Page 30 - the NOISE July 2014

June 2014:
“RE-alize the Mercury Retrograde Power of ‘RE’”
Yet again, Mercury is in its retrograde cycle. June starts off already in the mercury shadow period that precedes the actual transit, with the official retrograde starting on June 7th.
Mercury retrograde is about a 3-week transit that happens every several months, with a weeks-long ‘shadow’ period leading up to it, and a second shadow period several weeks afterward. In all, this 9-ish week transit seems like it’s always happening or just about to happen! As such, going deeper into this transit, its challenges, and its opportunities will serve us well not just for this cycle, but also for all cycles to come.
Planets never really go backwards in the sky, even though the terminology used to describe retrograde transits sounds otherwise. We say ‘mercury is going backwards’ in retrograde, and ‘mercury is going direct’ or forward when it isn’t. As ob- served from Earth, there is a point in the planet’s orbit when Mercury’s movement through the constellations appears to be going backwards. The time just before and just after this time carry much of the same energetic signature of the transit itself.
Exactly what is the ‘energetic signature’ of the transit?
Mercury rules transportation, transit, communication, the gathering and sharing of information, and all machines used to do any of these things.
So the ‘going backwards’ energy often results in things re- quiring a ‘going back over’ something related to these sectors of experience.
Sometimes it is a pleasant experience of something or someone ‘coming back from the past.’ One can hear from an old friend, acquaintance, family member who hasn’t been in touch for a while, bringing great and positive nostalgia and comfort.
Other times, changes involving phones, printers, internet, computer, vehicles, physical mobility, or travel plans can take front and center attention. In general, because Mercury doesn’t have its full ‘steam’ when retrograde, the buying of any communication or transportation device is discouraged unless absolutely necessary. It is very common these types of products when bought during this time period become lost or broken, malfunction, or have different features than expected, causing a necessity to once again ‘go back over’ the situation by returning to the store, etcetera.
When traveling during this time or planning trips during this time for travel at another time, it is very common for trip plans to change. If you know this is likely ahead of time (which now you do!) then you can put precautions in motion such as:
Buying a travel ticket that is free or inexpensive to make changes, triple checking travel details, leaving in plenty of time for trips that have a strict schedule, planning vehicle maintenance early enough ahead of driving trips that if re- pairs need to be made, there is enough time/money to make them, leave as much flexibility in your plans and commitments as possible! Following this basic retrograde rule can change stressful potentials into free-flowing bliss.
Often, especially when the cycle includes movement in the sign of Cancer, as it does for this go-around, many will return to a place that was ‘home’ for them or feels like it, spend time with family, and question (go back over) where they want to live or what they want to do with a situation involving a home or house, or a project related to one of these things, or other Cancer-ruled topics such as mother/maternal topics and childhood.
So besides the Golden Retrograde Rule, are some other tips for making this and all future retrogrades the best they can possibly be:
Use the time for everything ‘RE’: Re-generate, Re-new, Re- evaluate, Re-visit, Re-do, Re-Acquaint, Re-think, and Re-st.
Working on something started before the retro period, like editing a book, is an example of time well spent. Re-laxing on a Re-treat is another good example. Let’s say you have
by Annie Botticelli
to travel to get to the retreat or other travel comes up ... it’s not that travel shouldn’t occur during the retro period it’s just that there will likely be delays and changes but having a go- with-the-flow attitude during travel and during any activity through the transit is the key to having a great, easy, and pro- ductive retrograde.
So if a trip is changed to a different date — don’t stress! Know it is better this way. If a computer won’t work — don’t worry! This is Mercury telling you that time can be spent in a better way at that moment. If arguments come up from communication issues, it is likely not the first time this type of conflict has come up for you!
This is Mercury telling you there are unresolved issues and that permanent headway can be made now. Seize the oppor- tunities of the period with awareness and conscious response to that awareness. It is very common for the Universe to be sharing messages of “STEP AWAY FROM THE DEVICES” and
“PAY ATTENTION & BE PRESENT WHILE YOU ARE BEING PHYSI- CALLY MOBILE.” Attention to these lessons beforehand can make a big difference in how one experiences them.
There are ranges of expression from lowest to highest of each planet, sign, placement, and transit. What we get to con- trol with all of this is our free will. We can use our free will to adjust how we choose to see things and experience them. All of the planets and transits represent unconscious factors affecting our lives. Every transit happens for reasons, and by understanding on deeper levels what is going on we can more easily see the lessons presenting themselves as opportunities.
There are general implications everyone has a tendency to experience, and specific ones that affect individuals differ- ently depending on their unique placements in their charts. Astherearemanylayerstothemind,therearemanylevelsto the experience. One person can have more significant effects from a transit depending on where in their chart the transit is occurring. Regardless of how each transit manifests for the individual, you can trust each experience is a true reflection of the inner space, and when honored and used as such, these reflections can be the powerful empowerment tools. This is your mission if you choose to accept it.
DATES TO NOTE:
** Sometimes the effects of planetary transits are felt before or after the actual day the transit occurs.
May 17 – June 7 — Pre-Mercury Retrograde shadow pe- riod — Honor this time as having the same implications of the actual retrograde period.
June 7 – July 1 — Mercury Retrograde — Making spend- ing easy but not necessarily advisable. Mars is still retrograde and Mercury retrograde shadow period is starting in this month making big purchases, especially ones that are not
‘necessary’ better to table until the middle of July.
July 1 – July 15 — Post-Mercury Retrograde — After the first several days of this time frame, the retrograde energies will clear more every day. In general after several days around the planet going direct, this period does not carry as strong a
signature as the pre and actual retrograde times.
June 12 — Full Moon in Sagittarius — Fullness or com- pletion comes to travel, learning, teaching, broadcasting,
writing, video, or recording project.
June 27 — New Moon in Cancer — Make your 10 New
Moon Wishes, especially around things involving houses or home, mother or mothering, family, or childhood topics.
| Annie Botticelli, aka The Starry Teller,’ is excited for the time when this Mercury Ret-
rograde thing ‘clicks.’ Check out monthly horoscopes on her YouTube Channel.
30 • JUNE 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us