Tag Archives: Mercury retrograde

Weekly Forecast January 19: New Moon in Aquarius, Mercury Retrograde

This week brings three major astrological events and a couple of lesser ones. There are bright spots and inspiring moments, but also a vague feeling of “ickiness” that we can’t identify, let alone figure out what to do with.

The ick factor comes on early in the week, with a conjunction of Mars and Neptune in Pisces on Monday. On Tuesday, the Sun enters Aquarius, less than four hours before the New Moon. On Wednesday, Mercury turns retrograde and will be in “reverse” until February 11.

For many people in the United States, Monday is a work holiday, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Astrologically, it’s not a bad day for commemorating Dr. King’s commitment to non-violent civil disobedience. Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast January 5: Mercury Sextile Saturn, Pre-Retrograde Shadow

Train trestle, Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa, Ala. © Gretchen Friedrich, 2015.

Train trestle over the Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa, Ala. © Gretchen Friedrich, 2015.

Believe it or not, there is only one major planetary aspect this week! Good thing, because most of the week will be colored by the Full Moon in Cancer, which is still ahead of us as I write.

Of course, there are always several lunar aspects in a week, and I’ll cover some of that below. Also, there are minor aspects between planets, including the inconjunct, which some astrologers consider major. For me, it depends on the planets involved. More on that below, too.

Otherwise, the only planetary aspect in the coming week is a snappy sextile on Monday from Mercury in Aquarius to Saturn in Sagittarius. Even though Mercury transits are quick and sextiles are breezy, this one contains some important information about events or circumstances Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast November 3: Full Moon in Taurus, Mercury Enters Scorpio

In 1997, I sold everything I owned, found good homes for my two cats, and went to France to write a novel.

The novel never got done (a story in itself, for another time), but the experience changed my life. One of the most important lessons I learned was that it’s actually possible to feel richer than the queen of England and not spend a cent. My record, as I recall, was an entire week. Not one centime.

When I made the leap, I was living in California. I intended to stay in France for three months – long enough to get a good feel for the location of my story – but I ended up going back and forth for several years. Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast October 27: Sun Trine Neptune, Mercury Sextile Jupiter

Detail from “Neptune Offering Gifts to Venice,” by Giambattista Tiepolo. c. 1750.

With Mercury out of retrograde and two eclipses behind us, we’re in for a lighter week, astrologically.

We’ve been through a lot over the past few months – well, all year, and three years before that. It hasn’t been one long crisis for most of us, but rather a series of challenges that have pushed and shoved us forward, carried us along on a rushing river. In the short periods of calm in between, we’ve barely had a chance to catch our breath, let alone time to reflect on what it’s all about. This week, we get that chance.

A lot has been written about the Uranus-Pluto square, which since 2012 has been exact five times. Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast October 20: Solar Eclipse in Scorpio, Mercury Direct

Brilliance of the Waning Light. © Osk Ingad Alden, 2014.

There have been many times in my life when I needed a big change but was afraid to take that leap until a replacement came along. But for me, at least, it never seemed to work out that way. I had to have the courage to jump without a safety net.

I’m sure it has been the same for many of you.

I have to confess that I very rarely jumped off the moving train on my own. More often, something (or someone) kicked me from behind. The fall can be that much worse when you’re taken by surprise and don’t have time to figure out the best way to land. Then again, even with forethought, you don’t know what’s ahead. Depending on how fast the train is moving, Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast October 13: Venus Sextile Jupiter, Sun Conjunct Mercury

Before the Storm. © Pat Paquette, 2014.

There was a discussion recently in an astrology forum on Facebook, initiated by an old-time astrologer who ridiculed his colleagues for giving any credence to events related to Mercury retrograde.

I was all the more surprised when several others chimed in to agree with him. It’s not the first time I’ve read other astrologers pooh-poohing Mercury retrograde.

Granted, it’s tricky assigning a particular event to an astrological signature, especially since there’s often more than one working together. It’s also true that mix-ups we normally associate with Mercury retrograde happen when he’s moving forward. In some of those cases, though – at least in my personal experience Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast September 29: Venus Enters Libra, Mercury Retrograde

Seatbelt required. Ulysses and the Sirens, by John William Waterhouse, 1891.

The captain has turned on the seat belt sign in anticipation of turbulence ahead and kindly requests that you return to your seats.

You’ll probably be more comfortable if you comply, but not doing so could be a lot more interesting, as long as you don’t mind a few bruises (and your name isn’t Ulysses). You just never know what you might stumble upon or whose lap you might fall into.

This state of instability with inherent opportunities for growth and change will persist through the middle of October. It might not even be possible to stay in one place if you wanted to, and there are no guarantees that it will be any less stressful. The thing with this energy is that you Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast July 7: Full Moon in Capricorn, Mercury Enters Cancer

The biggest astrological event this week is the Full Moon in Capricorn, which brings more emphasis to the cardinal T-square/grand cross that just won’t quit.

Normally, what we start at the New Moon comes to fruition or at least reaches a major milestone at the Full Moon. Capricorn is known for being orderly and structured, but with the Sun and Moon in a fairly close square with erratic Uranus, the order is subject to change without notice. Also, Mercury was retrograde and behaving strangely at the New Moon. Add Uranus into the mix, and “fruition” prbably won’t be what you had in mind.

Now, that could be a good thing. Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast June 30: Mercury Direct, Sun Opposite Pluto

Butting heads with authority. Following the announcement of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, protesters in New York City pulled down the statue of King George III. Painting by Johannes Adam Simon Oertel, c. 1859.

No one will be happier than I when Mercury turns direct this week. Tuesday. At precisely 5:49:55 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

I have no idea why this Mercury retrograde period hit me so hard, and not even in the way it “should” have, according to where it is transiting my birth chart. Then, with Mercury in his own sign of Gemini, all things related to communications, including blogs, are subject to disruption. Posting this forecast has been a nightmare.

I just read Ray Merriman’s weekly column and saw that he is scratching his head over this one, too. I feel a little better knowing that one of the world’s most experienced and respected astrologers couldn’t make any more sense of it than I could. Ray also comments that predictions in the political Continue reading →

Weekly Forecast June 16: Sun Enters Cancer, Summer Solstice

Uruk archaeological dig in Iraq. Civilization started with cities, and the Sumerian city of Uruk was among the first. The name “Iraq” is thought to be derived from “Uruk.” Photo credit: SAC Andy Holmes, Royal Air Force, 2008.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. A bit of both, I guess.

I’m getting slammed by this Mercury retrograde in the classic way, with Internet connectivity issues, cable TV interruptions, botched online orders, miscommunications, late ferries, etc. Knowing that most of these problems will subside in a couple of weeks, I’ve been more patient than usual, and I can laugh about it. Some of it, anyway.

As you might recall, I had a bad experience with an online home furnishings site that took my payment for an item that wasn’t in stock. With the Better Business Bureau involved, my case got bumped up the customer service food chain. Continue reading →

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