We have just kicked off yet another Mercury Retrograde, and this one sure is comin’ in HOT!  It’s an unusually aggro Rx with the Messenger Planet irritated by a frustrating back-and-forth grind in Aries; like trying to mash the gas pedal with the E-brake still on!  Mercury is all hotted up with basically nowhere to go and as this planet stomps around The Ram’s pen peevishly, The Trickster liable to take it out on us in decidedly “Not Funny” ways – here are a half-dozen quick tips for minimizing this retrograde’s potential edge:

• SLOW DOWN; particularly on the road.  Haste is NOT our friend under this retrograde; whether we’re talking excess speed while driving or doing an ordinary chore/activity, saying something when we’re angry that we can’t take back, firing off an ill-thought out missive in frustration or irritation, or leaping to conclusions without clarifying facts. For at least the next few weeks, get in the habit of thinking over what you’re saying two or three times BEFORE you say/type/write it; repetition IS our friend here! Self-audit what you want to say; chances are the first impulse isn’t a good one.

• Manage anger; BREATHE.  Count to ten.  Anger is natural; in a positive sense, it allows us to champion causes and fight the good fight in standing up for ourselves or others.  But under this retrograde, we’re more likely to become angry about things prematurely; when we’re lacking all the facts or somehow misunderstanding something – few things are worse than misdirected or ill-informed anger!  Self-righteous anger is another Cardinal Sin of this retrograde; just don’t do it, and be willing to admit when you’ve got something twisted because – historically speaking – pride usually comes before the fall.  There’s something we are in the process of identifying/uncovering about ourselves this Mercury Retro that can significantly change/challenge conceptions we’ve had in how we see ourselves and/or our thought process.

• Identify & differentiate your communication style: There are Aggressive, Assertive, and Passive styles of communicating, and what every single one of us should be striving for is the positive Assertive middle setting where we are able to speak directly to our wants & needs while maintaining full consideration for others’ rights.  In a world filled with vitriolic rhetoric, this is something sorely needed today.

• The temperature of conversation needs to come down.  Hot topics should be avoided.  This is not about scoring points & winning, but about learning to truly listen.  Hear yourself, and hear each other.  Because two people yelling at each other isn’t going to change anybody’s mind – if it’s clear someone just wants to force their opinion, disconnect from the conversation; let them argue with themselves instead. Remember, you can’t “win” if you don’t play; why play a stupid game for a stupid prize in the first place? 

•  Both painful AND healing conversations will be had this Mercury Rx.  The first rule of approach should be “Do no harm” – pick words wisely; with care and sensitivity for the wounds they can cause.  Be brave in initiating (not forcing!) discussions about painful subjects for the sake of healing; rehearse what you want to say ahead of time rather than risk potentially stumbling over words on-the-fly,  be direct in stating the goal of mending injuries, ensure engagement in the topic at hand is 100% consensual (if someone doesn’t want to talk, respect this above all else), and address pain points directly; be willing to sit in the hot seat if you have to in order to achieve the stated goal.  To heal pain, we must often brave the fires of anger first; something that serves as a necessary self-protective mechanism when someone has hurt us. Bring a flame-retardant suit, or don’t go there period if you’ve hurt someone badly but can’t take hearing about it – half of healing is in the listening & understanding; the other lies in not repeating the offending behavior.  This Mercury Retrograde – particularly the back end of it – has the feel of verbal bomb-diffusing; where we’ll need a gentle, graceful, and loving conversational healing touch.  An unrefined rough-around-the-edges approach won’t do and is only likely to worsen a relationship due clumsy execution.  Steady yourself; if you’re nervous, best wait for nerves to be soothed and/or the heat of a situation to die down first before proceeding to initiate a dialogue – you don’t want to risk cutting (or crossing, via misunderstanding) the wrong wire and have things blow up in your face. 

• Lastly, don’t assume; ask questions.  Assumptions are dangerous now; they equate to going off half-cocked, and if you would rather just altogether avoid a scenario in which you’re liable to metaphorically shoot yourself (or someone else) in the foot accidentally, best to mind the impulse to leap to possibly erroneous conclusions.   Put a trigger guard in place by questioning what you think you know or understand; “Am I understanding this correctly?”

In closing, don’t be this guy:

What we’re definitely NOT going for this Mercury Retrograde in Aries is a “Conversational Arsonist” sort of look – avoid more base-level, shit-starting, pot-stirring tendencies, find healthier outlets for anger so it doesn’t come out sideways at the wrong target, and generally just take a chill pill.  Mercury is only retrograde for a few weeks, but it’s a particularly hot & sharp Rx prone to literal and metaphorical “burns” & “cuts” – to avoid finding yourself in a painful scrape with this planet, mind the above as Best Practices; the life you save may be your own. 

04/03/2024