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    • Mercury Retrograde: What Does it Mean to Me?

      WEEKLY ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST APRIL 25, 2016

      by Maria Shaw

      (Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

      Mercury retrograde gets blamed for a lot things that go wrong in our lives. Does it deserve all the attention? What exactly is a Mercury retrograde?

      For those of you who don't know about this astrological "happening," here's the lowdown in layman's terms: The planet Mercury rules communication, travel, contracts, automobiles, and such. It goes in a retrograde motion—or motion that makes it appear to be going backwards in the night sky—three times a year for approximately three weeks at a time. When Mercury is retrograde, there's usually much confusion. People forget little things. Delays and frustrations abound.

      Astrologers recommend against starting anything new when Mercury goes retrograde. But even if you can't begin new endeavors, you can still put this aspect to good use. You just need to learn to work with the energy of Mercury rather than against it. Let's explore the pros and cons of this cosmic force and how to wait out this period until Mercury goes forward or "direct."

      There's a "wind up" period about two weeks before Mercury goes retrograde. During this time, you should finish business at hand. When Mercury does go retrograde, make sure you have all of your current projects finished.

      I have a few Mercury retrograde stories of my own to share.

      I owned a rental house that I needed to rent ASAP. It was costing me money to leave it vacant, and I was eager to get someone moved in. My Realtor did background checks on all of the rental applicants and found some folks that I thought would be the perfect renters. I knew I should never sign contracts on a retrograde, but was impatient. I didn't want to wait a month to sign a lease when Mercury went direct.

      The couple signed a year's lease, so I kept my fingers crossed. The following month, the rent was late. A few months later, they trashed the place, placed bills illegally in my name, moved out without notice, and filed for bankruptcy.

      Years ago, I wanted to buy a home and made an offer on a house during a Mercury retrograde in June. The offer was declined. I asked for a counter-offer and never heard back. Realtors couldn't find the owners. There was a lot of miscommunication. The sellers had left state to vacation for a few weeks. It took until October to get a response. The response was a "yes&" ... but it only came after re-writing the original offer three times!

      My friend and astrologer Cindy should have known better. She started a new job on the first day Mercury went retrograde. She asked how I felt the job would go. "You won't stay there," I told her. "It's a Mercury retrograde." The next day she broke her thumb and had to quit! This same friend had a lot of nerve tempting fate. She went out and bought a new car on another retrograde. It broke down on the drive home from the dealer's. It stayed parked at the dealership until Mercury went direct, waiting for a part.

      Now, you can't stop your life just because a Mercury retrograde hits. There's always something you can't avoid or put off. But if you have time to plan ahead, do so; you'll save yourself a lot of headaches. Since Mercury also rules travel and trips, it is not a good time to travel unless you have backup plans in place. Expect delays, double-check accommodations, and check everything.

      One year 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. We went to the airport to fly to out, and the gate agent told us our trip was canceled. The ship had caught on fire! We drove to Canada instead for a quick getaway. Our trip was cut short when relatives called and told us to hurry home; there had been an emergency in the family!

      Sometimes, even when you plan ahead, Mercury retrogrades can get the best of you! Once my friends and I were heading to the airport to catch a flight. I told Sherry to meet me at my house a half hour earlier than usual so 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 and we made it to the freeway, there was a six-mile traffic back-up due to road construction. We made it through that, but because we started late we ended up in Detroit's morning rush hour traffic and were delayed again. I was doing ninety miles an hour 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. A worker had left some machinery sitting in front of our plane while he went to lunch. No one could locate him and our flight was stuck until he came back!

      What Not To Do During Mercury Retrograde
      DON'T:

      • Start anything new
      • Make important decisions
      • Buy computers, appliances, TVs, radios, etc.
      • Travel without back-up plans
      • Sign contracts
      • Buy a car
      • Negotiate a contract
      • File a lawsuit
      • Start a new job
      • Begin a new class
      • Go on a "first" date
      • Expect things to move quickly
      • Take anything for granted

      WHAT TO EXPECT

      • Angrier people
      • Crazy drivers
      • More accidents
      • Miscommunication
      • Quarrels
      • Computer problems and breakdowns
      • Delays
      • More mistakes
      • Slow mail
      • Games of phone tag
      • Wrong directions
      • Missed appointments
      • Dead cell phone batteries

      What's Mercury Retrograde Good For?
      If you know when Mercury retrograde hits—which is about every three months—you can work with, rather than against, its energy. Remember there's a "re" in retrograde. These weeks are good for re-doing just about anything.

      DO:

      • Re-apply for a job
      • Re-do hair color
      • Re-write your resume
      • Review your bank account
      • Renew a loan
      • Repair your car
      • Re-contact past clients
      • Research

      Catch up on all of the tasks you set aside, and also have a game-plan in place for when Mercury goes direct.

      The Mercury retrograde is also a time to reflect on what you've accomplished and where you want to redirect your energies. There's that "re" again! We all need time to review and decide if we're taking the right road. These days give us the opportunity to do so.

      We can't stop our lives every time a retrograde hits. So what can you do when you don't have a choice?

