Mercury goes retrograde in Taurus on Thursday. We’ve been in pre-shadow for a week or so, have you felt it?

While every Mercury Retrograde has its own flavor, there are some common themes, and they may not be what you think.

First of all, you know how you’re always hoping the Universe will give you just a little bit of a break, some breathing room, from the running-hustle-bustle of your life? Well, 3 or 4 times a year, that wish is granted in the form of Mercury Retrograde. Everything s-l-o-w-s down and moves like molasses. The difficulty comes when you want things to keep moving at that other pace. Just breathe, accept that this is your chance to think (and rethink) before you act or speak, and that the world is just not going to move at its usual speed.

Second of all, this period is an excellent opportunity to re-evaluate your thoughts, habits, and patterns. What works? What doesn’t work? What can you toss and what just needs tweaking?  Fine tune your world!

The third aspect of every Mercury Retrograde, and possibly the least talked about, is the fact that, when the energy slows down this much, it thickens. Thick energy means it’s much easier to manifest. That means you need to pay attention to what you are feeding through attention. Are you letting your head be filled with worries and fears, or are you focusing on those things you want to bring forth?

As far as this particular Mercury Retrograde period is concerned, we have a few factors at play.

First of all, there are a few other planets that are also slowing the energy and drawing our attention inward. Saturn, planet of limitations and rules, has been retrograde for a while; this has been prompting us to reevaluate our ideas of how the world works, our place in that world, and our concepts of self-discipline. Jupiter, planet of magnanimous expansion, is also in retrograde; our illusions of safety and protection are being stripped away and we are left with the opportunity to take an ultra-realistic look at where we are. Pluto (the unconscious and the shadow) recently joined the dance, intensifying our search for inner truth. And Mars (action, passion) is also “moving backwards,” slowing the energy even more, and asking us to take conscious control if our actions and reactions.

The constellation Taurus flavors this Mercury Retrograde. Taurus is the sign of material comfort, sensuality, and nesting. As Forest Nui Cobalt says, “The artifacts of our lives and identities can either weigh us down, or fuel our ascent. It all depends on how much of ourselves we’ve invested in our possessions.” This retrospective is going to have us looking at our relationship to the material, and at how much we really need in order to have ‘more than enough’. To put it a different way, find ways to create and foster win-win scenarios in every aspect of your life. Your wins don’t actually mean much if you’re not enhancing the greater good.

So, hopefully this longer-than-usual post has given you some good food for thought, a couple of guide posts, and is encouraging you to approach May very differently.

May you be the Light of the World!