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| A road cutting a wilderness landscape in Pernambuco, Brazil; photo by Leo Benini, August 2014. |
May 18- June 11, 2015
This month the planet Mercury turns retrograde in the sign
of Gemini—its home sign, a place where it’s rather quite comfortable. In
traditional astrology, planets in their own signs (the signs they rule) are
seen as positive omens that give the planet a certain power and upper hand. A
planet in its own sign is at ease and is free to express itself without
inhibition.
From an evolutionary perspective, that can also be a bad
thing. Too much freedom of expression without the proper objectivity can be
disastrous, especially for those in contact with people exhibiting these
qualities. So, while Mercury in Gemini is certainly a favorable placement for a
lot of things, we need to be wary of becoming too subjective and mentally
focused which can keep us from seeing the bigger picture.
On the other hand,
the fact that this cycle is occurring now, indicates that, perhaps, an intense
focus and subjective viewpoint is needed for you. Perhaps you’ve been too
distracted or are spreading yourself too thin. But then again, Gemini is the
flightiest and most distractible of signs.
At the heart of
Gemini, and at its highest vibration, is a restless curiosity and an openness
to alternate viewpoints. Gemini needs to ponder and it needs to consider things
from various angles. Mercury, the ruler of Gemini, moving backward in its own
sign, is a perfect opportunity to see things differently and to absorb as much
alternative information as you can. This is an opportunity for extra fact
checking and for making sure that you have all the information you need.
You may change your
mind this retrograde—in fact, that might happen a few times. There may be
several revisions. Most importantly, keep your mind loose, open and flexible
this cycle. If there is a retrograde that calls for an open mind and a bit of
humility it will be this one. Admit to yourself that you don’t know everything
there is to know. Admit to yourself that life is an ongoing process of
discovery.
If you go in with
that attitude, you'll be on the right track. Gemini, the sign of communication
and information gathering, will likely dredge up old, unresolved communication
threads as well as bits of information that you somehow lost track of. Along
with that, and during every Mercury retrograde cycle, you need to be mindful of
what you say and what you commit to. Reiterate directions, plans, and
intentions thoroughly to make sure that the message is clear and fully
considered.
So, what about
contracts and starting new things? Typically, Mercury retrograde is a time to
go over things and to exercise caution when it comes to making hasty decisions
or pushing forward with something big (things that could be costly if they
fail), but this is certainly not a rigid rule. Whatever you’ve been working on
needs to be revised, and it’s best to hold off on implementing some things,
especially when you feel that certain pieces may be missing.
However, Mercury
retrograde cycles can often open up new doors and possibilities which can lead
us into new environments or experiences that we were not expecting, thus
changing our course or direction. Most of all, go with the flow. If things
aren’t moving forward or as fast as you would like, take it as a sign that you
need to step back and go over some things and then try again when the cycle is
complete.
With Mercury moving through its home sign, we can anticipate
all that the usual communicative foibles will be particularly pronounced. We
know that Mercury retrograde is notorious for throwing certain setbacks,
challenges and technical frustrations onto our path. Sometimes, however, with
the proper perspective, we can see these “setbacks” as happy accidents that can
allow us to see the holes in our current strategies which will ultimately help
us find ways to improve them. Again, go with the flow and take your time.
You'll be grateful that you did.
Mercury Retrograde
Logistics
Mercury entered the first
shadow phase of its retrograde cycle on May 4. This is the beginning of the
retrograde and it often foreshadows certain issues that we may be dealing with
during the retrograde process itself. We may also begin to notice the “effects”
of Mercury retrograde at this time as well.
Mercury turns
stationary retrograde on May 18. It will turn stationary direct on June 11.
Technical, mechanical, and communicative issues are typically more pronounced
around these dates, so be prepared for potential delays, setbacks, and
complications on the days of and surrounding these days more so than usual.
Mercury will enter the final shadow phase on June 11 and
will leave the shadow on June 26. This is the finalizing stage of the
retrograde cycle where we may find ourselves tying up loose ends, putting on
finishing touches, and rebuilding whatever may have been dismantled during the
retrograde process itself.
During the retrograde
process (when Mercury appears to be moving backward), it will make contact with
several planets. On May 27, Mercury will conjoin Mars in Gemini. Be wary of
combativeness in your communications as it may stir up arguments and
misunderstandings. Thinking before you speak will be especially important as
you may regret what was said later on.
This is an excellent time to focus on some mental task that
requires intense concentration and channel it towards revising things or
acquiring more information. This may also be a good time to make adjustments to
a fitness routine, although be very cautious about pushing yourself too far or
past your current physical level.
Mercury will square Neptune on May 29. Again, be cautious of
misunderstandings and jumping to conclusions around this time. You may not have
all the information that you need, or you may not be seeing things as clearly
as you otherwise would. This is a time to step back and retreat, perhaps take
some time to self-reflect to gain insight intuitively. Creative work or
meditation will be especially favorable under this aspect.
Mercury will conjoin the Sun on May 30. This is the midpoint
of the retrograde cycle, where you may find yourself beginning to wrap up a
revision process and slowly recover from any setbacks or delays you may have
encountered. It is also a good day to keep a look out for important information
that may be coming your way.
Mercury will make a sextile to Venus on June 10, just before
turning stationary direct. This soft aspect may help to mend any
misunderstandings that may have occurred during the retrograde cycle, as well
as rekindle a connection or two from the past. Keep in mind, however, that as
Mercury begins to station direct, there may be more technical issues than
usual, although Mercury’s soft aspect to Venus may help to soften the blow.
This is a time to take it easy and process things. Plan on spending some time
with someone you really trust and feel comfortable with.
For personal readings and consultations, please contact me
directly by e-mail at kosmicmind@gmail.com