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Mercury Retrograde

Well, Mercury has gone retrograde for the first time in 2012, starting on March 12th and continuing through April 3rd. Does this ring any astrological bells for you?

Mercury’s retrograde motion occurs three or four times a year, when the innermost and smallest planet in our solar system appears to slow down, stop, and then move backward (retrograde) through the zodiac. According to modern science, this traditional concept arises in the illusory planetary motion created by the orbital rotation of the earth with relation to other planets in our solar system. It’s a bit like traveling on the road watching another car beside you; as you speed up or the other car slows down, it appears to be moving backwards. Planets are never actually stationary or moving backwards, they just seem that way due to the cosmic shadow play.

Retrograde periods aren’t uncommon and in fact all planets retrograde except the sun and the moon. Although a powerful astrological influence, Mercury is quite a small planet that travels at a fast speed through the zodiac, yet a Mercury retrograde period  can prove problematic for people.

In general, Mercury rules thinking and perception, processing and disseminating information and all means of communication, commerce, education and transportation. Mercury retrograde then can gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains. And all of these problems usually arise because some crucial piece of information, or component, has gone astray or awry. It is not exactly wise to make important decisions while Mercury is retrograde, since it is likely that such decisions will be clouded by misinformation, poor communication and careless thinking. Looking up some online Mercury retrograde images, one warned: “Don’t sign anything. Don’t buy anything. Don’t get married… until it’s over.” I’m not sure about all that, but I think being aware of its potential influence is sound advice.

During the Spring Mercury Retrograde, the planet will  pass through both Uttara Bhadra and its next-door neighbor, Purva Bhadra.  Both of these nakshatras are symbolized by a funeral cot.  Both of them are also associated with the awareness of the temporary quality of life.  These nakshatras are designed to motivate us to look within for what is real, making this period a great time for reflection on the indisputable fact that life is temporary, and recalibrating our attention to the here and now.  And don’t worry, you’ll get a chance to reapply your powers of concentration again when Mercury goes retro. for the second and third time in 2012, from July 14th – August 8th, and again in November, from November 6th – November 26th, 2012.