I have been feeling an energy since last week and building, looming over me; a feeling and need to rest, retreat and restore and reinvent. It felt like Mercury Retrograde and sure enough the calendar revealed that we are in the Shadow of Mercury Retrograde. I welcomed the feeling and surrender to it.
If you have read any of my or another’s Mercury Retrograde articles, you know the basics of what to expect, but I have never touched on the pre and post “Shadows” of this Astronomical Event. Below, you will find the Mercury Retrograde Calendar for this upcoming transit and the accompanying legend shows us how Mercury Retrograde is nearly a six-week event.
Mercury Rx dates by Roman Oleh Yaworsky
Why is the Shadow important? It gives us a taste of what to expect in the coming weeks; it readies and prepares us; crazy, but it just may be more difficult than the actual Retrograde. Have you noticed any email or text snafus in the last week? Maybe your computers or automobiles are acting “funny”, have you been at a loss for words or the proverbial “put your foot in your mouth?” Travel delays, lost reservations or arguments with those you are closest with may have occurred. Coupled with the New Moon in Scorpio on November 18, 2017, this past week could have found you energetically drained and requiring more sleep.
Think of standing in the shadow of a building, it is dark and it is cold; it is often dreary compared to the other side of a sunny street. However, in Summer, it is a respite from the heat. Think of Mercury Rx and its shadow similarly. If it is Winter, you dress for the occasion and protect yourself from the elements or use the Shadow to your advantage; as a respite from the heat of the Sun. The more frustrated you become if delayed or left out in the cold, the worse it will be; best to surrender and flow with the energy.
The Shadow begins to illuminate areas in your life that you are not conscious of; maybe that is why it is painful. The House of where your personal Mercury is in your Natal Chart is likely to be where you are shown the light. I am curious to see how this plays out for me with my own Mercury in Gemini in the 12th House. The 12th House representing Karma, Past Lives, Spirituality, The Unseen and Unknown. Sagittarius is the detriment of Gemini or the opposite and relies on faith and beliefs. I have already noticed the feelings stirring within me and causing great shifts in my desires and convictions.
Mercury Rx at 29° occurs on December 3, 2017 in Sagittarius = 11 or Integrity. The energy tells me that it will be important to focus on true words and communication, honesty and authenticity. The words coming from our mouths and the thoughts in our minds must be pure and truthful; it is time to be honest to not only those you converse with, but honesty with the Self. This will be a time where your mind and your mouth may not be in sync and the truth of what you truly think may come out of your mouth accidentally. This is due to not only the degree of the aspect, but Sagittarius opposes Gemini, Mercury’s Ruler and Squares Virgo, also Ruled by Mercury. It is like a toddler having a temper tantrum in the middle of a grocery store when he/she cannot get the candy bar that it sees on the rack. That toddler is pure and honest and it wants what it wants and does not care that he/she is embarrassing the red faced parent. It is is the child that asks strangers embarrassing questions because of her honest innocence. Best not to ask personal questions or lie to your friends, loves and especially your boss/employer; you will be sorry.
Another thorn in our sides with this particular Retrograde is that it falls during the Holiday Shopping, Traveling and Gift Giving period. With Mercury controlling electronics, communication and travel it could greatly hinder all of our best laid plans for a happy holiday. If you are considering buying electronics, you may have missed your window of opportunity, although, you could do so prior to November 29th when the Shadow intensifies. Time to take advantage of any Black Friday specials, however, you may still wind up with a faulty item. Travels plans, hopefully, have already been made; just be sure to double check and print or your reservations, leave early for your destinations and bring something to distract you from possible delays at the airport, train stations and on the road. If you travel preparing for and expecting delays, the trip will be smoother. Wearing protective crystals such as Snow Flake Obsidian are perfect for travel, Black Tourmaline and Hematite also put up a protective barrier so that other people’s energy does not get you down.
I love Mercury Retrograde. It gives me “permission” to rest and restore. Those rushing around in the hustle and bustle of the holidays may find themselves worn out if care to the Self is not given. It is o.k. to say no, it is o.k. to decline invitations. You have nothing to prove or show anyone and I personally will use this time to nurture myself and rethink the possibilities coming ahead in 2018.
Since this Retrograde is in Sagittarius, expect that your faith a beliefs to be challenged and your sense of belonging. This is a great time to put 2017 and your life into perspective and suss out where you would like to be heading for 2018.
Over the decades, Mercury Retrograde is seen like a spider or snake crawling across your kitchen floor. We run from it in fear, when it is so easy to just know it for what it is, embrace it and surrender to it. Utilize its energy to discover the hidden parts of yourself; use it to get some much needed rest from the chaotic world.
Look how majestic, this fiery Garnet. I saw this gem laying on my coffee table, the Sun streaming in the window and hitting it just
GARNET
perfectly, revealing the beauty within it that I had not seen before. I knew for sure this should be the stone of the week, the stone for the Sun moving into Sagittarius and the stone to use for this upcoming Mercury Retrograde. It is full of fire, just like Sagittarius, just like Mercury. It is tied to our Base or Root Chakra, where our safety, security, fears and action lie. It stimulates blood flow and helps us to put our fears at ease, instilling the richness and warmth of comfort and prosperity.
It is grounding and allows you to put creative ideas into action.
Combine this with other stones to amplify their warmth and energy.
Here is your Weekly Wisdom – en-Joy!