Mercury Wretchrograde! It Could Be Bah-Humbug, But I Reckon Bring On the Gifts!

I'm walking backwards for Christmas,
Across the Irish Sea,
I'm walking backwards for Christmas,
It's the only thing for me.

I've tried walking sideways,
And walking to the front,
But people just look at me,
And... say it's a publicity stunt.

The Goon Show (Youtube vid)

Mercury, that trickster of planets, that elusive and brilliant mind-playing planet, has just gone retrograde again in an air sign - Gemini. Mercury retrograde periods are times when movement forward is littered with "detour" signs and dead ends. Especially in Gemini, the sign that Mercury rules, we want forward movement, not backwards and not sideways. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on what's going on in your life and how you view it, the retrograde periods of Mercury push us to revise, redo, reconsider and go back over things from the past rather than instigating new projects, new ideas, new promises. The past often needs re visioning, and Mercury's retrograde period of 21 days every three or so months gives us that opportunity. It went retrograde on May 7 and will turn direct on May 31.

There always seems to be snafus during this retrograde time; mail and messages don't get delivered, the computer crashes, you think it's the motherboard so you buy a new one and it ends up being the power supply that's faulty, your Internet goes down more than usual, you lose your car keys or your exhaust system falls off.... there's millions of possibilities, but the general theme is that those things that are in need of repair, revising, re visioning, etc, are demanding attention now, as inconvenient as it might seem. With Venus having been retrograde for 40 days and 40 nights recently, many relationships need to be revisited, mended, given a rehash or thrown out completely.

This is the fifth time Mercury has gone retrograde in an air sign stretching way back to January 2008. Mercury goes retrograde three times a year for 21-22 days and brings up interesting experiences and lessons for us to learn. In air signs, this period can be especially frustrating as air rules the mind, the intellect, etc, and we virtually get "the vapors" from trying to figure out what's going on with Mercury playing tricks on us. This time Mercury goes retrograde on Gemini 2: A Nervous Gentleman, Dressed in an Elaborate Santa Claus Costume, is Filling Christmas Stockings Secretly. Mercury can bring garbled messages, alright - try deciphering the Goon's show song on youtube (link above). Non-sense is often the name of the game during this period.

Keywords: Wishes fulfilled. The longing for superficial gratification. Gifts being dispensed. Receiving from unknown sources, giving for no particular reason or thought of reward. Rewards coming. Making surprise visits. Token gestures. Furtive acts. Charity. Philanthropy. Secret affairs. The need for quick getaways.

The Cautions include: Concealing true intentions with a facade of goodness. Trying to get away with something. Stealing, shoplifting. Intrusion. Sneaking around in the dark (or in the shadows). Bribes. Self-gratification. Eavesdropping and voyeurism. Being nervous or easily startled.

From my book: Someone may be tiptoeing around, like ‘Santa Claus’ in an effort to give out gifts while no one is looking. Be gracious and let those carrying the gifts have the pleasure of your reaction. You may, however, draw this Symbol in a situation where you are suspicious of someone being up to something. This Symbol may be saying that your fears are possibly not only unfounded, but can actually be quite wrong. You need to believe that something good is happening, and trust those involved in this situation. It may be you who is trying to surprise someone with a gift. Perhaps the giver in this situation is you? It is not necessarily the gift, but more the thought that counts. What would happen if the lights were suddenly turned on? Would things suddenly be known and revealed that were not apparent or visible before?

Mercury spends about three weeks going backwards through the degrees before assuming direct motion (going forwards again). So, the whole of May has Mercury retrograde.

Mercury is on the Santa degree for around 9 days - from around May 3 to May 11, which is quite a considerable amount of time. Gifts given or received could lift the spirits of everyone and surprises are bound to be on the agenda.

Around May 12 and 13, Mercury is on one of the most clairvoyant, clear-seeing, intuitive, psychic and observant degrees in the entire 360 Symbols. The Symbol is Gemini 1: A Glass-Bottomed Boat Reveals Undersea Wonders. This Symbol speaks of being able to see "within" to forms that are not usually observed. This is a great time to put on those imaginary goggles so you can get to the heart of things that are normally clouded or obscured. Your 'glass-bottomed boat' gives you the ability to cut past the crappy surface appearances to get at what is real, what is actually there, even if from a distant or somewhat uninvolved perspective.

May 14 and 15, the Symbol is Taurus 30: A Peacock Parading on the Terrace of an Old Castle. This is a degree of beauty, grace and form and speaks of homes and buildings and castles and keeping one's place like a sanctuary, well-looked after. Issues of being locked-out can come up, along with longing for bigger living premises. Situations to do with maintenance may require attention.

May 16 and 17, the Symbol is Taurus 29: Two Cobblers Working Side By Side at a Table. This brings up issues to do with people working together, sharing their labor, tools, talents, abilities and gifts and working fairly together, each contributing their bit. It can be that fair mindedness and people pulling their weight, cooperating or working together is an issue. Perhaps you're working on your own and don't have the support you need. Issues to do with partnering could come up. The conventional wisdom is that relationships from the past can be retrieved and repaired, but new ones may not last the distance when the fog of the retrograde period lifts.

