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May 18th 2015 to June 10th 2015
We’re due for another retrograde Mercury period, it will be in the Mutable Air sign of Gemini (both Gemini and Virgo are ruled by Mercury) and will station on May 18th 2015 at 13°06’ Gemini before starting its backward movement which will end on June 10th 2015 at 4°38’ Gemini. On May 4th it will enter its shadow period, the degrees of the sign that it will be back-tracking over.
So the things that we have in mind during the period May 4th to May 18th should probably be the ones we need to re-think, re-evaluate, re-assess and anything other verb that might involve re……. something! We can think of this time as a natural space between the “here” and the “there”.Mercury in Gemini puts the accent on our communications, it intensifies our daily routine so when the planet goes retrograde in Gemini it could be a good opportunity to sit and think, to stay with your own thoughts for a while. It certainly isn’t a time when you should reach a conclusion about matters of the houses Mercury rules or where it is actually placed in your natal chart, or sign contracts for that matter. This could be a time when misunderstandings and misleading info somehow crop up in your life. So, use this time to go over any new ideas that you may have had earlier, for example during the shadow period, so that when Mercury turns direct you are in a good mental position to carry out the innovations you’ve thought out so carefully.
You may also experience contacts, especially telephone calls, emails, letters etc from people who are part of your past during this period. Ask yourself the reason for their re-appearance!!! Can they be re-integrated into your present life? Is it a good idea to do so? This is a period of time management and searching for clarity of communication, a kind of mental rehab if you will during which you distil the info you’ve collected over the past weeks.
When Mercury goes retrograde in the Air signs it highlights our thinking and communicating patterns and how these patterns shape our life. Since how we communicate is fundamental to all types of relationships it may be to these where our head will be going now with questions such as “Where am I going in my relationships now” or “What is the meaning of the relationships I have in my life at this present moment?”. Mercury allows us to view these patterns from an “outside” observation point with less emotional involvement so this cycle is best used for clearing out complications particularly in relationships.
A Mercury retrograde period is also an excellent time for doing some research about any mechanical or technological devices we might need to purchase so that we will have gathered all the information we need when the planets starts its forward motion once again and we’ll be in a good position to find exactly what we’re looking for.
Many astrologers view a Mercury retrograde period as a time when communications of all types (telephone calls, emails, transport problems etc.) might go askew but it is also a good time to catch up on old correspondence or to go over previous plans to make sure they’re workable. However, it may not be a good idea to sign contracts or binding documents during a Mercury retrograde period or to book travel tickets because there could be some hindrance or complication in these tasks.
Mercury rules the signs of Gemini and Virgo so these will be particularly affected by the retrograde motion as will any planets you might have in your third house which is traditionally associated with Mercury, the other two mutable signs of Sagittarius and Pisces are also in for a ride too.
A little bit of history:
Mercury in the Greek myth is associated with Hermes and he held an amazing number of roles here; thief, storyteller (aka liar), trickster, magician, craftsman, messenger of the gods, the god of boundaries, commerce, merchants, words and language among the many. He was the only god who had permission to travel freely between the Underworld and the heights of Olympus.
Mercury is so versatile that he can take on any of the archetypes represented by the other planets too and in this way he is also good at making deals or compromises and the house placement of Mercury in your chart will show where you’re good at this also.
Where is Mercury in your natal chart and which house has Aquarius on its cusp?
