Mercury In Retrograde. what’s it all mean?
Unless you’ve been under a rock for the last decade, you’ve heard the phrase: “Mercury is in retrograde.” It’s usually said in a huff after something unfavorable has occurred. This is because retrograde largely affects communication.
Now, people who are very much involved in astrology will have much more information on this subject; so while I’m interested, I don’t have a ton of knowledge. I did come across this blog entry that may shed a little light on the subject. If you’ve found yourself feeling a little misunderstand lately, Mercury may indeed be to blame.
Credit: http://www.sagittarianmind.com/2011/08/mercury-rx-make-it-clear_02.html
Once again, Mercury retrograde is upon us.
For many of us, this time of year brings a wave of concerns about issues related communication and the transmission of information.
One of the features that makes astrology incredibly rich is the diversity of perspectives that we have to draw from. It’s an extremely eclectic art. There are a myriad of viewpoints that you can expose yourself to regarding any given astrological phenomenon. All which may be quite valid and applicable.
For those who may not know, retrograde motion is the apparent backward motion of a planet. During this time, the drives or principles related to the said planet may not be able to express themselves in as forthright and powerful manner as when the planet is moving forward, or in direct motion.
So…. what does the planet Mercury symbolize?
The principle or drive to communicate, the exchange of ideas, what we think about, intellect, speech, the distribution and medium for all types of information, the written, printed and spoken word. Mercury is similar to a messenger. It’s highly impersonal. So, “good”, “bad”, “moral” and “amoral” do not hold nearly the weight with solo Mercury as they would with the blended energies of another planet.
It is accurate to say that the energy is ripe for communication breakdowns, travel delays, mis-speaking, mis-quoting, not receiving phone calls, e-mails, faxes and texts. By all means, we will want to “double up” and use our avenues of communication to the fullest extent.
However, a perspective worth considering is that Mercury retrograde can also serve us as a period of personal review and assessment. A time of reflection.
We can capitalize on the energies of this phase by engaging in deep introspection regarding the validity and workability of the strategies, ideas, and methods we’ve been employing in our daily lives.
If we view our lives as a book, Mercury Rx is the editing stage before we put our words “out there” for people to read. We cross our t’s and dot our i’s.
If we examine critically enough, this perspective can be applied to virtually every area of our lives. Let’s re- review, re-examine and re-edit, so we can emerge from this period with a renewed and clearer sense of direction.
fire
“but what IS fire?”
It was a good question. I’d been throwing the word around as if my definition was everyone else’s as well. It felt really simple to me. Fire was…. Well that stuff that makes you tingle when you think about the other person. Of course, that explanation would not suffice, so I decided to dig a little deeper in hopes of not only providing him with clarification, but to get to the core of why it was so important to me in the first place.
Fire is… eagerness, gusto, drive, intensity, zeal, splendor, vivacity, zing… HEAT!
Fire is a bubbling within that sometimes drives you to act without turning it, the thought, over in your head a million times first…because you just want what you want. It is the feeling you get when you see her, or him, and they’re speaking to you, but you can only focus on their lips…because… you want them on yours. It’s the longing for closeness; it is the uncontrollable smile that breaks out on your face when they say something that no one else would truly understand. Fire is watching the one you love do what makes them happiest, and feeling as if you can almost sense the joy they’re experiencing in that moment. Fire is knowing that even when it most inconveniences you, you’d do whatever they needed. Fire is getting through a rough day, and even though you’ve spoken to three people about it, waiting for that one person… because you know that even though they can’t fix it, they’d try their hardest if they could.
Fire encompasses a lot of things. A conversation had last night proved that. I agree that fire can be much more than physical. In fact, most of fire, is probably emotional. We simply seem to often express it physically. Connecting with someone who not only shares an interest, but appears to be just as excited about it as you are, is sharing passion. Empathy is passion. Some types of love are passion. Working together on a project can be passionate. Something as simple as putting a tv stand together can be passionate.
