Mercury Retrograde of September 2009

 

Hello Everybody,

Happy Labor Day to everyone. This newsletter will be shorter than most, but more will be coming soon. I want to make a few comments about Mercury retrograde now that it is fully in its retrograde cycle.

We have passed the period when Mercury is stationary, a time that can be noticeable to us in that our minds can operate slowly and when we can even be stuck in a rut. That phase is ending now and we are now going to be needing to take care of things that have either been avoided or which we simply didn’t have the time to handle. Now we will need to focus on these things. if you haven’t backed up your computer lately, this is a good time to take care of this just to be safe.

To clarify, this period is not a good time to begin a new cycle of any kind. It’s a time for review rather than for new starts. What often happens instead is that this can be a very busy time period if there are a lot of loose ends or cycles that need to be completed. This is what we will need to focus on doing and also taking time to look over any issues that need attention. If something new does arise, however, it doesn’t at all mean that it’s bad idea. In fact, you may be getting a glimpse of a newly emerging thought-form that will grow in the next few months. It’s just that before it can even begin to manifest, a lot more thinking will have to go into the process before one will know what will need to be done. More information gathering and planning will be necessary.

This Mercury retrograde is splitting time between two signs – Libra and Virgo. This suggests we will need to adopt an interesting way of being as Libra asks us to be fair and to seek ways to create harmony, but we also must take a practical and somewhat detailed look at whatever issues we are facing. This is especially true as Saturn is involved throughout the retrograde period. Saturn demands realism and a willingness to do whatever we must do in order to be able to successfully move forward after the retrograde period ends. There are important details to attend to and whether we like what we discover or not, we will be happier with future outcomes if we do whatever is necessary.

This retrograde cycle is apt to affect the health care debate significantly. Obama’s scheduled speech is interesting in that he will be presenting a new approach. Typical of Libra and Virgo he will be attempting to dance between the idealism of what he wants with the practical necessity that he get a bill that he can sign. Since he has made this such a high priority, his administration could be in jeopardy if no bill was passed. This issue is defining him. Tough spot to be in but that’s where he is.

As always I love to hear your stories about how the Mercury retrogade period is affecting you or those you know.

I also want to clarify something that I may not have expressed clearly in the last newsletter. If anyone desires to share their thoughts or opinions privately, you are welcome to do so. No private emails to me will be posted.

I would like to announce that a new Beginning Astrology class will be starting on the Westside. It will be on Thursday nights. Anyone interested in enrolling may call me at 818-501-7114.

Mercury retrograde periods are often a great time to get a consultation as many of you will be reviewing important areas of your life. Astrology can be a helpful tool at a time like this, so you may want to see how it can assist you.

 

All the best,

Jim Sher

Mars – Just Causing a Ruckus

One of the key themes we often talk about in astrology class is Mars, and more specifically, what happens when a transit of Mars comes around and aspects a lot of other planets. By itself, Mars doesn’t do much, but when it contacts other planets, everything changes as Mars acts as a major trigger for the activation of those planetary forces to which it is connected. Sure, sometimes it can bring about something that is somewhat out of the blue, but what happens far more often is that areas about which we’ve been thinking or feeling for quite some time will suddenly be acted upon. Something we didn’t feel the need to act upon suddenly changes and we are certain we must take action.

Well, this past week on into the next one demonstrate dramatic examples of this. To be specific, Mars is squaring three planets – Mercury, Saturn and Uranus at 25 degrees of Gemini, Virgo and Pisces. Squares bring about tension, conflict and the need for action. Something that was merely irritating can suddenly (Uranus) emerge and we think (Mercury) that we must act. The best example of this in current affairs has been the vocal and sometimes disruptive town hall meetings about health care. Mercury and Saturn urge us to consider things logically, focus on details, get our facts straight and then move forward when we’re ready. Uranus in opposition brings about the need for reform. But Mars squaring all three, adds spice and even anger/rage if someone feels threatened. Mars rules war and tells us to fight to protect what we hold dear, so the T-square we are in right now is inflaming the passions in an increasingly tense way.

So, what is Mars really triggering and is it doing so in a significant way? In September we will have the 3^rd transit of Saturn opposing Uranus. The first one was on Election Day last November. This is a very significant transit and will be in play for another year. What it signifies is that the opposing forces of holding to the present structure (Saturn) are opposing the forces of change and transformation (Uranus). It is again playing out in the national consciousness. No doubt it is also playing out for many of you in your personal lives as well. It is often characterized as a struggle between the past and the future. By the way, Saturn often resists change. But that isn’t necessarily bad. Saturn simply wants to have our facts right. But when it automatically blocks change, then the constructive purpose of Saturn becomes a problem. That is when Uranus urges us to break free from all those restrictions and resistances to an outworn past and set upon a new course. Uranus is a complete restructuring or overturning of something. This is what Mars is triggering right now and it will continue for a week or more, so we’ll see what happens next.

