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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: 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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