Mercury in Retrograde

[Drunk Monk]

I've oft made reference to Merc-in-Retro and Yeti thought it was 

Mercenaries incensed by retro-rockets?

so I figured I'd best explain. 


Mercury in Retrograde is a dumb theory that early astronomers made up to maintain their incorrect view of the solar system. Early astronomers thought everything revolved around the earth, not the sun. If you look at the planets that way, they appear to go backwards at times. They called that 'retrograde motion' and it figured into astrology significantly. Every planet has its retrograde period. Mercury's retrograde is a time of chaos. Mercury governs communication and transportation (remember the winged shoes - Merc was the messenger) so when he goes backwards, everything goes askew. 

Now I don't have that much faith in astrology. I wrote a column for KFTC for 20 years on it. The core was based on translation of a real Feng Shui master, rough translated by Gigi, then smoothed out by me. He was an odd astrologer, making predictions like 'you'll have diarrhea this whole month' so there was a lot of adjustment, a lot of working with bad translations, some of which even became poetic. cf knows because he had to copy edit them. Our Feng Shui master could hit it right now and again, just enough to make us pause. 

Merc-in-ret is a Western astrology thing and Stacy brought it to my attention because she's into astrology. We had to get a reading to see if we were a good fit before marrying. I blew it off at first, but then it started to get weird. Maybe I'm just hypersensitive during merc-in-ret. I dunno. But I'm always mindful. It works for me because it's so absurd, a 'scientific' assumption based on a false paradigm, like Piltdown man. 

I'll start noting Merc-n-rets here. There are usually 3 periods a year. We're in the second one now - June 18-July 12. Today's example was that my chormebook froze in a weird way like it has never done before. I unfroze it after searching the web for solutions, but that was very merc-n-ret.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Oh. I see. Piltdown Man. That explains everything.

[Drunk Monk]

Piltdown man was my favorite part of Physical Anthropology - that and the fact the you can make a Punnett Square for types of human earwax. 

The next MercNRet is Oct 13 - Nov 3.

[Drunk Monk]

So on top of fucking up at the Vets today (http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...0#pid39360) the camera on my surface pro is offline. I don't know why. I may have to default to the chromebook for tomorrow's panel, but that's not as stable and was dropping out during the Daniel Wu interview. Yeah, mercnret.

---

I'm so mad at myself for fucking up the vet appt that it's fueling my insomnia and throwing my game. I really need a good night's sleep tonight to be sharp for the panel. I had a poor night last night because Yuki woke me at 3 and didn't go down again until just before 5, then woke me again just prior to 6. Now Sunday is going to be an SF trip which I should've avoided instead of a much needed rest day.

[Drunk Monk]

Still up. Still tweakin. This is like when I lost my job. My brain circus is so damn loud tonight. Fuckin covid has cost me so much sleep and all my peace of mind.

[Drunk Monk]

I should clarify what happened with Yuki's da2pp shot last week. The shelter insisted we do in within a specific window and they only provide the shot (which we paid for as part of the adoption fee) on Sundays between 10-noon, when Stacy has clients. So we arranged the vet visit for that and meds for worms, giardia & fleas. The vet refused to do the da2pp because she thought it would be too much strain on him. The shelter rescheduled us for next Sunday, which runs into the same conflict as two days ago. We have registered for puppy class but we cannot go until he has his shots and a neg giardia test. So we're stuck. This is very merc.

Also, yesterday was a parade here. We had our yardworkers, there was repairs on the empty granny flat (construction & plumbing), waste removal from all the repairs, plus we had the local internet provider Cruzio come by and see if they can hook us up. Nope. They still can't. We'd love to support them and can walk to the main office, but we can't get their service in our funky hood.

[Drunk Monk]

We just lost our tenant. Stacy literally got all our finances straight what with our rent and Tara's school. Now we're on the hunt for a new tenant. 

Our last tenants were the best we've had - a couple with a kid and a dog. They found work in Idaho - part of the Bay Area Covid WFH exodus. They were found by our new property manager, who's been really good. Hopefully he can find another pronto, and hopefully the house is in decent shape, not the nightmare it was when our previous tenants left.

[Greg]

Ugg, I say.