I don’t want to negate the physical element of fire and passion because I believe it’s tremendous. Jill Scott has a song: “La Boom Vent Suite” in which she sings “Get caught up in the fire of me…” While the first half of the song puts every brother in check about a woman and her options “some other fellas are sniffing at my dress”, the second half turns soft, and come-hither. Jill is flirtatious, and slinky describing what she wants in the middle of the night. I loved this song immediately because so much of it spoke to me. Caught up in the fire of me means so much! I want you to feel my energy. Put your antennae up and sense when I’m upset, or angry. Come sit beside me and take me in your arms when I’m discouraged. Hold my hand when you don’t know what to say. Notice when I’m thrilled about a new project, and share your enthusiasm. Don’t hold back if we’re in the middle of a moment and you want to kiss me. Kiss me deeply. Grab my waist and hold me tightly. Talk strong, let me know what pleases you. Hug me longer than usual, saying nothing. Look me deep in my eyes and tell me how you feel.
Yes. Fire and passion can be sexual. It can be sensual. It is…. Tactile.
and textural.
and palpable.
It is all of those things, and then some. Passion and fire can be just being with the person you love most… who understands you most, who hears what you say even in your silence….most.
They say Libras are dreamers. We like fairytale endings and wishing upon stars. Perhaps that’s true. I’ve updated my fairytale. You know, to something much more realistic than running off and leaving a glass slipper on the steps of a beautiful mansion while I’m whisked away via pumpkin carriage.
I went to an event a year ago with a friend. We were seated at a table talking, waiting on the ceremony to begin and everyone around us was doing the same, or up and about mingling while holding their 200 bucks a glass champagne flutes. My friend got up to go to the bathroom, and while he was away, I did some people watching.
I watched as a couple entered the ballroom. They weren’t holding hands, but their distance (or lack thereof), and the way they seemed to almost mirror each other’s movements let me know they were in fact, romantically involved. They were a stunning pair, each draped in their formalwear. They greeted a few guests here and there, and she went over to get champagne. Moments after she left his side, three gentlemen approached her guy, shaking hands and exchanging pats on the back. These were friends, maybe coworkers? I watched them laugh and make broad sweeping gestures while chatting it up. My gaze turned away to find his lady. She was now holding two glasses, and talking to another woman on the other side of the room. I watched her throw her head back and laugh, each movement of her wrist made her diamond bracelet catch the light and sparkle. She looked so happy, and at ease. It was almost as if she’d forgotten the point of walking over to the champagne and wine bar in the first place. After awhile, I wondered if her guy was questioning her whereabouts. I looked back at him, still in a huddle with the three other men talking… and almost as if on cue, he glanced over to the opposite side of the room, at her. The look on his face? priceless. It felt like things began to slow down… like all the noise in the ballroom was being muted, and the people around them? Almost vanished. The distance between the guy and his lady meant very little as he was gazing at her, with nothing but adoration on his face. It was like he was seeing her for the first time. Maybe he was noticing how beautiful she looked in her gown, tonight. Or maybe he was captivated by her smile, and the way her eyes almost closed when she laughed. Maybe he was just noticing the way looking at her… seeing her… being with her, made him feel in that moment. She was so enthralled in conversation, that she didn’t notice him staring at her. I think that’s the part that was so beautiful to me. It was a private moment. Their private moment…though more his, than hers. I was seated at least 20 feet away, and I felt their passion. I wondered what would happen when they reunited. My friend returned to the table and my attention was averted. I would never know what happened when she walked over to give him the champagne. Maybe he kissed her. Maybe he hugged her unexpectedly. Maybe he would simply place his hand on the small of her back, and she’d be none the wiser. Either way, the look…his gaze, spoke volumes.
That, my dear…. Is fire.
Do them… and often.
1. Hold her hand when you walk into a building… to remind her you’re never far away if she needs you, and a bit to show that she’s yours, too.
2. Look into her eyes, really look deeply into her eyes and simply say, “I love you.” at the most random times.
3. Let her catch you staring at her with a look of adoration.
4. Brush your lips against her neck when you hug her.
5. Stop her unexpectedly in the middle of a sentence and kiss her. Kiss her passionately-full on, mouth open, eyes closed, feet swept off of floor.
6. Put your arm around her in public.
7. Write her a love letter…a real one with a pen and piece of notebook paper.
8. Snuggle
9. Tell her when she looks beautiful. Always. She’ll never tire of hearing it.
10. Surprise her with something she loves when she least expects it.
11. Tell her specific things you love about her. Just ’cause.
forever
This song… made me melt tonight.
