Mercury Retrograde In Pisces and Aquarius, February 6th to February 28th – “Slipping Into the Shadows”

We are currently in what astrologer’s refer to as the ‘shadow

#17, The Star is Aquarius' tarot card
from "Legacy of the Divine Tarot"© by
Ciro Marchetti

period’ of a Mercury Retrograde cycle. The shadow period for a retrograde is computed by looking at the actual retrograde dates.  In this case, Mercury turns retrograde at three degrees Pisces.  After the retrograde period ends, Mercury doesn’t return to three degrees Pisces until March 20th.  Mercury turns direct on February 28th at eighteen degrees of Aquarius.  The last time Mercury was at eighteen degrees Aquarius prior to retrograde was January 22nd. Therefore the shadow period for this month’s Mercury Retrograde (MR) is January 22nd to March 20th.  

Why do astrologers calculate shadow periods?  Perhaps it’s a cosmic early warning system.  I’ve never been a purest about anything and I don’t have that much time to devote to smudging.  I consider a week before MR and a week after it to be enough of a cleansing period unless the signs involved with Mercury make things particularly crazy.  If you have Mercury in Pisces, or Mercury in Aquarius in your birth chart chances are you’ll feel this MR more than the rest of us.

#18, The Moon, Pisces card, reminds
us about the power of illusion and
imagination RWCS by US Games©

Starting tomorrow we have MR in Pisces.  Pisces is a highly intuitive sign and Mercury in Pisces is an intuitive mind.  During MR we may find that our intuition is slightly off kilter, or that we have more of a tendency to let our imaginations run away with us.  Our communications, while heartfelt, will be based in emotion, not logic and emotional expressions are the most susceptible to being misunderstood.  After all, miscommunication is the hallmark of Mercury in Retrograde.  Pisces have trouble forming strong opinions on their own on a good day.  We may experience feeling wishy-washy about matters that normally ignite our interest.  However, Pisces are also dreamers.  We can all use this MR to redesign and revise our dreams.

On February 12th Mercury slip slides back into Aquarius

Mercury's card, #1, The Magician
RWCS US Games©

along with our communications and intellectual attitudes.  Mercury in Aquarius is both a scientific and an inventive mind. Puzzle pieces fall into place easier and we can connect the dots more quickly.  Emotions rarely influence decisions under Mercury in Aquarius.  What does MR look like in Aquarius?  Missing the connections.  What appears glaringly obvious while Mercury is direct in the Water Bearer, now feels obscured.  Where we would normally leap to conclusions with gazelle-like accuracy, we find yourselves missing the mark.  We also risk sounding totally off base.  Remember that hallmark of miscommunication?  Repeat these ‘r’ words: Review, reconnoiter, reinvent.  After the 12th it becomes important not to rush into things without being 100 percent certain of where you’ll end up.  Thinking we know and going with your gut simply aren’t good enough strategies during MR.

Check out how to cope with basic Mercury Retrograde irritation in my blog, “Mercury Retrograde, Tarot and You.” 

Relax, remember to breath and put MR to work for you.

LADY ORACLE

Mercury Retrograde, Tarot and You - An Update for June 2013

Mercury's ruling tarot card,
The Magician from Corrine Kenner's Wizard's Tarot©

The astrological theme for June has been communication and Mercury, the planetary ruler of communications has been camped out under the sign of Cancer this month.  Many of us received messages from our higher selves insisting we get rid of our baggage and get serious about establishing meaningful dialogues with ourselves, our co-workers and in our personal relationships as well.  For those of us who've listened and worked hard to clear the channels, the Universe, in a master stroke of irony, developed a litmus test for the end of this month.  Mercury Retrograde.

If you're not familiar with Mercury retrogrades, I'll take a minute to explain.  Each year as Earth orbits the Sun, it overtakes Mercury three to four times.  When we pass Mercury, it creates the optical illusion that Mercury is actually reversing it's orbit.  This optical illusion is a metaphor for the mishaps and misstatements that punctuate our lives during this period.  Mercury goes into retrograde on June 26th until July 20th.  Afterwards, we have only one more Mercury Retrograde period to deal with this year.  It runs from October 21st to November 10th.