[Drunk Monk]

So we've been ordering a box of delivered groceries since the SIP began. It's a decent service, all organic, and good products. There's a standard box and you can tweak it with additions and subtractions, which Stacy always does. But today, we got the standard box, plus another box with the changes. Two boxes. That's a lot of food. We're okay with that. We'll just have to stuff ourselves with fruits & veggies. We can afford it this week because I have several checks coming in (Immortal, Den of Geek and USAWKF should all be by next week), I got my first paycheck from FBU and I'm still on TC payroll for another two weeks. We've still got a tenant for the next month. Come August, everything changes. Stacy will no longer get her extra $600 stimulus for unemployment. I'll be off TC payroll. And we lose our tenant. But we'll be out of Merc-n-retro, so there's hope.

[Drunk Monk]

I was just sitting down to lunch when my phone blew up. Two deaths reported within minutes of each other.

The first was the husband of an old friend, Stephanie. She was the girlfriend of Marc Velez, a Kung Fu brother of mine and the cfs (they might even remember Steph). They split amicably and are still good friends. I only kept in touch with her over facebook. They were on vacation in NM, taking a bicycle tour. They were both avid bikers. He fell to an accident and died in her arms.

The second was Master Randy Li. I've known him for years. We'd cross paths at tournaments regularly. He was always friendly, a bit kooky because he was heavily into malas (beaded bracelets of semi-precious stones). He often wore so many that both forearms were covered with malas. He would sell them and often examine mine with a lot of scrutiny because I usually wear a mala when I'm dressing more formally. We weren't close, but he was definitely an influential player in the US wulin. He held a seat with the USAWKF, which is who is sponsoring my webinar tomorrow. 

On another note, our dream house went up for sale again. It's just down the street and it's gorgeous - it could be our forever home. With our tenant leaving, it seems like a good time to sell Ranch Macbeth. Could we trade up? Not likely right now. You see, we're both unemployed. 

Stacy's outlook is grim. The massage spa won't be opening until September. It's a good thing she worked there because it qualified her for unemployment but when the stimulus ends next month, we'll need more. She's looking into other work now. 

Merc-n-ret ends Sunday but sometimes there are aftershocks.

[Greg]

I blame the comet. I'm sorry for your loss. Buy the house.

[lady_cranefly]

Yeah, I remember Steph. Shoot. Damn. Crap.  I'm so sorry.

LCF

[Drunk Monk]

Marc tells me Steph is with family in Auburn. He plans to visit her this Sunday. 

I wish we could buy that house. It's perfect and just down the street. We coveted it when it came up for sale a few years back. We just co-signed for Tara's apartment. She isn't currently employed. Her apt mate is but they need to make a combined income more than was required.

[Drunk Monk]

WTF

I just got news that Brother Dan’s mom passed away today. I don’t know if any of you ever met her. She was far worse that Greg’s mom - an alcoholic who abused Dan as a child. But still - news of 3 deaths within 6 hours? I’m just going to hide for the rest of today.

[Drunk Monk]

The Last Mercury Retrograde of 2020 Is Here
And it's, uh, a rough one.
by [b]JAKE REGISTER[/b]
 OCT 13, 2020