I’d like to thank that someone special for introducing it to me. So many perks to having your own private DJ… *wink*
goodnight
speak to me
Maybe it’s because people seem to believe “girl” is synonymous with “emotional” and “crying” and “weak” that I often pride myself in not being one of those women who burst into a blubbering teary fit at the drop of a hat.
Or maybe it’s because as a kid, I cried a lot. Those salty streams weren’t a result of being unhappy. I was just a sensitive kid. A wrong look, a change in plans, even my own mistakes could send tears running down my round face. As an adult, all the life lessons I’ve been forced to learn made a different woman out of me. I’m still way too connected to my emotions, but I use that to my advantage. I have figured out how it all works in an instinctual sort of way.
It’s so interesting, that as a person (albeit a kid) who cried often, I felt the perception was always that I was a weakling, a timid jellyfish. Now that my tears are rarely seen by many, I am characterized as a strong, resilient individual who infrequently, if ever needs consolation. Both of those people, have much in common. I shall not go further into that now.
Sometimes… I just need to hear your voice. Doesn’t matter what you say. I’m not super interested in a deep discussion about work or politics.
I just want to hear your smooth tenor ride those ups and downs of intonation while you speak… I wanna listen to you sigh… and laugh. Those little pauses when something you’re doing as we talk frustrates you? I want to catch each one. I just…. wanna hear. your. voice.
My bad day won’t go away… but it can often be made better… the phone call you miss… is sometimes—
needed more than you know.
kiss her.
Every now and then…
grab her mid-sentence unexpectedly and kiss her.
passionately.
take her breath away.
hold her tight, and kiss her. for awhile.
close your eyes, and feel her heartbeat. be in that moment… in that intimate space with her, and when you’re done?
watch as she struggles to stay on her feet, as you’ve just swept her off of them.
thank me later 
a country mile
There is a distance at which you keep me. Even with my arms outstretched, almost beyond their comfortable limits, I fail to reach you.
Sometimes, when all is quiet and still, memorable, significant… if only to me… moments cross my mind. I suspect I secretly check to see if their color, their… vibrancy has faded just a bit. Each time I am greeted with the same intensity and ardor as before.
A sort of haze now covers this space. A misty, obscurity that doesn’t budge with even the most mighty shove. I want to believe there is a love, a comfort, a peaceful spirit strong enough to engulf all that is wrong and whisk it away like a feather caught in a strong breeze. It is unmovable. It is stubborn. It is persistent.
Maybe if I could get a bit closer…
You feel safe with this distance, this removedness.
I feel estranged, and at odds. The gentle cool wind that sometimes blew locs of hair and lightly tugged at shirts and skirts… feels a lot colder now.
I don’t know what you need. I wonder if I make things worse for you. The distance only muddles my thoughts and I second guess my perception. I wish away the country mile that stands between us.
Now, only if you would…
i deserve it.
My heart is pure. I think that’s always been my favorite attribute. It’s never been anything I had to work at, just came naturally. This heart of mine means a lot… it means I get hurt a lot in this life. It also means I love a lot, and get loved a lot. I like to think the good outweighs the bad….but that’s not what I came here to talk about.
I deserve every good part of you.
I deserve hot fiery passion. I deserve to be the bright spot in your day and the object of all your affection.
I deserve to be the thing you crave…
if i’m not those things… if you don’t feel that at your very core…you don’t want me… and I don’t need you.
Please consider these things… because this heart of mine? it’s fragile and special… and it loves hard.
I’m not as resilient as people believe.
goodnight.
just talking… nothing to see here.
The last month has been ridiculously hectic. I used to think I worked well under pressure. Hell I used to think a lot of things. I was once upon a time ago, pretty certain about what I wanted, what I felt, what I thought…. These days I kinda feel like I don’t know which end is up.
I’m scared out of my mind. It’s something I never admit.
To anyone.
Like…. At.all.
I’ve always been a planner. I was the girl in my group who planned every single trip, weekend outing, meeting, etc. I’d start way ahead of time and almost obsess over all the details to ensure everything went smoothly. Now, in my defense, the fixation on guaranteeing perfection? It usually worked. Not only did it work, but the people involved… the ones who benefitted from my obsessing, always appreciated it in the end. So for a long while, it all seemed worth it.
