Are you having problems with technology, communication, travel, logic, and information? This blog may help to explain why. The photo of Freddie Mercury may be a little misleading, because this article has nothing to do with the iconic singer of Queen, and everything to do with the planet Mercury.

Recently I ran into some difficulty with an interview that I posted. After working steadily for a month before posting, I had no explanation as to why there was a huge omission since I meticulously go over every bit of work I post. No explanation, that is, until I found out that the planet Mercury is about to go retrograde on July 7th, and the effects can be felt more than a week before.

In his column, Toronto astrologer, Phil Booth, pointed out that I am only one individual in a world of others affected by Mercury retrograde:

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2019

HERMES – HAVING A LITTLE FUN
The Mercury retrograde is still days away (July 7 to 31), but it can already be felt. We began slipping into it about June 20. A few peculiar Mercury retrograde type incidents have come up in news on Wednesday:

It has been reported that Israel is experiencing unexplained GPS disruptions in its airspace. Many pilots had lost satellite signals from the Global Positions System around Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

Nearly 100 drivers took a Google Maps alternate route to avoid a traffic jam caused by a crash on a road leading to Denver International Airport. The alternate route took about 100 Colorado drivers down a dirt road that led to a slippery muddy bog caused by recent heavy rainfalls.

Issues with a microphone plagued the first night of the first Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC. The candidates apparently couldn’t hear the debate moderator as he posed a question, because mics from the previous round of NBC moderators were left on backstage. It led to a commercial break being called to give time to solve the technical debacle.

Mercury, aka Hermes, has a well-deserved reputation as a trickster. The above are just a few examples. And we haven’t even entered the three-week Mercury retrograde period yet. There will be more to come.

The Moon spends on average about 54 hours in each sign in her monthly journey through the 12 zodiac signs. Today our Celestial Mother slips into TAURUS AT 1:32pm GMT ● 9:32am ET ● 6:32am PT ● 11:32pm AEST

Working at the Tansley Cafe, St. George, June, 2018. Photo Credit: C.M. — Working at the Tansley Cafe, St. George, June, 2018. *Photo Credit: C.M.*

The omission in the article is only one of many tech/information issues I have had this past week: I had no internet service at all on Thursday, so I called Cogeco to have my internet reset. I got stuck in traffic due to unforeseen roadwork on my way to meet Lori-Anne on Wednesday. Twice in the past week, SquareSpace where all my blogs are stored, closed down completely and I was unable to save what I had been working on. And even today, on my way to an appointment, I learned from my daughter that they are having trouble with their electric car reaching maximum power storage. “Ah ha,” I said to my daughter, “The effects of Mercury retrograde!”

Is there any scientific proof to the theory that other planets effect us here on earth? Maybe, if we accept the aphorism, "as above, so below" which is associated with Sacred Geometry, Hermeticism and the Tarot, that can be traced back 38,000 years to The Emerald Tablets. I do know that more than one bewildered teacher, after hours of trying to teach a class full of (more than usual) rambunctious students, has entered the staff room asking, “Is there a full moon tonight?!!!”

The following article from https://www.horoscope.com, with edits by C. MacArthur, explains Mercury retrograde in plain English. In keeping with my intention of always having my SB Mag bogs connect to Elvis Presley and the ETA world in some way, I am including astrology readings for Elvis and ETA Matt Cage, which are located at the bottom of the page.

What is Mercury Retrograde?

When Mercury is in retrograde, technology, communication, travel, logic, and information all get disrupted; but understanding Mercury retrograde's true meaning, knowing its dates and how long it lasts can help you deal with astrology's most nerve-wracking event.

The actual meaning of Mercury retrograde isn't just some run of bad luck. It's astrology's way of forcing us to review, recheck and revisit.

In our technology-focused society where emails, texts, and reliable WiFi are everything, the planet of communication has a big job. And when Mercury goes haywire during its retrograde phase, its effects hit us where it hurts. After all, you're reading this on your phone between Snaps, texts, booking flights and mapping your route to the restaurant you made an online reservation for, right? Understandably, if your phone suddenly shuts down, a message gets lost, or travel is delayed, you're majorly inconvenienced.

What exactly is the science behind Mercury retrograde? First off, the name is deceptive. It's not as if the planet actually reverses its orbit. Simply explained, Mercury retrograde describes an optical illusion which makes it look as if the planet is moving backwards from our viewpoint on earth. During this perceived backwards motion, anything to do with communication, technology or contracts can get majorly screwed up.

Mercury is associated with communication, information, electronics, travel, and even clear thinking, so when it's retrograde we have to be ready for a slowdown in all of those areas. Things break. Projects stall. We lose things. Breakups happen. Schedules are thrown off, we get frustrated, we lash out and more breakdowns in communications follow. The effects of Mercury retrograde aren't all in your imagination - but it isn't all bad news either.

Mercury retrograde may feel like it's shaking up your entire world, and it's true. This aspect affects health, and career moves, but it also means different issues for each astrological sign. Knowing what to do and what to expect is one of the best ways to handle Mercury retrograde.

Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide

How can you get Mercury retrograde to work for you instead of against you? First, take a deep breath. Despite the serious frustration and even terror that comes with a Mercury retrograde cycle, it's not the end of the world. While it may be an inconvenience to deal with for close to three months every year, it's not unmanageable. You can sign contracts, make major financial decisions, or start a new job in this time period, but you should be careful. During this period, cross your t's and dot your i's - and double check everything.

