Mercury, the Cosmic Messenger, goes retrograde three times a year for a brief period of about three weeks. During this phase, hiccups are likely to occur with communication, travel, transport, misunderstandings, lack of information, phone problems, breakdowns with certain appliances, machinery and component failure. This can happen because of inattention to detail, messages being unclear, or overlooking the fine print in documents. Fine-tune areas that need your attention; other people may be holding back on information that you are after, or it has simply been misplaced even lost in the mail.
Ideas and plans that begin at the onset of a retrograde period usually get delayed or put on the backburner for another time. While Mercury is retrograde, a process of review can effectively resolve problems, more so when Mercury goes back into direct motion through the zodiac. Not everyone is badly affected by a retrograde phase, due to Mercury’s condition in the natal chart; for instance, should the Messenger be retrograde at the time of birth, a retro phase in the heavens can give you the flow of tidying up loose ends, clearing paperwork, or looking at areas that need your attention.
It’s important to double-check all arrangements for possible mistakes; listen to what others have to say and make yourself clearly understood. If possible, hold off on major decisions, major purchases, verbal and written agreement and the signing of crucial documents. The year’s Mercury retrograde phases are outlined below, giving an insight into the year ahead.
December 19, 2016 – January 8th, 2017, Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn, 11th/10th house.
This is the remainder of the Mercury retrograde phase that began last year on December 19th, in your 10th house of career and public image. Mercury is retrograde in Capricorn at the start of January, briefly heading back into Sagittarius on January 4th. You’ll pick up where you left off under the spotlight clearing disagreements with employers, leaders and authority figures. Review any concepts and plans you had at the end of 2016 and see whether they are still practical to continue with. Matters concerning your employment, public image and helping the Great and Good, will need fine tuning.
The Cosmic Prankster turns direct on January 8th in Sagittarius, and rolls on into Capricorn your 11th house on January 12th. Back to the drawing board for holiday season entertainment, especially for bored children who could do with some fun. Pick up where you left off with creative plans or writing, resolve squabbles with loved ones and reconnect with friends. You’ll be eager to get back to making plans with your mates concerning attaining greater heights of achievement with regard to your hopes and dreams. Normality will return once Mercury comes out of the shadow phase on January 28th.
April 9th – 20th, Mercury Retrograde in Taurus, 3rd/2nd house
On April 9th, Mercury turns retrograde in Taurus, your 3rd house of communication, affecting the flow of information and communications that comes your way. You will be given, or can take, an opportunity to express your own individuality and exert your personal influence. Don’t hesitate to take advantage or make use of the ideas of others but be sure that you give them proper credit. Your creative input or the strength of character you verbally express in a situation can make a big difference.
The Cosmic Prankster then re-enters Aries on April 20th, your 2nd house of personal finances and values. The majority of paperwork, writing, meetings, and discussions is likely to involve finances. Transacting business, increasing income, conserving monetary assets, monitoring expenditures, and comparison shopping are all affected by confusion , anxieties and careless errors. You need to discuss, perhaps even defending or reassessing your priorities and values. Past arguments could arise over joint resources and possessions during March 23rd to the 28th, and from April 27th to the 30th. Mercury turns direct on May 3rd in Aries, then moves forward on May 16th to re-enter Taurus, your 3rd house, although he remains in a shadow phase until May 21st, when you can zoom onwards with educational plans and making waves in the neighbourhood.
August 13th – 31st, Mercury Retrograde in Virgo, 7th/6th house
On August 13th, the Cosmic Prankster turns retrograde in your 7th house of partnership. Opposing forces bruise your ego, as ideas and opinions emerge that are incompatible with your own. They are less than sympathetic with the type of image you like to project, or the personal influence you want to exert. Why waste your efforts trying to get others to change their minds? Are they going to listen to you? If you cannot find an agreeable or productive way to work with certain people, be content to work quietly on your own.. On the 31st, Mercury re-enters Leo, your 6th house briefly when you will concentrate on the paperwork and routines at the office, which will seem to be in turmoil. On September 5th, Mercury turns direct in Leo before re-entering Virgo on the 10th. Be thorough with information, and read through all documents carefully, as confusion and cloudy thinking is possible from September 19th to the 21st, when Mercury opposes deceptive Neptune. Mercury will be out of the shadow phase on September 20th just as the New Moon and Venus enters your 7th house. Thing are looking up!
December 3 – 23rd, 2017, Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius, 10th house
This will mark the last Mercury retrograde phase for the year, beginning on December 3rd in your 10th house of career and public reputation. Mercury will be conjunct stern Saturn from December 1st to the 8th, compounding issues in the public sphere, particularly problems with an employer or influential figure. Ideas and information as well as communications in general are restricted or limited, whether by your choice or circumstances. One alternative may be that the information or communications themselves are not limited but your receptiveness to acquiring or understanding them may be lacking. Contacts and travel are related to business or for serious pursuits. Organization and preparation, or the lack of it, can become big issues. You will have to face issues that originally arose from November 25th to the 30th. Mercury returns to direct motion on December 23rd, but will remain in a shadow phase until January 11th, 2018.
Lunar Life with Lady Moon
Your personal New Moon, a Solar Eclipse, occurs on February 26h in Pisces. It will be a powerhouse for you, dear Pisces, and you will feel your vitality rising from the 18th. See more info under Eclipses.
Your personal Full Moon occurs on September 6th in Pisces, your 1st house of personality. This Full Moon will see a culmination of major events that took place back in September 2016. The emphasis will be on your self-image, having greater self-confidence and getting in tune with your emotions. Focus on relationships, partnerships, marriage, agreements, and open enemies, because your emotions are likely get in the way of your better judgement. Emotional levels expand and your desires can become quite grand. You can effortlessly gain greater emotional commitment and have no trouble attracting love and affection as well. You may seek higher social status, and get it. However, in seeking to improve your popularity, you may indulge in extravagant spending and accumulating material possessions — all the better to impress. Your residence may be upgraded and your domestic environment prosper from a greater appreciation of education, spirituality or culture. Your mother should also prosper at this time. Difficulties, however, may arise with changes and adjustments to joint resources and possessions, business partnership dealings and other sources of income. Problems with real estate contracts and family agreements also surface.
