Beware of the Mercury Retrograde from January 28 - February 19, 2008

The planet Mercury begins its retrograde period on Monday, January 28. This lasts through Tuesday, February 19.

WHAT IS IT - AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Retrograde is when a planet appears to stop its forward movement in the sky and then goes backward. Now Mercury is not really going backward. It is just an optical illusion based on the relative speeds and orbits of the Earth and Mercury around the Sun.

In general, the effect of a Mercury retrograde is annoyance. Here are some of the precautions you should take to prevent colossal screw-ups during this three-week period.

Bear in mind that not all of these events are going to happen to you, although you can certainly guarantee that something listed here will affect you. Keep it mind that it is just like the weather. We cannot control it nor can we stop it, so we might as well learn to live with it.  Go with the flow, because your daily routine will undergo some changes that you will have to deal with.

For example, a Mercury retrograde period is not a good time to start anything new. However, it is a good time to finish existing projects. Confine yourself to activities that begin with "re". Example: re-schedule appointments, re-write documents and agreements, and repair things that need repairing. Finish projects that have been waiting for you.

The watchword for a Mercury retrograde period is Murphy's Law:
"If something can go wrong, it might!"

Mercury rules communications and travel. Do not be surprised if phone calls, letters, emails, or faxes are delayed, blocked, or go to the wrong person. Avoid signing documents. You may discover later that the contents were not exactly what you thought it was.

Expect travel delays, car trouble, computer problems. Back up your computer files NOW!

Misunderstandings are common. Be careful what you say during this period. It will be too easy to "put your foot in your mouth!" You can become forgetful with names, dates, directions. You cannot remember where you parked your car or where you put your keys or your glasses.

Bad time to make a major purchase. There is a good possibility that the item will not work properly. And the replacement may not work either.

Changing jobs or lovers during a Mercury retrograde period is not wise. Such actions are often subject to unexpected change and disappointment. Wait until Mercury goes direct. It is only three weeks!