Mercury Retrograde and Shadow-mode
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Mercury Retrograde
When Mercury turns retrograde (in any sign), look at the degrees of the Zodiac it will cover in its backward retreat. Mercury's "official" retrograde period lasts about three weeks if you go by the regular calendar, but objectively -- in real life -- Mercury's retrograde cycle takes a lot longer. It starts with what's called a "shadow phase."
This begins when Mercury, while still going direct, first crosses the degree of the Zodiac to which it will return when retrograde. This takes a little bit of awareness and extra calculation, but once you get the knack of it, it's fairly easy to do and quick. You just need to have your astrological calendar handy ... and for those of us who are "into this stuff" there's usually one around.
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Mercury's shadow phase doesn't end until after Mercury goes direct again and passes the degree at which it turned retrograde. This is the point at which Mercury starts making progress again in its current tour of the signs.
And it's when we start making progress again in daily life on matters of communication, data sharing and handling information, reading, writing and learning, things related to using your computer, applying knowledge and employing physical mobility, work concerns, health and lifestyle issues and the usual daily business of life.
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It's not glamorous and it's usually not really dramatic, but these are the trivia, the minor details and "little things" that can really mess up your schedule, your mood and your attitude, and play havoc with what you were trying to get done. Mercury entered shadow-mode this time on October 28. It turned officially retrograde on November 16. It turns direct -- according to the calendar -- on December 6. But it doesn't move out of its own shadow again until Christmas Eve.
Its effects are often subtle at first, but at this point you'll start rethinking your actions, your plans and your ideas and perspectives. As time goes along, you'll come up with new information, competing concepts and options, things that invite you to rethink what you're doing because you'll start to see another way, a better way, a reason why your current path won't get you where you really want to end up.
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These initial indicators can be anything from interesting to intriguing to really annoying. You may be pretty invested in what you're trying to do -- and the way you're going about it -- and the idea of doing it over or doing it differently or approaching it from a whole different angle ... usually doesn't sit well. So, you'll brush it aside as long as you can ... and keep on going. (Until you learn better -- which is part of what I'm trying to teach here.)
But from the moment Mercury enters shadow-mode, you need to regard your decisions, plans, ideas and goals as "up for review" and decidedly tentative. Keep everything as flexible and open-ended as possible -- Mercury loves that kind of freedom and latitude.
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Realize that whatever you do in the meantime -- until shadow-mode ends in a couple of months -- will be things you'll eventually decide to do differently, because by then, you'll be working with new information, new conditions, new options and a very different perspective.
This kind of acceptance is really nothing but being realistic -- however much you'd like to resist it in the meantime -- and it can be extremely liberating and even fun if you embrace this celestial invitation to open your mind and do some editing and revision and experiment with your intentions.
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What you do once Mercury moves on will be different than what you planned in the beginning -- and it will be much better in its results ... so the effort actually isn't wasted. These first-drafts and trial runs turn out a much improved product. For there to even be a better idea, it means there had to be an inferior one in the first place.
So maybe that's one reason these little intervals happen. Look at them as a chance to upgrade -- and get a wider view of what you're working with and what alternatives are possible.
When you look at it that way, Mercury Retrograde becomes a friend -- an actual benefit -- instead of another pothole you have to get past.
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One extremely user-friendly chart site is here: AstroLabe. I recommend them if you want a simple, easy-to-read chart. I think they even give a reasonable little interpretive reading of your horoscope as part of the package. You'll need to know your birth information -- day, month, year, time and geographical place. Without all that your chart will have limited accuracy.
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Hmm the shadow makes things extremely interesting - yet another layer of understanding is added.
I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to launching particular things - though based on what I've read about mercury retrograde, and a bit of lacking that I still feel, I'll continue to do the work internally and not particularly decide to launch anything.
For extra context to anyone interested - I'm maybe similar to @bigtom13 above, I'm considering launching a few written projects, though I know I'm not completely satisfied with them, I still want to get them going, because I'm pretty sick of not really putting out anything at all. However, what I think I might maybe decide to do possibly, is continue to do this work, do the writing, explore it in full and continue to view it objectively to see improvements - ultimately I think it is better to do the work than to not, but for now I will avoid launching it (making it public) - this is my way of continuing to explore internally and hopefully come out of it with an impressive amount of stuff that can either be repurposed, or confidently left behind as something given that I've explored it, but know it wasn't what I was after.
I am not ignoring you. Thank you so much for the Steem -- and for the food for thought you've provided. With Mercury still retrograde until December 6, everything I might say to you is subject to change and reversal. So, I'm trying to think things through carefully and not just make a mess of our conversation.
I don't want to lose track of you -- although Steemit seems to be collapsing and who knows how long the connection will hold if this is all we're depending on. You might want to get into Discord if you haven't already. My name there is Enchanted Spirit (INFJ). Now that you've seen it, I've removed my personal contact information. (You know what the internet's like!!) If you need it again, let me know.
@carpet.duck
<3 @enchantedspirit
Love the positive spin on Mercury retrograde. Thanks for another fabulous post!
So this goes on till Christmas? In the last week I've shit canned a major personal project and arrived at plan D (or there about) on a writing project. I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but later today I'm going to start tweaking it again. Because, well, editors and deadlines.
I hate the not being sure what I'm doing.
Thanks for this. I think :)
this is fantastic and oh nooooo .... i'm ascareeddd hold me !!