Mercury Retrograde Begins on Friday
You hear about it from your friends and in social media memes. You will find Mercury retrograde used as a scapegoat for all kinds of problems, glitches, difficulties, and delays.
It is good to know that those things can happen but don’t get stuck in the thought that these problems are inevitable. It is within your capacity to learn to work with these cycles in a positive life-affirming manner.
When a planet is retrograde it does not mean that the planet reverses its direction. It means that from our perspective on earth, it looks as if the planet is moving backward. It is a matter of perspective, not actuality. When a planet looks to be in reverse motion our experience of the things the planet represents behaves differently than we expect.
Mercury represents thinking, communicating, timing, schedules, and projects. When Mercury is retrograde communications may go wonky, you may be misunderstood, and there may be delays and setbacks in projects. If you anticipate and prepare for these issues you can gain great value from the time of Mercury’s retrograde.
When Mercury is retrograde you can catch up on all kinds of things that were left incomplete since the last Mercury Retrograde (October 18th). This is a powerful opportunity to slow down, review, recheck, reassess, and revisit what can now be completed.
This retrograde begins in the house of your chart that holds Aquarius and moves back into Capricorn on January 25th. Look to those two houses in your chart (Aquarius & Capricorn) to understand where this reassessment of projects and plans will occur for you.
Working with mercury retrograde is rather simple. If possible, Service your car and computer ahead of the retrograde. A few days before its occurrence sit down and make an extensive list of everything you have started and not completed since last October. This is a powerful time to get things done. Stick to the list you make! This is not the time to start new projects or communications, but to clean up what is undone from the past.
While Mercury is retrograde you may find that your intuition functions more strongly than your intellect.
Mercury retrograde is a good time:
- To learn patience, flexibility, and adaptability
- Communicate clearly and patiently
- Make sure what you have said understood
- Be hyper-aware of your own schedule and be patient with others
- Prepare for delays
- Pay very close attention to details
- Slow down
- Be realistic with all timelines
- Take some time off from social media (listen to music instead)
- Seek simplicity
Mercury retrograde is a common phenomenon that occurs 3 times per year. This one begins on January 14th at 6:41 AM EST and lasts until February 3rd at 11:13 PM EST.
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FLOWERS AND DAYDREAMS
Monday, January 10, 2022
You may wake with anxiety as the Moon, while still in Aries squares Pluto in the wee hours. The anxiety will pass quickly as the Moon enters Taurus at 9:47 AM EST. You can anticipate a stabilizing of your mood and increased attention to your senses. If possible push yourself to get outdoors. Absorb a sensual awareness of the natural world.
If you can’t get outdoors, water your plants, put flowers on the nightstand or the dinner table, and consider what to cook for dinner. Engage as many of your senses as possible throughout the day.
As the day progresses you will feel the building of a sextile aspect between the Capricorn Sun and Neptune. This occurs at 10:27 PM EST. Sextile aspects provide opportunities, these may reveal themselves in your dreams tonight.
This is a great evening for engaging your imagination and creativity. Feelings of compassion, kindness, and connection increase. Let yourself get lost in dreams, imagination, and love for others. Simple daydreaming may open unexpected possibilities.
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OPEN YOUR EYES
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
We always want the Taurus Moon to bring simplicity and beauty and usually, she delivers. Today is more complex as she makes challenging aspects to both Uranus and Saturn this morning. This may leave you with a sense of longing for what you cannot have. Self-care is important today.
A massage would be lovely and if you are not able to get a professional massage, self-massage is also an option. Don’t be in a hurry about anything today, move slowly and with purpose. Allow yourself all the comfort food you desire, today is not the day to restrict yourself. You are welcome.
At 4:34 PM EST Mars forms a square aspect to Neptune. Your physical energy may be low which can increase the likelihood of feeling discouraged or apathetic.
Dust yourself off and face the music. Make sure all your activities are aboveboard, this is not the time to loosen your hold on personal integrity. Avoid being unrealistic and unreliable. Keep your eyes wide open and don’t let any blind spots trip you up. Face yourself and others without expectations and with a high level of trust and compassion. That is your job today.
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HEIGHTENED DESIRE
Wednesday, January 12, 2022
For the past two days, the simplicity and beauty of the Taurus Moon have been overshadowed by Neptune’s dreaminess and lack of focus. Today the Taurus Moon is in a much happier state as she forms a lovely trine aspect to the Sun this morning and Pluto this evening.
The Taurus Moon’s desire for beauty and sensual pleasures is warmed and empowered by these connections throughout the day. You may feel an overwhelming need to satisfy a deeply held desire.
Hold steady and allow Taurus to slow you down. With Venus, the ruling planet of Taurus still retrograde, this is not the time to expend love or money to satisfy your desires. Your deepest values are in an active state of change and what you desire today may not be what you desire even several weeks from now. Luckily Taurus is never in a hurry.
At 10:08 PM EST, the Moon enters Gemini. It may be hard to fall asleep tonight as your emotions pick up the activity, fast motion, and curiosity of Gemini. Put a pad of paper and pen by your bedside so you are ready to record your active dreams when you wake.
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DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR MERCURY RETROGRADE TO-DO LIST
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Whatever sign the Moon is passing through on any given day puts us more in tune with the planet that rules that sign. Today’s Gemini Moon, ruled by Mercury gives us a view of the potential challenges and gifts of the upcoming Mercury retrograde.
From our perspective, Mercury is standing still awaiting tomorrow’s retrograde station. For the past week, it has been slowing down in preparation for this perceived backtracking.
If you haven’t done so already make a list of things that have been left undone over the past 3 months. Revisit your list today to add anything you may have forgotten. Prepare yourself to work slowly and methodically through that list for the next three weeks.