Then something happened, and it put a giant spotlight on all the stuff that I was trying to avoid. The details aren’t important, but what resulted was a new me… a new outlook on what happens next.
I stopped planning. I stopped trying to figure out the next chapter. No longer was I concerned about what move to make or not make… I decided that life would happen no matter what I did. The world would continue to turn and people would carry on living despite any single thing I resolved.
It was freeing. I felt like I’d taken off a heavy bag I’d been lugging around on my shoulders for years. I vowed I wouldn’t ever go back to doing that and feeling that way. The new me? Was fun, and unrehearsed and carefree… most of the time. I thought I’d finally become the version of me I wanted to be.
What’s the problem you ask? I seem to have replaced the planning with letting my sensing antennae run wild! If you’ve read any of my blog, you understand by now that I rely heavily on my intuition. When I’m doing what comes naturally to me, there’s a kind of sensitivity that floats around me like an invisible cloud and it happens involuntarily. If I’m open to what is coming to me, I can usually deduce things pretty accurately.
Lately I’ve been trying to keep much of that at bay. I spend so much time inside my own head that little things turn into big mysteries and before I know it my emotions are mixing with my intuition which is never a good thing. You see, for me, my intuition isn’t emotional… it isn’t logic, but it’s governed by something that doesn’t quite come from me. I’ll not go any further with attempting to make this make sense to anyone. What I’m trying to say, is that I’m worried my concern and consideration is being misinterpreted and misunderstood.
One of my biggest fears? Being misunderstood. That’s much deeper than it sounds, but we’ll save it for another episode.
I guess I’m searching for a middle ground. I don’t want to turn it off. It’s ME. It is something I’ve been given that even I don’t fully understand. I know things I shouldn’t know and I pick up on energy. Not everyone appreciates this though. I recognize it, and I can understand how it would get to be a bit much… but how do I stop something that is so totally me? I don’t even want to pretend to not do this.
What I want, is to bring it down to a moderate level… and have those who care about me accept this part of me as well. I don’t want it to be something that you tolerate. I want it to be one of the reasons you dig me. I feel fortunate that this is for the most part, the case. My friends, family, and loved ones know my quirks and it doesn’t phase them…
But every now and then I feel a bit…. Discouraged.
It’s always fleeting, especially since I’m pretty stubborn about it.. and because this part of me feels like a blessing. It isn’t truly up for debate. I’ll just attempt to reel it in a bit from now on.
*sigh* excuse me. I’m just working through some stuff… this isn’t eloquent or interesting to read… I just thought typing it out might shed a little light on things for myself. Maybe a peaceful slumber will do the trick.
G’night.
ranting before bed.
Ask for what you want, they say.
People can’t read your mind, they say.
Why not just say what it is that you need? they say.
Yes, I could very well open my mouth and say quite plainly to you what I want and need. I could walk right up to you, look you squarely in the eye and speak with authority. I could go into detail after detail about why I feel this way and what could remedy the situation…
but the thing is…
why do I NEED to? why do i need to tell you that I need a smiling face, or long hug after an awful day? why should i have to be responsible for asking you to be supportive, or give an encouraging word of advice when I feel like I’m drowning? Why is that something that needs to be said? Don’t I do that for you? Am I not here, waiting to catch you when you fall? Do I not open myself to you and attempt to soothe when your world is crumbling?
All I’m asking… is for people to do what they’re asking of me. I think people see my smiling face, cheery disposition, and assume that I’ll eventually get over whatever it is that has me spiraling. You’re right. I will get over it. I always do… but it sucks majorly when the people closest to me seem to gloss over my gloomy moments.
There is a sort of bond that is created or strengthened when people make themselves available for each other in rough times. It sends a message that you’re reliable, considerate, thoughtful, and present. When it doesn’t happen, well… you do the math.
This is not important. I’m just having a crazy end to my day and night… thought i’d rant here for awhile before I shut it down and get some sleep.
P.S.
a very close friend did reach out… and for that, i’d like to say… thank you. from the bottom of my heart.
g’night all.
