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The planet Mercury symbolizes the alchemical
magic of the mind, how we process information, how we perceive our reality
and how we communicate. It
is also noted for its quickness and speed as it completes one orbit
around the Sun in 88 days. Thus,
Mercury�s speed is also linked to the
quickness of the mind. Our minds, our thoughts, our perceptions are
not necessarily limited by time and space. Our thoughts can take us
beyond these boundaries in an instant. Mercury is the trickster, the
magician, the alchemist, the one who knows how to work with the hidden
forces of nature. Mercury assists us in exploring the realms of magic
and mystery, while keeping us alert through its trickster antics. Napolean
Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich
summed up one version of Mercury type wisdom when he said, �I am not
who you think I am. I am not who I think I am. I am who I think You
think I am.� If that makes sense to you then you have a feel for Mercury
wisdom.
It turns out from the Earth�s perspective Mercury is the fastest
moving visible planet (the Moon is not a planet) completing its orbit
around the Sun every 88 days. That means for every one of Earth�s years
(365 days) Mercury has experienced 4.15 of its years. From Earth�s perspective
Mercury is the planet that disappears and reappears more often than
any other visible planet, lending itself to the archetypal magician
or shapeshifter who appears and disappears so often we must stay alert
to understand Mercury�s teachings. We might ask when Mercury is not
visible, where is it? With modern technology we know the details of
Mercury�s orbit around the Sun so in one sense we do know where Mercury
is in its orbital cycle. However, from the perspective of Shamanic Astrology
when a visible planet is not visible to Earth it is considered to be
in the underworld, or otherworld. This is a place of mystery and initiation.
From our inherited myths about Mercury we know that he was the only
God able to come and go at will from the underworld, or other worlds.
He was not from any one particular place, but able to go to all realms
and dimensions easily as the messenger of the Gods.
Earth experiences a complete Mercury cycle
in about 115 to 120 days or three times a year. During the Mercury cycle
it conjuncts the Sun (on the interior track or closest to the Earth)
in its retrograde phase, then Mercury rises as a Morning Star some days
later still retrograde. Mercury completes its retrograde cycle, spending
about 40 days as a morning star before disappearing on the other side
of the Sun, on the exterior track, for about 20 days. When Mercury conjuncts
the Sun in this phase it is not retrograde and is the furthest away
from the Earth. Then Mercury reappears in the evening sky as an evening
star for about 40 days. Mercury goes retrograde as an evening star and
spends about 20 days in its retrograde phase. During this time Mercury
disappears from the evening sky, rejoins with the Sun on the interior
track and a new Mercury cycles begins.
From the perspective of the Earth-based
observer Mercury retrograde appears to reverse directions in the sky.
Astronomically, planets do not really reverse directions, they only
appear to do so in relationship to the Earth. However, the appearance
of this phenomenon affects our So Below reality. What we observe in
the sky is the planet retracing over the same star patterns it has just
crossed, crossing the same stars three times. Our So Below experience
when Mercury goes retrograde is a reflection of our observance of the
As Above phenomenon occurring in the sky. Mercury slows down, reverses
direction, slows down again, and returns to a direct motion, much like
a pendulum swinging back and forth. Robert Wilkinson says in his book
A New Look At Mercury Retrograde, that this timing is an opportunity
for us to witness magic revealing itself. When the magician slows down
we have an opportunity to witness how s/he performs magic. The invisible
becomes visible, the unknown becomes known. It is a time for fully exploring
the magic and mystery of life in a way that is not always available
to us. This timing, if worked with consciously, is an opportunity to
experience and understand exactly how magic works.
It is also helpful to remember that whatever
is not in alignment with the unfolding mysteries surfaces for
processing and clearing. Mercury Retrograde is a notorious timing when
things glitch, communication breaks down and things don�t always turn
out in the ways we desire or expect. However, if we can relax and release
our attachments to outcome, then this timing carries innovative, magically
creative energy, inspiring insights, understanding and wisdom.
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