I have had requests from several of you wanting to know about Mercury retrograde periods by transit.  Every four months, for a period of about three weeks, Mercury goes through one of its infamous retrograde periods.  But, what does that mean?  What sort of effect does it have?  

First of all, while retrograde literally means backward, as I discussed in the April issue of my newsletter, none of the planets ever really throw their engines in reverse and accelerate backward.  It just appears that all of them (with the exception of the two lights, the Sun and Moon) appear to do so on occasion, when viewed from the perspective of the earth.  What's really happening is that the earth is moving faster than the planet, hence giving the appearance, when viewed from the earth, that it is moving backward.

Whether or not we have retrograde planets in our natal charts, all of us can experience the influence of a transiting planetary retrograde period, especially if the planet that is retrograde is making key contacts in our natal chart. In general, the affairs of the house being transited and the house ruled by the planet transiting retrograde may be slowed down and we tend to be more introspective concerning them. Therefore, we have the opportunity to gain greater insight into how that planetary energy is manifesting in our lives.  

Mercury orbits the Sun in about eighty-eight days, but because of its retrograde motion it takes about a year to traverse the entire zodiac.  Mercury normally takes less than three weeks to move through a sign when its motion is direct.  It will take eight to ten weeks in a sign when it is retrograde. Those five or more extra weeks Mercury retrograde spends in one of your natal houses means that Mercury's energy is directed at the affairs associated with that arena of life as represented in your natal birth chart.

Mercury rules mental processes and all forms of communication and travel.  This means that speaking, writing, messages, letters, books, magazines, contracts, the signing of documents, neighbors, the neighboring environment, commuter-type travel, and transportation facilities all fall under Mercury's rulership.

Therefore, when Mercury turns retrograde by transit, think in terms of the possibility for communication breakdown.  Mercury is the Ambassador of the Communication Department and while retrograde, it's on retreat for about three weeks.  There can be confused communications, changed plans, indecisiveness, mail-slowdowns, lost letters, transportation problems, electronic equipment breakdowns, and failures in negotiations--all the more if Mercury's retrograde involves the sign Gemini, Virgo or your natal third or sixth house.  For these reasons, it is felt that the Mercury retrograde period is not a good time for signing contracts, scheduling negotiations, or launching new projects. It's a good time for planning and organizing anything that will be finalized after Mercury has returned to direct motion.

So, you may be wondering, what are these Mercury retrograde periods good for?  They are a fine time to draw on knowledge and guidance from within yourself.  The three weeks that Mercury is retrograde presents us with an opportunity for careful consideration of all the possible ramifications of pending actions and decisions.  We are encouraged to take care of unfinished business, especially business put into motion during the months following Mercury's last retrograde period. (See chart below for the areas of life represented by each of the houses.) Don't have a copy of your birth chart? Order one here!

I remember reading somewhere that the Mercury retrograde periods are a good time to confine activities to those that have "re" at the beginning of the word.  I think that is good advice.  Therefore, rehash, review, rejuvenate, refine, reflect, repair, recheck, reschedule, realign, rewrite, reformulate!!  Take inventory of what has occurred over the previous three months and reconsider and reexamine your experiences.  That is good use of Mercury retrograde energy.  When Mercury is direct in motion again, proceed with confidence in planning and acting on your new activities and endeavors.

 

© 1998 Terri McCartney, all rights reserved