The Magickal Pen

Mercury Retrograde in Taurus
April 28.2016
1:20 p.m.

Mercury stationed Retrograde this afternoon and adds its energy to a retrograde hit list of 4 other planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Pluto. Five is the number of change and abrupt transformation. It is also the space of creation; having envisioned the point of newness that pushes through a 4-sided wall of foundation and becomes something more than a static base.

My Mars Retrograde  post was entitled “Stand Down”. Now, with the addition of a Mercury retrograde, the need for observation, non-resistance and being patient takes on more meaning. Any retrograde intensifies the baseline energy of that planet’s gifts. Mercury is one we are most familiar with, since its frequency is generally 2-3 times per year. The stereotypical Mercury Retrograde involves failed communication, technology glitches, tongue stumbling and the attempts at expressing oneself, being misunderstood, misconstrued and generally frustrating.

However, the plus side to…

April 22.2016
Full Moon in Scorpio
1:24 a.m. (EDT)

In the early hours of this morning, the moon waxed full in the astrological sign of watery Scorpio. This sign of the Fixed modality is noted for its mystery,unpredictable emotion and hidden gifts. The waters of Scorpio flow deeply and are naturally at home in the darkness. Scorpio is at its more perceptive level is represented by the Eagle. Keen of sight and able to soar the skies and deftly swoop down grabbing into talons that are sharp and piercing precisely what it has set as its prey.

A third attribution to Scorpio’s energy is that of the Phoenix; rising from the ashes in a flame of transmuted will, beginning life anew resplendent in all of its power, strength and brilliance. The choice is one of what you wish to access as your support when the Moon (or Sun) are garbed…

I chose the phrase “stand down” as the title for this post because that is exactly what is being called into motion with this cluster of potent retrograde planets; the most recent being Mars and Pluto.

One of the definitions of the phrase “stand down” is …

“to relax or cause to relax after a state of readiness.”

And, this state of being is one that will serve you in good stead as Cardinal (initiating and catalyzing) energy and Mutable (flexibility)energy play their games of contraction and expansion cloaked in the mantles of their astrological/elemental signs. Be alert and ready for change and disruption, but be sure to give enough time to rest and integrate what has newly been formed. There will be outbursts, flare ups, challenges and more, but co-existent with all of these are times for reflection, cooling down and gates to be opened and accessed as we…