HO HO ... HOH - NOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR - WAIT A MINUTE !!! ...whether we like it or not - NOT !!! - Mercury began its fourth and final RETROGRADE journey for 2016 today, December 19th, at 5:55 AM EST .... and you are well aware if you've been following my blogs, then
 you know pretty much what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde - as always ... EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!! ... some of you may have noticed the energy beginning to move backwards already when Mercury entered its shadow point - the point where it will come out of the retrograde on January 8th - back on December 1st  ... from now on things somehow just don't seem to go right or as we planned and we often find ourselves re-doing things especially after Mercury stations back into direct motion ... this is a dual sign Mercury retrograde taking place from 15 degrees 8 minutes Capricorn back to 28 degrees 51 minutes Sagittarius ... Mercury was last retrograde in Capricorn from January 8th, 2016 through January 25th 2016, and it was last retrograde in Sagittarius from November 6th, 2012 through December 13th/14th, 2012 ... anything come to mind from that period in your life ??? ... and what will most likely make this potentially an especially annoying Mercury retrograde is that it occurs amidst the Holiday season - in particular during the last full shopping week before Christmas and carries us into the New Year ... buying gifts this week could prove not only frustrating and irritating, but end up causing us to buy the wrong gift, being overcharged for some reason, finding out we didn't get what we thought we were getting, or even now discovering something we purchased earlier was not the right choice ... tis the season to be jolly - HO HO ... HOH - NOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!



Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others ... partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods, and maybe even more so with all the added stress of the Holidays stirred in the mix ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially Cars - a big NO NO, computers or anything that involves electronics - once again looks like Holiday shopping be damned !!! ... purchasing homes can end up producing unforeseen problems and even the contracts can have unexpected difficulties along the way or at closing especially if the closing takes place during the retrograde period .... it is also not a good idea to enter into contracts or start new jobs as they will most likely not pan out and end up being dead ends .... obviously one cannot put their life on hold, but if there is anyway to hold off on these things until Mercury turns direct, it would prove beneficial in the long run ... I have frequently found, though, that in some charts I've done, people born under a Mercury retrograde sometimes seem to thrive during these periods because they innately understand the backward energy and how to work with it ...



It is very important to understand that Mercury retrogrades are NOT ALWAYS the harbingers of doom and gloom ... even though it is true they can cause disruption and misunderstandings, we have to realize these are simply Universal "time outs" which give us the opportunity to go back to rethink and review our actions especially as the energy relates to the current sign that the planet is transiting through ... bottom line - though we often joke about it, retrogrades shouldn't always be feared and dreaded but perhaps approached cautiously ... the Universe is giving us a chance to right our wrongs and redirect ourselves to achieve more beneficial personal and spiritual growth !!!



Mercury retrogrades are simply a time for reviewing and revision ... as the saying goes, "it might be a good idea to drop back and punt" !!! ... during a retrograde journey it can be said that we are in a mental "down time" and often things will not register on a conscious level with us ... it is said that the use of Mercury retrograde cycles are to reconnect the individual with the Universal rhythm ... this is NOT the time to make vast sweeping changes ... rather one should keep an eye open for possibilities that could prove more satisfying once the energy has returned back to direct motion ...



Mercury retrograde in an earth sign, this time being Capricorn, brings the focus to determining the tangible results of ones life, to become more organized and to learn to deal with practical matters, to not allow life to be saturated with unfinished business, address security matters as well as ones most basic needs ... once Mercury returns to Sagittarius, a fire sign, the focus will shift to determining how ones inspiration can help create ones future ,,, often there are miscalculated attempts at trying to start something that will improve ones life overall ... creativity and how we use it to responds to life's situations will be emphasized ... we will be encouraged to learn to relax and enjoy the pleasures and situations of life that help shape our future direction ...



As Mercury retrogrades in Capricorn certainly career and public image will be areas of life potentially affected as Saturn rules Capricorn which is the sign that is the natural ruler of the 10th house ... there will be some very deep and heavy thinking an rethinking done here ... along with profession, reputation and standing in the community, other areas where issues to be addressed might arise for reviewing and rethinking may include the following : the ego, ones status, fame (or lack of it), promotions, ambitions, business or social activities, ones employer, the government or any other authority over one, personal achievements, how the world sees and evaluates one, the influence one exerts in their own circle, and the parent who is considered the authoritarian if both parents are still living, or the parent who remains should there only be one ... all areas ruled by the 10th house ...



