August Magazine 2014 Becoming Psychic Magazine February 2014 | Page 7

Much is written about the cycles of Mercury, and in particular there is often much fear
around those periods where Mercury is retrograde. When any planet is retrograde, it is perceived that the planet is moving backwards in its
orbit. In reality, Mercury retrograde is an illusion from our Earthly perspective. This is due to
the fact that as Mercury is closer to the Sun than
Earth, during the passage of Mercury in its 88
day orbit round the Sun, it moves between the
Sun and the Earth. As Mercury is moving faster
in its orbit than the Earth is in its orbit, we get
the appearance that Mercury is moving backwards.
It is generally accepted that, when Mercury is in a retrograde phase, there are likely to be
delays to travel, confusion and misunderstandings in all communications and frustrations
to plans. It’s also a period where the signing of contracts and initiation of new ideas and
enterprise is considered unwise.
However, it is my view that, with all planetary influences, it is more important to understand how to work with the energies involved rather than withdraw from the universe altogether for the three periods each year that Mercury is in a retrograde phase.
Mercury retrog Ʌ