Mercury Retrograde: September 7-29, 2009
We all cringe when we hear the phrase “Mercury retrograde”. Is the planet Mercury really moving backwards? No, not really! This is an optical illusion created by the orbital rotation of the earth in relation to other planets in our solar system. All planets experience retrograde phenomenon, with the exception of the Sun and the Moon.
Mercury will be retrograde from September 7th through September 29th, in the signs of Libra and Virgo. (This is the fourth time in 2009 that Mercury has gone retrograde – normally this happens only three times a year.) What this means is that all forms of communications, travel, and mechanical devices will start wrecking havoc with our lives! Note that the Internet really falls into not one but two of these categories – communications, and mechanical devices. Perhaps travel, too, if you are making travel arrangements over the Internet.
We can expect, if we do not keep an eye on things, that we will experience personal misunderstandings; delayed, disrupted or just plan poor communications; travel and transportation. Expect there to be unexpected changes, as well as blockages to challenge us. People most affected are those that work in the fields of communication, teaching, and writing. Why does all of this happen? In most instances it is because a critical component, or piece of information, is missing.
Mercury is retrograde in Libra, while the Sun is in the sign of Virgo. Mercury in Libra places focus on relationships, harmony and choices. The Virgo Sun is all about the ability to analyze and critical ability. Just to be thoughtful, Mercury retrogrades into the sign of Virgo at the Virgo New Moon on September 18th. The Sun moves into Libra on September 22nd, with Mercury joining the Sun in Libra on October 10th.
As beings who have to live through these Mercury retrogrades, we grumble, groan, perhaps cuss a bit, and try to hold our breath until they are over. We never stop to think that there might just be a purpose to them. What we see is that we have little or no control over the events going on around us. If we would look a little deeper we would see that events from the past that remain unresolved are coming back to bite us. Well, okay, they are not coming back to bite us! They are coming back so that we have a chance to rethink our actions and choices, take responsibility for them, and bring about an internal resolution.
The area that we are revisiting in our lives depends on the sign that the Mercury retrograde is in. (We specify the planet Mercury, as this particular retrograde shows the most affect in our lives.) In September, we are dealing with Libra and Virgo.
Mercury retrograde in Libra focuses on relationships of all kinds, and the harmony that is in our lives. Remember – Mercury is the messenger planet, so in the area of relationship look at communications of all kinds, travel connected with relationship, and machines (cars, fax machines, computers – and the Internet itself, the über communicator!) Mercury is all about thinking and perception. We may be releasing someone from the past completely, or we may reunite with a past love. Look at your natal chart, and note which house Mercury is in. Look closely for the truth when Mercury is in Libra, as Libra will say something politic (i.e. diplomatic) before upsetting the applecart! The first few days of this retrograde (September 7th through the 12th) will be difficult, as well as the period of September 23rd through the 25th (Mars gets added to the mix!).
Mercury retrograde in Virgo places the focus on the ability to analyze people and issues, and on critical thinking. This is really adding force to the basic quality of Mercury, which, as we mentioned above, is all about thinking and perception. Mercury retrograde is all about inner focused thinking. Combined with the Virgo quality of analysis, there is a very good chance that we can all gain some insight into previous issues and resolve them. We need to know that this means that we are also going to be held accountable for our words and actions. (Virgo is all about accountability.)
The best tactic to take is to not make major purchases, sign contracts or make any major decisions during a Mercury retrograde. Life may not allow us this luxury. To make the best of a Mercury retrograde, we might want to do the following:
- Pay special attention to all forms of communication.
- Be sure that others understand what we are telling them, and that we understand what they are telling us.
- Pay attention to the details, Read any contract over well before signing it.
- Be sure to read the fine print – all may not be what it seems to be.
- Count to ten before reacting to anything.
- Be willing to roll with the punches, and give up a bit of control. (If you fight things, they will become worse.)
- Be willing to look at the issues that are resurfacing n our lives, so that we can bring them to resolution.
- Look to issues that began under a previous Mercury retrograde. These are the issues that will be most easily resolved.
- Back up computer files.
- Listen to our intuition. It may not be functioning at top speed, but it is still there!
We do not need to allow a Mercury retrograde to overwhelm us, nor do we need to be so afraid that we hide for the entire period. This Mercury retrograde is all about relationship – anything that happens will have its roots in relationship (in our professional as well as our personal lives). The driving forces for this time period are accountability, fairness and equality. We want to bring resolution in a win/win manner. We are being given challenges so that we can improve ourselves and grow.
Know that you can make this retrograde work for you, and not against you!
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