Surprising as it may seem, the planet Mercury can affect your work, your mail, and your relationships. In astrology, the planet Mercury rules thoughts and communication in all its forms: mail, messaging, internet, telephone and cell phone. When Mercury is in a favorable position, your words are like gold and it is easy to get what you want. This is especially true for those who have a Gemini or Virgo sun sign, which is ruled by Mercury.

However, when Mercury is in an unfavorable aspect to the planets in your natal chart or during a retrograde cycle (when the planet appears to be going backwards), communication can go completely wrong: phones go dead, flights are delayed or cancelled. , associations are dissolved and mail is lost or redirected. Anything and everything that could go wrong due to a miscommunication or a communication device breaking down happens during Mercury retrograde.

The two times in my life that my computer deleted an important novel just before an important submission deadline was during retrogrades. Fortunately, the stories were recovered, but had I known what you are about to know now, I might have saved myself the heartache and time-consuming work of recovering them.

Mercury retrograde occurs about three times a year. Each retrograde offers an opportunity to change a mindset or revise plans. It is an introspective time where we can see what our thoughts have created in our lives. If we have been disorganized or have resisted communicating with important people in our lives, a Mercury retrograde cycle can cause a jolt. Suddenly, the ways we have used to make our lives flow are no longer available and we are forced to use other means of communication. This can really help us improve our relationships and clarify our career and life goals.

When we give Mercury our full involvement during a retrograde cycle, the experience can prepare us and create new opportunities. It is only when we resist making changes that the experience becomes difficult. This is not a time to rush through new projects. Instead, we must think carefully before acting.

The best way to approach a Mercury retrograde cycle is to use it to gather information for future plans and take a hard look at where you’re headed and what attitude you need to adopt for your endeavor to be successful. Taking notes and organizing are also good uses of this period. Preparing now will save you a lot of time later.

It’s important to be aware of our reliance on electrical appliances during Mercury retrograde (particularly computers, cell phones, telephones, televisions, and radios). If you have important files on your computer, PDA, or cell phone, back them up if you can, as rare computer crashes can occur that affect individual files or the entire electrical system. This is a good time to bring any appliance that needs repair.

Many times, a retrograde will clear up longstanding conflicts. If you have become estranged from a family member, you can reach out and heal the relationship. Previous misunderstandings can sometimes be dissolved as Mercury works to heal the communication in your life. I have seen things that were hidden or unknown for years come to light during a retrograde. So if you’ve been having trouble dealing with a relationship, use this time to make amends or to talk honestly with another person about your feelings.

While you can use this period to patch things up, it’s generally not a good time to start a new relationship or business partnership. Often something will happen that you don’t know about, and once the retrograde passes, you’ll find that you didn’t know as much about the person as you thought, or some unforeseen event will occur, causing you to dissolve or change. the nature of society. You can use this cycle to think about what kind of partner you want and what qualities are important to you. Also, reflect on why you’ve attracted similar friends or business associates and make plans to change any patterns you don’t want to repeat.

In general, don’t sign any contracts, get involved in legal action, or accept a new job during a retrograde. The exception to this is if you have a long-standing condition that has taken months or years to resolve. So if you have been waiting for a legal resolution for 5 years, then the retrograde can help you finally bring closure to the situation. Avoid NEW projects and procedures, but go ahead if you are solving a long-term situation.

These are the retrograde periods of Mercury in 2006 and 2007:

July 4, 2006 – July 29, 2006 – The retrograde is in the sign of Cancer and will particularly affect those with a Sun sign in Cancer, Gemini and Virgo. Cancer is a sign related to home and family. It is a good time to clear up longstanding issues with a spouse or family member. Cancer can also be related to motherhood and children, so it is possible that news related to children or their mother may arise at this time. For those who do not have children or whose mother has passed away, you may want to see how you are nurturing yourself and your creative projects. Are you taking care of the things that are most important to you, or are you ranking yourself and your most cherished projects last? If you plan to start a business with a close friend or relative, try to wait until this cycle is over. It is a good time for career planning if you have a business related to household products and services, mothers and child rearing, or if you are involved in fishing and boating. Cancer is related to activities that occur in lakes, seas and oceans.

