Word smiths have been heard quipping that confound is the opposite of profound. Maybe. Maybe not. Applying that logic, a planet in direct motion is known to be prograde; a planet in apparent reverse motion could be termed congrade. That doesn’t sound right. Let’s stick with retrograde. Speaking of retrograde, Mars is now backing up and will do so until June 29th. Mercury turns around on April 28th and appears to retrace his fleet-footed tracks until May 22nd.
Here’s a thing to keep in mind about retrogrades. No planet actually moves backward in its revolution around the Sun. Retrogradation is the apparent backing up of a planet based upon relative motion with our reference point being on Earth. Our reference point of Earth is actually a distortion of true of solar system motion. And when we go on about retrogrades, given the galactic scheme of things, it seems like the retrograde point of view is a bit... well, Earth-centered, home-base centered, self-referential, self-centered. There’s a reason the upcoming Cannes Film Festival banned the taking selfies at any festival activity.
Still, do things weird out a bit during a planet’s retrograde? Sure, and especially a personal planet retrograde, it seems. When one looks to the heavens and seems something backing up, which doesn’t seem right, the inner warning system beeps, sounding like the annoying back up alert on trucks. The warning stimulates reaction and action that leans toward the impulsive. Instead of distraction by the inner beeps, think of the old-fashioned railroad crossing sign with alternating flashing lights that remind one to “stop, look, listen” at such crossroads prior to proceeding. Such warnings should not be confounding... or should they?
Confound is one of those words that carries the vibe (connotation) of being not so good. Actually, confound’s denotation ain’t so bad. Synonyms for confound include: amaze, astonish, dumbfound, stagger, surprise, startle, stun, throw, shake, discompose, bewilder, bedazzle, baffle, mystify, bemuse, perplex, puzzle, confuse. By any denotation or connotation, there are a few words in there that indicate perceiving... shall we say, the promising magical revelations of any and all planetary movements.
During any retrograde the planet in reverse makes a direct alignment with the Earth and the Sun at the zodiacal midpoint of the retrograde interval. This creates an amazing alignment in which conscious attention and stunning vitality (Sun), matches up with and illuminates the reality of mundane, real world agendas (Earth) and inspires immediate application of all of the best of the retrograde planet, now in direct alignment with both.
Yep, at this precise alignment point during Mercury retrograde, websites can be launched, contracts signed, and books released with great success.
During Mars retrograde - incidentally, the second most rare retrograde - new action items in life can be engaged and initiated when in alignment with the Earth and the Sun.
In the current and upcoming personal planet retrogrades, Mercury achieves this favorable alignment on May 9. Mars realizes the aspects on May 22. On those days, greater progress can be made despite the retrogrades.
In case no immediate ideas come to mind as to what you might launch on either of the midpoint dates, Mars has you covered. As he stations and while in early Sagitarrius, he transits a matrix of black holes in Sagittarius and Virgo. One of the black holes in this array emanates a 283-second x-ray pulse. X-rays can see inside physical structures and reveal the inner workings and internal condition. Symbolically, an x-ray burst allows an interval in which acute perception as to ones internal dynamics, or the hows and whys of a developing idea can clearly emerge from latent images. Such incoming ideas, when perceived for the entirely of the pulse, four minutes and forty-three seconds, completely form. No fragments linger. No incomplete thoughts drift about. It’s like typing complete sentences when texting. Why do that? To prevent confusion, misinterpretation and sending and receiving messages that contain clarity and completion and are received and perceived as such.
Now Mercury retrograde has that damn reputation for amplifying the tendency to forget, misplacing things and losing thoughts. Thank the deities that Mars now transits along the axis of idea-inspiring black holes. Before Mercury turns retrograde, create an action log. It can be hard copy based... as in a notebook (actually ideal). It can be electronic. It can be a recording device. Whatever your personal preference, tether it to your hip (Mars is in Sag; Sag rules hips) and always have it handy (Mercury rules hands) and ready to log in mental nuggets (Mercury rules thoughts, too).
When new ideas arrive, focus on those ideas until the flow of incoming information is expended. Ensure this takes at least five minutes to fulfill the agenda of the x-ray pulse that serves as the carrier wave. Should another new idea occur within the streaming of a concept, write down a trigger thought and return to it as soon as the thought streaming in progress indicates the download is complete.
With Saturn in Sagittarius, aligned with another complex of black holes, a plethora of grounded galactic thoughts reach out to anyone willing to point their satellite dishes toward the archer (and the core of our galaxy, rich in emanations of all kinds). These thoughts contain insight and true evolutionary content... which should be contrasted against all those promoting progress under the label of revolution. In fact, individuals tracking the transits may be privy to world-changing, consciousness-shifting ideas.
Confound those retrogrades. May they amaze, astonish, evoke, evolve, inform, inspire, open, osculate, underwrite and urge our ideas, inspirations and psyches into greater evolution.
More soon.