“Mercury Retrograde Starting August 2nd 2011 Says To Articulate Is Playing It Safe”

Another Mercury Retrograde cycle begins August 2^nd 2011 at 01 Virgo 12 until August 26^th 2011 at 16 Leo 42, which needs to be handled with caution, carefulness and retrospection to avoid glitches, personal misunderstandings, delayed, flawed, disrupted communications with ourselves and others.  Although I know there always will be mishaps that are unavoidable during this period, I do believe much of the frustrations and stress we experience is sometimes caused by our own carelessness in paying attention to the particulars.  This retrograde is in the beginning of Virgo is saying to each of us that if we always articulate and pay attention to the minute details, we will be playing it safe and be avoiding much of the frustrations and upsets this period can bring with it.  Mercury is exalted and happy in Virgo as the planet retraces its steps into Leo, where it begins to relive the feelings of the group with its peer pressures and pleasures.

In trying to understand what Mercury is going through as it retrogrades, I tried to imagine myself as a respected and honored individual in an environment that is catering to all my needs, returning to the position of being just another regular and nondescript member of the group.  Although I am happy to be back among my peers, the recollection of what it was like before returning haunts my memories and judgments.  I began to wonder if this period of Mercury Retrograde will revolve around frustrations and delays around events, whether of an ordinary, serious or pleasurable nature, the group as a whole decides on.  It is not important what events or plans that we would participate in, but making sure when following the crowd that their plans has been thought out, so there would be no loose ends to cause anxiety and tension.  Many of the problems that appear on the horizon are caused by not paying attention to the fine points.      

“The Sabian symbol for the Moon in 2 degrees of Virgo and for the Sun in 19 degrees of Leo is taken from “The Sabian Symbols in Astrology by Marc Edmund Jones”, and what follows are my comments.

Virgo 2  A large white cross upraised  This is a symbol of the conscious stewardship through which man sustains his more enduring values, here emphasized by an uncompromising testimony to his deeper allegiances.  His moral courage is a dynamic for all transcendental achievement, and his psychological fearlessness is a corrective for maladjustments of both individual and society.  A sense of spiritual belonging is exalted as the greatest human satisfactions.  The keyword is glorification.  When positive, the degree is an utterly selfless enlistment in some dramatic service for the ultimate welfare of humankind, and when negative, witless dogmatism and misdirected efforts for causes of great pretension but little real worth.

Leo 19  A houseboat party  This is a symbol of creative relaxation as a prelude to effective effort, and of man’s normal capacity for achievement through an everyday rehearsal to co-operative relationships with his fellows.  There is here a sealing off of some pleasant pocket of life for an intensified culture of the skills and inspiration which can implement a contribution to the world at large.  Any dull routine of existence may be exalted as a common adventure in self-expenditure.  The keyword is congeniality.  When positive, the degree is a gracious eagerness of participation in the more worthwhile or enduring aspects of human affairs, and when negative, thoughtless self-indulgence and contempt for the general welfare.

As this cycle begins, it is not only important, but a must to understand what drives us, and how it drives us?  Understanding this in ourselves will help us to avoid some of the trials, tribulations and frustrations this period of time, has in store for us. What is the foundation of our beliefs and how far we are willing to stretch it and to go beyond our principles to obtain our desires and happiness?  As an individual and especially as part of a group, we must confront this question, when dealing with any action or pleasurable event?  Not only must we consider our beliefs and standards, but we must begin to understand the effects of our actions and whether the plans and the details where thoroughly thought through and worked out?  This period of time is not telling us not to be involved, but to make sure we know what we are getting involved in.  That we are not just following our emotions and the group’s energy, but also using our thinking faculties to ensure satisfaction, happiness and completion of any situation at this time.  Mercury Retrograde is reinforcing and re-reminding us to articulate to keep us safe from disappointments and stresses during this interlude.

Mercury Retrograde Begins	August 2, 2011	1 Virgo 12 R
Mercury Goes Direct	August 26, 2011	18 Leo 42 D
Mercury Retrograde Begins	November 24, 2011	20 Sagittarius 6 R
Mercury Goes Direct	December 13, 2011	3 Sagittarius 52 D