The Spirit of the Holidays: Use Mercury Retrograde to Set a New Foundation!

A reminder that WE are moving forward

It’s baaaaaack! Mercury Retrograde is about to strike again just in time for the holiday season. But, no need to cringe. With the right perspective, the coming three weeks can actually support you in making a new start in the New Year!

Our little buddy Mercury goes retrograde in Capricorn from December 10 through December 30, when it turns direct in Sagittarius. As I’ve mentioned in past blogs, Mercury Retrograde happens when Mercury slows down and appears to stop or move backward. When a planet is retrograde, it’s usually closer to the Earth in its orbit and exerts more gravitational force in our direction. So, in this case, we have a three-week celestial “psych out” in which Mercury, the planet of communication, information, perception, and the mind, skillfully (and sometimes shrewdly!) impacts those areas in our lives.

When a planet is retrograde, our thinking is more introspective and we tend to think about concerns that relate to the sign involved. With this Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn, the hardy goat of the zodiac, there will be more focus on structures and foundations. Capricorn is about keeping your feet on the ground and your eye on the prize. An earth sign, it embodies responsibility, patience, wisdom, tenacity, and maturity. And, good old Mercury will probably bring you situations (some which might be frustrating or challenging) that force you to cultivate all of these qualities.(Hint, Hint, universal 2x4 on its way!) Likewise, when Mercury is in Capricorn, our thought processes become more defined, our focus becomes sharper, and we think in practical terms.

Think of yourself as the architect of your life, setting out to design, organize, and build a beautiful, strong structure that will support you and others. This is the time to step up and take responsibility for whatever is going on, right down to the nitty gritty in your foundations. With Capricorn’s focus on professional and personal standing, we’re all being asked to examine our ideals and goals and perhaps redefine the path we’re taking to achieve them. (Personally, I had been on the wrong track, completely diverted from the real pursuit of oneness.) What’s working? What isn’t? As 2010 comes to a close, how have you grown? What are your most cherished goals? If we take responsibility for laying the foundation now and focus on re-evaluating, planning, and preparing, this time can help us persevere in the long-run and attain the goals we set. Not coincidentally, this retrograde in Capricorn has come at the perfect time to set the stage for a new beginning in 2011. In fact, when Mercury goes direct on December 30, it’s in Sagittarius—the sign of abundance and optimism.

When it comes to the rest of the holiday season, it’s important to keep in mind that Mercury Retrograde does have a way of interfering with all areas of communications. Misunderstandings with friends and family may come up, electronics may start acting funny, and so on. During all retrogrades, I make an extra effort to be clear in all of my communications and say exactly what I mean. It’s also important to detach in the midst of tense situations, and it might also be time to re-evaluate some of your relationships. Some people also prefer to hold off on buying electronics and gadgets during retrogrades. In that case, you might prefer to get a gift certificate for your loved one to use after Christmas. One last thing, I can assure that the retrograde will not mess with Santa’s sleigh!

Exercise:
Create a blueprint for the coming year: Spend some time over this retrograde examining what is and isn’t working in your life. What are some of the patterns you’ve noticed? What did you learn in 2010? Is there anywhere you’ve given away your power? How did you grow? What are your most cherished dreams for 2011? How do you need to grow to be the person who lives those dreams?

Remember, Mercury Retrograde is about introspection. Don’t feel pressured to take action on something new during the next three weeks, but do go within and find clarity about where you’ve been and where you are in your life. Then, create a vision for where you want to go and ask yourself who you need to be to get on that path.

This blog was beautifully written by Collete Baron-Reid and comments in (parenthesis and italics) are mine. 

I hope this comes at just the right for you. I can tell you that I have the pleasure of having Mercury Retrograde in my Natal Chart, which tends to lend to me the great honor of experiencing MR about 1 month before the masses. This leads to great insight and expertise in which I offer assistance and guidance to those who seek my professional services as an Intuitive Aromatherapy Pharmacist.