Mercury is now in the retrograde phase, and will be so until October 9, 2015. The easiest analogy of Mercury retrograde is that of passing cars, albeit with literally astronomical distances involved. Imagine zooming past another car on the road, going in your direction; follow it with your eyes, and it seems to move backward in relation to a distant background. The Earth rotates around the Sun much faster than Mars and Jupiter, and so even as we’re all going the same direction around the Sun, the outer planets will seem to move backwards. Given the great distances, far out planets like Jupiter show retrograde for months at a time.

Here's an example of the retrograde with respect to Venus:

The following issues are noted with Mercury retrogrades:

- electronic instruments used for writing or communications break down (especially telephiones, computers, and printers)

- problems with travel, especially with traffic issues and police speed traps that delay traffic

- communication miscues and / or communication problems (or absence of needed communication) between people and / or nations

- breakdown of washing machines and household cleaning devices or breakdown of cooking items (i.e. vacuums, blenders)

- failure to "read the fine print" (or nor enclosing such fine print as needed) with contracts and important negotiations

The following list is from astrologer Gala, of galadarling.com

Be sure not to take things too personally. People will often say offensive things they didn’t mean around this time, because their thinking is clouded and their communication skills are on pause! If your best friend suddenly became the most insensitive person in the world, give her the benefit of the doubt.

Back up your data!

Don’t purchase any big ticket items, because they will often have flaws or issues that you weren’t aware of! Of course, life doesn’t stop just because of wacky planetary movement, so if you absolutely have to get that car, computer or iPhone, TRIPLE-check all the paperwork, and make sure you have a warranty!

Take things with a grain of salt. Everyone is a bit confused, and people are much more inclined to change their mind once Mercury goes direct. Mercury can be a bit of a trickster — could it be that the next few weeks are a big karmic joke?!

Read the small print on any contracts. Ask lots of questions. Again, you can’t put your life on hold just because of some silly planet, but adapt your lifestyle a bit so that things run more smoothly. Communication can be a mess right now, but do your best to get as much information as you can.

Finish things you started a while ago. Home improvement projects? Wardrobe re-organisation? Short stories? Love affairs?! This is an excellent time to tie up loose ends and file things away forever.

Get together with old friends, reminisce and laugh!

Double-check any information you’re given, especially as relates to travel arrangements! During one particularly formidable Mercury retrograde, I actually caught a cab to the wrong airport! Check times, delays, baggage allowances, reservations… everything!

Allow Mercury to nudge you in unusual directions. If you seem to find yourself “back to the future”, don’t just try to wriggle out of it — look at what the universe is trying to show you. What can you learn from this situation? This is a fantastic time to re-examine, accept and move on.

Use the things you’ve discovered in the past to create a dazzling new vision so that you’re ready to blast ahead when Mercury goes direct!

Recommendations for crystals include quartz (for clarity), black tourmaline (for stability), and lapis lazuli (for wisdom).

Quartz

Black Tourmaline

Lapis Lazuli

Be especially wary around October 8th through October 11th. This will be the time frame when Mercury goes direct, and resumes forward zodiac motion. I notice very big issues (that were previously described above the crystals) occurring when Mercury is in this time frame.

Love to all,

Malcolm