Mercury Retrograde: It's Not What You Think

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Retrograde Mercury has a bad rap. Many astrologers like to tell you that life goes a bit haywire when Mercury assumes a "backward" motion in the sky. A lot of emphasis is put on not starting new things, understanding that communication will be "off" and that we are all entitled to blame things not running smoothly on retrograde Mercury.

Contrary to these popular beliefs, it isn't quite that easy to explain. I have found that most of these interpretations come from Western astrologers using a Tropical system, but that the Jyotish (Sidereal) approach differs quite a bit. My personal experience has shown that retrograde Mercury can be a gift in fact.

I look forward to retrograde cycles for many reasons.

We know that retrograde planets are seemingly moving in reverse. (The planet only appears to be moving backwards due to the planets' elliptical orbit. This is only in relation to our view from the Earth not that the planet is actually moving backwards). Retrograde planets are moving against the forward flow and forward momentum of the other planets.

Rahu and Ketu are always moving in retrograde motion and these lunar nodes show us where our past karmic cleanup is being directed. In a similar way, retrograde planets direct our focus, or re-direct our focus in essence. They become stronger as a result and increase the indication of the planets and our desires as a result.

An exalted planet that goes retrograde becomes nica (debilitated) while a debilitated planet when retrograde will become uccha (exalted). Obviously there is great power in the retrograde motion, but perhaps dire predictions should be tamed, as great benefits can also result from this movement as well.

I look forward to retrograde cycles. I almost get giddy about it in fact! Have you ever wished for a delete button on life? Or a rewind option? Have you ever wished for a pause button where you could then find a better way to do something? Retrograde planets give us this opportunity. But we must be armed with awareness in order to reap the greatest benefits from these cycles.

Retrograde Mercury offers many wonderful possibilities for growth and creativity, for connecting and communicating in new and different ways. Look for the mental body to be retracing old steps, conversations to be revisited, behavioral patterns to come to light and a chance to re-do what has not been working in your favor. Relationships might come into question and your experience with them, so listen closely as you are being offered an opportunity to make some changes and adjustments in a new way.

Financially, and with business agendas, we will be in a rewind as well. This is not a bad thing at all. Missed opportunities will be available to us once again and doors will re-open that we thought were closed. Be willing to take a new direction, re-direct your focus, and stay open minded about new possibilities.

Retrograde Mercury can be genius for finding new strategies, ingenuity and gaining a new creative edge. Old accounts and business clients may re-visit you, suddenly making a re-appearance and be in need of your services. This can be a great thing for income and increased business. It can offer us a "return on our investments" whether this comes through monetary means or through past investments of time and effort.

The planets are always in a complicated and intricate dance, weaving  forward and backward in the cosmos. Retrograde cycles are an important opportunity to re-visit past actions and experiences, while giving us opportunities to do things differently. Use Mercury retrograde for revisiting your goals and desires, finding new, more innovative ways for accomplishing your visions and making them a reality.

If you find that life feels more intense right now, consider that Mercury rules the mental body, communication, creativity and commerce. When chaos enters, it can be an opportunity to hit the pause button and to find a different, more life supporting option moving forward. A lesson to be learned; likely a big one since it has re-appeared.

Stay alert and see calamities as opportunities for growth. Remember, Mercury retrograde only negatively impacts a very few individual who have challenging Mercury placements in their natal chart. For the vast majority of people, retrograde Mercury will not give dire results. Some people may even have positive experiences with this cycle. Mercury rules money, creativity, mind, thoughts, commerce and communication so  depending on your individual chart, this Mercury cycle could bring great benefits and favors. Be alert to the changes in your self and strive for more mental balance.

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