It’s that time of year again: Mercury Retrograde. The last one of the year, in fact. [b]This (in)famous astrological phenomenon begins in the evening of October 13, and it lasts all the way up until November 3, AKA Election Day.[/b] This retrograde is starting out in the fixed water sign, Scorpio, but on October 23 it retrogrades [i]back [/i]into the cardinal air sign, Libra.
While Mercury is retrograding through Scorpio, the water signs (Cancer and Pisces) will be having a relatively easy time, while the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) will [i]def [/i]be struggling. The pressure eases off the fixed signs once Mercury enters Libra on October 23, when the air signs (Gemini and Aquarius) will begin to feel way better about the retrograde and the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will start feeling more pressure.
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We've all heard of Mercury Retrograde, but a quick recap on what it actually is: [b]When a planet is retrograde, it appears to be moving backwards in the sky from our POV on Earth, and whatever area of life that planet represents becomes a little wonky and lopsided.[/b] Since Mercury governs communication, commerce, and travel, you can expect hella misunderstandings between you and your boo/squad/family/whoever and tons of missed texts/emails/phone calls. And you should definitely make sure you double-triple-check your schedule because your time management skills are [i]really [/i]suffering.
When Mercury is in Scorpio, an emotional, mysterious, and [i]intense [/i]sign, you take on a more probing, psychological manner of thinking and communicating. This is great for studying or making deep, intimate connections with others, but remember, this retrograde is making everything more difficult. [b]So that probing, psychological mindset might lead you to overthinking the tiniest little things! [/b]Maybe your sister borrowed a cute top without asking—this retrograde energy can make it easy for you to overanalyze what happened and think that your sister [i]stole [/i]that top in order to [i]mess with your head[/i], when really, all she wanted was to serve a cute look!
Scorpios [i]always [/i]know what's up, and Mercury in Scorpio ([i]especially[/i] when retrograde) is notorious for making you want to gossip and spread/listen to rumors, because you simply [i]want the tea[/i]. What goes around comes around during Mercury Retrograde, so[b] if you’re talking sh*t or gossiping too much, whoever you’re throwing shade at will almost [i]certainly [/i]hear about it![/b] The same goes for you, too—if you've got haters, you can expect to have to deal with their drama by the end of the retrograde. BTW: Scorpio, being a fixed sign, has very [i]stubborn [/i]vibes, so your first reaction to an argument/disagreement is to stick to your guns and [i]fight it out[/i], even if you’re totally in the wrong!
So, how do we navigate this retrograde? Well, first of all, make sure you read your Mars Retrograde horoscope because that transit’s influence is, um, still very much happening!!! Second of all, understand that you’re feeling extra sensitive right now—ground yourself often, be patient, try to compromise, and keep your feelings in check. [b]2020 has been, in a word, rough.[/b] [b]And from an astrological perspective, things are staying rough, at least for now. (Sorry!!!) [/b]But some good news:[b] [/b]2021 has a multitude of exciting, fun astro-weather, but you gotta navigate this final retrograde first. You totally got this!
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Read your Sun/Rising horoscopes for Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio below:
ARIES
Right now, Mercury is honing your focus on two things: intimacy and taxes. Fun! There are probs miscommunications re: your sex life coming up now. Your FWB/date could ghost, or your partner (or you) might [i]never [/i]be in the mood. And as far as taxes go, let’s just say you should keep a [i]very [/i]close eye on your inbox (especially your junk mail) to see if any outstanding debts show up!
TAURUS
This retrograde is starting out pretty wild, Taurus. Once Mercury scoots into Libra in a couple of weeks, it’ll be easier, but for now, expect miscommunications, arguments, and other retro-shady stuff happening in your relationships. All your “B” relationships—your bestie, your boo, business partners, and people you’re beefing with—are Mercury’s big focus right now. Do [i]not [/i]start any new relationships during the retrograde, because they will not last, sry. Oh, PS: you’re totally going to deal with some drama from an ex soon.
GEMINI
Work job is a big priority for you right now, because this retrograde is turning everything at the office on its head! Look out for scheduling issues, missed calls/emails from your boss or coworkers, and arguments/drama with coworkers. There's lots of gossip around your workplace now, too, but try to avoid indulging! If it’s possible to work from home or just focus on solo projects right now, that’s your best bet for making it out of this retrograde in one piece. If not, just try your best to avoid getting involved in others’ business and you’ll be fine.
CANCER
This retrograde actually starts off pretty easy for you. Your Cancerian vibes mix and mingle [i]beautifully [/i]with fellow water sign Scorpio's energy, so you’re likely avoiding a lot of the retrograde drama. This is a time to look at yourself and the way you think/communicate about your love life. You’re a very loving, nurturing sign, but you’re realizing that although you [i]love [/i]to love others, you struggle to let others love [i]you[/i]. Whether you’re single or not doesn’t matter—now’s the time to focus on building up confidence and learning to love yourself, so you can come out at the end of the retrograde feeling like a bad b*tch!
LEO
