Mercury Retrograde Re-flections

Mercury retrograde happens multiple times a year, and every time I hear about someone's car issues, computer issues, travel missteps and lots and lots of arguments.

But does it have to be that way? Whether or not you buy the basic premise of astrology, you still can see that the idea of confusion can do a lot to actually confuse things. Someone asked me today what I was doing to hold it together during this current retrograde. My answer was something to the effect of: "I try to communicate clearly, and if that doesn't work, I try to be patient, and if that doesn't work I try not to scream too loudly." I realized that I had chosen to carry pocket stones for bravery, groundedness, and comfort (tiger eye, garnet and pink calcite, FYI). I knew I needed the help, but I didn't know that I knew, you know?

So, I'm not sure where I heard this, but Retrograde times for me are all about the "Re-". Re-think, Re-view, Re-hash, Re-evaluate. I hold this "backwards" time as a space to go over my priorities, commitments and plans. I study the things I ought to already know. I call friends I haven't spoken to in a while. I hope that my business emails are clear and that my blog entries aren't too rambling.

"In fact, isn't that Mercury-retrograde's job… to buy us a few additional moments (or weeks) to make sure we've got it how we want it before the final version goes to print or the opening-night curtain slides open?"--Astrobarry (from his Taurus horoscope this week; read his full article on current astro-happenings here: http://www.astrobarry.com/2009/sep609.php.)

What do YOU do to make Mercury Retrograde livable? How do you ride the wave of astro-confusion?

Best of the backwards energy to all,
Iris