A Quick Word on The Messenger….

Mercury enters Aries

02 March

6:41am EST

We move ever-closer to the 1st Mercury Retrograde passage of 2012 as our Messenger entered Aries today. While Mercury will only reach 06 degrees within The Ram by 12 March as the backwards dance initiates, the approach has been on since 26 February, ensuring all present communications and movement will be associated with this reflective time from our Zodiac Skies.

As Aries journeys with The Ram, mentalities are directed to take the lead; engaging in alert, clever and spirited methods of expression. Remember under this transit, going with your very first thoughts brings the best outcomes- second guessing things ends up with unfavored results. Spontaneous thoughts are sure to find the collective requesting adaptation to be utilized. Once Retrograde begins 12 March, just make sure when acting upon those first thoughts, the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed when making any kinds of important decisions, which truly should not be made until 04 April comes to pass.

Once Retrograde begins, Mercury will take until 23 March to trace his steps back to re-enter Pisces. In Preparing for Mercury’s Reflection, there are some further tips and information here on what we can all expect from what could truly be some “March Madness” that is not referring to basketball season.

As you look to the early Aries degrees in your personal piece of the Zodiac Pie, anticipate some communication stirs to find you. Energies here now are in full speed to exhibit alert, quick, and inspired perceptions. As with any Aries transit, cultivating concentration, patience, repose, and restraint to the excitability unfolding here, makes for all the more successful outcomes.

Minding Mercury REtrograde in The Archer’s Aims

“As one, one, always one.
So what do I have to do to get you
to admit who is speaking?

Admit it and change everything!
This is your own voice echoing off the walls of God.”
~Rumi

Rx Begins: 2:19am EST 24 November @ 20 degrees Sag
Direct: 8:43pm EST 13 December @ 03 degrees Sag
Approach: Began 04 November-
The last day Mercury was at 03 deg Sagittarius

Shadow: Ends 01 January 2012-
The next time Mercury reaches 20 deg Sagittarius going Direct

First things first. It’s time for us all to remove our “fears” that are typically associated with this planetary transit. When approached with the right attitude, the very REwards from a Mercury REtrograde are ones that we are not meant to miss.

“Remember that planets do not “cause” anything. If instead we go back to the idea of “as above, so below” and think once more of a stage on which the planets are moving, then the times that Mercury, the master communicator and trickster, walks backward are simply extra tricky times. After all, the image of the jester walking backwards is suspicious, to say the least. What is he up to now? What is he backing away from? The already slippery nature of Mercury is even trickier to pin down during his retrograde days. During such days, he demands that we pay extra special attention to mercurial things. We can ignore this and be tricked and bamboozled. Mercury takes great pleasure in the fact that either way we are dealing with Mercury, voluntarily, or involuntarily.” ~Laurence Hillman, ‘Planets in Play’

Like sleep, this passage offers the proper time within our planetary cycles to recharge ourselves. Without these needed times the Universe schedules for redoing, reorganizing, and reflection- the collective would not move forward optimally. Being Mercury is the keeper of our thinking, mentality, communications and movement of all kinds, it is this part of ourselves that deserves a “tune-up.” (aside from any your car may request a repair for over this time 😉

By choosing to resist the changes that a transit like Mercury Retrograde presents for us, then that “scary” energy of The Messenger undoubtedly will happily find us toying with the tricks he plays. Your free will decides upon this “fate.” The key to achieving success under any Mercury Retrograde Period is to expect change, and embrace it. Knowing like attracts like, those that choose to become aggravated and frustrated by The Trickster over this passage, willingly jump on their own chaos train. Mercury doesn’t “do this” to anyone.

This time Mercury has picked Sagittarius to bring forth the necessary RE’s of REtrograde that are well advised to follow as we weather The Messengers’ final backwards journey of 2011. The IDEAS that come to you under your reflective time are meant to be a huge part of the REwards that aim in your life as AIDES.