Commit yourself to more patience and kindness to yourself and others during this time. You can expect that mistakes will be made, communications will not always be clear, and you will encounter frustrations. Anticipate those things with tolerance and compassion.
At 7:10 PM EST the Gemini Moon trine Mercury supports your preparation. Double-check your list of unfinished projects, plans, communications, etc. You have three weeks to complete everything on that list, prepare to start working on those things tomorrow. Don’t start anything new.
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CLEARING UP PAST PROJECTS – MERCURY RETROGRADE BEGINS
Friday, January 14, 2022
At 6:41 AM EST Mercury stations retrograde at 10 degrees Aquarius. At some point during the day, something will remind you to slow down. Pay attention. Ignore the memes on social media that tell you what a terrible time this is. It is not.
Yes, there will be challenges to your communications and getting things done. Slow down and clean up things from the past and you will be surprised at how much you can learn and grow during this time.
With both Mercury and Venus retrograde, this is a challenging time for communications, projects, money, love, and your personal values. It’s okay. Pay attention to what you are learning. The most effective way to manage these challenges is to develop mindfulness, flexibility, and patience. The most important thing is to slow down.
Never underestimate the gift of completion that Mercury retrograde offers. You can accomplish so much by finishing what was left unfinished since the last Mercury retrograde in October 2021.
Resist the urge to start anything new and determine to resolve old issues, finish past projects, and clean up old messes.
Reexamine issues of the houses that hold Aquarius and Capricorn in your chart. Mercury turns retrograde at 10degrees Aquarius and back up to 24degrees Capricorn.
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TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS
Saturday, January 15, 2022
After a busy morning of frustration as you struggle to adapt to a slower pace, the Moon enters Cancer at 11:11 AM EST. This supports the slowing down process making the rest of the day more pleasant. Turn your attention to your family and closest friends. Spend time in the company of those you feel safe to be tender and vulnerable with.
When the Moon is in Cancer we all need extra nurturing and comfort. Spend the day in the presence of your children or grandchildren. Small children can be helpful when we need to slow down. Sit on the couch, read a book, get out the crayons. Let the anxiety of the outer world fade away.
Tomorrow will be more challenging, so stretch today out. Spend time in the kitchen cooking a meal for your loved ones, or baking cookies or a pie. For the second time this week, go ahead and reach for the comfort foods.
At 6:30 PM EST, the Cancer Moon forms a lovely trine aspect to Jupiter in Pisces. This sweet combination offers expansive sensitivity and compassion to all your interactions.
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IMPROVEMENT OR REFORM
Sunday, January 16, 2022
At 9:50 AM EST, the Sun joins with Pluto at 26 degrees Capricorn. This is a dance of power and control ending a cycle that began in January 2021 and beginning a new year-long cycle.
In order to begin a new cycle, and the building that is required, an old one must be reduced to rubble. Therefore, your focus will be on either breaking down a structure or building a structure. With both Venus and Mercury retrograde something from the past is involved and must be evaluated.
Consider where in your personal life you are dealing with dynamics of power and control. You may feel a great deal of internal strength and self-determination today. It is probably best to spend time on your own as you will not be tolerant of others under this influence.
Regardless of whether you are building something or tearing it down, keep your temper in check and your actions geared toward improvement or reform. Make sure your heart is in the right place and you are functioning out of a place of kindness and integrity.
I suspect that we will see something in the news that will highlight this dynamic in the culture.
The Changing Moon this Week
The Moon sets the emotional tone as she moves through the Zodiac day-to-day. It takes approximately 28 days to traverse the entire Zodiac. Learning to work with this rhythm will help you align with and relax into an easier flow with the Universe. The luminous Moon spends approximately 2 ½ days in each sign before she moves on to the next.
Monday: You may wake with anxiety as the Moon, while still in Aries squares Pluto in the wee hours. The anxiety will pass quickly as the Moon enters Taurus at 9:47 AM EST. You can anticipate a stabilizing of your mood and increased attention to your senses. If possible push yourself to get outdoors. Absorb a sensual awareness of the natural world.
Tuesday: We always want the Taurus Moon to bring simplicity and beauty and usually, she delivers. Today is more complex as she makes challenging aspects to both Uranus and Saturn this morning. This may leave you with a sense of longing for what you cannot have. Self-care is important today.
Wednesday: Today the Taurus Moon is in a very happy state as she forms a lovely trine aspect to the Sun this morning and Pluto this evening. The Taurus Moon’s desire for beauty and sensual pleasures is warmed and empowered by these connections throughout the day. At 10:08 PM EST, the Moon enters Gemini. It may be hard to fall asleep tonight as your emotions pick up the activity, fast motion, and curiosity of Gemini.
Thursday: Whatever sign the Moon is passing through on any given day puts us more in tune with the planet that rules that sign. Today’s Gemini Moon, ruled by Mercury gives us a view of the potential challenges and gifts of the upcoming Mercury retrograde. At 7:10 PM EST the Gemini Moon trine Mercury supports your preparation. Read Astrolore’s full post for more information.
Friday: The Moon continues through Gemini today. With Mercury (ruler of Gemini) stationing retrograde, the normally chatty friendly Gemini Moon may be anxious and have little to say.
Saturday: The Moon enters Cancer at 11:11 AM EST. This supports a strong need to slow down due to two personal planets being retrograde. Turn your attention to your family and closest friends. Spend time in the company of those you feel safe to be tender and vulnerable with.
Sunday: With the Moon in Cancer today we all need extra nurturing and comfort. Spend the day in the presence of your children or grandchildren. Small children can be helpful when we need to slow down. Sit on the couch, read a book, get out the crayons. Let the anxiety of the outer world fade away.
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