MERCURY begins its second RETROGRADE journey for 2019 today, July 7th, at 7:15 PM EDT .... if you've been following my blogs, then you know exactly what to expect during a Mercury Retrograde - EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED !!! ... this is a dual sign Mercury retrograde going from Leo back into Cancer ... so it's a good bet that, among other things, romance, dating, relationships, home, family and security may potentially take an upside down swing during this period ... it could prove to be a very challenging period for a lot of people !!!
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 this retrograde on July 31st - back on June 20th when it reached 23 degrees 57 minutes Cancer ... and now 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 ... Mercury was last completely retrograde in Leo during July/August of 2018 and partially in Cancer in June of 2014 ... anything come to mind from those periods in your life in relation to the Mercury retrograde ???
Obviously communications are going to be challenged both to and from others - partnerships and relationships often hit the skids during these periods ... it is NOT a good time to make major purchases - especially Cars - a big NO NO, computers or anything that involves electronics ... also 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 ... and need I even have to mention the issue this energy can cause if you are getting married ??? ... 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 retrograding in Leo could certainly cause issues to arise in regards to romance - therefore those getting married during this period could be greatly affected, creative pleasurable activities, emotional attitudes, the love we give to others, social affairs, the education of children, and any dramatic, literary, or artistic endeavors as these are the areas ruled by the 5th house of the natural zodiac which Leo naturally rules !!!
Leo is ruled by the Sun and as such, there could also be issues arising in regards to ones personal expression, the quality of leaderships and success, the father, husband and men in general, health, vital principles, authority and bosses, rank, title, high office, progress, dignity, energy, sense of identity, ones capacity for experience !!!
Mercury retrograde in a Fire sign, this time being Leo, causes us to question how any means of inspiration can helpfully create a better future for ourselves !!!
On July 19th, Mercury returns to the sign of Cancer ...
Mercury retrograding in the sign of Cancer yields emphasis for an opportunity to rethink how we emotionally respond to life ... and being in a water sign, Mercury retrograding in Cancer produces a strong desire to retreat inward ... when Mercury retrogrades in a water sign our feelings and emotions are strongly activated and, as challenging and sometimes even painful as it can be, we MUST address them in order to promote personal healing by making us have to work harder at producing a more stable balance between our emotional and the mental processes ... as waters can run very deep, that is where we most likely are going to have to dive into ourselves to come face to face with our innermost feelings and emotions ... and wherever this retrograde energy falls by house in your natal chart, actions could arise in that area of your life causing you to undergo a careful and hopefully honest examination to determine if these feelings and emotions are producing a positive or negative contribution to the quality of your life !!!
This is also an excellent time to keep a dream journal to discover what the Universe is revealing to us deep within our unconsciousness ... even though this can be challenging, it can be an excellent time for honest self evaluation if we have the strength, trust and courage to allow the process to unfold !!!
In addition to the "usual suspect" issues which arise during a Mercury retrograde, being in Cancer there is the potential for issues to arise which arise include : your home, parents, family, foundations, psychological roots, personal security, property - houses and/or real estate, for some the closing years of life, and endings of any kind ... these are all issues addressed in the 4th house of the zodiac naturally ruled by Cancer !!!
In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could be more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... retrograding in Leo there could be issues with the heart, back or spine, the right eye of the male and the left eye of the female and then in Cancer in the areas of the breast and stomach ... the stomach area most likely being activated by emotional stress conflicting with the digestive process !!!
This is usually not a good time to have surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... now this applies to elective surgery ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might produce catastrophic results !!!!
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 back on March 28th ... needless to say Leo born and Cancer may especially feel the impact of this energy since Mercury is retrograding through your birth sign especially should it pass over the degree of your natal Sun as well as anyone who has a natal planet that retrograde Mercury will form an aspect with during its retrograde journey !!!
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 (July 31st).
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 July 31st !!!
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 August after July 31st, 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 born between July 8th and July 27th will definitely have Mercury retrograde energy in their birthday chart for the whole year ahead ... those born on July 7th and July 31st may or may not get this backward energy depending on the time of your solar return this year !!! ... 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 March 5th through March 28th, or, like Gemini and Virgo born, actions we undertook since the last Mercury Retrograde ended on March 28th... 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 November 16th through December 6th, 2018, July 25th/26th through August 18th/19th,2018 and March 22nd through April 15th, 2018 ... all of these being the most recent Mercury retrogrades within the last year !!!
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 during this 24 day period ... Mercury remains retrograde until July 31st !!! !!!
Try to 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 - probably has already happened since Mars stationed retrograde !!! ... most importantly, keep that sense of humor close at hand ... it will definitely be needed many times through this roughly 25 day period !!!
As always my fellow beings of light, when all is said and done, the burning/emotional (Leo = fire sign/ Cancer = water sign = get it ???) question becomes will we become the victim of Constant Cosmic chaos, the recipient of great Cosmic Clarity - or perhaps both ???