October 8, 2006 – November 18, 2006 – Mercury will retrograde in Scorpio, the sign that is related to sex, money and death. Scorpio, Gemini, and Virgo need to be especially aware of this transit. This is a time to seek therapy for anyone who has suffered sexual/physical abuse or has experienced tragedy. Communication related to sexual activity, banking and finances, inheritances and terminations are highlighted. While it is possible that news of a death or inheritance may come during a cycle like this, more often than not death refers to the end of a relationship or situation. This is a time to think about whether or not you want to continue in activities or relationships that no longer benefit you. If you have been ‘going along’ for a long time, examine how this has affected you and the other people involved. Are you holding on to something that is gone? Also take a look at your sexual relationships. Is it time to make a change in how and when you engage in sexual intimacy? If you are in debt, now is the time to see how you can change your attitude or how you can better organize your money.

February 14, 2007 – March 8, 2007 – Mercury retrograde will be in Pisces strongly affecting those with sun signs in Pisces, Gemini and Virgo. This is a time to examine your deepest beliefs and how they are creating your life. Do your beliefs really help you get what you want in life? What kind of relationship do you have with others? Are you giving and caring or are you focused on yourself? Pisces deals with beliefs, philosophy, and the subconscious. It also teaches us to confront things that are hidden or taboo. Are you hiding information from others or from yourself? When Mercury enters Pisces, we have to take an honest look at ourselves and our lives. What we have been hiding can sometimes come to light during a Mercury retrograde cycle. It is important to realize which secrets are worth keeping and which secrets are a burden. Be aware of your emotions. Are your reactions to situations appropriate or do you find yourself exaggerating situations when faced with a challenge?

June 15, 2007-July 11, 2007 – Again, Mercury will enter the Sign of Cancer. For more information about Cancer retrograde, see the previous post for July 4, 2006. If you haven’t used the energy of Mercury in Cancer to your advantage in 2006, the same problems may come up again. It is also possible that a situation that began during the last retrograde period will repeat itself. Maybe you started plans for your new business last July and are now going to launch a new product. Or maybe you ended a relationship and you meet this person again. Think about what was happening last year around this time. Many times, he will find that what happened before will relate to his experience during this retrograde cycle.

October 12, 2007-November 1, 2007 – Scorpio will work with Mercury again to heal your relationship with death, sex and money. What are you learning about your relationship with these topics? If you have experienced difficulties, death, or the destruction of relationships, how can you deal with these issues in a supportive way? Remember what you were dealing with last year around this time because Mercury was in Scorpio on October 8, 2006. You may find situations that recur or relationships that were important to you and then resurface in some way. If you’ve avoided healing a major issue related to sex, death, or your finances, it’s time to address it. Whatever you ignored last year will be bigger this year! This transit can affect companies that deal with illnesses, funerals, adult entertainment or financial and sexual health institutions. If you’re in this type of business, you may need to examine your relationship to your job and create new career goals. If you are in an unhealthy relationship where you are being sexually or financially exploited, use this time to research organizations or individuals that may be able to help you. Be careful about getting involved in situations that do not honor you or protect your long-term interests. No get-rich-quick schemes!

It is important to note that in 2006 and 2007, Mercury falls on the houses of water. These houses teach us about our emotions and our subconscious reactions. Examine relationships of all kinds and look at your own relationship to your emotions. Are you comfortable expressing your emotions? After all, Mercury is all about expressing yourself! Do you overexpress yourself to the point of feeling depressed or alienating people around you because they can’t relate to your extreme behavior? Use these cycles to examine your emotional commitments and the beliefs you have about feelings and relationships. This is not a time to bottle up your feelings. If you like to write or create art, use this time to express your true feelings about your life. You don’t have to yell at everyone you know, but you do need to be honest with yourself about how you feel and know how to let someone else know when you need to. Mercury in water signs also teaches you how to deal with other people’s emotions. Be as compassionate as you can when interacting with others because you never know which way Mercury is also pushing your buttons.