In the Stars with Kathryn Silverton
Author of "In the Stars" for United Airlines' in-flight magazine Hemispheres

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Mercury Retrograde

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. ~~ Ecclesiastes 3

What is the significance of Mercury?

Astrologically speaking, Mercury is considered the “Messenger” god and is therefore associated with the transportation of objects and the communication of ideas and information. Anything or anyone that makes it possible to transport or communicate objects or ideas is also associated with Mercury.

The list of things Mercury “rules” includes, but is not limited to: computers, e-mail, the Internet, telephones of all forms, planes, trains, automobiles, delivery services; objects that enable things to be transported, such as pipes, tubes, wires, roads, highways, connecting devices; keys, microphones, anything that comes in pairs, logistics, sources and processes of the dissemination of information.

In the physical body it is associated with what is dual, such as the lungs, the hands, the arms, the fingers, the legs and toes, the nasal passages, the veins and arteries (the transporter of blood and nutrients), windpipes, thymus and thyroid gland, body tremors, breathing, speech, bronchial tubes, the senses: eyes, ears, skin, nose, vocal chords, voice, nerves and the nervous system.

People who come under this category include: employees of companies associated with transportation and communication of information, such as accountants, actuaries, postal workers, bank tellers, agents, journalists, editors, script writers, educators, spokespersons, radio announcers, speech writers, public speakers, authors, ambassadors, attorneys, information clerks, secretaries, stenographers, inspectors, health officials, historians, professors, teachers, tutors, porters, doormen, salesmen, doctors, technicians, craftsmen, shipping and receiving clerks, statisticians, bank tellers, weather forecasters, traffic lights and directors, manicurists, librarians and anyone associated with books, mathematicians, jugglers, distributors, draftsmen, automobile salesmen and repairmen, advertising, sound engineering, all drivers of machinery and transportation devices.

What does Mercury Retrograde mean?

When Mercury goes retrograde, it has an apparent backward motion in relationship to Earth. It retraces its path anywhere from 10 to 16 degrees of the zodiac, and does this approximately every four months for a period of 20 to 23 days.

What should I anticipate when Mercury is retrograde and how can I best work with this cycle?

Assume that anything or anyone associated with Mercury is subject to glitches. Take the Murphy’s Law approach to life: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” Expect to have to do things over, retrace your steps, connect with your past, finish up that which hasn’t been completed, clean out drawers, cabinets, closets, locate information that has been stored away and in the process stumble upon stuff you forgot you had, and/or find yourself organizing your “stuff,” undergo surgery to repair something that went wrong during or as a result of a prior surgery, edit, fine tune, repair, correct, replace, fill in missing information, and renegotiate. Since objects don’t always make it to their intended destination during this time, expect returns. Make lists and keep them with you. Double check before leaving for appointments: Did you remember your cell phone, your charger, your debit or credit cards, your laptop, the information you need to get the job done, your appointment book? Did you confirm all information associated with your appointments such as date, time, exact location, agenda and attendees? When placing an order for something, be sure you have the correct item number. Get receipts, documentation and confirmation for everything, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Those parts of the body ruled by Mercury are more likely to be vulnerable during this time.

Things to avoid while Mercury is retrograde:

Elective surgery, medical testing, exams, shipping, making assumptions without checking them out, buying anything mechanical or anything associated with Mercury. If you have no choice, do your homework and save all documentation. Avoid generalizations when communicating. Be specific and ask for confirmation.

What does it mean when Mercury is “in its shadow” and what can I expect?

The portion of the zodiac that is retraced by Mercury when it goes backward is considered the shadow. For example, if Mercury goes retrograde (backward) at 20 degrees of Aries and stops at 0 degrees of Aries before going forward, then 0 degrees of Aries through 20 degrees of Aries is the shadow. As Mercury moves through these degrees right before going retrograde, it is in its (pre) shadow. And then, once Mercury goes direct (forward) again, it is in its (post) shadow until it has left those degrees. So once it hits 21 degrees of Aries in this example, it is no longer in its shadow.

Reading your Mercury Retrograde Card:

The BLACK PRINTED dates show when Mercury is moving direct and is not in its shadow.

The PINK SHADED dates show when Mercury is in its pre-shadow before going retrograde.

The RED dates are when Mercury is RETROGRADE!

The GRAY SHADED dates show the post-shadow dates after Mercury has gone direct.

Mercury goes retrograde approximately every four months for a period of 20-24 days. So between its retrograde dates and shadow dates, there are a couple months of time surrounding each cycle in which you need to cognizant. But, the retrograde period itself is usually the most intense time, followed by the pre-shadow period. Some people feel the effects as soon as Mercury enters the shadow, but feel the effects slightly less so during the actual retrograde period.

When Mercury is in its pre-shadow before going retrograde, we often see the impending signs of retrograde-like issues cropping up, many of which may be exacerbated by the time it is retrograde – especially if you don’t take immediate action. Start exercising caution during this time. Once it has gone direct but is still in its post-shadow, you may still experience fallout from the retrograde period. For example, let’s say you shipped something during the pre-retrograde shadow and it never got delivered while Mercury was retrograde. You might get it back during the post-shadow.

Who is subject to Mercury retrograde?

Technically speaking, anytime you are dealing with Mercury-related issues, you need to be on guard while Mercury is retrograde. But, it also depends on where Mercury is going retrograde in your chart. If it is triggering natal (or progressed) planets during a particular cycle, you might feel more of the effects than if it triggers nothing at all. (Consult your friendly astrologer to find out when your chart will be triggered!)

What if I was born during a Mercury retrograde cycle – and how would I know if I was?

If you were born under this cycle, you’ll often find that this is an even more productive or significant period for you to rethink and re-do. Ask your astrologer to find out if Mercury was retrograde at the time of your birth.

Mercury’s Retrograde Cycles for 2010

January 1-14 Mercury Retrograde
January 15 Mercury goes Direct
January 15-February 3 Mercury is in its Post-Retrograde Shadow
February 4 Mercury leaves Shadow

April 3 Mercury enters Pre-Retrograde Shadow
April 3-17 Mercury in Pre-Retrograde Shadow
April 18 Mercury goes Retrograde
April 18-May 10 Mercury is Retrograde
May 11 Mercury goes Direct
May 11-May 28 Mercury is in its Post-Retrograde Shadow
May 29 Mercury leaves Shadow

August 1 Mercury enters Pre-Retrograde Shadow
August 1-19 Mercury in Pre-Retrograde Shadow
August 20 Mercury goes Retrograde
August 20-Sept 11 Mercury is Retrograde
September 12 Mercury goes Direct
September 12-27 Mercury is in its Post-Retrograde Shadow
September 28 Mercury leaves Shadow

November 22 Mercury enters Pre-Retrograde Shadow
November 22-Dec 9 Mercury in Pre-Retrograde Shadow
December 10 Mercury goes Retrograde
December 10-29 Mercury is Retrograde
December 30 Mercury goes Direct
Dec 30-Jan 17, 2011 Mercury is in its Post-Retrograde Shadow
January 18, 2011 Mercury leaves Shadow

 

Kathryn L. Silverton
Lilburn, Georgia
770-931-2577