Astrology and Mercury Retrograde April 2011 in Aries - What Is Mercury Retrograde?

by Robert Wilkinson

Mercury goes retrograde at 25 Aries on Mar 30, 1:48 pm PDT, 9:48 pm Greenwich. (Mar 31 in Iran, Afghanistan, and points east.) Over the next few days we'll examine the meaning of this phenomenon and how we can make best use of these recurring periods.

Usually, Mercury goes retrograde 3 times each year, but this year, like last year, we have a 4th Mercury retrograde period, making this a somewhat unusual time. 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 Aries 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 so you can understand better what this coming period is about, and how best to approach its challenges and potentialities.

I'll be composing extensively about what the coming retrograde period is about in future articles. For now, I'll just mention that we'll get new insights about our self image, impulsiveness, instinctive self expression, new life initiatives, self-starting activities, and other related Aries areas of focus. These will help us get a new look at recent signs and signals related to the huge cluster of planets aligning in Aries these next few weeks.

This is also a time of reviewing how we're being "turned around" in our attitudes and expectations, as well as how we can reorganize our lives to make them more natural and authentic. We'll get new insights regarding recent Aries initiatives, opportunities, future vision, and promises during the time Jupiter occupied 13, 14, and 15 Aries. Given that Mercury conjuncts Jupiter three times this Spring, we're sure to get many more insights throughout the retrograde period, even though there may be delays or they may come in roundabout or even apparently contradictory ways.

So the coming weeks will give us a new look at recent Jupiter developments, as well as herald important developments that will show up throughout April and the first half of May. By the time Mercury and Venus both conjunct Jupiter at the same degree Mercury will go stationary retrograde, we shall set sail into the expectation we've held since late March.

So get your affairs in order over the next few days, then adjust to the different pace, since Mercury will be slowing down very quickly this week. Get ready to 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 future articles.

Copyright © 2011 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[MercuryComet76]

Hi-

As a natal mercury RX conjunct Sun, in Leo. I have come to learn how it works. It is two steps forward, then back, off to the side, and back, forward. It is like a dance. Until you come to some conclusions. Then make it into a whole. It is a great time to meditate, contemplate, and research.

Just really cannot figure how it works personally when it does go RX. Since, I live with it 24/7. I have come to honor and respect it. I see it as a gift. I suppose I just go with the flow of things? Since it is so natural for me?

Live, Laugh, and Love
Nance

[Tracy Lee Stum]

I made peace with Mercury RX years back and now welcome those periods of time to slow down and reevaluate my current situations. It really can be a blessing in disguise if you look for the benefits of this 'backward' time. I call it my 'breathing room.'

Perhaps it will allow me to work on finding a balance with the pull I feel from a need to increase ego expression / leaving victimization behind (I've been accused of not having enough ego! lol) and the pull to dissolve even more into selflessness, my learned inclination. The conundrum is clear - how to work with it has not been!

[desired by fools]

Its making me want to give up. I can't take anymore and im ready to give up.

[Robert]

Hi Nance - As you have Mercury RX natally, often your life takes great leaps forward during these periods, or you get a different view of what's happened and why. I've often told others the exact description you gave us of "two steps forward, then back, off to the side, and back, forward. It is like a dance." You just dance at a different pace than those with Mercury direct, and you're definitely more at peace with the process.

Hi Tracy Lee - Slowing down is a good thing to do from time to time, and these are the natural times for us to do that. It can give entirely different perspectives since our minds are not racing forward, but going back over familiar ground. It should help you see multiple level initiatives wherever you have Aries and be appropriately more assertive.

Hi desired by fools - Only you can make you give up. Many times this life I got to the point where I didn't feel I could take anymore when I was drowning in grief, frustration, or had pursued a line of activity to the point of crashing. When I really, REALLY hit bottom, it immediately pointed me in a direction I needed to go, both psychologically and physically.

Why not just open to a revelation that will show you what steps you need to take to move in a more fulfilling direction? Stop "taking anymore" in ways that make you "ready to give up," surrender whatever stubbornness got you there, and move in a better direction. We all deserve a reasonable measure of health, wealth, love, and perfect self-expression, but it is up to us to take the steps we need to in order to make these happen.