May 18 and 19, the Symbol is Taurus 28: A Woman in Middle Life Stands in Rapt Sudden Realization of Forgotten Charms, in Unexpected Recovery of Romance. One of the versions of this Symbol is: A Woman Past the Age of Life Experiences a New Love. This degree can be like hitting the jackpot; it comes as a wonderful surprise when we think that "romance" has escaped us, lost or is hopelessly gone. This degree turns up the juice and we find ourselves being courted by someone, by life, by romance, by creativity, passion, excitement - whatever - it's something that turns us on again.

May 20: Taurus 27 - An Old Indian Woman Selling Beads and Trinkets brings the possibility, or the necessity, to see both ourselves, our wares, our gifts and talents as being valuable and worthy. Don't sell yourself short - nor do that to others - but give everything it's value and true place in life.

May 21 and 22:  Taurus 26 -A Spaniard Serenading His Senorita - this is again romantic and can bring up issues of finding one's love. It can bring up romantic opportunities although it can also show people putting on a charade to get what they want out of another. Emotional manipulation can take advantage of those who just want to find romance without feeling there's another agenda going on. Words need to be carefully spoken - no loose promises or false declarations but rather shooting from the hip (if you'll excuse the pun).

May 23 to 25: Taurus 25 - A Large Well-Kept Public Park. This is about maintenance of homes and gardens and living spaces - keeping things looking good, respectable and clean and tidy. Who puts in the work? Who keeps everything looking good? Are there people to enjoy the space? Do you have space? Are you crammed in by the walls around you (or by people cramping your style?).

May 26 to 28: Taurus 24: An Indian Warrior Riding Fiercely With Human Scalps Hanging at His Belt. Notches on a belt is one way of looking at this degree, head-hunting, taking scalps. It can be trying to beat others, showing one's prowess, trophies, medals, abilities. This can be a great degree if people are not taking advantage of each other, but rather, going after their objectives in life without hurting anybody along the way.

May 29 to June 1 - Mercury slows right down, stops (stations) and then turns direct. The degree that it turns direct on is fabulous, especially in the light of the degree that Mercury went retrograde on - the Santa Claus Dispensing Gifts degree - Taurus 23: A Jewelry Shop Filled With the Most Magnificent Jewels.

My take on this degree: This is a time to admire the achievements of others and allow yours to be admired too. Realize that what is needed is either at hand, or soon will be. Believing in yourself can bring a sense of reward, and can allow you to reach for higher aspirations. If you need help believing in yourself, try wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry that has a lot of meaning for you. This can bring a wonderful sense of self worth, pride and beauty into your life. Crystals and jewelry may be received, or somehow bring a message. It can be a testament to how talented, gracious and cultured our lives and achievements are. It is good to remember that sometimes our most precious possessions are rarely truly owned by us, they will most likely survive well beyond our time. It is partly this longevity and contribution to the future that makes them so precious. Having a piece of jewelry or crystal nearby can be a reminder of your self-worth, beauty and integrity. Sometimes buying a special piece, such as a crystal, a necklace, earrings, ring or brooch can lift your spirits.

Keywords: Great talent, wealth, rewards and gifts. Beauty that brings joy. Materialization of perfection. Judges of worth. Things that shine. Jewelry, stones, gold and silver. Shops, especially those that have beautiful displays. The rewards and bounty of the natural world. Treasure of any description. Purity. Genius. Crystals. Security guards. Window shopping.

If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. Anon

Mercury then retraces its steps over the above degree as he makes his way back to the Santa Claus degree on June 15. Keeping the above Symbols in mind, you can recreate your life is so many ways - you could find new romance, new partners, new tools for living, a new realization of the gem that you are and the talent you have residing in yourself. More than anything - this is a time to go back over, to consolidate, to make real, to also forgive and forget past transgressions - especially those where you feel you've let yourself down. Time to focus on the 'jewelry shop within' - your truly beautiful and worthwhile center.

Comments

[......]

hello serious silly responsible frivolous angel beastie of the night and day galactic child we welcome thee!......DanAriiAnnu!

[AstroDatebook]

Love how you did the symbols by days; that's what's up right there. Thanks Lynda!!

[Joyce Mason]

Hi, Lynda! Just a note to let you know that your blog has won a Lemonade Award for great attitude. See details on The Radical Virgo: http://www.radicalvirgo.blogspot.com. Congrats!

[Lynda Hill]

Hey Guys, thanks for dropping in - I love comments on my blog and welcome them! Joyce, thanks for the award - it's very appreciated!

Waving from DownUnder
Lynda

[daniel]

Waving from UpAbove! lol ...take it easy Linda!....love D.A.N.

[daniel]

OVER!..dan Over!lol.litta!lolol no. i shouldn,t post it..ok i will...shit!

[daniel]

Time to Wake up Everyone!