previous times (which may or may not have been Mercury
retrograde influenced). Simply put, Mercury retrograde forces us to deal with
the loose ends in our lives.
And what of the millions of people with Mercury retrograde in the natal
charts or by progression who plan and execute things? The placement is certainly
an influence on the way they do things, even though transiting Mercury may not
be retrograde at the time they are doing what they are doing. In fact, it often
seems as though these people's affairs move forward during Mercury retrograde
periods. For instance, Dr. Jonas Salk, the great medical researcher who had
Mercury Stationary Retrograde in Scorpio at birth, announced his breakthrough
polio vaccine during a Mercury retrograde in Pisces! It could be that people
with Mercury retrograde are actually more accustomed to the slowed pace, and
while the rest of us are adapting to the time, they are working and playing in
an atmosphere familiar to them.
Perhaps these are a few reasons why sometimes it seems as though we are in
an unending Mercury retrograde period. If we are to make the most of this
seemingly unending retrograde experience, it is important to open to the fullest
possible understanding of what this influence is, seeing it in the most positive
light. To do this will mean exploring the natural limitations involved.
THE DOWNSIDE
Mercury retrograde certainly seems to have several common, apparently
negative manifestations. The widespread bad vibes, pessimism, defeatism,
paralysis of action, and generalized negative thinking are the most obvious
downside associations with any Mercury retrograde period. I have observed that
something initiated shortly before (or during) this period is frequently more
trouble than it is worth, or may not turn out as expected. Often activities
involve many distractions that impede progress, or scatter energies to the
degree that all effort amounts to "much ado about nothing." It is as though we
take two steps forward, one to the side, one back, one to the side, and two
steps forward again. There is a lot of retracing ground already covered, or
covering ground that seems unrelated to the goal or focus.
Deflections, distractions, delays, overlooking the obvious while focusing
on irrelevant minutiae or overarching abstract considerations, and putting the
cart before the horse when making plans all seem to be present during Mercury
retrograde. There may be an inability to see the forest for the trees, or the
trees for the forest. Often things come to naught, or do not work out
satisfactorily on first effort, necessitating a reworking of the idea, the plan,
or the approach. Perhaps there is another stage of the work to be completed
before the project can move ahead, or some part of the work has to be
reconsidered before resolution can occur. Assumptions may have to be
re-evaluated, or more information gathered in order for the project to be
successful.
THE UPSIDE
Mercury retrograde projects often take interesting turns, have reversals
that turn out unexpectedly well, or involve ideas, people, or approaches from
the past that return to fulfill the present work. These may involve variations
of some theme, or an updating of antiquated information or understandings,
giving these a new application. One view is that since Mercury represents mind
and the Sun represents life as an on-going process, when Mercury slows down (the
real meaning of retrogradation) it gives life a chance to catch up to the mind's
ideas previously put forth when Mercury was direct, and ahead of the Sun.
Mercury retrograde can be seen as a "liberating ordeal" of adjustment to
circumstances. This is a physical-material world adjustment relative to previous
ideas. The idea, or plan, or vision was floated out into the material world,
explored, and possibilities spun; Mercury retrograde is the adjustment period,
where practical exigencies and necessities must be accepted and acted upon. Mind
slows down, matter (life) speeds up; ideation slows down, adjustment speeds up.
Theory takes a back seat to process.
Mercury retrograde can indicate a period when ideas long held are finally
acted upon. In all probability, the idea originally came during a Mercury
retrograde, or from a Mercury retro grade person, and has only been reconsidered
during Mercury retrograde periods. Perhaps originally it was not the correct
time for a thing to occur, and the Mercury retrograde return comes when
real-world conditions have caught up to the need for the idea. Many ideas can
only take form after certain transitional technological, ideological, or
experiential advances have taken place; a retrograde can bring these earlier
ideas to the fore at a time when they can be seen in a new light.
Mercury retrograde is an excellent time for reflection, review, and
information gathering. These are times when things take curious twists and
turns, not always with a clear outcome, and when symbol, meaning, and perception
are more important to understanding than "facts." This is when new, more
up-to-date information comes to light, or old information can be utilized in
innovative ways. This is an excellent time for reorganizing data, playing with
possible applications, while leaving options open. These periods are good for
reviewing assumptions drawn from old sources and applying them in new ways, or
when unusual points of view prove profitable in roundabout ways. Also, useful,
but often overlooked, details in objects, people, or processes can be seen in a
new light, and may assist the completion or understanding of whatever is being
considered. Thus Mercury retrograde is an excellent time for correcting
mistakes, and finishing up whatever was left undone at other times.
One upside to Mercury retrograde periods: it is an excellent time for
traveling. Over the years, clients have extolled how wonderful their trips were
during these periods. It is true that there were occasional delays, and
sometimes the itinerary had to be changed, but isn't this true for quite a few
trips? Maybe a journey removes us from our usual routine, and we naturally
loosen up a bit regarding schedules and expectations because of the highly
mobile environment in which we find ourselves.
Going on a journey puts most of us into an adaptation mode to some degree.
Of course this depends on individual circumstances, but Mercury-retrograde
business trips often seem to be unexpectedly pleasant, or take unplanned
directions that work out to everyone's satisfaction. Sometimes what was planned
may not have gotten done, but in many retrograde periods whatever did occur was
often revealing and fulfilling to all involved. Maybe because life activity is
outpacing mind, we all instinctively relax a little. Overall, I have heard very
few negative comments about trips taken during a Mercury retrograde, as long as
a good book was taken along, and the person was open to meeting interesting
people, having unusual experiences, and adapting to circumstances!
One trip I took to Texas during Mercury retrograde was a real classic. The
plan was to do several needed tasks over a two week period, all of which had
been postponed from other times, or only partially done. I had to resurrect and
sell a car, do charts for several old clients who had pre-arranged sessions on
previous visits, get a load of decorative stone for a friend's meditation
garden, have a spare tire repaired that had gone flat during my previous visit,
and clean out a storage room. Of course, since Mercury was retrograde, none of
these happened.
Instead, I had a surprise meeting with an old friend who, because of a
hidden agenda, became hostile. On the plus side, there was an unplanned visit
with another friend from a foreign country who was unexpectedly and briefly in
town for business. There were also unplanned trips out of the town I was
visiting to places where I re-encountered friends I hadn't seen for years. Money
came in through unexpected sources. During one unplanned journey, I received a
surprise introduction to a labyrinth which proved to be psychologically
revealing and a delight to wander through.
On that same trip to Texas there was the unexpected return of a friend's
(now grown) child from a different part of the world, who neither of us had seen
in over twenty years. I found that another friend quit his job after ten years
with the agency, intending to go back into something he had done twenty years
before. I was re-reading part of a book written by another friend, and
discovered several pages missing due to a printing error. This certainly seemed
to be an archetypal Mercury retrograde trip -- not necessarily bad, but making
me adapt more than I would have suspected!
 This
article was excerpted from the book "A
New Look at Mercury Retrograde", by Robert Wilkinson. ?1997.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Red Wheel/Weiser,
www.weiserbooks.com.
Info/Order this book
About the Author
Robert
Wilkinson is a practicing professional astrologer with more than 25
years experience as a counselor, lecturer, author, and cultural
philosopher. He has an active national and international practice, and
is in demand as a speaker across North America. Robert invites you to
send in your most unusual, outrageous, or improbable Mercury retrograde
experience. If enough people respond, he thinks an interesting book
could be assembled from the anecdotes. He looks forward to hearing from
readers! Write to him at Box 24A09, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1009.
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