Quirky Merc rx: Obama billboard

I’m going to try a one-event-a-post format rather than accumulate them all in one long post. None of these are likely to be accompanied by long analyses — with Mercury retrograde, I’m usually swimming upstream or stuck in quicksand — but I might make a comment or two.

While all sorts of communications glitches may occur during a retrograde, my favourite are the quirky ones — what one reporter calls ‘holy mackerel stories’.* I think the unexpected punchline characterises Mercury’s tricksiness best. Like when I was switching SIM cards in my mobile phone last week while travelling, and double-checking that the other one was safely stored in my pocketbook, only the act of checking caused it to fall out, and I lost it anyway… Anyhow, that is not the subject of today’s post.

I just read this piece about the White House’s objection to a clothing company’s use of Obama’s image on their billboard in Times Square.

The Merc rx moment is: the company agrees to take it down, but only two weeks later… ‘after figuring out a new ad campaign’.

That puts it at 22 January, on the day Jupiter (expansion) ingresses Pisces (illusions) — good for advertising, I reckon.

*Thanks to Chris Brennan of The Horoscopic Astrology Blog for the report and the mention.

 

Mercury in Virgo

I’m late with this post on Mercury in Virgo, but I hope you all saw a shift in your productivity (Virgo) when Mercury stationed direct in 21+ Virgo on 29 September 2009.

Mercury rules Virgo but while Mercury is chatty and curious in Gemini, Mercury in Virgo is much more circumspect. Here is Stephen Arroyo’s delineation:

• Communicates logically, critically, helpfully, humbly — sometimes negatively and skeptically
• An urge to express one’s perceptions matter-of-factly, demonstrating one’s analytical skills
• A need to discriminate among ideas and to put them in logical sequence in order to learn
• Practical, helpful ideas contribute to the ability to make connections with others
• Over-attention to details can hinder perception of the larger viewpoint and all its interconnections and broader implications (64)

Mercury stationed direct close to my midheaven in my 10th house, and just a few days before, I encountered an exhausting run-in at work to do with miscommunication and carelessness with editing (both Mercury-ruled activities). However, at the same, time I got two amazing pieces of news regarding projects that have been developing for sometime, which were commensurate with the forward-moving energy of Mercury direct: I received a book contract for an edited collection after three years in the making, and an invitation to speak on local radio over a media event I spent the summer organising.

If many of you have felt ‘blocked’ like I did most of the summer, I hope Mercury stationing direct in a work- and service-oriented sign, together with the recent Full Moon in fiery Aries, have provided some renewed energy. It may be a while before I recover from the PTSD of the summer eclipses, but at least I feel new hope!

Reference
Arroyo, Stephen. Chart Interpretation Handbook. Sebastapol, Ca.: CRCS, 1989.

 

Mercury retrograde: Life accelerates

I’ve watched this for a very long time. Life does indeed accelerate for me in the run up to Mercury retrograde just when all the advice is to slow down (see also). It must be the contrarian nature of my having natal Mercury trine natal Uranus or something! Actually I like this take on Merc rx, in that sometimes no matter what you do, stuff happens.

For me, it’s a bit like this: you try to go down a steep stair as slowly and as carefully as you can, but then you slip and are forced to go with the momentum until you stop. Somehow. Mercury retrograde is like that for me.

 

Merc rx in Taurus and me: Rediscovering earth energies in crystals

It seems like this Mercury rx has been a rough one for many people. There is some pretty potent astrology at work right now, especially the rare Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune conjunction. Merc rx in Taurus is currently squaring that conjunction making us all uncomfortably aware of being uncomfortably aware, if that makes sense.

 

Merc rx and me: Gabfest

Be careful of communications going awry, we’re always told, when Mercury goes retrograde. Don’t buy anything important. Don’t sign on the dotted line. Don’t rule out long-lost friends coming out of the woodwork. And so on.

I don’t know if others feel the same way, but when Mercury retrogrades, especially around the station, I actually feel — and I’ve watched this over a few retrogrades — an increased agitation and anxiety, and thus a greater need to communicate. I wondered in an early post about whether that phenomenon was in fact a signal to pay attention the state of anxiety itself, and as a result be compelled to learn to slow down.