Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius~~ "I think therefore I feel"

At 23:04 BST today (06/11/12) Mercury stations retrograde at 4° Sagittarius.  This degree of Sagittarius equates to 26th November, so those with a birthday close to this date, or a planet/angle at this point will be most affected.

Mercury retrograde creates issues with anything that facilitates communication and so on a general level is associated with its effects upon; electrical equipment, transport systems and administrative processes.  This may be frustrating and many dread the 3.5 week Mercury retrograde periods for this reason, however the purpose is to encourage us to diversify and break the habits which limit us. 

If your text messages or emails fail to reach parties then perhaps this is a message that you rely too heavily on these forms of communication?  If others are misunderstanding what you are attempting to say, perhaps there are actions or alternative means which you could use to convey your thoughts.

Humans are creatures of habit and all of us are resistant to change in some area of our lives.  Even if you consider yourself somebody who thrives on variation there will something things you consciously or even unconsciously deem to provide stability.  A Mercury retrograde period will impinge upon these weaknesses (when they occur in the area of your chart which represents them) and encourage you to view your world from another perspective and learn to act in another manner.  Even if this seems not to be directly beneficial, the mere realisation of appreciation is in itself incredibly valuable.

{For astrologers: Looking at the chart for this particular transit we see Leo Moon conjunct Leo Rising, Mercury itself positioned in the 4th House conjunct transiting Node, squaring Neptune-Chiron in the 7th House and trining Uranus in the 9th.  Saturn still settling into Scorpio is situated stoically and closely conjunct the IC.}

This brings to mind the tag line "I think therefore I feel".  What's wrong with this statement of course is that to generate ones emotions from thought, is in effect bypassing the truth of true experience.  It is common in modern society to emote primarily in a reactive manner.  As a function however emotion is more closely related to instinct and by processing feeling as a result of reasoning we are compromising and or/blocking instinctive impulses.

One could postulate that instinct is a redundant response in a world which does not generally require us to hunt, or flee imminent danger; where a bad summer will ruin our holidays but not usually cause us starve throughout the winter, as it did in past times. 

Disregarding our instinctive nature however, does lead to suppression of true feeling, the experience of true joy and ability to openly love.  It is one of the most apparent causes of depression ~which as we are all aware is an ever increasing issue in modern society.

This Mercury retrograde period is asking us to look at ourselves, as humans and consider how we actually connect to our surroundings.  Not just to people, or to things but to our true natures and the very real nature which surrounds us. 

Are you aware of the world around you, do you know how the people closest to you in your life really feel?  Do you sit down and really listen to the people you love, or do you begin to listen and drift off with the assumption that you know what they are about to say?  How often do you actually truly empathise with another and honour their individuality?  Or do you pre-assume others' feelings will follow an identical pattern to your own?

During this period of 6th to 27th November, there will be misunderstandings and confusions in areas the above questions.   Visceral interactions will be problematic and superficial conversations insufficient, depth is required during this time and will be the only genuine way to connect. 

We all get stuck in routines modes of behaviour, most of which were conceived and sourced in childhood, as response to our peers at the time.  We may have had a mother who praised us for our polite behaviour but scolded us for speaking out about anything which deeply mattered to us.  As a result there could be continued struggle as an adult to express true feelings ~coupled with the fear of being open with others.  The subconscious still actively expecting vulnerability and honesty to be followed by rejection and the loneliness.
  

It's amazing how many unconscious associations of this type we carry throughout our lives.  And how ingrained and limiting such behaviours can be become.  Revelations of this sort are likely over the next few weeks.  Resist not~~ as understanding is freedom, defences are merely a self constructed prison.