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    • Mercury Retrograde: What Is It Good For?

      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.

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    • Double Vision: How Do You Meditate?
      contemplation2

      How do you meditate? What is the technique that works best for you? When I try to meditate, I either fall asleep or I just review the events of the day over and over in my mind. Thanks for your help!

       – Aqueelah

      Astrea:

      My meditation probably doesn’t conform to the ideas most people have about meditating, for I have to be moving to meditate.

      I too find it hard to solve my problems while sitting still. Like you, if I sit or lie down long enough, I fall asleep, which at least is relaxing. Lots of people have a very hard time just doing that. Don’t be upset when that happens, for it means you’re getting into your groove.

      I’m probably very strange when it comes to what I do personally. Some of my best meditations occur while I’m driving long distances, which I do at least twice a week. (Don’t worry, I do pay attention to my driving.)

      Out on the country roads, my mind is able to wrap itself around issues without any distractions. I’m also able to connect with my friends who have crossed over, and they ride along with me sometimes. I’ve done this for so many years that it’s totally natural and automatic for me now.

      My other favorite way to meditate is while I’m doing a ballet barre. Over the years, I’m sure I’ve done hundreds of thousands, and a barre doesn’t change that much. Because the barre begins so slowly, with the bigger muscles being trained and stretched, and progresses through the smaller muscle groups and then culminates in a long slow stretch again, it’s perfect for me to let my mind go to the issues I need to address at the time.

      If you don’t have a studio with a barre, it’s okay. Just accept that sitting meditation to quiet your mind isn’t for everyone, and find something that works for you. There are many great DVDs that have T’ai Chi or similar moving meditations. Kenny Dunn offers great instruction.

      If you don’t want something that complicated, there are several other moving paths you might try. In fact, you can design your own moving meditation with any kind of repetitive movement, so experiment and find what works best for you. If something doesn’t work, at least you’re getting good exercise!

      Also, don’t think that you’re not meditating just because your mind goes over the day’s events. Reviewing anything over and over can become a mantra for reaching the Higher Self. Searching for answers through a repetitive process is the cornerstone of many traditional inner quests.

      The important thing is to honor whatever works best for you!

      *****

      Susyn:

      One wonderful thing about meditation is its versatility. You can meditate almost anywhere and for any length of time and still reap benefits. Meditation is a highly effective tool for centering your mind, heart and spirit. When I find myself unable to stop the chatter in my head, meditation is the answer.

      Morning meditation is effective for starting the day off on the right foot and for building strength whenever you’re having trouble in a certain area, such as a lack of confidence, trust or clarity. I find that evening meditations are wonderful for clearing away the bustle and confusion of the day.

      Choose a special place in your home for meditation, and create an altar or center dedicated to this purpose. Small water fountains, candles, plants or stones can add a soothing tone to your altar. Pictures, icons and crystal balls can also help you focus. While some people like to have relaxing music in the background, I prefer a calming silence.

      I like to sit on a small pillow covered with silk or wool, which are both known to be powerful conductors of life force energy. I sit with my legs crossed and my back straight.

      Taking in 10 deep breaths, I time my breathing to the count of four: Four counts inhaling, four counts holding, and four counts exhaling. Once I center in this way, I choose an object to focus on or visualize a window in my mind and wait for images and visions to appear.

      As you meditate, the biggest challenge is preventing stray thoughts from entering your mind. When this happens, choose an object to focus on such as the flame of a candle, an image, or an affirmation you can read over and over. You can also clear your mind by listening to music or the sounds of nature.

      Like most things in life, practice makes perfect: Meditating regularly in the morning or evening will increase your ability to get in the zone. You can also perform spot meditations in unfamiliar settings when you feel uncentered, panicked or worried.

      Find a quiet place where you can be alone and focus on an object such as a ring, a bracelet, your hand, or a special stone you carry in your purse or pocket for just such meditation emergencies.

      Spiritual ideas, guidance and clarity are the gifts of regular meditation. I encourage you to find your own style and schedule for honing these skills, for meditation can transform your life in powerful ways.

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