The New Moon

Tomorrow, August 20^th we will have a New Moon at 3:02am at 27 degrees of Leo. This New Moon is not only activating the planets mentioned in this article, but will also oppose the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction I’ve written about along with Pluto. With all that is happening, it is likely to be a very volatile month, HOWEVER….. this is not a great time for major action. The intense forces of action are meeting what is called the period that preceded Mercury going retrograde, which is called the Mercury shadow (Kyle will be writing on this in his next installment). Mercury will go retrograde at 6 degrees of Libra on September 6-7 and return to where it is now. This means that everything going on right now is subject to review. Modifications are likely to be made at that time which means if we try to rush to make a decision now, it isn’t likely to turn out the way we thought it would. So, why rush? If we’re in the process of completing something, that is a different story. This is when we need to go ahead and finish and there should be enough time to do that in the next two weeks. Take the time you need and avoid missing steps is the best idea at this time, even if one feels a strong desire to push forward anyway.

I know our readers would enjoy hearing your comments on how you are experiencing these transits during the next two weeks, so if yu’d like to share, please leave your comments here.

Looking at the Depths of Saturn – The Wonder of Being Sculpted

Hello Everyone,

Now that Saturn has turned direct and it is a Saturday (Saturn’s Day), I thought it might be interesting to take a deeper look at the value and significance of the process that Saturn rules. I was walking at a park early this morning and many of the spaces were already being held in reserve. Rope or tape had been spread around the trees to mark the territory that was being made into “our space.” That silly little tape, which anyone could walk through, sent a very important message to all onlookers. It said — ‘this is our space, not yours.’ And everyone got the message. Most of the newly created spaces contained only one person, but that was sufficient to send the message that all agreed with by honoring without question. That little line created a boundary, an inside and an outside, and at least for a little while, turned that space into something very different from what it had been.

This is Saturn at work. It creates limits and boundaries within which we can live, grow, and gain something that is so important and unfortunately so overlooked. It is said that Saturn tests us, asks us to work hard for everything we earn, and can even deprive us of the ‘goodies’ we want so much. It can cause delays or even make some of the things we want impossible to attain. This is when we wonder to ourselves or out loud – “Why is life so cruel or so hard?.”

The answer may be found in the metaphor of the sculptor working slowly with a block of stone, making powerful strokes in one moment and very fine ones in another. When we look at a great sculpture we marvel and can be overcome with awe and respect. We praise the sculptor, but that isn’t all of it. We wonder at a profound level how this work came about. Was the figure already present, hiding quietly in the stone waiting for someone to find it and eliminate all that was blocking the ‘real’ figure from emerging? Was the artist doing all of it by him/herself or was the artist heeding a call that was demanding that the ‘essence’ lying dormant within be released from its prison? Perhaps it is the Saturnian process itself that is creating what we are becoming, though we hardly ever know it while it’s happening. Who can see the final figure until the Work is completed?

When we are contending with difficult challenges in life, we can become bereft of hope and overwhelmed with grief, pain, and wonder how any good could ever come of this. In no way am I saying that these painful periods aren’t real, but often when we reflect later we can see that the effect of that period was vital, necessary in creating the person we are becoming or have become. We don’t just learn from books but from life itself. I am suggesting that Saturn is actually creating conditions where our ‘essence’ can unfold. It is when we are tied or identified with what we are not, that we experience the taking away of these false masks as painful or even terrifying. While we are in the midst of the Saturnian challenge how can we be expected to see that our attachments are unnecessary appendages. It is hard to understand that life is actually assisting us to become ourselves. We can’t see it until enough of the false has been eliminated and the truer image of who we are begins to be revealed.

It was Carl Jung who when contemplating the nature of freedom wrote that – “the only freedom I have is to GLADLY do what I must do.” Yes, Saturn creates restrictions and we often rebel at these. But it also creates an arena for us to grow and develop mastery and is where we can be free to be who we truly are.

Let’s go back to the scene at the park. Now imagine all the guests have arrived and are entering the specially marked space created hours earlier by one lone person who was simply doing the necessary boring job of winding the tape around the trees. The family and friends greet and welcome each other happily. They feel a sense of togetherness because the only people inside are the ones that are part of their group. They are free to be themselves, even though within just a few feet there are other walkers, campers, etc. doing their own thing.

Freedom to be ourselves and to fulfill our real natures. Did you know that Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant of today’s physicists credits his muscular dystrophy with his becoming the physicist he has become? His near total physical restriction has ‘freed’ him to delve deeply into the mysteries of our world. He never would have been what he is without it. Odd? Strange? Of course, but here’s a thought.

Is it possible that there is an Intelligence, perhaps within us, that creates those experiences we need in order for us to become what we essentially are? Are we being guided in ways we might not be able to understand towards being what we are through those necessary experiences we almost always wish we could avoid? If so, perhaps we could call this intelligence Saturn. When you have a chance, take a look at images of Saturn with its amazing rings and notice what you feel inside when you do.

A Note About the New Moon & Mercury Retrograde

We are at the end of a Moon cycle and tomorrow, May 24 at 5:11am we have the New Moon at 3 Gemini. Mercury has passed the Sun and is finishing its Mercury retrograde period which will be completed on May 30th. This suggests that new ideas are emerging now and will be accelerating powerfully as the Moon waxes towards the Full Moon which occurs on Sunday, June 7th. We are able now to begin to work with any ideas that have been emerging inside and can know that many of them will grow organically.

I want to wish you all a happy and safe holiday weekend.

I know the economy is difficult so I am continuing the reduced price of $110 for a 60- 80 minute consultation. I welcome people who have never had an astrological consultation to give it a try as well as those of you who have.

If you haven’t already, please check out the website for Sher School of Wisdom at www.sherschoolofwisdom.org.

All the best,
Jim Sher