Published 6 Sep 2024 • Updated 6 Sep 2024
Mercury A Not So Cute Messenger Aug 2024
The Hellenistic astrologers such as Vettius Valens viewed the planet mercury as a planet which even at the best of times could bring about alot of mischief: Fanning the flames of dissension in many instances, and, when retrograde, unraveling whatever it can. If it “sees” something all heck will be unleashed; it is pleased to do so.
What can it do when it is retrograde? It can blow up machines. It can make people fight. It functions to create conversations at cross purposes where one person says one thing in a monomaniacal way while another rants about a subject that has nothing to do with it! See Chekov characters for the flavor of this: In his plays, Chekov’s characters talk and talk and talk but their words are in vain.
If we want another literary reference to how wicked it can be see Shakespeare’s ”A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in which the character Puck runs around playing tricks on the vulnerable so they will never be able to function. Puck finds it amusing to destroy the equilibrium of the characters while they are unaware of his interference.
You may think it has no redeeming characteristics and thus merecury retrograde periods are wholly to be written off, but this is not true. In fact, mercury retrograde periods can be used to good effect, to go back and patch old arguments up; retreive ideas partially finished, because at this time much that was hidden can be illuminated and reworked.
“To everything there is a season”…