Planets often go ‘retrograde’ in a calendar year and several times, but when they do, people feel the energy intensely. Astrologists talk about it in their posts and such like. So why all the fuss?
As Planet Mercury, often known as the ‘trickster planet’ has now started to move forwards again (February 21st, 2021) you can really feel the re-set or refresh in the energy. So, what does it all mean?
Even if you know very little about astrology in general, you will often see on the socials that all astrologists tell us avidly that Mercury is going retrograde. This, out of all the aspects of every planet, seems to attract the most attention.
And it is all about the effects, because everyone feels it whether they think they do or not. If you begin to pay attention to events in your own life, when a retrograde is underway, even take note of them and even more important the changes that occur. In other words, your productivity seems to increase and often you encounter more frustrations that usual. Why?
First of all there are three Mercury retrogrades in 2021 and there is something else which is interesting. The first on 30th January was in air sign Aquarius. The second May 29th in air sign Gemini and the third one op 27th September in air sign Libra. So, you could maybe conclude the ‘winds of change’ are blowing. Three times this year in three air signs. Interesting!
But does Mercury really move backwards? In fact it doesn’t. If you are a stargazer, you will see that is appears to move backwards (retrograde), like ancient astrologers perceived thousands of years ago. And usually, they saw after a period of about 3.5 weeks, it seemed to reverse itself and go forwards again.
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and therefore its orbit around same is much shorter than earth’s. In these so called ‘retrograde periods’ it actually speeds past the earth and that is why it’s called a ‘retrograde period’ and how we experience it.
For example: if you were traveling in a car and it passed you, you would be able to tell that it is moving faster. But then if it slowed down and you passed it, it would then appear that the car is actually going backward. When it overtakes you and goes faster again, it kicks up the dust on the road. So in the same way, when Mercury speeds past, like a High Speed Train, it creates a turbulent gust of wind. This same turbulence and disruption that Mercury makes can effect what we feel on earth in our everyday lives.
In astrology there is a firm belief: ‘as above, so below’. By this they mean that there is a fractal relationship between the orbits. In other words between the heavens and human activity down here on earth. This idea is important in astrology and probably a very good one to keep in mind.
And this year all the Mercury retrogrades are in air signs. Enough said!
The planet Mercury is the ruler of COMMUNICATION. This includes: listening, speaking, learning, reading, editing, researching, negotiating, selling and buying. It also rules all formal contracts and agreements as well as things like book manuscripts, examination papers, agreements, deeds, contracts, leases, testaments and so on. Legal binding documents in other words (and now I know why I decided to write this blog today of all days when the dust has settled!)
In Mercury’s domain are codes, including computer codes, transportation, shipping and travel. During retrogrades said areas get scrambled and spin out of control. A logistic nightmare. So why does this happen?
When in retrograde, the planet is astrologically speaking in a ‘rest or sleeping’ stage. So while Mercury takes a nap, the activities that it governs don’t have the benefit then of a well-functioning, wide awake planet to supervise. So, expect a certain degree of pandemonium will occur.
Good advice is not to make any important moves or decisions when Mercury is retrograde. Nothing will be settled successfully for the future in these periods and you may even find it impossible to create a good plan and to actually effect it either. During the retrograde period, it is also hard to get decisions from others and even when a decision is made, it will often be changed, just at the moment that Mercury makes its turn.
Summarizing, Mercury retrogrades are not good times to do anything involving communication. Not a good time either to sign contracts or ‘shake hands’ on a new agreement. A house sale or signing a lease, better to wait. Remember too that verbal agreements can often be just as binding as written ones. Because the environment is fluid and changeable, irrespective of what you are told or think.
And doesn’t this all make a lot of sense when you think what is actually happening in the world right now, in the first retrograde of 2021 which ended yesterday (21.2.21) And look at the numbers too.
The thing is during these retrogrades no one can or wants to predict what situations will be like later. This applies in the all the areas mentioned above which are connected to the one simple word – COMMUNICATION !!
Other planets that retrograde are Mars and Venus, but we will talk about them another time!
Finally coming back to the situation worldwide, the pandemic, do you feel like me that communication seemed (or even still seems) to have gone haywire. What is true and what is not? So many conflicting ideas and thoughts. My advice, stay close to yourself, use your common sense and don’t take risks. Take action when the heavens become more peaceful.
