Mercury and the gift of Communication

Hello Friends,

Mercury is perched on the precipice of another retrograde action; from August 2-26, Mercury will backtrack in the sign of Virgo and then Leo. People often ask me if the retrograde is 'bad'. I don't think any astrological cycle is good or bad, it depends on how you choose to use it. Knowing ahead of time that a certain cycle is in effect, we can make plans to be more in alignment with that cycle, instead of fighting against it. Mercury, while in retrograde - regardless of sign - teaches us that communication is such an important and powerful tool. It has the power to move energies one way or another. It reminds us that We Belong to Each Other - we need each other. Humans are social beings at heart.

So while mercury is retrograding, we can be reminded to double-check our communications with others, and with ourselves. Are we fully expressing? Did what we wanted to communicate to another really come through, or did they hear something differently than we intended? Are we too sped up, needing instead to slow down, pause, feel? Our society will definitely support our rushing through life. Is that really how you want to live?

The people that I have in my life are important to me. I want to take my time and really be there with them communicating fully, listening deeply. It is worth it! Mercury retrograde also asks us how we are communicating with ourselves - are we seeing deeply all of our motives, tendencies, gifts, and abilities? If you want a life based on Love, these things are all worth examining.

And on a mundane level, yes, mercury retrograde can mean more issues with fax machines, cell phones, emails, etc. But this is not the aspect of the cycle that I want to focus on, as there are deeper things to consider. When you communicate, really, what do you want to say? to have heard?

i wish you all the best as summer makes itself available to us through opportunites for rest, relaxation, spending time in nature. i will be spending time at Grass Lake Nature Sanctuary later this month, on spiritual retreat to regroup and refocus and reconnect. Perfect for the mercury cycle. Namaste!

Eclipse Activity for 2011

Hello all,
We have just passed through a quick series of three solar/lunar eclipses! June 1st saw a solar eclipse at 11' Gemini, June 15 a lunar eclipse at 24' Sagittarius, and July 1 a solar eclipse at 9' Cancer. It is my belief that eclipse activity serves to move things into, out of, and through our lives, to help with our growth. If we are in tune with these events, we can understand them for what they are - windows of opportunity. I do not believe that eclipses are 'good' or 'bad' per se, and feel that this type of thinking minimizes our ability to create what we want or need in our lives. Of course, life does bring unexpected challenges. But understanding eclipses as they approach, being mindful of them when they occur, and planning for prayer or ritual for clarity when whey approach, can be a good way to make use of these windows of opportunity.

At times, it seems that the best way to understand the energy of an eclipse is in hindsight: to reflect on what was going on in your life at that time, and what you were moving through. The eclipses can be seen as energies to help things move, whether we are ready or not!

There are gifted astrologers out there that can look at your chart and study how each eclipse can impact or help you. This is based on your unique birth chart and how the planets fall into the astrological houses. Another way that astrologers look at eclipse activity is to examine how they affect the world. The number of minutes that the eclipse lasts can be indicative of how many months into the future we can see certain changes. Some astrologers did this with the events of 9-11. There are other astrologers that are using eclipse patterns to study the global economy.

Whatever your preference or level of belief, eclipses present an astronomical reality that is beautify to behold. On these days, I often feel as if the normal laws of physics are suspended; it feels like magic is afoot, and I feel a kinship to my ancestors, who followed the eclipses for centuries, seeking when to plant certain crops, what kind of winter would be ahead, and more. How all of this works is a mystery to me! I invite you to feel the mystery as well.

If you are interested in a personal reading as to how the eclipse may impact you, feel free to contact me for a reading, or find your friendly neighborhood astrologer for assistance!

The next pair of eclipses will be November 24 at 3' Sagittarius (solar), and again December 10, 18' Gemini (lunar). The eclipses of the last 2-3 years have been in sensitive Cancer and grounded Capricorn; we shift our attention now to Sagittarus and communicative Gemini. So, we might feel certain endings or a completion as this last cycle in Cancer/Capricorn has been winding down. I am curious about your stories! Feel welcome to contact me at spirithappiness@yahoo.com or on facebook. Namaste!