It Happens Three Times a Year.
From our vantage point here on Earth, Mercury, the planet that rules communication and travel, the planet that is closest to earth and moves the quickest, slows to a stop and appears to move backward.
We call this Mercury retrograde. We’re experiencing it right now.
So, what IS the big deal?
One of the most important ways we can stay balanced and keep our inner equilibrium, is to be in balance with the natural world. Most of us humans are essentially disconnected and out of timing with those natural, ever shifting, rhythms and cycles. We live in cities and neighborhoods with lots of light at night, so we are unaware or in sync with the phases of the moon. We spend much of our time indoors. Hidden away from the smell of dirt and the sight of the shifting seasons, the natural landscape. We loose touch. We forget the truth. We are absolutely interwoven with all of life, the planet and the natural world. We ARE it.
A few of these cycles and rhythms are the phases of the moon, the shifting of the planets, the cycles of the seasons, the ever-changing amount of daylight in a given day. Each of these is part of the natural order. The ever-constant ebb and flow of life.When we are in synch with these natural rhythms and universal laws of creation, when we allow them to buoy us up and carry us forward, instead of resisting them, we experience greater ease and flow in our own lives.
This past week we moved into Mercury retrograde.
Most folks, if they’ve heard of it, have heard Mercury retrograde used as an excuse for why things go wonky. It creates glitches, slow things down and causes all kinds of trouble, like computer crashes and plane delays. And yes, it can and sometimes does. As with all things, there is also another side to this, a positive one. When we view it as part of the natural flow, like the tide going out, or the trees undressing for fall, we can use this energy to our advantage.
Without going into a very long explanation of astrology, here is a bit of what I know.
Mercury Retrograde…
- Mercury rules communication and travel, so issues can show up with these when it goes retrograde.
- Communication with others can be more challenging. It’s a great time to communicate more internally, with ourselves.
- This cycle’s dates are 11/24 – 12/13. The effects begin 3-5 days before and continue 3-5 days afterward.
- Expect delays and things to take longer. Breathe and practice patience.
- Slow down and double check things.
- It’s a very good time to look back and catch up with ourselves.
- It’s a good time to review where we are and revise where we’re headed. In other words, planning.
- All kinds of things from the past can show up. Lost objects. Old friends. Old patterns ready to let go on a deeper level.
- Buried insights that need to surface, may, so that we can move forward in new ways.
- A very good time for some contemplation.
- Great for sorting through things and lightening the load, physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically.
- Time to slow down and do less.
- Not the time to start new things. Time to finish the old.
We can use this retrograde energy with a big dose of self-EMPATHY, to “see” where we are and consider what we really want.
It’s the perfect time to:
Re-evaluate
Re-visit
Re-juvenate
Re-energize
Re-new
Re-commit
Re-turn home to ourselves
Re-cover
And anything else with “Re” in front of it.
Instead of, “Oh, my God!” and resistance. How about, “Thank God!”, taking an opportunity to go with the natural flow.
A great time to…
Clean out the closets.
Look back at the past year and see where you’ve been.
Look at your plans for the future and re-adjust the path so it is more in alignment with what your heart longs for.
If we do this now, before the holidays get especially busy. If we just put down the list of “do” and give ourselves the extra time we need right now to get things done. The quiet reflective time to go within, then when we get closer to the big holiday flurry we will be rested and re-juvinated and re-energized to enjoy and have fun. We’ll walk into the New Year feeling ready in our deepest being to explore what is new for us.
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” ~ Chinese Proverb
Some Mercury retrograde questions to ponder….
If I keep going in the direction I am, where will I end up?
Is that where I want to be?
If I keep living my life in the same way?
If I keep doing business in the same way?
If I keep telling myself the same old story about______, where will I be?
Next week? Next month? Next year?
How can I adjust that?
What’s one small thing I can do that would help me to shift that?
Let the energies of Mercury retrograde help you to check in and slow down just a bit.
Allow yourself to come more deeply into balance with the natural rhythms of the season.
How will you do that?
I’d love to know.
Want some extra help?
There’s still time to join me at the Energy Spa. Enjoy a special meditation for Mercury retrograde, and others to help you stay balanced and stabilized throughout the holidays, connecting to natural rhythms with ease and grace.
Mercury photo: NASA
Nature photo credits: Melani Marx
All nature photos used in this post were taken while using the Healing the Earth protocol. Unleash your creative energies. Class begins December 2, 2011.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I have to laugh! This blog had Mercury retrograde issues getting it out to everyone! M