It took a comment from one of my online friends (Hippie Cahier) on another friend’s blog before I realized what was happening here.
Have you noticed a snarl in communications of late? Is your e-mail, like mine, suddenly depositing itself in the Bulk Mail folder rather than your customary Inbox? Are you finding people more quarrelsome, equipment more likely to malfunction, and your own ability to focus out-of-whack?
Me, too!
Blame Mercury going Retrograde.
Huh?
While I refuse to organize my day around the astrology column in the newspaper, I kind of enjoy reading it. Astrology, after all, is one of those ancient arts, and people since the beginning of time have turned to the stars for explanations of why things happen when and how they do.
Remember it was Astrologers from the East who were among the first visitors to the newborn Christ Child and His Family!
But as a Catholic Christian, I realize astrology isn’t exactly “up there” with the kind of Biblical study we should be doing. Nor is it an “exact” science.
Deciding to learn more about this Mercury Retrograde thing, I did some online research.
Mercury, as we all know, is the planet closest to the Sun. It orbits the Sun once every 88 or so days and is said to rule the constellations of Gemini and Virgo (as well as the folks, like yours truly, who were born under one of those astrological signs).
“Retrograde” is a term astrologers use to describe a planet’s apparent backward motion through the zodiac. Planets don’t actually travel backwards; it’s only that they appear to be doing so.
Mercury rules communication, commerce, thinking, education, and transportation. People who must use their minds (writers, consultants, teachers, salespeople, orators) also come under Mercury’s rule.
So when Mercury goes Retrograde, we see a rise in misunderstandings between people, a disruption in negotiations, breakdowns of phones and computers, and other snags — all because some key component has gone missing (Mercury being the little trickster he is!). Astrologers are quick to advise us not to make important decisions or do anything requiring clear, logical thinking during this period (which runs from Aug. 3 through Sept. 9).
So, to all my writer friends, maybe it’s not Writer’s Block. Let’s just blame it on Mercury Retrograde!
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
So, is that was has happened to our members of Congress lately?! They use everything else as an excused, I’m surprised they haven’t put the blame on Mercury yet!!!!
Good one! They do excel at the blame game, don’t they?
Well dang, that explains it! Not just my own foibles but the stock market, Congress, riots in London…
Aw, Lynne, can we really blame poor Mercury for everything?! Yeah, why not?!
Love the Mercury in Retrograde. reasoning. It just works. When I first saw the title of the post–I thought uhm…how does the “good catholic blogger” bring us Mercury in Retrograde… beautifully! My Pagen friends would especially appreciate this acknowledgment…”Remember it was Astrologers from the East who were among the first visitors to the newborn Christ Child and His Family!” And ya know I bet some day the good Lord himself looks down at us and thinks, “Sheesh Mercury is at it again.” 🙂
Katybeth, you made me laugh out loud with your comments and for that I thank you heartily! I was a bit skeptical about posting this astrology thing (the good Catholic and all), but I love the idea of laying all the blame for weird things on the planets.
So that explains all the wackiness in our current world! Once again, you have delivered an informative, entertaining post. I ,too, was wondering how a good Catholic girl was going to pull this astrology thing but you nailed it with the “Astrologers from the East”~Brilliant,Debbie!
Aw, shucks, Kathy, you’re making me blush! Glad you enjoyed it; I learned a lot in writing it. I’m all for casting blame on Mercury — too many odd things have been happening in our world not to blame some body or some thing!
Congress is back in session after the Mercury Retrograde ends…does this mean we can expect results in September?
Didn’t think so.
I’ll just borrow this excuse for the oddities in my own life, then 🙂
I suspect Congress is looking for a scapegoat and Mercury is as good a one as any other!
I’m so glad someone said something. I didn’t think folks would indulge my Mercury Retrograde woes yet again.
I didn’t think I was taking it too seriously. But I have been considering buying a new car and recently laughed when I found myself thinking I can’t buy it while Mercury’s retrograde. I wonder how often the salesmen hear that excuse.
Sounds like a reasonable excuse to me! I’ve had computer programs lock up on me, e-mail from approved senders suddenly thrown into my bulk mail folder, and all kinds of problems stringing words together! If I were you, I’d wait for a more favorable time to buy something expensive like a car. Just sayin’.