KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

by Maria Shaw

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

The dreaded Mercury Retrograde period will soon be upon us. Rather than dwelling on the problems associated with this three week period we all experience about several times a year, let's look at how a Mercury Retrograde can benefit us. But first, for those of you who have no idea what this astrological term means, here's my basic definition.

The planet Mercury rules communication, travel, contracts, automobiles, and the written word. It goes in a retrograde motion, where it appears to move backwards, three times a year for approximately three weeks at a time. When Mercury is retrograde, there's a lot of confusion. People forget things. There are delays and frustrations.You should never start anything new when Mercury goes retrograde. But you can still put this astrological aspect to good use. Later, I will discuss how you can use this time period and work with the energy of Mercury rather than against it. There is usually a "wind up" period two weeks before Mercury goes retrograde. This is a time to finalize and finish things. When the retrograde day arrives, you should have all of your important projects put to bed. Now, you can't stop your life just because a Mercury Retrograde rolls around. There are things you can't possibly avoid or put off. But if you do have time to plan ahead, you can save yourself a lot of frustration and time by doing so.

Since Mercury also rules travel and trips, it is not a good time to travel unless you have backup plans. Expect delays, and double-check accommodations beforehand.

I booked a cruise for my husband's birthday. It wasn't a Mercury Retrograde when I booked the trip, but the ship was set to sail during one of these times. When we arrived at the airport to fly out, the gate agent told us our cruise was canceled. The ship had caught on fire! We drove to Quebec instead to make use of our time off. Our trip was cut short when relatives called and told us to come back home; there had been a death in the family!

Sometimes, even when you plan ahead, Mercury Retrogrades can get the best of you. My friends and I planned to drive together to the airport to catch a flight. I told Sherry to be at my house a half hour earlier than usual so that we wouldn't be late. She left her house early but missed the turn to my road and went thirty minutes out of her way! Once she picked me up we made it to the freeway, there was a six mile traffic back-up due to road construction. We made it through that. However, because we started late, we ended up in the morning rush hour and delayed again. I was speeding to get to the airport and it looked like we'd actually make the flight. Then the tire on my car blew! Luckily someone stopped to help but we were about seven minutes late getting to the gate and had to take a later flight. Three hours later, we boarded a plane scheduled to leave on time. However, a worker had left some machinery in front of our plane and went to lunch. No one could locate him and our flight was stuck until he came back....a half hour later!

So, what can you do on a Mercury Retrograde? This is one of the best times of the year to re-do things. You get a second chance to make things right, to restart a project or complete something you've been working on for a while. Think of any word that has an "re" in front of it. That's what Mercury Retrograde is good for....re-doing just about anything.

If you didn't get a job offer a few months back, now the perfect time to re-apply for that job. It's a perfect time to redo your resume too and reconnect old clients or people who could help you on a job search. Because Mercury also rules cars; now would be the time to take you car in for a repair or renegotiate your car loan for a better interest rate.

This is also a perfect time to catch up on all of the mundane work and tasks you set aside that you didn't have time for in the previous weeks. It's also a great period to review or revise a game plan so that when Mercury goes direct; you can move forward with an idea.

A Mercury Retrograde is also used to reflect on what you've accomplished thus far and where you what to redirect your energies. There are those "re" words again! We all need time to review and decide if we're on the right path. These weeks give us the opportunity to do just that.

Most of us can't take three weeks off or stop or even postpone commitments and projects. Here is a list of some things you can do if you absolutely cannot work around the Mercury Retrograde.

• Check your travel plans several times and bring a book to read at the airport.
• Mail packages and letters early. Check the zip codes.
• Double check everything twice for mistakes.
• Don't check luggage when you're flying. Carry on everything if you can.
• If you are making big purchases, keep your sales receipt and know the store's return policy.
• Keep your cell phone battery charged.
• And most importantly, let everyone know that there is a mercury retrograde so that if anything goes wrong, you're not to blame...it's that darn planet Mercury!

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2006. All rights reserved.

