When they observed Mercury’s light dim and its path slow to a halt and reverse against the backdrop of stars (a “station retrograde”), they interpreted it not as a malfunction, but as a symbolic shift in function. The external, active energy of the planet was turning inward. This was a sacred time for review, reflection, and re-consideration—a cosmic mandate to pause the relentless forward momentum of life.
Unlike the modern fear of emails crashing or flights being delayed, the ancients would have advised using this period deliberately. It was considered an inauspicious time to initiate new contracts, launch significant projects, or make final, binding decisions, as the information available was considered incomplete or clouded. The energy was simply not supportive of outward expression.
Instead, this was the perfect cycle for revisiting past endeavors, rethinking strategies, reconnecting with old colleagues, and completing unfinished business. The retrograde was seen as a built-in cosmic correction mechanism. The “problems” it presented were not malicious glitches but necessary corrections—a forced pause to re-align our thoughts and actions with a more authentic path. It was a time to hone one’s craft in private, to meditate, and to engage in deep study, embodying the internalized, contemplative wisdom of the messenger before he begins his next journey across the sky.