When Mercury returns to Sagittarius on January 4th, it returns to a sign ruled by Jupiter which is also the planet that is the natural ruler of the 9th house ... areas that may then be given issues to arise in include: the law, religion, science, ideals, higher learning, philosophy, psychological issues, mental studies, our dreams and visions, long distance travel, foreigners, foreign dealings, commerce, big business, imports and exports, spirituality and the church, the clergy, in-laws, grandchildren, intuition, ethics, and lessons we learn through living as sometimes we just have a difficult time being able to perceive the bigger picture ... all areas ruled by the 9th house ...



In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health and nutrition, among other things, so there could be more potential to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... while in Capricorn there could be more potential to have health issues with the bones, joints and knees ... while in Sagittarius, there could be more potential to have health issues with the liver, hips and thighs ...  



Also a reminder that a Mercury retrograde period is usually NOT a good time to have elective surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of complications and having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly or overlooked for some reason - this especially applies to any form of cosmetic surgery !!! ... as for emergency surgery, we have absolutely no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!!



If you've had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses 15 degrees 8 minutes Capricorn back to 28 degrees 51 minutes Sagittarius lie in your chart, then you may get a good idea as to what the main issues this Mercury retrograde has in store for you !!!



Gemini and Virgo born since Mercury is your natural ruling planet, this is your time to "try" and slow down for personal review and rethinking - especially in regards as to what has transpired in your lives since Mercury last resumed direct motion on September 21st/22nd !!!



Below I have re-posted the "Mercury Retrograde Survival Manual" written by my teacher Lyn Hammond Gray ... hopefully it will help out :


"Here is your Survival manual: Mercury retro always creates a repeating action. The Re-Words are common. Some re-words that you will notice during this time are:

Repeat – The action you are making during the RX period you will probably repeat again during the period or later.


Repair – The need for repair will arise. If possible, put if off until Mercury turns direct (January 8th).


Reverse - You will be amazed at how many times you change your mind or reverse your thinking during this time. Watch out for that race car driver that is driving in reverse down the emergency lane on the freeway. Yikes!....


Recall - Your mind will wonder back. You will think of people from the past or you will encounter someone from the past. If old lovers show up, don't bet that it will stick. Believe me... it is just for a "review." (And if it does last, I want to be the first to know about it. E-mail me and let me know). And you know what, I wouldn't start a new romance during this period either. Hold off until AFTER January 8th !!!


Review - If you are reading instructions, you may find it necessary to review repeatedly because they simply don't make sense. Sometimes the publisher has actually left out a step. It happens!


Regroup - In corporations, it is a common experience during the Rx to hear the boss say, 'Alright, we are going to rework this thing and get it right.' Later when the period is over, they go back to the old way doing things. It is a laugh a minute. Stand back and watch the comedy.


Reboot and Revise - The computer world is a definite place to watch the comedy. It is common for one to suddenly, without fore thought, decide to revise their system during the Rx. Oh! Mercy! That revised system may never function in the normal way. Oh, please! Do wait until the period is over. However, it is fine to do your shopping for the new components during the Rx. When you do go to purchase your parts in January after the 8th, you will most likely find better deals and buys.


Return - Now here is a good one. You'll find that this period is a popular time for family or class reunions. Should you stay are home? Absolutely not! You go because this is a review that you don't want to miss. But funny thing is that in spite of the fact that you tell these people 'lets stay in touch' it will become lip service and you won't live up to your suggestion.


Rebirth – Often one will go back into the past and bring up old creative projects to work with during this time frame. Sometimes it sticks and sometimes it doesn't. Only you will be able to activate the discipline to keep it going once the retrograde period is over.


Recover - You can bet that you will dig into your files, boxes or storage to recover something that you need…you can also bet it won't be an easy find. It is likely that you will be looking for a legal document· While it is possible that you may not find what you are looking for, you may find something that you would like to put back in to use. Fun!


Re-examine – Well, just about everything. Smile.


Reduction – Over the years, I have been amazed at how many times a company or person decides to eliminate a job or to leave a job during the retrograde. It is my experience that a job changed during this period is 95% of the time regretted. Can you wait until the period is over, dear heart?


