Mercury Watch
Why isn’t this page current?
Jamie is on maternity leave from Dec 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012.
She will begin writing forecasts again in April for May 1.
So, for these few months, I’m afraid this page will not be accurate!
Mercury is currently direct (moving forwards),
not retrograde (moving backwards)
About the Mercury Cycle
Astrologers look at the position of Mercury to analyze the current mental chemistry of human beings. Mercury tells us about how the day-to-day details of life will be handled and how office relations will go. When Mercury is fast, such things proceed swiftly with few obstacles. When Mercury is retrograde there are obstructions and snarl-ups. Mercury forward (which astrologers call “direct”) is for forward motion and starting new projects; Mercury retrograde is for rest and contemplation and cleaning up old projects.
Every year Mercury goes through its normal cycle three times. This cycle has several parts: first we see Mercury race forward ahead of the Sun. Then it slows down and turns retrograde, or backwards. The Mercury retrograde period lasts for about 3 weeks, during which the forward-moving Sun will pass backward-moving Mercury, and they will greet each other in a day of illumination. After another week or so, Mercury will slowly turn and start moving forward again. Then it will speed up and race to catch up with the Sun, greeting the Sun as it rockets past. Finally, it will slow again and turn retrograde. The whole of Mercury’s cycle lasts about 4 months, while the retrograde part of that is only 3 weeks. Naturally, this means Mercury goes through this cycle 3 times a year.
Mercury’s Current Status: Post-Peak, Getting Ready To Gear Down
Mercury is still moving direct (i.e. forward) and fast at the beginning of October, so during the first half of the month, efficiency will still be high. Continue setting and meeting deadlines, requesting rush jobs and generally getting lots done.
There was a peak in mental efficiency on September 28 (Mercury crossed the Sun that day). Spend October responding to the events that happened around that peak. Once November rolls around you’ll want to start winding things down to prepare for the fallow Mercury retrograde period beginning November 23.
In late November, as Mercury begins to slow down, you should slow down too. Tie up loose ends and be more methodical. Expect less of yourself and others. Don’t take on more than you could handle if the lines got clogged (because rest assured, during the upcoming Mercury retrograde period, they will). Any loose ends you tie up here will not return to bite you when Mercury goes retrograde.
Finish projects by the middle of November and celebrate your achievements. Set your final project (or project-phase) deadline for November 20. Get ready for the period of introspection that is coming in late November and early December. Start thinking about future projects you might do after the current ones are complete, but don’t set goals yet. The Mercury retrograde period will be the perfect time for ruminating and meditating on those future projects, especially if you go into it with an already-clean slate.
