But first, let me give you all a crash course on what a planetary retrograde really symbolizes. You see, most of the time the celestial bodies move forward in a consistent and predictable path through space. The energies of these planets work in a very straightforward way during these times. Venus shows where we can connect with others. Jupiter brings whatever we desire. Pluto destroys everything we hold dear and makes us miserable. Ok, that might be a little bit exaggerated.
However, when planets slow down and turn around for awhile, this is called a retrograde period. Much like the tides of the ocean, or the in and out breath that we do hundreds of times per day, energy that we take in must be exhaled back out.
When you think of the process of breathing, what comes to mind? Our bodies need to process oxygen to continue to live, and without both the inhalation and exhalation action we would die in a few minutes. What might surprise you is that the inhale is actually the retrograde transit in this analogy, not the exhale! During a retrograde period it is critically important that we take in all that we have learned during the time a planet was direct. Before a planet turns backwards we have obtained a lot of new information related to the energies of that planet. A planet turning itself around is just showing us that now is the time to process this information before we head back out into the world and make things happen once again. A little wiser and with a little more knowledge.
So when Mercury, the planet of communication, scheduling, and your local community goes retrograde, it is time to stew on all of this information we have taken in over the last several months. This is why your schedule is getting messed up during Mercury’s backwards cycle. This is why we get dates wrong, why we misspeak, or why people misconstrue our intent. It’s because we are not meant to bring new information into the world. We are meant to reflect.
What can we do during a Mercury retrograde? Inhale. Get a journal and write. Talk with a counselor about what you are processing. Finish projects you have already started rather than begin new ones. Tie up loose and ends. Most importantly, process what you have learned.
This week, Mercury turns backwards in Sagittarius on Monday the 25th and will continue all the way through December 15th. The week itself is fairly quiet, so it is a good time to introvert and be as reflective as you can. The more you do this early in the week, the better the next few weeks will go for you. Lunar transits are favorable toward the end of this week as we head closer to the new Moon in Sagittarius. Saturday will be a wonderful day to do absolutely nothing an enjoy every damn minute of it.
Sunday is an edgier day where we might feel restless and irritated at everyone and everything, though. Don’t worry - this is just your inner Mercury energy sorting itself out.
Inhale this week. Just take it all in.
Words of wisdom: Have you ever heard the term "my brain is full?" That single saying sums up this week probably better than any other. How can you empty some of your brain to free up some space?
