my friend informed me that Mercury is once again in retrograde. i admit, i don't really follow these things, and am not sure what to think about it, but am just superstitious enough to check it out. here's what i found, for what it's worth: The purpose of Mercury retrograde is to review and revise our life and our connection with reality. The timing of this universe is geared toward the Sun as it moves through the zodiac. Mercury has an orbit that at times gets ahead of the Sun allowing us to look into the future toward new and innovative ideas. However, we cannot continue in that vein until we come back to the present designated by the Sun and put our new ideas into manifestation. During the time that Mercury jumps ahead, we ultimately have to bring the ideas back into the present to test and evaluate to see how they fit into our life. As Mercury retrogrades back into the present, the connection with the Sun happens as we test drive our ideas and re-align with reality and the natural timing of the universe. Mercury itself rules how we think, we will be adjusting everything related to thoughts, concepts, ideas, and communication, especially how technology and material elements play a part in the physical manifestation of ideas. When Mercury retrogrades, we find that many parts of our life are being revised. Often these revisions can be a surprise or throw us back a step. However, these revisions which occur during a Mercury retrograde, are a "course correction" and provide a stop gap measure until we can review situations. During this time of revision, change is compounded and confusion is created by our reactions to the ever-changing situations. Thus anything started during this time will ultimately be taken back or even revised further, making for a high-frustration time. This will be especially true with changing our minds, reviewing new ideas and our communication being improved and honed so not to be mis-understood. The best mode to be in during a Mercury retrograde is one of "non-reaction", and with earth signs being impacted, physical environment will be changing continually during a Mercury retrograde. Treat the time period as a time of gathering information, yet because the information will be in constant change it would be like trying to comb your hair in a wind storm. Best to wait until the changes stop before attempting to make things orderly. Therefore, just let the winds of situations blow around you without reacting. Once Mercury turns direct, take a look at the information that is still around at that time and go about putting everything in order, while maintaining the fine art of flexibility. which is kind of weird because it has, indeed, been a time of reflection on goals for me, and also a swirling about of things coming at me. i have instinctively not reacted, rather, waited until there was a calming moment to breathe and consider. as it turns out, this is good advice, should you believe in the power of the retrograde. from what it seems, things seem to be moving backward, but they're actually moving forward too fast...sort of like watching the wheels on a car on TV. who knew? August has typically been a month of change for me...i've moved into new apartments, houses, etc, in August...i've generally changed jobs in August...my Kita passed away in August a few years ago...so i greet August with a wary eye. so didn't I see this little ditty on the sidebar of the same website: August is universally a THREE* month (in numerology* terms). THREE brings in a new creative energy, prompting us to listen to the calling of our heart. It is time to move out of the old environment and move into a new direction. We often make small transitions and revisions, however major changes are at hand with this new phase. The New Moon on July 30th provided events that are now emerging to transport us into our new directions, ready to embrace our new purpose. The Mercury Retrograde course correction occurs from August 2nd through August 26th. During this time our directions are revised, our environment is changed and our pursuits are carried to new levels. The Mercury retrograde is in the creative sign of Leo, prompting us to think outside the box, and listen to the calling of our heart. well butter my buns and call me a biscuit. so what does all this mean? be darned if i know. it's one of those curiosity things, i guess...things you don't want to believe but are afraid not to but then feel kind of wonky for believing but just maybe... I'm not deciding till the retrograde is past.