Dear Friend,

Yes, it’s that time again!  The planet Mercury goes Retrograde on March 12^th through April 4th, 2012, in the sign of Aries (a fire and cardinal sign).

A Mercury Retrograde period is when you need to exhibit carefulness, caution, and focus in order to avoid glitches, delayed or disrupted communications with ourselves and others, personal misunderstandings, problems and delays with technology, automobiles, travels plans, and education. With Mercury Retrograde in Aries, the necessity to make things happen will be paramount in our thoughts and actions, and possibly without the forethought and preparation that you would normally think about.  This time becomes a powerful transition and course correction that shifts situations with the winds of change, blowing us all into new directions. Whether it is the action of others, or actions instigated by our own ambitions and desires, the keywords are CAUTION and ALERTNESS.  We need to monitor our actions and impulses to avoid frustrations and disappointments during this time period.

As Mercury slows down before the Retrograde period, it is called Pre-Retrograde and new ventures cannot do well in this period.

Some of the precautions you can take to prevent colossal screw-ups in your life during this period of March 12^th through April 4th include, if at all possible:

• Avoid scheduling meetings to make a big decision.

• Avoid closing big deals.

• Avoid signing legal documents.

• Avoid starting or launching new projects.

• Avoid installing new computer software.

• Back-up your hard drive BEFORE the retrograde.

• Do needed repairs on machinery and automobiles BEFORE the Retrograde.

• Avoid making travel plans.

• Avoid buying big ticket items.

If you started work on the above BEFORE Mercury goes retrograde, things should be okay.

This time period will be POSITIVE for:

• Taking a breather from our fast-paced life.

• Focusing on living in the moment.

• Paying attention to how we treat everyone and everything that crosses our path.

• Examining our resources.

• Completing projects already started.

• Research.

• Doing inner work.

There is also the Post-Retrograde time when Mercury picks up but it is still moving slowly enough to cause only small progress in the projects undertaken.

Planets go Retrograde several times throughout the year, but Mercury Retrograde seems to affect us more than normal.  Just think of this time as a challenge to improve ourselves, our skills, and our communication with others.

With warmest personal regards,

Alexandra