Retrograde Mercury

Retrogression is a special type of planetary movement in which, for an earthly observer, the planet moves backwards — «retreats». Such an effect arises because of the different speeds of movement. Recall how, when you are travelling in a train and see from the window another train moving in the same direction but more slowly, it seems to you that the other train is going backwards.

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Mercury is the planet of the mind, of speech, of accounts, of the accuracy of calculations. If Mercury turns out to be in a state of retrogression, this may give failures or mistakes in calculations. The mind will produce incorrect or unconventional decisions. Speech may be confused or excessively florid. Sociability may be lowered or, on the contrary, immoderate.

A person with a retrograde Mercury may understand everything well but be unable to formulate it clearly. The thoughts may outrun the words. In a positive sense a retro Mercury may give unconventional thinking, unconventional decisions, unusual and eccentric speech.

A person may not understand what to say and what not to say, to whom, how much and when. He is wise after the event. «A good thought comes afterwards.» Such people are inclined to return to the past in their thoughts often. It gives the effect of a stuck record.

The lower chakra, Muladhara, is connected with Mercury, with the element of Earth. If Mercury is afflicted to some degree, this may manifest as an affliction of the Muladhara Chakra. The Muladhara chakra is also connected with accumulation and practicality. A person may be wasteful, unable to use all these resources that are given to him.

All the planets except the Sun and the Moon can be retrograde. The strongest influence on our earthly affairs is exerted by the backward movement of Mercury and Venus.

During the period of its retrogression Mercury acts in an unaccustomed way. The accuracy and correctness of our decisions is called into question; often we are unable to perceive information correctly. For example, when buying a house or a car during a retrograde Mercury, we do not notice defects that will be revealed to us in the course of time.

Setting off on a journey or taking a new job, we are afterwards surprised that the conditions turn out to be quite unlike what was presented to us. Many agreements concluded in this period are not fulfilled properly.

Therefore the time of a retrograde Mercury is a rather difficult period for business. All proposals received at this time should be examined very carefully.

If you are planning your holiday, check the period of Mercury’s retrogression. Many «surprises» await you if the date of the trip falls into this period. The hotel turns out not to be the one you booked. You wanted to visit the Dalí museum. It is closed on precisely that day. It is even worse if you set off on holiday by car.

In a retrograde period it becomes more difficult to express and convey one’s thought. The work of the means of communication deteriorates, and technology breaks down and malfunctions more often.

During the period of a retrograde Mercury it is recommended:

• To work with old connections and contacts.
• To deal with unfinished and already running projects and documents.
• It is good to put things in order and to throw out all superfluous papers and other carriers of information.
• To leave one’s job.
• To take seasonal work.
• Creative people should expect inspiration — you may think over new projects, ideas and plans.
• To work with one’s mental attitudes. To pay attention to how thoughts form our destiny, our attitude to the world and to ourselves.
• It is good to work with one’s complexes, subconscious programs, psychological blocks and constrictions.
• The period is good for work with a psychotherapist or for psychoanalysis.
• The chance increases of making sense of many of one’s inner problems, of becoming aware of them, of bringing them out.
• To meditate, to cleanse and calm one’s mind.
• To repair broken technology.
• To meet old acquaintances and relatives.
• Drivers should watch the road with particular attention.
• Try not to undertake long journeys.
• This is a good time for resitting examinations.
• Love relationships that begin at this time will not be lasting.
• It is good to restore old friendly ties.
• It is good to occupy oneself with painstaking mental work.

The period of a retrograde Mercury has begun…

What does this mean? How can it influence us? And how can we use this time to our own benefit?

In astrology the notion of «retrogression» means a change in the direction of a planet’s movement. When any planet begins to move backwards, its energy is directed inwards and begins to act somewhat differently. Mercury is the only planet whose retrogression is felt by the majority of people. It is held that during the period of its retrogression Mercury exerts a pernicious influence on people; if, however, one makes correct use of this situation, then this period too can be used for one’s own good.

Mercury is the planet of contacts, agreements, information, intellectual activity, commerce and trade. It is connected with journeys and transport, with the conducting of negotiations, with study, with the signing of documents. Mercury is responsible for memory, speech, oratorical abilities, logic and the mind.

So, during the period of a retrograde Mercury it is recommended:

—If you want something new to happen in your life, free a place for it, finish your affairs before moving forward. Think how many affairs you need to finish, to delegate or to get rid of before you can go further and bring into your life new relationships, abundance and wealth.

—Deal with unfinished and neglected projects and documents. You can finish an article, complete a book. It is good to put things in order and to throw out all superfluous papers, archives and carriers of information.

—You may leave your old job.

—Creative people are often visited by inspiration during a retro Mercury. New projects, ideas and plans are born. In the retro phase it is better to think them over and analyse them thoroughly, and it is better to begin work on realising them when Mercury returns to direct motion.

—Work with old connections and contacts. Meet acquaintances and relatives whom you have not seen for a long time.

—Work with your mental attitudes. Pay attention to how thoughts form our destiny, our attitude to the world and to ourselves.

—Meditate, cleanse and calm your mind, read mantras, prayers and affirmations.

