I always have mixed feelings discussing Mercury retrograde. Many people use it as an excuse. Most of those people know just enough about astrology to use it as a new boogeyman. But honestly, with a little bit of preparation and awareness, it isn’t that hard to weather the few weeks of Mercury retrograde. It happens 3 to 4 times a year and the next time it is going to happen is starting on December 18th, 2016 and ending on January 8th 2017.
Before I get into the specifics of this upcoming period, let me give you a general picture of what Mercury retrograde implies. Mercury is the planet that symbolizes communication, thinking, local travel, your immediate neighborhood, and electricity and electronics. So when it goes backwards you have to keep an eye on those areas of concern. There will be missed phone calls, dropped phone calls, mixed-up plans for appointments or travel, and lots of various miscommunication. Sometimes the Internet and computers get a little quirky, too. But, like any retrograde planet, you can have a lot of success with things that you “re.” You can reassess plans, you can rewrite things that you think need to be worked on, and you will expect to rearrange your plans from time to time.
This time around Mercury is going retrograde at 15° Capricorn 7′. And although I am not a mundane astrologer (one who uses astrology to look at world events) I do find it curious that it is going retro the day before the Electoral College votes on who won the Presidency. Capricorn can often be seen as the symbol of tradition. But it is going to go backwards. At the same time, Mars is leaving Aquarius and entering Pisces. Mars, the planet of action and assertiveness, is entering a sign known for its compassion, sensitivity and empathy. Also on the day Mercury goes retrograde this year, it will be making a conjunction with Pluto. Pluto can often symbolize major shifts in society. And since it is in Capricorn, a symbol of practicality, it may have a tendency to assist in correcting mistakes. When Pluto first entered Capricorn in 2008, that was when the banking crisis hit. And many astrologers considered Pluto in Capricorn as the energy behind the corrective measures that needed to be taken to properly restore the economy. I am not making any predictions at all about the election but I do find it a curious shift at that time.
The next key days would be December 28th and 29th. At that point the Sun, Moon and Mercury will all be conjunct in Capricorn. If you are prone to sitting down and assessing your life during the previous year and looking at the possibilities of the upcoming year, these would be a great days to do it. The energies of Capricorn are excellent for long term planning and taking a look at the big picture.
On January 2, 2017 the Moon, Mars and Neptune will all be conjunct in Pisces. The Moon and Neptune make this conjunction every month but adding in Mars adds a lot of energy to the situation, in a very emotional way. If this connects with you, you may find January 2 to be very deeply felt. With it all in Pisces there maybe an overwhelming sense of empathy, Compassion and a connection to everyone else in the world.
Mercury keeps backing up until January 8 but on January 3 it will back into Sagittarius for a few days before it goes direct. So expect about a week of mental release so to speak, For Sagittarius is a bit more open-minded and playful mentally than Capricorn.
And Mercury will go forward again. Until that happens, remember to double check your appointments, leave a little extra time as a buffer when you are traveling, and make sure you have a Plan B. Expect a little difficulty in moving forward, but that is what Mercury retrograde does.
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