Sooooo… If you’ve done your astrological homework and did your ‘Preparing for Mercury Retrograde’ you are truly going to be at the head of the class for the next few weeks ahead. And noooooo, the end of the world is not coming quite yet just because The Messenger is taking time to offer us all some necessary reflection within our lives. But, rest assured, this passage is going to change up a lot things for the collective.

Remaining positive couldn’t be more important to grab on to with both hands, and hold on tight. Let’s just think of Mercury for a second. Envision our quicksilver planet who ever-so enjoys delivering his messages and information, making sure travel and movement is happily happening wherever he goes. Now, picture him blindfolded in a sense, in where, he can not see where he is going to do all of these things he typically keeps himself quite busy with.  What would you do if you had to literally only physically move backwards to function down here below?

This is why, we are not “doomed” under Mercury Retrograde at all. It is all how our free-will chooses to perceive the changes that will naturally unfold during this passage from above. Knowing our Messenger’s channel from above is going to make things flux- possibly leaning towards the chaotic- it is definitely a smart move to honor his request for retreat, relax, review, and redo. Those who are not willing to adapt to a reflective, relaxed and resolute state, are the ones who make mountains out of molehills over this time.

Trying to move forward in life when the planet that directly governs movement, thinking, and communications of all kinds upon this planet is moving backwards is just plain silly. Logically, like Mercury always is, it makes perfect sense. This passage definitely gives him the name of ‘The Trickster’ as he does a sleepwalk of sorts. Over the course of a years time, he travels backwards about as much as we actually sleep. Becoming any clearer why the Universe sets it up perfectly every 4 months that we naturally take a mental rest?

Being in the know to take our time, expect delays, exercise patience, don’t sign nor initiate anything of importance, and have Plan B, C or even D ready if A changes- is critical to staying within the power of your positive energy over this time. Even in the face of apparent tragedy that can arise due to those unaware of how this Universal request from above works down here below- it is always up to you. Respond or react. You decide, as you are the captain of your own ship. And if you are letting anyone else sail it for you, perhaps you should truly take up with reflecting upon that under this upcoming passage.

Rejoicing can be yours under Mercury Retrograde by remembering all those RE’s. Literally, most any word that begins with RE, is the finest way to reap reward from this passage, which absolutely can occur. But if you want to move forward in life and plan for the future while the Messenger is backtracking, you’ll just end up wasting your time. Human error and mindlessness is the highest under MRx than any other time of the year.

So what should you do from 12 March to 04 April? Returning to old projects is highly favored. Reconnecting with old friends/contacts. Reviewing what just happened in the life since the last MRx back in Sagittarius in November and December 2011. Revise current work. Dive into some research. Go on a retreat. Reclaim something lost. Go for a release.  Revisit your life. Repair what is broken. Redo, Rest, Relax. Reflect.

For each and every sign in the Zodiac, while Mercury will “do this thing” from 06 degrees Aries to 23 degrees Pisces, there are 2 areas of the life from the collective perspective that this will ultimately require reassessment and revision within. Looking to the natal chart, you will wish to precisely see how these degree points fall, and what area of the life they are asking you to take a chill pill within for this period of time.  

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…

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:

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.

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!