As Mercury moonwalks through your fellow fixed sign Scorpio, you’re finding it more difficult to communicate your feelings to others, especially your family and the people you live with. You’re stubborn, but Scorpio is even [i]more [/i]stubborn. This blend of energy makes it super easy for tiny misunderstandings to explode into actual conflict, [i]especially [/i]with how sensitive everyone’s feeling rn. I’m not putting [i]all [/i]the blame on you if/when these arguments come up, but you can work to avoid the drama. You feel like your deepest emotions are coming to the surface and you [i]have [/i]to express them no matter who/what is around you. These urgent vibes can make you snap at people, so just make sure you pick your words [i]very [/i]carefully, and you’ll be alright!
VIRGO
Mercury, your [url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a30027024/astrology-zodiac-sign-ruling-planets/]ruling planet, is all about communication, and this retrograde is taking place in the part of your chart that’s literally [i]dedicated[/i] to communication, Virgo. Basically, it's extra important for you to think before you speak, double check emails for typos, and make sure you’re sending those emails/texts/whatever to the [i]right person. [/i]The LAST thing you want is for you to give into Mercury in Scorpios’ sh*t-talking vibes with your pals and accidentally send a super shady text to the person you’re gossiping about!
LIBRA
Sry, Libra, but you need to watch your wallet. No, you’re not going to suddenly go broke, but paychecks may be delayed, new jobs might have a [i]very [/i]rough start, and if you’re even slightly entertaining the idea of investing money somewhere other than your savings account, um, [i]don’t[/i]. Use Mercury in Scorpio’s perceptive, critical vibes to review your budget, stay on top of your financial situation, figure out how to spend less and save more, and you’ll be just fine! This is a [i]minor [/i]transit for you, though, so don’t freak out…until Mercury retrogrades back into your sign on October 23, at least.
SCORPIO
Since Mercury is now retrograde in [i]your[/i] sign, misunderstandings, miscommunications, and mishaps are becoming [i]major [/i]themes in your life. Don’t be scared, because Mercury is only in your sign until October 23, but the next couple weeks might still be a struggle. You might feel like everything you say just comes out [i]all wrong[/i], or other people simply aren’t picking up what you’re laying down. You’re already stubborn, emotional, and prone to getting [i]very [/i]frustrated over small things, and these traits combined with Mercury Retrograde makes for a volatile vibe. Be patient. Be careful with your words. Make sure you [i]listen [/i]just as much (or more) as you’re [i]speaking. [/i]You can get through this!
SAGITTARIUS
Exes, old friends, and projects/jobs that you never completed are [i]aaalllll[/i] coming back. Yes, it’s stressful, and yes, it might be a little dramatic, but you [i]got this, [/i]Sagittarius. When these old flames/ex-buddies come back around, don’t pop off on them. Hear them out! If they’re just here to talk sh*t, take that as a sign from the Universe that they truly don’t belong in your circle anymore. And if they want to get back together and you’re interested, too, please do [i]not [/i]re-start your relationship until the retrograde ends. People love to give you a tough time because you have a rep for being loud and sometimes obnoxious (no offense!), but you can successfully navigate this retrograde with just a little bit of patience and self-control. Ultimately, this is a time to find closure, clear out past baggage, and open up space in your life for newer, better, [i]healthier [/i]relationships.
CAPRICORN
The first half of this retrograde finds you paying way more attention to issues with your squad. You’re trying to be a peacemaker, but this retrograde is pushing you to realize that sometimes, you don’t have to. If there are [i]real [/i]issues between you and your friends, maybe your friendship has met its expiration date. The people you hang around with say a [i]ton [/i]about the person you are, so keep it real with yourself and ask: “[i]Is this friendship really worth my time?” [/i]You might feel like your friend group is caught in a bizarre game of musical chairs, but listen, Capricorn. You are, if nothing else, [i]rational. [/i]You can look at the circumstances popping up in your social life, analyze what’s going on, and [i]confidently[/i] make a decision. Sure, you might lose a few friends, but you’re just clearing out space in your life for better relationships.
AQUARIUS
This retrograde starts out in your chart’s midheaven, which is a point specifically dedicated to your career, public image, and life trajectory. That promotion you’ve been [i]dying [/i]to get? Not happening—at least, not right now. The raise/bonus your boss promised you? Don’t expect any direct deposits in your bank account quite yet. You’re being judged right now, Aquarius, so the actions you take at work matter [i]way [/i]more. Try to roll with the punches if miscommunications or scheduling mishaps pop up, and make sure you are [i]busting! your![/i][i] ass! [/i]on the job. Hard work now = huge results after the retrograde ends, but being lazy or late will def lead to drama!
PISCES
This retrograde starts out with Mercury in a fellow water sign, so you’re getting nice, harmonious vibes for the next couple of weeks. This retrograde is focusing on any areas of your life related to travel and higher education. If you’re going on a long road trip any time soon, expect delays/scheduling issues/flat tires. Make sure you [i]thoroughly [/i]check your agenda, pack [i]everything [/i]you need, and keep an eye on the time, or you might get on the wrong train. If you’re a student, be diligent and make sure you’re working hard. If you have a paper due at midnight, maybe try [i]not [/i]turning it in at 11:55 PM. Your internet might glitch out or your computer could die. But stay on top of your sh*t and you'll make it through just fine!