Hello Everybody,
Happy Labor Day to everyone. This newsletter will be shorter than most, but more will be coming soon. I want to make a few comments about Mercury retrograde now that it is fully in its retrograde cycle.
We have passed the period when Mercury is stationary, a time that can be noticeable to us in that our minds can operate slowly and when we can even be stuck in a rut. That phase is ending now and we are now going to be needing to take care of things that have either been avoided or which we simply didn’t have the time to handle. Now we will need to focus on these things. if you haven’t backed up your computer lately, this is a good time to take care of this just to be safe.
To clarify, this period is not a good time to begin a new cycle of any kind. It’s a time for review rather than for new starts. What often happens instead is that this can be a very busy time period if there are a lot of loose ends or cycles that need to be completed. This is what we will need to focus on doing and also taking time to look over any issues that need attention. If something new does arise, however, it doesn’t at all mean that it’s bad idea. In fact, you may be getting a glimpse of a newly emerging thought-form that will grow in the next few months. It’s just that before it can even begin to manifest, a lot more thinking will have to go into the process before one will know what will need to be done. More information gathering and planning will be necessary.
This Mercury retrograde is splitting time between two signs – Libra and Virgo. This suggests we will need to adopt an interesting way of being as Libra asks us to be fair and to seek ways to create harmony, but we also must take a practical and somewhat detailed look at whatever issues we are facing. This is especially true as Saturn is involved throughout the retrograde period. Saturn demands realism and a willingness to do whatever we must do in order to be able to successfully move forward after the retrograde period ends. There are important details to attend to and whether we like what we discover or not, we will be happier with future outcomes if we do whatever is necessary.
This retrograde cycle is apt to affect the health care debate significantly. Obama’s scheduled speech is interesting in that he will be presenting a new approach. Typical of Libra and Virgo he will be attempting to dance between the idealism of what he wants with the practical necessity that he get a bill that he can sign. Since he has made this such a high priority, his administration could be in jeopardy if no bill was passed. This issue is defining him. Tough spot to be in but that’s where he is.
As always I love to hear your stories about how the Mercury retrogade period is affecting you or those you know.
I also want to clarify something that I may not have expressed clearly in the last newsletter. If anyone desires to share their thoughts or opinions privately, you are welcome to do so. No private emails to me will be posted.
I would like to announce that a new Beginning Astrology class will be starting on the Westside. It will be on Thursday nights. Anyone interested in enrolling may call me at 818-501-7114.
Mercury retrograde periods are often a great time to get a consultation as many of you will be reviewing important areas of your life. Astrology can be a helpful tool at a time like this, so you may want to see how it can assist you.
All the best,
Jim Sher
So… I’ve been experiencing Mercury retrograde since Saturday – taking this opportunity to re-group before diving in to a book writing project! I began my Saturday by backing up my main image archive hard drive – as soon as I finished backing it up, the main drive crashed. So… in order to maintain at least two copies, I rebuild the crashed drive and restore everything from the backup. This process of backing up, restoring and backing up again took 2 days! Mercury demands that his domain be attended to.
A little background: I’m a photographer, digital imaging artist and author. In order to update my last book for a 2nd edition (and support new software and new technology) I need to get a new computer that will work with an upcoming version of Photoshop. This next version of Photoshop will not run on my old computer. Writing, computers, digital technology – all ruled by Mercury! I knew that Mercury was going retrograde so I ordered my computer online before it actually went stationary and made plans to prepare for the migration of my data to the new computer once it arrived.
Now, in the current moment, Mercury is requiring me to carefully review my setup, consolidate my data, backup everything and carefully organize everything before I can install a new computer. All of this is in preparation for work on the book. I’m definitely feeling Saturn and Virgo here as all of this is a very detail oriented discipline – crossing every “t” and dotting every “i”…
I am anxious to start working because I have a deadline to deliver the first chapter by the 15th and I’m afraid Mercury won’t be finished with me by then… things will work themselves out in due course and I can’t “rush” it. As if to remind me of this, while I was re-organizing data across multiple hard drives my iTunes Library disappeared! I had over 6000 songs evaporate – OK… Mercury is slapping me around a little bit here – slow down, back up… most everything is on my iPod and a backup has been long overdue! I retrieve all the songs from the iPod, move everything onto another hard disk (one with more room to grow) – lost all my playlists but I needed to reorganize that anyway – you can see how Mercury is working here.
No need to fight it, just take a deep breath, relax and go with the flow. Tap into a little Virgo OCD and chip away at the data migration thing for a while. Time to review my Libra relationship with my computer… “talk to me baby, you know I still love you…”
Interestingly, I’m dealing with my own codependent behavior. How fitting that my emotions are cycling between being fair to those I’m involved in codependent relationships with and the need to be realistic about the situation. Last night marked a turning point in my emotions that allowed me to pinpoint the original issue as the other individual’s inability to feel emotions and be truthful and how I try to “fix” the situation. Throughout today it’s been easier to stop blaming myself and to detach from the situation.