And so it is. Three times a year, sometimes four, we live with this cosmic "going to teach you patience routine". All and all when this retrograde period is over you may "Realize" this simple truth: The flow of the universe is very, very interesting and it is going to have its way with us.


Good luck and may the Universe bestow upon each one of you a special wisdom and unique insight into your journey through this life at this point !!!"



Those of you born between December 20th and January 7th will definitely have Mercury retrograde energy in their birthday chart for the whole year ahead ... those born on December 19th and January 8th may or may not get this backward energy depending on the time of your solar return !!! ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart:



The significance of having Mercury retrograde in your yearly birthday chart or, as we refer to it in Astrology, a Solar Return, is summed up below by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return" :



"A Solar Return is the time every year that the Sun returns to the same degrees and minutes it was at when you were born - all the more reason to know your birth time now isn't it, hmmmmm????? ... a new chart is run for you at the time your solar return occurs in that given year and it is run for wherever you are at the precise time of your solar return ... this produces a new horoscope chart which shows what energy you may or may not run into for the year ahead - that is from the current birthday until next years birthday ... its energy can be felt from one to three months out before the actual solar return occurs .... often people will relocate for the return time in order to get a particular energy in their solar return chart ...



Mercury is usually retrograde in a solar return chart every six years ... during this time it's best to be introspective ... you should be learning and thinking on your own rather than depending on others ... the mind is like an overstuffed drawer seriously in need of re-filing and reorganization ... in other words the time has come to "process" ...



The mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time ... it's time to go back and re-examine and review things in your life which may have been started but not carried through to fruition or maybe interrupted and suddenly abandoned for some reason ... by focusing inward you might be able to see that your own opinions, thoughts and decisions work best for you rather than those made by others ... at the same time be very receptive to the feedback others are giving you especially if you have missed the mark in regard to some endeavor ...




Another side effect of this energy is secretiveness where you decide to withhold information or sometimes outright lie ... and why ??? .. because you have secrets that need to be kept or else were you to express your opinions and thoughts outwardly it could cause tension in your relationships ... have plenty of ice cream around to soothe the tongue you are most likely going to have to bite frequently this year !!!



This is a great year to keep a journal and put your thoughts down on paper and also to write original material ... sometimes you can see things differently when thoughts and ideas are written down which is a very helpful way to get organized ... this is a year where you will probably realize old opinions and beliefs are now outdated thus encouraging you to reassess your thinking, reformulate previously developed ideas, and shed new light on something on some level of your life that needs to be addressed ...



It doesn't really have to be a bad year ... done wisely, fast forwarding to the past and clearing out the "clutter", you can propel yourself further ahead in life than you originally may have thought !!! "



For all of us, now becomes a time to review and rethink what is going on in our lives and especially what may have been started or done during the last Mercury retrograde, that being August 30th through September 21st/22nd, or, like Gemini and Virgo born, actions we undertook since the last Mercury Retrograde ended on September 21st/22nd ... and it would not be out of the realm of possibilities to have issues arise from previous Mercury retrogrades in particular the retrograde periods from April 28th through May 22nd and January 5th through January 25th of this year ... all of these being the most recent Mercury retrogrades as well as the Mercury retrograde periods in 2015 ... and in some cases even further back than that !!!



Whatever the case, it is for sure that there will undoubtedly be lights going ON in our heads regarding these actions as well as other lights going OUT as this Mercury retrograde energy wreaks its cosmic havoc for the next 21 days ... Mercury remains retrograde until January 8th, 2017 ... so slow down and try not to act too impulsively and swim upstream in a raging current of cosmic chaos or the day may come in the near future when you live to regret what you did ... be aware that tempers will flare and patience may become very scarce at times ... most importantly, keep that sense of humor close at hand ... it will definitely be needed many times during the next 3 weeks !!!



As always my fellow beings of light, when all is said and done, the burning question becomes whether or not will we become the victim of Constant Cosmic chaos, the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity - or perhaps both ???



Finally, in the spirit of the festive Holiday season, I leave you with these slightly altered words to the beloved poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Major Henry Livingston originally thought to have been penned by Clement Clarke Moore - "BUT I HEARD HIM EXPLAIN, ERE HE DROVE OUT OF SIGHT" ... MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ON THIS BLASTED MERCURY RETROGRADE NIGHT !!!