I feel like I'm always hitting walls in my relationships, and I can't figure out what's going on. I try to manifest harmony but it just doesn't work. I listen to my own inner knowing, but my spouse and coworkers are always butting heads with me, which causes a lot of frustration. Sometimes I believe I'm just supposed to be alone in my life. I'm not difficult by nature, but my family members and my husbands have always gone against me and tried to make me feel that I'm not okay. Am I missing something? Is there something I'm not seeing besides that they're not okay? Should I be approaching people differently? I deliver my words with clarity and love, only to be thwarted by their anger and resistance. Then I'm told it's my fault! I don't know what to do. I am a lightworker who needs help, and I'm not sure where to look for it. Am I somehow creating all this discord?

 - Anne

Astrea:

Don't feel that you're the only person with these issues. Even a lightworker can't make others behave the way she wants them to all the time. After all, you're only human! Lightworkers can get very frustrated even when they're working in an enlightened atmosphere. For much of the time, things don't go the way we want them to.

In order to manifest harmony in others, we would have to be those others.  Harmony comes to those who seek it. You can control your own thoughts, perceptions and feelings, but not those of other people.

If we meet others in peaceful harmony, that harmony comes back to us. You're obviously around people who want to argue with you and judge you. You don't cause these problems, but you do feed others' disrespectful behavior toward you.

If the people at your job keep arguing with you, it's probably time to look for a more pleasant situation. Outside of our own families, we can largely choose the people we let into our lives. I know it's easier said than done, but if you can trust in your ability to manifest a great new job, it will happen.

While Capricorns with your birthday can be opinionated, they are rarely unreasonable. If people are fighting you just for the drama, it's time to change that for you. Getting your family to cooperate and breaking established patterns isn't easy, of course. You've taught these people that you can be talked out of ideas and controlled, so now they expect you to always acquiesce to what they want.

The way to turn that around is to stop letting them tell you what to do. Find the courage to say no to them when you're sure they're on the wrong track. It will be difficult at first, but they'll get used to it if you're consistent.

Also, remember that we all have valid answers and solutions, for no two people perceive the same thing the same way. Forcing people to do what we want is impossible, and it wastes our energy to keep that up all the time. Find a way to be in harmony with your surroundings.

Sometimes we need time to plan and reflect. Capricorns don't take personal time alone very often, and as a result, they wind up feeling tired and frustrated. Stand back and observe what's really happening around you and then change what you can. Let the rest go and go with the flow.

*****

 Susyn:

I'm sorry for the difficulties you're going through in your personal relationships. It's always been my experience that our struggles are designed to challenge us and move us to a better place.

Sometimes it can be hard to determine if a problem is yours or someone else's, but if something is in your experience, it's there for a good reason. In this case, it sounds as if you're the common denominator.

From your letter, it also sounds like you may be trying too hard in your relationships. You may notice that the more discord that arises in these situations, the greater your tendency to try and counteract or take care of things becomes.

As confusing as it may sound, there are people who will resent your offers of help. Some will interpret your efforts as attempts to control their actions, while others will resist because they don't really want to succeed or don't want to be held responsible should they fail.

From a spiritual perspective, problems that occur repeatedly are often a sign that it's time for a change. Of course, the quickest way to change other people's actions or responses is to change your own. This may seem almost too simple, but I promise you that if you change just one element about yourself, you will see immediate change in other people's reactions to you.

As an example, if you are the one who is always taking charge or giving directions, try listening instead. By holding your tongue and simply giving them your full attention, they will immediately notice a change in you, and in turn, they will respond differently.

If you're the person everyone seeks out for advice or direction, try responding with something like, I'm not sure or I don't know, maybe you can ask so and so.

In short, you can create the harmony you seek by reclaiming your own inner power and calm center. The fastest way to accomplish that is to hold back and let others reach out to you. These practices may seem to make little sense, but you'll see the effects immediately when people begin to respond to you differently.

Although it may feel unfair that you're the one who has to change, your willingness to try will enable you to restore these relationships to a more balanced state. It will also clear your own heart and spirit, enhance your qualities as a good partner and friend, and boost your power and energy as a lightworker.