Mercury Retrograde – The Details…
At 11:01:14 am here in Brisbane (AEST, GMT +10) this morning (August 13th) Mercury turned retrograde in our skies at 11degrees and 38seconds of Virgo, which means that from our position here on Earth he will now appear to move backwards for a little over 3 weeks.
When Mercury reverses direction it gives us a chance to review, repair, refresh and reignite and with Virgo being the first sign of this particular retrograde, you can bet that practical matters will be coming up for review at some point during the next few weeks.
Between now and 5th September (09:29pm AEST, GMT +10), when Mercury will once again turn direct, anything that pertains to your Earthly reality is set to undergo a period of re-organisation.
And, Virgo loves the details, so be prepared to dot any outstanding Is and cross some Ts!!
Time to Get Organised…
Think’ Practical Re-Organisation’; such as D.I.Y, Finances, Bodily/Physical Health, Work Matters, Routines, Daily Habits.
What needs to be reworked so that you can move forward unencumbered for the next stage of your journey?
Those mounting accounts may seem a dull and dreary chore, but by not going there you’re only making that chore appear bigger.
By attending to what needs to be done you can release any negative feelings towards it, freshen the energy of yourself, your home and your daily life and make saying ‘Yes’ to future projects/opportunities easier, as you’ll have freed up space to fit it in.
Why Not Set Some Health Goals…
As Virgo is also strongly aligned with health, it could be time to check in with how yours is going.
Is it time to introduce or increase healthy rituals into your life?
If so, then this is a fabulous time to really look at your day to day life, eating and exercise habits.
Could something in this area do with a rethink?
How could you gain more vitality and everyday well-being?
Perhaps you’d like to bring more natural into your life when it comes to your choice of treatment as well, as Earthy Virgo is also concerned with the natural World.
Think Bush Flower Essences, Aromatherapy, Fresh Fruits, Veggies, Earth-Given Therapies…
Potential Communication Challenges
This particular Mercury retrograde appears alongside our upcoming August New Moon, which is also our second Eclipse of the month and our final Eclipse of the year.
Therefore, pay close attention to any communication issues that may arise now.
Something could be being bought to the surface for attention and healing.
In my experience, sweeping things under carpets doesn’t keep them hidden for long, so it may be time to take a good look at what’s really going on and see what you can refine and re-establish in this area.
Bernadette Brady has also connected this particular Eclipse with health issues or tiredness, which ties in with the Virgo theme of self-care, ritual and getting back to nature that we were discussing earlier.
Time to Re-Skill?
Virgo is the sign of the perfectionist. Hence the need may also arise to hone your skills in some area of your life.
Perhaps something needs some re-attunement now or perhaps you’ll find yourself needing to revisit something you thought you’d mastered…
Watch for Self-Criticism and Criticism of Others…
It can also be a very self-critical sign, so rather than wallowing in an overwhelming self-berating emotional wash of despair, try to stand back emotionally from any challenges that you may face during the retrograde period and instead, take a deep breath and tackle those challenges one by one in a methodical way.
Pay extra attention to the words that you use at this time too. Are you being overly critical of others?
Do they deserve your tongue lashings?
Renewed Inspiration and Taking Time for Recreation (Re-Creation)
Mercury will also be backtracking into Leo during his retrograde journey. As he traverses ‘seemingly backwards’ through this fiery sign you may find yourself re-thinking how you want to express yourself.
There could be a review of creative projects and changes to what inspires you or to how you want to inspire others.
Mercury retrograde in Leo is all about reviewing what sets your heart alight, your ability to be spontaneous and to re-connect with what you find playful, so give it time.
You’re re-creating yourself and the way that you manifest your World!!
Make time to relax and have some fun.
Have Patience…
Patience is always a good trait to have during these retrogrades, so if you’re feeling somewhat blocked creatively or held back from achieving your desires, give your mind time to upgrade and once this particular retrograde is over you may have more of an idea about why those frustrations arose.
As Mercury rules short distance travel and all forms of communication there can also be issues with vehicles, mail mix ups (including email) and network dilemmas.
Check, Double Check and if something doesn’t seem to be progressing as fast as you’d like, try dropping the impatience and doing something else for now or perhaps trying to do it differently.
How I’m Handling This One…
It’s no coincidence that I began my fasting marathon as Mercury passed 28 degrees and 25 seconds of Leo (the point to which he will return during this particular retrograde).
The lead up to a Retrograde is classed as a ‘shadow period’ by some Astrologers and I’ve certainly seen this at work in my own life.
Being Mercury-ruled, I am rather sensitive to Mercury Retrograde energy and this time (with Mercury moving through the 8th house of my natal chart – transformation!!) I certainly feel that I’m re-building and re-forming myself to a much healthier, re-energised me!!
Natural Health and Fasting are also something that I feel passionate about, so this fast is really giving me the opportunity to walk my talk.
That doesn’t mean that it’s been easy to do, of course.
Yesterday was probably one of my toughest days yet and I could have so easily eaten, but with only 8 days remaining on the juice fast component of this program there’s no way I’m throwing in the towel!!
Roll on Monday 21st August when I’ll begin gently breaking my fast and eating delicious raw food 😊
On top of that I have some mounting paperwork to climb through and we’re renovating, so it’s certainly a busy period in our house!!
Remember – real transformation takes effort and a willingness to act.
How Will This Retrograde Likely Affect You?
Perhaps you’ve also begun something (or been nudged to re-do something) over the last 2 weeks, as Mercury slowed down to turn retrograde or perhaps this week has been particularly frustrating for you in some way.
If so, then see if you can look at what Mercury may be attempting to change for you as you venture into the next 23 days.
Where does this retrograde travel through within your natal chart?
If you’re unsure of how to find this and would like help with understanding your natal chart, you can sign up for my newsletter and receive my E-Book “Introductory Tips for Astrological Self Awareness” for free.
Look for where 11 degrees of Virgo to 28 degrees of Leo falls.
Which house or houses (areas of life) are being highlighted in your chart?
Are there any planets, which fall at (or very close to) those degrees within your natal chart?
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