| Here's what Mercury (or other planets) mean when they're retrograde:
A planet appears to be moving "backwards" (and is called retrograde
by astrologers) when it and the earth are on the _same side_ of
the sun (astronomically speaking). You know how when you pass a
car on the road it can appear to be standing still or moving backward?
This optical illusion accounts for the appearance of retrograde
motion, and is brought about by the different orbital speeds of
earth relative to the other planet(s).
So given that the planets never _actually_ move "backward", what
can this mean psychologically/astrologically? It most often means
that the energy of that planet becomes very internalized and intro-
spective during the time of retrogradation. It does not mean that
all manifestations of the planet's energy will turn out wrong.
It _can_ mean that:
o you take matters on this energy more "to heart" than when
the motion is direct;
o you review and revisit decisions made earlier regarding the
planet's direct energy manifestation;
o if the planet in question is retrograde in your Natal Chart,
you may find that you have internalized habit patterns around
this planet's expression that are hard to break.
On the practical level with Mercury, the reason Mercury retrograde
gets such a bad rep for business and communication deals is that
it is thought to be associated (primarily) with speed. A planet
in retrograde motion goes slower, and many interpret this as detri-
mental to its expression. But Mercury retrograde can be a _great_
time for (1) feeling-based, deep communication, (2) rethinking old
decisions, (3) introspection and meditation. Not much speed there,
is there?
Now as to your own situation, the only way to figure out whether
the Muffin's predictions mean anything to _you_ is to know your
own birth chart. Is Mercury somehow associated with your 4th house
(home, and therefore real estate), either natally or by transit
during that time? Do you have a natal retrograde Mercury? What
sign and house is Mercury placed in your natal chart? I can do
your chart and an event chart for the projected day of your closing.
You will probably find, as I and most of my clients do, that you
are actually behaving in accordance with stellar influences, and
not ignoring them at all.
Personal case: my husband and I bought our first house under Mercury
direct. But we _refinanced_ (and very smoothly) under a retrograde
Mercury (revisiting an old decision?).
And even if you do close on that day, and have problems leading
up to the closing, _please_ don't believe that your house will be
forever tainted and that nothing will go right. That has never
been the case with people I've talked to. You may find that, as
events progress toward the closing, that it delayed to a later date
because of title search issues, credit check junk, any of the zillion
little nitty things that must precede a closing. If a delay in
the date happens, accept it. Don't feel you need to rush it just
to make sure that it happens under Mercury direct. When delays
occur under a returgrade Mercury, they are worth analyzing for their
importance. Paying attention to them will, in the long run, be
beneficial. Professionally speaking (from the computer biz) I have
never released a system or model smoothly under a retrograde Mercury,
but when finally released those things had been debugged within
an inch of their lives, because under the retrograde, _everything_
that could obstruct the operation of the system came to light.
Much better than releasing happily under Mercury direct, then having
bugs come to light after the thing has been in the customer's hands
for 4 months!
And a final word about the Cosmic Muffin: he's like a weather fore-
caster. Do you let the weather seriously affect _all_ your important
plans for the day? I don't; I just bring an umbrella. Trying to
plan the timing of important events based on what are basically
weather forecasts is pretty silly, when you think about it. I knew
friends who planned an outdoor wedding. Now, New England being
what it is, they decided to erect a tent for the festivities. And
it rained. But the show went on.
So, regarding practical "umbrellas" you can apply to house closings:
Pay careful attention to the progress of the lawyers, etc. Call
them back--did they get the confirmation of employment? The credit
checks? What about the title search? Go with the house inspectors,
the septic tank inspectors, the pest inspectors. Are the people
selling you the house building their own? If so, how's their progress
report? Keep track in a gentle persistent fashion and if the date
must be postponed, fine. It'll still happen.
Hope this helps.
Marcia
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| I went home and checked out Mercury's position on August 1st. It
will be in the 25th degree of the sign Cancer, which does have to
do with the home and real estate. But by that point it will be
getting ready to turn direct again; it will be what astrologers
call "stationary". I notice that the 1st is a Friday; it will turn
direct Monday.
About stationary periods: they are often considered important points
where energies are marshalled for action. So perhaps a stationary
Mercury, getting ready to turn direct, is the right energy to pass
papers under. Certainly, when the lawyers file the papers at the
town hall, making the house _really_ yours, they'll do it Monday
morning (by which time Mercury will be direct). However, if you
are really nervous, you only have to postpone your closing til the
Monday of the next week.
-M-
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|
I'm normally not of a bent to heed Astrological thingies
(considering myself a solid-engineering type), but have witnessed
enough bizarreness during Mercury Retrograde periods to take heed of
it. Yesterday was one such bizzarre day, so I pulled out my Poor
Richard's Almanac to check, and sure enough, Mercury went retrograde,
beginning yesterday, lasting until May 27th.... *And* it was a full
moon!
Anyhow, I thought I would post this as a public service, since by
yesterday evening (before I checked the almanac) I had come to the
conclusion that I needed to get out of this industry, and take up
worm farming..... I'm fully confident that one day we will
understand, at a physical level, just how Mercury Retrograde could be
affecting us, as the Lunar gravitational pull affects the ocean tides,
and us being some 90-something percent salt water... But that's my Virgo
side showing itself... :^).
Per Poor Richards Almanac, don't make any major life decisions during
this period, as communications could be out of whack; though it also says
that it *is* useful to look over projects and plans, as we will be
seeing them with "different eyes" during this period. If the book is
good enough to plant potatoes by, it must have *something* going for
it....
This has been a public service announcement. This life is a test. This is
only a test. Had this been an actual life, you would have recieved
further instructions on where to go and what to do. This is *only* a
test.
:^)
-chuck
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