With Sagittarius being the sign of perspective, honesty, optimism, and expansion- these are the virtues we are meant to adhere to the most as we gravitate to the actions of: REdoing, REpairing, REassessing, REading, REvisiting, REjoicing, REaligning, REsting, REviewing, and by all means RElaxing!

As we accept Mercury’s request for reflection, REsponding vs. REacting is the key to finding REward during this passage. There will be buzzes of changes that will undoubtedly occur while this Retrograde plays out. Especially while The Messenger is backtracking in the mutable fire sign that Sagittarius is, the potential for energy to spin out of control is high to occur. While we are wise to avoid important decisions and initiations for future success at this time, our activity and behavior while in REassessment is imperative.

Look to the 03 deg to 20 degree Sagittarius piece of your personal Zodiac Pie to see where reflection urges to find you under this upcoming passage. Remember as well…

The DO’s & DON’TS of Mercury REtrograde…

DO:
REmain Calm!
Expect CHANGE: in your plans, travel, routines, & schedules to occur suddenly
Give yourself extra time to get where you’re going
REvisit unfinished projects and our past
Have Plan B, C, and possibly D REady at all times
Spend time in the RE’s: RElax, REvisit, REflect, REdo, REcharge!
Gravitate to REsponding vs. REacting!

DON’T:
“Freak out” when changes come up
Rush: speaking, driving, doing anything involving movement!
Sign important documents
Initiate anything new

Keep in mind, those events and situations that have occurred since 04 November- fall under the approach of this Retrograde. We tend to start to see the things that will undergo reassessment emerge over these couple weeks, in the specific areas of your life noted above. Equally before the shadow completes upon 01 January 2012, you will see further opportunities for final adjustments that need to be made from all action occurring within the retrograde period.

Another star secrets “tid-bit” from Numerology is able help us handle our understanding of Mercury Retrograde through its’ Name Expression, which calculates to a 13, that of ‘REgeneration – Change.’ Said the Chaldeans of this number that equally tells us to expect the unexpected: “13 is not an unlucky number, as many people believe. The ancients claimed that he who understands how to use the number 13 will be given power and dominion. The symbol of the 13 is a skeleton, or death, with a scythe, reaping down men in a field of new-grown grass, where young faces and heads appear to be thrusting through the ground and emerging on all sides. 13 is a number of upheaval, so that new ground may be broken. It’s associated with power, which, if used for selfish purposes, will bring destruction upon itself. There is a warning of the unknown and the unexpected. Adapting to change gracefully will bring out the strength of the 13 vibration, and decrease any potential for the negative. 13 is associated with genius- also with explorers, breaking the orthodox and new discoveries of all kinds.”

As always the uncanny power of Lexigrams is also here to REmind you how to best find ease under this passage. There is an important tale for every sign to hear that is told as we poetically phrase the anagrams found within the very title of Mercury Retrograde:

MERCURY RETROGRADE

DAY TO DAY, GREET YOUR URGE TODAY:
GOT TO REDO, GOT TO RETRACE
GOT TO REROUTE YOUR GAME
GOT TO RECREATE TO REORDER
GOT TO RE-EDUCATE
GOT TO GO TO A GREAT ART
GO TO A GREAT COMEDY
GO REDECORATE
GO READ, TRY A REREAD
GO DO YOGA
GO EMERGE, RECORD A RARE DREAM
GO MEET A TAME COURAGE
GOT TO REDUCE OUR TERROR
GOT TO REDUCE A RUMOR
GO TO REGARD TO REDUCE A REGRET
GO! TRY TO AGREE- GO TO A TRUCE
GO MEET A TRUE EGO CURE: TRADE OUTRAGE TO GRACE
TRADE OUTRAGE TO A COURAGE REMEDY
GO TO A MERCY TO CURE A GREEDY EGO
GO GREET A MORE MATURE AREA
GOT TO A REMOTE AREA TO MEET A GREAT REMEDY
GO TO A GOD- ADORE YOU!

