Whether Astrology is science or magic, we’re open to most things, if they may be of benefit. ~ Ed.

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December 3rd’s extremely powerful and potent supermoon in Gemini brings in an energetic storm, as it illuminates the sky on the same day that Mercury turns retrograde.

To heighten things further, Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury; therefore, as Mercury goes retrograde while the moon is shining brightly in Gemini, all of Gemini’s characteristics will be highlighted and intensified.

Geminis are renowned for being argumentative, and Mercury retrograde is notorious for bringing pandemonium to communication, so conversations with loved ones may quickly turn heated during this full moon.

Thanks to Gemini’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personalities, volatile Mercury combined with a super-charged lunar energy may cause us to feel one emotion vividly one minute, and the next feel something entirely different. Many of us will go through frequent “I love you/hate you” spells and won’t know exactly what it is we want—so no one else stands a chance of deciphering our thoughts or feelings either!

Those who are highly sensitive to energy will have been sensing the intensity in the atmosphere for the past week or two due to the shadow period that precedes Mercury retrograde. As we will be highly intuitive as well as having enhanced levels of sensitivity during this phase, it is likely we will read deeply into situations, and then feel immense pain due to what we discover. The more we are aware of what triggers us emotionally, the better equipped we will be to get through this phase.

With the moon full and Mercury retrograding, it is wise to slow down and rest, recuperate, review, consider, evaluate, examine, and contemplate before making any big decisions or moves. It is important to question all the uncomfortable and irrational feelings we feel in our own hearts and minds before judging and pointing fingers at others. Our inner peace will most definitely be disturbed—however, this is due to the lessons we need to learn, and not lessons we think others need to be taught.

During Mercury retrograde, Mercury is at its closest position to planet Earth, which is why we feel pushed and pulled in all directions. We may find we can’t sleep, that we feel irritated, that we are on an energetic “high,” and that our lives seem far more chaotic than usual. When we are sleep deprived, we may feel more confused and irritable than normal, and running on adrenaline can make us feel overly emotional and irrational.

Mercury is well known for being a troublemaking planet, most notably where communication, technology, and travel is involved. Telephone conversations, emails, meetings, and plans that are normally straightforward will likely be full of misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and vital missing links. This is why it is essential to dissect, analyze, and discern exactly who and what the Mercury retrograde phase is bringing to our attention and for what higher reason.

2017 has already been a revelation-filled roller-coaster ride with changes occurring at every twist and turn, and it isn’t slowing any time soon. Gemini’s moon and Mercury retrograde turn precipitates a much-needed final spin and help us shed any unhelpful baggage before the year comes to an end.

Mercury retrograde is always beneficial, even though it feels far from it at the time. It shakes us up and sends shockwaves to our relationships. We may find our innermost thoughts and emotions spilling out before we’ve had a chance to consider the consequences.

Mercury churns up old history, so it is highly possible that ghosts from our past will make unexpected appearances, and ask us to take one last look before we decide to reopen or firmly lock doors. We may receive calls or messages that will take us by surprise and cause a great deal of confusion, especially if we wrongly interpret the intentions of the messenger and jump to a false conclusion.

We will regularly feel out of sync and as though we aren’t resonating with those around us. It is helpful to emotionally attune to people rather than solely relying on the words they speak. If we tune into what people are saying and feeling with our hearts rather than our ears and eyes, we will perceive the conversation and person entirely differently.

Mercury is associated with agreements, communication, contracts, listening, learning, negotiating, purchasing, selling, speaking, travel plans, and vehicles. Therefore, when it is in retrograde, we can expect any or all of these things to break down, malfunction, regress, or erupt out of control.

This is the time to take a deep breath and gently detach from anyone or anything that doesn’t value us and those who play with our emotions or don’t have our best interests at heart. We don’t have to cut people off entirely, but we can release attachments and expectations that cause pain and suffering.

It can be hard to let go of what feels familiar, or to release those who our hearts have connections with, though sometimes it is the kindest, most compassionate thing we can do for ourselves. Not everyone is meant to have a prominent place in our future.

It is beneficial to tread lightly and with caution during this time, and it is not recommended, unless absolutely necessary, to make life-changing decisions during a retrograde. This is a time for reflection, reexamination, discernment, introspection, and caution—not for hasty emotion-fueled reactions.

We will get through this phase unscathed by surrendering to the current energetic force and trusting in its divine wisdom, knowing everything in the universe occurs exactly as it is meant to in each moment. It will help if we can loosen our grip and not over-analyze our situations too aggressively. If we have patience and faith, we can allow the information we receive to rest for a while, as answers will arrive when they are ready for us.

Our circumstances will be subject to sudden bursts of change—so if we can master enough patience and strength to wait for this period to pass before making decisions or erupting, it will save a lot of distress, heartache, and possible resentment with loved ones.

The feeling heart and the thinking mind are going to be engaged in constant battle, ricocheting us around. Our heart will be dragging us in one direction, based on what it feels we want, and our mind will be dragging us in another, based on what it thinks we need.

Gemini and the retrograde combine to enhance our intuition as well as our sensitivity, so if we use this to our advantage, we will be able to feel what is happening around us and become more emotionally intelligent, which in return helps us accurately see the truth and make sense of our deepest feelings.

It is imperative to remember that even though Mercury retrograde is known to cause a lot of problems, it can teach us to recognize and then not indulge our harmful behavior patterns. Collectively, the supermoon and retrograde are a catalyst for positive transformation in whichever areas of our life we focus on. They radiate immensely powerful bursts of cosmic energy that give us the opportunity to move with the momentum and wipe the slate clean and turn our lives around by dramatically shaking up and altering our lives for the better.

This period brings to a close an intense and energetic year and is a turning point for clearing out an accumulation of old, stagnant energy. This is essential so that extremely positive life-altering energy has space to enter.

Mercury retrograde and the full moon make a timely year-end appearance to force a final push so that we release anything harmful or destructive, as we will not want to carry dead weight and heavy baggage into a brand new year full of possibility and mystery. This allows us to effortlessly and fearlessly transition from the lessons we were faced with in 2017 and to be ready for the challenges and wonders of 2018.

If we remain aware that at any time our own, or other people’s, behavior could catch us off guard, we will find this period a huge learning experience that will deliver the exact disturbance and insight needed to reshuffle our lives, readjust direction, and shift towards 2018 well-informed and fully prepared for 12 blissful, loving, peaceful, and extremely high-vibrational months ahead.

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Relephant:

A Buddhist Perspective on Astrology.

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Author: Alex Myles
Image: Flickr/Evan
Editor: Travis May
Copy Editor: Yoli Ramazzina 
Social Editor: Waylon Lewis