In all these affairs luck will attend you.

In periods of retrogression all Mercurial affairs develop slowly, confusion often arises and the risk of mistakes increases. New projects are held back, failures occur in the work of transport, of courier services and of the post, it is more difficult to study and to occupy oneself with intellectual work and to conduct negotiations. In such periods smart technology breaks down more often and malfunctions occur in the work of communication operators.

Therefore take note of what it is nevertheless better not to do in this period, in order to avoid troubles:

— To make purchases; it is especially better not to make any significant purchases, since afterwards you may be disappointed and hidden defects will be discovered.

— To sign contracts, to conclude deals, to open a business or a project, since the probability of mistakes is very great.

— To start a new job, since afterwards the conditions may not suit you and additional information that you did not know will be revealed; to sign contracts.

— To begin new undertakings, since with a high probability they will have a returning character.

— To decide something finally, since afterwards your decision, your view of the problem, will change.

— To begin study on courses, since the studies will come with great difficulty or the knowledge received will not be of use to you in practical activity.

— To buy technology. It will bring no benefit; in the future it will turn out to be unnecessary or will break down.

— To borrow money or to lend it yourself. It will be practically impossible to get it back.

— To make new acquaintances. They will not be lasting and will not become serious.

—To move house, to buy a flat, to let it out. Delays and obstacles will arise.

Use the period of a retrograde Mercury with benefit, and when this period is over set about all the postponed affairs with pleasure!

What a retrograde Mercury gives in the various houses of the horoscope

A retrograde Mercury in the 1st house: Here Mercury goes slowly backwards. This may slow down a person’s thinking and reaction. It is hard for such people to take quick decisions. They often do not bring the projects they have begun to completion. They must learn first to think and then to speak, learn to bring the affairs they have begun to an end, and also to work for the good of society.

A retrograde Mercury in the 2nd house: A person of moods, whose values change with the mood, a spendthrift, who in the past gave much attention to material values. He must learn to distinguish real values without fixating on the outward and material sides.

A retrograde Mercury in the 3rd house: In the past the person discriminated against people in communication. He preferred to communicate with clever and influential personalities. In this life such people must learn to treat everyone alike and to understand that communication is not only receiving information but giving it as well. Bad relations with brothers and neighbours.

A retrograde Mercury in the 4th house: In the past the person created disharmony around himself. He was quick-tempered, nervous and behaved boorishly in conversations with those who were near him. In this life he must learn to take himself in hand and to treat those around him kindly.

A retrograde Mercury in the 5th house: In a past life the person was imprudent and unfaithful in love relationships. He led a frivolous way of life and did not take upon himself the responsibility of bringing up children. In this life such people must be serious in love relationships and learn to treat life seriously and to give more attention to the upbringing of children.

A retrograde Mercury in the 6th house: The person did not think about the good of society. He did not respect his colleagues at work and treated them with contempt. Here the lesson consists in the person’s treating public needs responsibly without expecting a reward, respecting his colleagues.

A retrograde Mercury in the 7th house: This person was egoistic, unfaithful and unreliable towards his partners. In this life such people must think well before entering into any partnership relations (marriage, business) and behave responsibly towards them.

A retrograde Mercury in the 8th house: The person had low moral values; he wanted to find the truth superficially, by an easy path. He had failures in relationships and in his career because of his harmful character. Possibly he was a false preacher. In this life the person must be rational in the search for truth and not go by the path of black magic. He must be honest and pass on the knowledge he has received to others.

A retrograde Mercury in the 9th house: Possibly in a past life this was a rolling stone. He lived now in one place, now in another, without any goal in life. It is also possible that he was a religious fanatic who did not tolerate the opinions of other people and did not respect other religions. He had superficial knowledge, and the knowledge he did have he did not use in real life. He associated with indecent people together with whom he committed unlawful acts. The lesson consists in seeking knowledge sincerely, applying it in one’s life and passing this knowledge on to others. The person must lead a simple way of life and respect other religions, even if they contradict his own religion.

A retrograde Mercury in the 10th house: In a past life he was indecisive, lazy, irresponsible and negligent towards his work, and he could not win the hearts of his superiors and receive respect and career growth. He could not attain success in any sphere he chose. Possibly he was a government employee and abused his official position. In this life he will be able to attain success if he works responsibly in subordination to his management. This is a good placement for business.

A retrograde Mercury in the 11th house: The person was in bad, debauched company, was carried away by women and material comfort. Such a person does not enjoy respect in higher circles and therefore seeks bad company where he can be the centre of attention, where he will be received as a «hero». From bad friends he will take nothing good and will become a superficial person. The lesson consists in learning to find noble, decent friends and to be honest towards them. He must also learn to feel comfortable in any company and to communicate with people of different levels.

A retrograde Mercury in the 12th house: This is a person who has not worked out his previous karma in a past life. Such people have nervous, impulsive speech. Their incorrect decisions bring disappointment, failures and secret enemies. They must watch their conversations and decisions. A person takes quick decisions, conclusions and assessments under the influence of a Retro Mercury. They must understand what their karmic lesson consists in and work it out.

Mahesh Dharmadasa