Astrology and Mercury Retrograde May 2009 in Gemini and Taurus - What Is Mercury Retrograde and How Does It Work?

by Robert Wilkinson

Mercury is slowing down, preparing to go retrograde May 6, 10:01 pm PDT, May 7, 6:01 am Greenwich. Usually, Mercury goes retrograde 3 times each year, but this year we'll see another one begin in late December. When Mercury is retrograde, it seems to throw people and situations into a whirlwind of over, under, sideways and down. But does it really? Just what is Mercury retrograde? In the next few weeks we'll discover many things about how Mercury Retrograde in Gemini and Taurus affects us.

Mercury retrograde is one of the most misunderstood parts of astrology. Many have heard about it, but don't know what it really is. I've given an introduction about the general meaning of the phenomenon known as Mercury Retrograde in the article, Mercury Retrograde - A New Look at the Guide of Souls. It was written to assist readers to pierce through many of the superstitions and suppositions concerning this repeating phenomenon, and how it works in our lives.

There's too much to recap here, so if you're not familiar with the technical elements and basic meanings of this Mercurial phenomenon happening 3 times a year, please read that article first before picking up the narrative of what this coming period is about, and how best to approach its challenges and potentialities. Or you can always read it after this one, which would be a perfect Mercury retrograde thing to do. Whatever works for you.

I'll be composing extensively about what the coming retrograde period is about in future articles. For now, I'll just mention that we have gifts and rewards coming as a result of the ideas and information we've received in the past couple of weeks, though there may be delays or they may come in roundabout ways.

The coming weeks will prove to herald important developments that will show up in late June and early July, so take an unusual view, do your research, rehearsals, and examine peripherals since they may be more important than we initially thought. More on all of this, plus how it affects individual signs, in articles coming soon.

Now a few words about what "retrograde" actually means. Basically, the phenomenon of retrogradation happens to all planets (except the Sun and Moon) as a function of their orbits. All planets speed up, then slow down, in their orbital speed relative to the Sun and Earth.

Mercury speeds up for awhile, then slows down for awhile, then speeds up again, then slows down again in an eternal dance of racing forward to get new information, then slowing to reconsider that information. We can apply this speeding up and slowing down to other planets as well.

The type of information depends on which planet is involved. When Venus is direct, we get Venusian "information," and when retrograde we get a new view of what we just learned about those energies. We get new Saturn information when it's in direct motion, then get to review those experiences when it's retrograde.

So the direct motion period that precedes and follows a retrograde period are times of getting new information. Then when it slows, it is called "Retrograde," and shows a time when we're re-tracing ground we've already covered, but have an opportunity to understand the past experience from a new angle of vision.

We take a new look at information we've already experienced to whatever degree. Internal or external factors can trigger this review. Often things, people, memories, or other past circumstances engraved on our subconscious come up, which we must relate to what we've just been through and what we are about to enter into.

We get a front end look at what is coming when Mercury occupies the stationary retrograde degree before turning back to take a new look at things we've already seen or done as it slows in motion. After its point of slowest motion around the Inferior Conjunction, it again begins to move faster until it again passes the Sun and eventually begins to slow anew several months down the road.

When Mercury goes direct, it is at a platform from which to bring the lessons it has reflected on during the rx period forward into the future life-in-the-making. The angle of retrograde exploration was the stationary retrograde degree. The degree of the inferior conjunction shows how life and mind must come together in a different, perhaps overlooked but definitely useful, view of what must be known.

The entire retrograde function is inward-turned, so we can get insights into what must be known to understand some thing from a more holistic point of view. We can also note how our mind, ideas, or worldview are affected by our subconsciousness, or our receptivity to others' subconsciousness.

Mercury retrograde periods reveal their own unique rhythm in offering us a new look at things. Every period in some way echoes the messages of prior retrograde periods, and affects those to come.

That's why it's important to observe what has been revealed during other periods in the recent months and years past, so that you can see how Mercury, or Hermes, the "Guide of Souls," is leading you to your authentic self. Regardless of appearances, or how difficult or easy, Mercury retrograde periods show us the path to our Soul.

If you want to know how this larger sequence of Mercury retrograde periods is unfolding its roundabout magic, please check out the archives for articles about Mercury RX written for the January 2009 RX period, as well as September-October, June-July and January-February 2008 RX periods.

You may even want to check out October 2007, June 2007 and January-February 2007 as well. Each of these periods have several articles, so enjoy connecting the dots by looking back to get a sense of the future.

As I noted earlier, there are more Mercury retrograde articles coming over the next couple of weeks. I'll be exploring the overall meaning of the coming 3 week period, significant degree influences, how it affects individual birthdays, discuss the coming Inferior Conjunction, and what this Mercury Retrograde in Gemini and Taurus is specifically good for. Stay tuned!

Copyright © 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Matt]

Robert,

After reading your Mercury Rx book, it makes me believe that Mercury Rx periods can be some of the most productive all year - provided that people can take a deep breath and from time to time, laugh some more.

- Matt

[dcu]

I can't comment today because I have to dash off to work on a Sunday to work on back paperwork. lol. dcu

[Isabel]

Dear Robert and dear Aditya,

I had said I would post anew including some photos from other parts of the country (not just Lisbon, as Aditya asked) and I just did it - to make sure I do not leave that until Mercury RX, as so often posting and editing becomes a nightmare when Mercury is not cooperating!!! Lol...

Namasté,

Isabel

[Aditya]

Hi Robert, Thank you for taking your time to reply to my queries. I am using my gifts now, thanks to you and your lovely blog.

Dear Isabel,
You take such lovely pictures. Truly you have a gift of presenting your beautiful country in a unique way. Absolutely loved it and left a comment for you as well.

Love

[Robert]

Hi Matt - That book has some gems in it. I truly believe Mercury RX is about flexibility, and that "the Cosmic Magician" can in fact lead us to our Soul. Part of that is the humor that Jupiter brings as the balance wheel to Mercury's neutral-ness.

Hi dcu - Happy Wesak!

Hi Isabel - I check in from time to time, and Portugal is a beautiful place (as are many parts of Europe!) Mercury RX has already seen me having to uninstall and reinstall printer software and the internet going down at least a half dozen times the past 2 days. The winds that supposedly were gone are also back making planting a nightmare in broad daylight!

Hi Aditya - Thanks. With persistence and good will, we can often conquer all kinds of things over time. Glad this place is a global gathering place for good people of good intention!