Let’s talk about Mercury Retrograde (Direct again on Oct 15th but not out of the shadow until Oct 30th). Over the years, my experience with the backtracking planet, that twisted trickster, monkey-wrench in the works joker of all jokers, Mercury, has given me much to cry about. But Mercury Retrograde has also given me much to laugh about.

I find the best way to do this is by telling you a story. Over the past few weeks while the little prankster has been going backwards, I have had to revamp my internet/wireless router, attempt to install a new dishwasher, travel all over town to pick up my mail from 3 different locations (don’t even ask), juggle returns for a phone jack, install Skype & AIM and catch up on my social networking. And if that wasn’t enough, I am now faced with the choice of which coffee shop I like best - there are 5 Starbucks (6 if you count the one inside Pavilions), 3 Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s and 1 Peets Coffee within walking distance! And of course there is my Libra brother that I’ve been worried about (Mercury is in Libra). And I haven’t even scratched the surface. Can you relate?

Then, of course there was the time during Mercury Retro I tried to replace a glass shelf for a bookshelf and after many trips to the glassman (which was it’s own trip to the dark side, but don’t distract me). I finally got what looked like a replacement shelf. But no, what I ended up with was a shelf that was HALF the thickness I needed - even after I had SPECIFIED THE SIZE. Of course it wasn’t in writing, so Mercury left me footing the bill. Ahhh, chalk it up to some kind of karmic payback. You see, this IS what Mercury Retrograde is up to - he’s balancing the scales. Somewhere, someplace I messed with a glassman, and now I had to pay the price! Mercury Retrograde cost me my pocket change.

YES, Mercury Retrograde rules pocket change, AND personal change. the best way to sum it up is with this very mercurial saying about change: “change comes from within.”

Mercury governs all these subjects: siblings, neighbors/neighborhoods, short trips, mail, phones, etc, etc. So, we can all see why the Retrograde Mercury has gotten such a bad rap. He sure is a BUSY bugger. But is it all BAD? I don’t think so.

But there’s more, the problems that Mercury’s highlighted are not news to me, I knew I’d have to deal with every last one of them. They just require attention. The fact is, once most of this is settled into a routine, a system or a clear course of action then there will be stability around all of them. This is an extremely GOOD thing. Not only that, but I know how to look at Astrological dates to plant seeds for new growth under prime Universal conditions. And Retrograde can actually be a VERY POWERFUL time to do this.

**My disclaimer: I only stand behind the dates I have personally selected for you, this is called Electional Astrology and is the art of creating the BEST timing for starting things using the timing of the Universe. One of the reasons we are having problems in our economy and with the out-of-whackness of our environment (don’t get me started) is because we are out of whack with the COSMOS. Proper selection of timing puts us back IN WHACK with the timing of the Universe. And that leads to success and Happiness.

Successful date selection is the name of the game, even during a Retrograde Mercury!
For your best success in Business, love/marriage send an e-mail: success@astrologychick.com
Do it now while you’re still thinking about it!