Oh, yes, that geo-centric phenomenon of the planetary retrograde.
The optical illusion of a "backward" moving planet that is just that, an illusion. But, ask any magician and the illusion is a powerful tool to create a reality that only the magician can create for the entire audience of participants in his magic show.
And, your life IS your magic show, so let's use the illusion of the retrogrades, rather than be a spectator and allow the illusion to hide from us the reality of our lives.
Usually, if you are aware that Mercury even goes retrograde and a little about it, you have experienced those mechanical ups and downs, the difficulties in communications and movement that are the territory of Mercury. But rather than your nemesis, Mercury retrograde is here to help you create reality through the proper use of the illusion.
If you remember, quite consciously, during Mercury's retrograde that you are to "row gently down the stream" you will be able to steer around any "rocks," "blocks" and "obstacles" with ease through accepting them as being "protection" rather than what they are usually seen as: disasters! Ok, so your car broke down. Ok, so your iPhone fell in the bathtub. Ok, so you've lost everyone's phone number and you lost your voice. Receive it. Rejoice in it. Accept it as divine providence that there are no random incidents, that all of this is happening for a reason that YOU are controlling.
The more you look for synchronicity in your life, the less you are subject to random happenings. Trust the universe's plan of synchronicity even if its not apparent in your immediate vision. If you cannot see the synchronicity, take some time to back out of everything ... move retrograde with the planet(s) ... get in sync with the movement of the illusion to understand its workings so you can begin to create once again, this time more fully in the flow of the universe and the true vision of the reality you are here to create.
Sometimes, we need to retrograde into our subconscious to understand what flow our conscious lives are here to live, don't be afraid to let go of the known, the planned, the previously visualized ... otherwise you cannot receive the bigger vision that the whole you is aware of, even if the conscious you is yet unaware.
Retrograde Mercury's clues in communication and movement are very important to listen to as Mercury, being the first planet from the Sun, is the first and most important filter to take ALL of the Sun (or your life source) and make it so in our reality. Thankfully, Mercury works fast and is a brilliant taskmaster, and the more clearly the Sun is channelled naturally through Mercury, the more fully your reality will become your world. Mercury's retrograde cycle, is a time when the Earth is positioned between Mercury and the Sun -- the world is literally "in the way" -- but how else are you going to integrate your Sun (your life purpose and destiny) into the Earth if you do not take some time to see what ... or perhaps more astutely "how" ... the Earth needs to integrate your life source in creating this collectively reality we are all living in?
And, that's exactly what the retrograde cycles of all the planets help us do, each in their own unique way. Mercury's directive is to help in self-growth, and so the Mercury retrograde cycles are very personal and specificially designed just for you. Mercury is direct and to the point, so listen quick, learn fast and move even faster and you will be rewarded with the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound thanks to Mercury's retrograde cycles. Mercury retrogrades are for "Superhero" training!
A quick look at the houses at play in your own personal charts will tell you the "training ground" for Mercury's focus. For those who know how to read your own chart, I suggest a quick read of Cafe Astrology's wonderfully simple yet concise break down of Mercury's retrograde transit will help you understand your own focus.
The more efficient and able you are with the personal planet retrogrades, the better you will be at using the outer planet retrograde cycles to affect changes on a global level.
For those of you who know you can, go do it.
peace & harmony,
elaine
'freedom must be exercised to stay in shape!'
p.s. For more info on this month's specific Mercury retrograde, go visit my blog on MySpace.
