Flavor of Mercury retrograde May 29th – June 22, 2021

Posted on May 8, 2021 by juliesimmons
Photo by Emiliano Arano on Pexels.com

“Mercury’s second retrograde of 2021 in air signs reminds us that we are not done with issues of misinformation and distraction. We are all well advised during this time to pause and listen to the noise in our own minds before jumping into the fray.  The most intense period is around the station starting on May 22, when Mercury squares Neptune for the first time, which is close to the actual station on the 29th when Mercury is also conjunct Venus, which will square Neptune as well, adding to the theme of confusion. (I realize this is a rather long sentence but that is the nature of all these things happening so close to each other: A run-on astrological sentence, you might say.) The Sun will conjunct Mercury (the middle of the retrograde period) on June 10 and square Neptune on the 13th. By the time Mercury goes direct on the 22nd the Sun and Venus will be gone from Gemini but it will square Neptune one more time on the 6th of July. Put all this together and it seems that between May 22 and July 6th we will feel this influence warning us to remain still in the fast moving rapids of information, gossip, news and all manner of distraction (you know which ones are your favorites).

Think of it as an extended sit in a meditation retreat. The desire to scratch an itch is but a little thing, yet it disturbs the flow of breath and being that stillness offers. Maybe it’s like being at the ocean at the moment when a big wave is about to break and you can’t get away from it. The best strategy is to dive deep and let it break over you where you can’t feel it even as you know you will come up for air once it is finished.

Warm regards, “

Julie
http://www.juliesimmons.ca

PS – join the alignment repatterning session with Carolyn Winter and I May 29th, to make the very best of Mercury retrograde energy. Click here for information and to register.

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Aligning My Sewing “To Do” List with Mercury Retrograde…

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Carolyn Winter, Holographic Coach

This week, I am pushing the envelope on Mercury retrograde sewing projects and trying to outfox the Trickster Planet.

One of my creative goals is to sew a wardrobe a season ahead. (Do not be in awe… people who know me are laughing!) I should be completing summer stuff. Instead I am still in more or less a planning stage. Planning is always good when Mercury IS retrograde (starting May 29th this time around). With my luck i will be launching projects during Mercury retrograde(not a great idea) . Instead, I would rather be in Mercury’s graces to finish up projects already started.

So this week I promised myself to at least cut out 3 or 4 garments and have them in the pile of things to work on whilst Mercury is retrograde. Hopefully this will provide some sewing novelty to my to do list, as I also tackle the long standing projects. These are the projects that are likely stuck because they were originally launched during a Mercury retrograde. So hopefully my sewing plans are synching up how energy flows with the Trickster planet lurking about.

However, the fact that I am officially in the season ahead time slot for these projects is quite satisfying. Amazing when you consider that I have fabric inventory for various seasons that have graced my closets for 5 years or more! Somehow, I believe this ‘caught-up’ status of my “To Do” list is a side benefit of doing these Aligned for Mercury retrograde sessions with Astrologer Julie Simmons every year.

Wish me luck!

With love and light
Carolyn Winter
Holographic Coach

Read more about the Aligned for Mercury Retrograde program here.

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Flavor of Mercury retrograde January – February 2021

Posted on January 19, 2021 by juliesimmons

Our first Mercury retrograde of 2021 is in Aquarius, an air sign. All the Mercury retrogrades this year are in air. Some of you may be aware of the Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Aquarius on the solstice, another indication of an airy year. Air is about our ability to think rationally, to reason. It’s about communication, which requires as much listening as it does talking (especially during a retrograde). This airy Mercury offers the promise of a bit of perspective which this world sorely needs. There are pitfalls as well. Aquarius can be kind of fixed or rigid and stubbornly attached to a particular way of thinking. During this retrograde we might take a good look at where we focus our attention. Just being observant could be enough to shift a whole range of behaviors that need to change. It is more of a time to plan and consider than to make things happen. The future will come.

As Mercury journeys through its retrograde period it will conjunct the Sun, square Mars and conjunct Jupiter between February 9th and 16th. This will be the most intense period and suggests that if we can deal with our frustrations we may well learn something that could make us wiser and inspire us toward a better future. 

Warm regards, 

Julie 

Join us for the alignment on Saturday January 30th

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Flavor of Mercury retrograde October 13 – November 3 2020

Posted on September 7, 2020 by juliesimmons

This particular Mercury retrograde begins on the same day that Mars opposes the Sun – the exact midpoint of Mars’ retrograde period. For those who are tuned into the Mars retrograde it makes sense to see it as a time to meet our challenges. We need to question how things are or risk endangering ourselves and others with a dream-like longing for the past or fantasy about the future. Mercury is adding its voice to the story of protest and violence that Mars started. We are asked to pause and consider. One way to look at it is that Mars isn’t just about violence, it’s about breakthrough, birth and energy all of which we need to move forward and Mercury, in its own way, can support those qualities, if we let it. 

Mercury reminds us that we have much to gain when we transform the raw energy of fear into a force for change. This Mercury period reminds us to take time and to anchor our felt sense of things to reason. There are no guarantees where this journey is taking us. One thing that is clear, however, is that we are not tourists; more like pilgrims.

As Mercury journeys through its retrograde period it will activate Uranus, showering us with unexpected and disruptive information about ‘real’ things. On October 27th Mercury will retrograde back into Libra where it will activate the same planets that Mars has been stirring up, underscoring the cracks which we have all witnessed in the structures that are meant to uphold our culture. 

Daunting as this may seem in the moment it’s important avoid making significant decisions from a place of despair or denial. It’s actually a time to think creatively as we engage with other cultural creatives. While Mercury is retrograde (until November 3) we benefit from being really good listeners. Collaboration requires the sharing of thoughts and ideas. Once Mercury and Mars are both direct (November 13 for Mars) we will begin to slowly integrate all the changes that 2020 has heaped upon us. The world and each of us alive in it at this time are engaged in a massive transformation. As these planets go direct we gain a lot by taking inventory of all we have lost, all we have learned and most important, what we plan to do about it.

Warm regards, 

Julie 

PS – Join Carolyn Winter and I for the next repatterning session to ‘Align with Mercury Retrograde”

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