Mercury Turns Retrograde

Mercury Turns Retrograde - Creative Safety

"I came in from the wilderness
A creature void of form
'Come in," she said, 'I'll give ya
Shelter from the storm'"

— Bob Dylan
Shelter From The Storm

Intensity wanes this week under the waning lunar cycle, ahead of Saturday's New Moon (11:41 PM 0° Cancer). Mercury turns retrograde on Wednesday in security conscious Cancer. There is a restless impulsiveness which keeps us looking for ways to establish a new sense of security and stability. The Mars-Pluto and Mars-Jupiter sextiles offers some room for us to expand our thinking and expand the boundaries of trust that define our sense of security. However, emotional security is not so easy to achieve in the restless, uncertain atmosphere of the waning Moon. We are especially vulnerable to charm and simple platitudes and may not be inclined to take the time to fully investigate the broad implications of what may seem to provide the security that we're seeking. As we head towards the New Moon, we are increasingly faced with the challenge of balancing freedom with security. In essence, the question is becoming, 'where are the boundaries?' but also 'why should we respect those boundaries?'. If we restrict input and opinion to only those who are within our 'circle', we may be missing important perspectives — but we may also be maintaining the valuable security and stability that we believe we need in order to stay safe. Under the retrograde Mercury, we will begin to revise how we establish and assess our sense of stability and safety. On a much deeper level, we recognize that our personal goals and creative vision requires both security as well as the willingness to expand the boundaries — there is no growth without breaking free of old boundaries.

Intensity softens on Sunday. Inspiration flows but is erratic and mercurial. Subtle course corrections are possible. Restless impulsiveness is challenging on Monday. Impatience hampers clear and productive communication. There is a slippery slope of self-interest on Tuesday. Without appreciation, our efforts seem to fade away. We are more inclined to pull back, rather than seek the appreciation we need. Mercury turns retrograde on Wednesday, encouraging us to review and revise our sense of safety and security. We feel certain that without safety and security, we can not move forward effectively. Thursday's restlessness reflects a disconnect between our emotions and our intellect. We may be easily manipulated by charming 'platitudes'. Benevolence and charm ease the path on Friday. However, we should continue to seek clear, specific answers and look beyond some of the charming subterfuge that may cloud the issues and perpetuate confusion. The challenge of balancing freedom and security is front and center under Saturday's New Moon. Although we may feel especially cautious, emotions may drive quick, knee-jerk reactions.

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