Mercury, the great communicator, is still retrograde until July 20th. This retrograde is a particularly gnarly one. Plans and communications started ‘going south’ weeks before its official start. Emotions will run high, so please focus on being peaceful and calm. Do practice some form of meditation and relaxation on a daily basis. 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 introspection and research, as those things that are usually hidden from view, show themselves more easily during a Mercury Retrograde period. Wait until Mercury goes direct before making any big decisions. It is still Summer, though, so remember to emulate the 5-year olds and—play, play, play.
Your message this month comes in the form of a quote or affirmation.
THE EMPEROR (March 21 – April 20) “It’s impossible,” said pride. “It’s risky,” said experience. “It’s pointless,” said reason. “Give it a try,” whispered the heart.” Anonymous
THE EMPRESS (April 21 – May 20) “In Switzerland I was educated in line with the basic premise: work, work, work. You are only a valuable human being if you work. This is utterly wrong. Half working, half dancing–that is the right mixture.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
THE LOVERS (May 21 – June 20) “Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.” Danny Kaye
THE CHARIOT (June 21 – July 20) “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
THE SUN (July 21 – August 22) “The truth shall set you free, but first it may piss you off.” Anonymous
THE HERMIT (August 23 – September 22) “There is nothing more notable in Socrates than that he found time, when he was an old man, to learn music and dancing, and thought it time well spent.” Michel de Montaigne
JUSTICE (September 23 – October 22) “There is only one real sin and that is to persuade oneself that the second best is anything but second best.” Doris Lessing
THE MAGICIAN (October 23 – November 21) “The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic emotion. Herein lies the germ of all art and all true science. Anyone to whom this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a state of fear, is a dead man. To know that what is impenetrable for us really exists and manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, whose gross forms alone are intelligible to our poor faculties—this knowledge, this feeling … that is the core of the true religious sentiment. In this sense, and in this sense alone, I rank myself among profoundly religious men.” Albert Einstein
THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE (November 22 – December 21) “It is only when we no longer compulsively need someone that we can have a real relationship with them.” Anthony Storr
THE WORLD (December 22 – January 19) “I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” Jack London
THE STAR (January 20 – February 19) “This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” Alan Watts
THE MOON (February 20 – March 20) “The formula for achieving a successful relationship is simple: you should treat all disasters as if they were trivialities but never treat a triviality as if it were a disaster.” Quentin Crisp