      • Read and re-read contracts. Have someone else look them over, too.
      • Check your travel plans several times.
      • If you need to, ask questions over and over during negotiations.
      • ail packages and letters early. Check the zip codes.
      • Fill your gas tank.
      • Don't check your luggage if you're flying. Carry on everything if possible.
      • If you are making purchases, keep your sales receipt and know the store's return policy.
      • Keep your cell phone battery charged.
      • Watch your driving.

      There are people who never seem to be affected during Mercury retrogrades. Chances are they were born during one! Millions of people are. How do these weeks affect them? Well, Mercury retrograde babies thrive. Things appear easier for them and run smoothly. They get the new job, start building the new house, and travel to fun-filled destinations. If you're one of these people, you'll have the edge on everyone else! How do you find out? Your astrology chart will indicate if Mercury was retrograde when you were born.

      Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2004. All rights reserved.

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    • Double Vision: Supporting Our Troops in the Afterlife
      memories

      I’m a long-time high school teacher and, sadly, one of my former students was a soldier killed in the war in Iraq some months ago. I am psychically sensitive and have had encounters with spirits on a few occasions throughout my life. This young man came to me not long after he was killed, and he still shows up now and then. I sense his presence and his emotional turmoil but I don’t know what he wants from me. I feel he’s not at peace and would like any advice you may have on how to help him move on. Thanks for your wonderful work!

       – L.

      Astrea:

      Day after day I’m visited by all the young people (not just Americans) who have died fighting this war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of them are barely 18 years old and volunteered for service because they strongly believed that their country was doing the right thing. Many were just citizens of these war-torn countries.

      The warriors among them believed they were doing something to make all people safer from attack by enemies in the future. Now that they’re in another dimension, they’re shocked and upset that their deaths seem to mean nothing.

      Many of them don’t seem to know where they are. Because they died so young and so suddenly, they’re lost and confused. The worst for me is how they beg me to contact their loved ones and ask them not to forget about them.

      Many of them feel that no one cares for them at all. Time and time again, I hear Don’t forget me, and Tell everyone that I love them. Every time the news comes on, I’m bombarded with their sweet faces and voices.

      What can we do to help? They tell me to pray for peace in my own way every day. They say to pray that their families are safe, cared for and protected. They ask to be sent on into the light that they see but can’t quite reach, so I pray for that too.

      I was at a loss for more until a few weeks ago. Then a young soldier from Tennessee who was killed sometime last year came to me and asked me to write letters to living soldiers. She told me that they need remembering too.

      We can be against all war but still reach out to our brave warriors. My mother told me that during World War II, she and her friends each wrote 10 letters a week addressed to any U.S. soldier.

      Due to terrorist concerns, the government won’t deliver mail unless it’s properly addressed to a real person, but we can always ask around for names or contact a military chaplain or the Red Cross. I imagine receiving mail addressed to them personally would mean more anyway.

      The young woman who died serving this country assures me that the love and support of the people at home means so much to them. She says this will even help the spirits waiting to cross into the light. We need not comment on the war to connect with the young people all over the world who are caught up in it.

      Readers, please join me in writing to young soldiers. Just one letter can make a tremendous difference. For those who died in service to their countries, and for those serving in the military now, I offer up a sincere prayer for peace.

      *****

      Susyn:

      When someone special touches our lives, it’s only natural to want to acknowledge and connect with them. This is the case with the young man you mentioned, and I believe he’s coming to you for some very important reasons.

      Besides wanting to acknowledge that you taught him so much more than you probably realize, he does have important information he wants you to pass on to the students you are teaching now. He knows you have a great influence over these young minds. Your ability to exemplify and teach them about honor, integrity and honesty make you the best person to pass his message on.

      He says he willingly chose to serve his country but feels he was misled or betrayed by the powers that be, and he is highly concerned that young people his age might follow in his footsteps. He simply asks that you continue to encourage your students to do more research and soul-searching before making such a decision without all the facts, like he did.

      He also admits to being somewhat of a pain in your class, and he wants to apologize for that. He says you were instrumental in teaching him that you would give him your attention without his usual antics, so that behavior wasn’t really productive.

      Now that you have gotten the message, he will get ready to move into the light and on to his next tour of duty as he jokingly calls it. Here is a ritual you can use to help him move to the next level:

      Gather three purple candles, three purple gemstones, and wear the color purple, as it represents the spiritual realms and will create an ideal atmosphere for this transition.

      Light the candles and call him in by name. Once you feel his presence, you can formulate a request to the universe to open a spiritual portal and allow him to pass through. Filling in the blanks with his name, your words might go something like this:

      _______ and I request that a spiritual portal be opened. _______ is ready now to move into the light and continue on his path. All his work here is done, and we ask for a smooth and speedy transition. I bless you and send you into the light, _______, and will spread your message here on earth.

      You shouldn’t have any more visits after that, but if you do, they will be from a more centered, balanced, spiritual aspect of him.

      Thanks for your letter and your concerns. We all struggle with what the war is doing to our friends, family and children. In your own special way, you can counteract some of the tragedy of the war, which will bring great peace not only to your student but to countless others as well.

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