Keeping certain dos and don'ts in mind during every interaction will be your protection through the Mercury retrograde season. This can be a rich period of creativity and connections; and if you can be flexible, not get buried in the details, and think big picture, you'll emerge without a scratch.

General Dos and Don'ts of Mercury Retrograde

DO:

Brainstorm. Think of every available solution to the problems you're facing - one of them has to work eventually.
Be flexible, adaptable, and patient. You may have to step outside of your comfort zone to come up with the right fix.
Think in broad terms. The bigger and farther reaching the solution is, the more likely it is to work.
Stay updated on delays and cancellations while travelling.
Keep an eye on warning lights on your car's dash and stay on top of all regularly scheduled maintenance appointments to ensure things are running as smoothly as possible. Monitor the gas in the tank (that little arrow pointing to F or E might not be as accurate as you think).
Back up your computer and phone so you don't lose important data if they shut down without warning.
Revisit persistent issues from the past. You know that one thing that's really been on your mind lately? The one that keeps you up at night? This is the perfect time to address it and try to resolve it once and for all.

DON'T:

Get into a negative thinking cycle. Things may be falling apart around you but staying positive and remembering this is just a speed bump will help you get through it. You've got this!
Be a lone wolf. When things break, make an appointment with a professional to get them fixed and then sit tight rather than trying to impatiently DIY it.
Exaggerate. Things are bad enough without stretching the truth, aren't they?!
Plan a big presentation or draft up important papers (especially legal documents). If you can't avoid tasks like this, pay close attention to the details.
Rely only on technology. If you have an important meeting coming up, write down or print out info you know you'll need.
Rush. Slowing down the pace can help you eliminate costly mistakes.
Have unrealistic expectations. Because of misunderstandings and mix-ups, things may not turn out as you'd planned. Avoid disappointment by keeping expectations relatively low.
Set unrealistic timelines. Red tape can keep documents in a holding pattern for a long, long time.

How Mercury Retrograde Affects Your Health and Mood

When you're stressed, you have a harder time getting to sleep; and during Mercury retrograde your stress and anxiety levels can be through the roof. Lying awake at night wondering how you could have prevented the day's mistakes or worrying about what could happen tomorrow will take a toll on your health.

And to make matters worse, sleep deprivation can cause even more problems like being tired, anxious and distracted, only furthering the effects of Mercury retrograde! Your exercise routine can also be thrown off by gym equipment malfunctioning or the battery on your activity tracker dying. Meals can even become problematic if the fridge or freezer breaks down, the stove malfunctions or the microwave freaks out. The following are some tips to keep your body and mind in top shape during Mercury retrograde.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Body and Mind

DO:

Make sure your alarm is set properly before going to bed so that you don't wake up late and feel rushed.

Listen to quiet music, put on noise-cancelling headphones, or wear a sleep mask - anything that will shut out distractions, let you drift off to sleep and have peaceful dreams.

Plan a digital detox. If there's ever a great time to take a break from your electronics and close out of your social media apps, it's Mercury retrograde.

Practice some breathing exercises to utilize when you're having a technology or travel snafu. There's no use getting worked up about something you can't control.

DON'T:

Plan elaborate meals using fancy kitchen gadgets. The simpler the better.

Watch the news or violent TV shows/movies right before bedtime.

Use your phone or other bright electronic devices in bed.

Drink caffeine or eat anything spicy that might keep you up past your bedtime.

Written in the Stars

Mercury is retrograde from July 7th to July 31st, 2019. I hope this article has given you some insight that will see you through the retrograde. The following are horoscopes for Elvis and Matt Cage that I did for earlier posts, and even without a time, year, or place of birth, the horoscopes ring true.

ETA Matt Cage

"Your mind is sharp and you love to talk. You may grow into this quality, beginning life as a quiet child. Over the years you discover your voice. An interesting conversationalist, you are appreciated for both your sense of humor and sense of fun. Your creativity is strong. You believe in your dreams, and you are more than willing to put effort into materializing them. You have a mercurial, kinetic charm that brings you great affection. Your graceful bearing combines with a light touch of sophistication. You are a guileless, nice individual. Everyone wants to be friends with you. Your friendly, energetic manner is so likable it's difficult to resist you. Thoughtful and kind, you have a hands-on approach to friendship. You make people feel special about themselves…this is your gift. You are graceful and honest…maybe too honest, but still well-liked by people. Your friends and family usually say you are a very attractive person. You have a charm and wit that is magnetic."

Elvis Presley

If Elvis had worn a Zodiac sign jumpsuit, it would have had a goat somewhere in the design, since Elvis was born under the sign of Capricorn. Here is what astrology has to say about someone born on January 8th…

”If your birthday is January 8th, you are gifted! You spoil your friends and family with extravagant spending. You are one hard working individual. According to your birthday personality, your connections with your family are powerful. It is where you feel emotionally safe, but sometimes they are inclined to have more influence than they should when it comes to important decisions in your life. When it comes to lasting friendships, you have few outside family members. This is mostly due to trust issues. You love to eat. You do not spend much time on evaluating the health benefits, or lack thereof, of the foods you consume. There could be an underlying cause for you need to eat certain foods.

You have a sense of purpose that most people do not receive until later in life. In that aspect, you are fortunate. With this ability, you can see both sides of a situation. You are sensitive to others. You are emotional, and your mood swings can be frustrating. Your temper tends to alter the reputation you work so hard to develop. Prepare for dramatic changes, as you will have to make adjustments according to those changes that occur. Some unexpected turn of events takes your life out of order making it difficult for things to turn out as you planned.”