Have you tried planning a fun, last minute get-away this week

Cancer the Crab's ruling card,
The Chariot from Corrine Kenner's, Wizard's Tarot©

only to find your reservations have become a big, red, tangled ball of yarn?  Has your computer or smart phone suddenly refused to function for no particular reason?  Did your carefully worded text or email ignite a volley of controversy?  Welcome to the joyless pit of Mercury Retrograde - bad communications, emotional quagmires and missed connections.

This month's Mercury Retrograde may be a breeze, but on the other hand, we're still feeling the effects of our Super Moon on June 23rd.  If you had a rough patch during the Full Moon it may be continuing, but don't despair.  There are several quick fixes you can do to get things back on track.

The key to a successful Mercury Retrograde is preparation.

1) Know your yearly retrograde dates, relax and breath into them.  Meditate more often.

2) Keep you expectations low during this time, both personally and professionally.  Try not to enter into new contracts or negotiations.  Don't decide to have air-clearing discussions with friends and family.  

3) Remember your  "R" words.  Renew, revisit, rest, re-plan, re-figure, renovate.  Things that are already in progress can benefit from a Mercury Retrograde revision.  Those are safe to do.

4) Keep your favorite tarot deck handy and plenty on sage and sweetgrass incense about for cleansing as needed.  Swords caution you about over-thinking or living in your head.  Cups point out over-indulgence of angst.  Pentacles keep your feet on the ground and Wands remind you to revise ('r' word) your game plan.

Follow these steps and while life won't necessarily be a breeze, it will be much easier. And if all else fails, invest in a vat of liquid smudge.

Lady Oracle

The exceptional tarot deck, "Wizard's Tarot,"© by Corrine Kenner and illustrated by John J. Blumen is available for purchase at my website  www.ladyoracle.net

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Tis the Season to Be Smudging - Welcoming Summer

Vision Quest Tarot ©
by Gayan S. Winter and Jo Dose'

Smudging is an ancient, time-honored art for clearing your environment of negative energy and unwelcome entities.  It crosses all cultural barriers.  Native Americans burn wreaths of sweet grass, cedar and sage, Catholic priests wave burners of incense before their processions and Celts burn wheels of maze and herbs.

At the end of this week we have a convergence of sorts.  The summer solstice arrives on June 21st and a powerful Full Moon occurs in 2 degrees of Capricorn on June 23rd.  The notorious Uranus Pluto Square also pours its high voltage, but volatile energy into the mix.  It’s hardly the time to get caught with energetic clutter in your personal space.  We have all this universal flotsam and jetsam flowing around us and if our spaces, as well as our auric fields are clear, we get to harness wonderful lunar and solar energy to move our lives forward and promote personal growth.  And that my dears, is why it is the season to smudge.

Many people prefer the traditional ways of smudging - a lighted rope of sweet grass or a bundle of sage - but there are many good alternatives to traditional smudging techniques.  There are ones that don’t make the neighbor who happens to drop by unexpectedly think that you are chain smoking pot.  Smudging sprays are space cleansers for the new millennium. No smoke laden air, or clothes, no fear of sparks igniting the pile of shoes at the bottom of your closet and no fear of DEA agents mistakingly crashing in your door because of a bogus tip.

Clearing sprays combine sacred essence of oils, usually sage and cedar, with pure water and focused intent.  Sometimes the person creating the smudge spray will add particular resins or chips of crystal to give the specific kick necessary for the desired results. When created correctly, these powerful cleansers have Pine Sol™ beat eight ways to Sunday.   

Smudging sprays are a fast and effective way of clearing your own energy field of negativity.  Intuitives and empaths (tarot readers too - believe me) easily pick up residual energy.  Think of it as psychic lint.  It hangs on, coloring your outlook on life and making you feel shabbily dressed.  A few quick sprays, some focused intent and your good to go, feeling as if your wearing black cashmere, fresh from the dry clearers.

Try a little extra spring cleaning before the Solstice.  After you’ve dusted and moped, smudge your home in what ever manner works best for you.  Bring in brightly-colored flowers, fresh fruit and herbs.  Add white sage or sweet grass candles and create a lovely Solstice centerpiece for your table. Then sit back and welcome the sun.

LADY ORACLE

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