Even though we are now amidst the merry buzz of another Holiday Season, there is priceless value in just simply going along with the course that change can naturally takes us. What area of the life will you witness these RE’s to occur? Here is a handy guide from the collective perspective to guide you in making the most of this Universal gift of REflection. Taking time to ponder REview in this area of the life will be time well spent and unwrap the true blessings that can be found. Should you know your Rising Sign/Ascendant, especially check-in with your natal chart to see the area of life 03 to 20 deg Sagittarius equally REquires your attention.

Aries: How I Believe in Higher Education/Philosophy/Wisdom
Taurus: How I Transform Wealth/Death & Rebirth/Sexuality
Gemini: How I Relate to Partnerships/Marriage
Cancer: How I Serve Health/Service to Others
Leo: How I Create my Creativity/Children/Love Affairs
Virgo: How I Nurture the Home/Family/Environments
Libra: How I Communicate my Thinking/Mentality
Scorpio: How I Have Values/Earning Power
Sagittarius: How I Am with First Impressions/Approaches/Mask to the World
Capricorn: How I Process my Inner World/Subconscious
Aquarius: How I Socialize in Groups/Friendships/Hopes & Dreams
Pisces: How I Structure my Career/Public Life

So, My Dear Stars, it’s time to RElease your fears and become friends with Mercury Retrograde. REmember to be in PATIENCE with yourself with a little I TAP IN AN ANCIENT PEACE PACE, which will ideally manifest as you choose a Sagittarian true honest LISTEN: I SIT IN SILENT TIES IN TEN- 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 TEN, I ENLIST IT.

Happy REflective Mercury REtrograde trails to you! More to come on how your Lunar-O-Scope for the upcoming New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius all tie into The Messengers energies, so stay tuned!

Venus and Mercury enter Sagittarius 02 November

A quick word on The Idealist
and The Messenger….

02 NOV
Venus enters Sagittarius 4:51am EDT

Mercury enters Sagittarius 12:54pm EDT

The Lover of Harmony and Mr. Messenger are now hand in hand where The Archer aims in your Zodiac Pie! After all the recent stirring up to achieve balance where Scorpio intensifies within our lives, it’s time to allow some movement and value-oriented energies to visit where all the mutability of jovial Sagittarius brings optimism and good fortune to your life.

Collectively, Sagittarius is gearing up for a Solar Eclipse that kicks off the day after Thanksgiving in the USA, 25 November. Looking back to the last Lunar Eclipse here upon the 15 June 2011, the opportunity to release over these past months to make way for space to be reopened here has been unfolding ever since. What will be a little tricky about the new beginnings to come in Sagittarius, is that The Messenger will have just entered its’ final Retrograde Passage of 2011 upon Thanksgiving Day. Knowing Solar Eclipses trigger a long-term period of fresh starts, once Mercury’s Shadow officially concludes upon 01 Jan 2012, this is when you’ll really start to see them optimally move forward, right in time for ringing in the Universal New Year.

While Venus and Mercury stay close together to grow where The Archer flourishes philosophy and belief within our lives, much freedom and exploration is seen to communicate with us. As Venus places our affections in impulsive, sincere and adventurous scenarios; guarding against superficiality, precocious or fickle reactions is highly recommended. Mercury engages our mentalities to try on independent, aspiring, and versatile ways of thinking; while equally avoiding opportunist, garrulous or argumentative methods of expression are wise choices to make.

Be cautious as well to sense the possible lack of reflection, continuity, or judgment in this area of the life, as the mutable fire nature of Sagittarius is well know to burn itself out of control. Harmony can be found by adhering to honesty, tapping into generosity, and remaining in the mindset that you glass is half full in this area of the life.

Till Mercury goes Retrograde, enjoy what springs up anew within the aims of The Archer. Be aware after the Approach begins 04 November, what transpires over this time will see it’s fair share of reflection, change and review from 24 November throughout 13 December.