Shortly after nine o’clock this morning, Mercury, that capricious planet of communication, roadways, merchants and machinery, stopped its backward motion and began to position itself for forward movement. How do I feel about it? “Oh, thank God!” expresses my feelings adequately.

Though it was a relatively smooth retrograde period for me, (with the exception of the pick-up truck that ran a red light, ripped my car’s front bumper off and spun my car around like an old-fashioned spinning top), I was glad and relieved to see it end.

I put the down time to good use. I wrote, planned, researched and resolved some of the projects and issues that needed the kind of focus and commitment that only a retrograde Mercury can provide. And I have a deeper appreciation for my newly restored chariot. The rental car was nice, but when my auto lease is up, I’m going to get the 2014 model of the car I drive now.

How about you? How did you experience the three weeks of review time that Mercury retrograde provides?

Today is the day. At about 4:44pm EST today, February 6th, most of us will be dancing to the off-key tune of Mercury Retrograde. I say most of us because most people were born when the planet, Mercury, was going direct. To those relatively few who were born while Mercury was retrograde, the tune is quite melodious. They can more easily understand and be understood by their world.

The retrograde begins in the early degrees of Pisces and then retreats into the sign of Aquarius, where it will stay until it goes direct again on February 28^th. Pisces governs the unconscious and what is hidden from view. As Mercury moves backwards through the sign, it’ll be digging up old and often suppressed memories, habits and thought processes. Aquarius governs brilliant flashes of knowledge and Divine insight. When Mercury moves back into Aquarius, it will shed a bright and uncompromising light on all that was once previously hidden from your consciousness.

This is a good time to examine and get clear about how old, outmoded beliefs, neuroses and things that go ‘bump’ in the night of our unconscious are operating without our knowledge. Once discovered, in the light of the conscious mind, we can keep what we want and banish the rest.

And of course, the usual cautions do apply– try to avoid getting overly emotional or all worked up over little and big things. As with all Mercury Retrogrades, plans and communications screw-ups can take you on a wild and confusing ride. Since Mercury rules communication, transportation and contracts, when it’s retrograde, all manner of mistakes and misunderstandings can occur. If you can, hold off on buying (or leasing) any big ticket items. It’s also a good idea to triple check any and all plans you make. This is an excellent time for research, as those things that are usually hidden from view, show themselves more easily during a Mercury Retrograde period.  Wait until Mercury goes direct on the 28^th before making any big decisions.

Numerologically, the numbers, 2014, add up to the number ‘7.’ ‘7’ is the number of the Spiritual Path. It’s the most personal number because it’s the number of the seeker, the mystic, the person who must find and follow their own personal truth in order to achieve healthy balance between the physical, emotional and spiritual selves.

In ‘7’ years, your motivations and actions will be Divinely guided, requiring you to go within and become more introspective in order to make the connections and receive the information you need in order to move forward.

Whatever challenges or questions that arise will be directly linked to those areas within you that need to experience profound soul growth. Whatever gifts or help that arrive indicate where your spiritual account is in the black and you’re being paid dividends.

If your Life Path number is ‘7,’ this is an especially profound year for you. The entire year is a vision quest– a search for meaning, guidance, and renewal– as you seek your own unique personal path and life expression. It’s an excellent year to align yourself with a spiritual teacher or guide so that you’ll have someone to help you decipher the ‘signs’ that you encounter on your journey to yourself.

Consider me that teacher/guide and feel free to contact me for consultations, clarification and guidance.

Whew! We made it—Mercury, the planet of communication, has ceased its retrograde motion and gone direct!

It was a difficult three weeks because not only was Mercury retrograde, necessitating that all thought processes be introspective—it was also retrograde in the deeply contemplative sign of Scorpio. What a great (and mandatory) opportunity for a profoundly reflective review of your goals, your relationships and your values.

I hope you made good use of the opportunity because now that its turned direct, Mercury—still in Scorpio—will demand that you honor your transformational retrograde experience and live your life from a position of strength, courage and commitment to what is of true value to yourself and your life path. The key phrase for living in the aftermath of this past retrograde is “Know Thyself and Go For It!”