Mercury is high;Mercury Retrograde is nigh.

"When the sun goes down [between June 11th and 22nd -- Ed.], step outside and look west into the sunset. That bright pink 'star' shining through the twilight is actually Mercury.

"The planet is emerging from the glare of the Sun for a rare appearance in the evening sky. If you have a backyard telescope, point it at Mercury. Mercury has phases and, at the moment, it looks like a tiny half-Moon.


Now that's the astronomical outlook.
This is from the Astrology Division.

"What is Mercury Retrograde? Three and sometimes four times a year, the planet Mercury appears to be moving backwards in the sky for a period of approximately three weeks [this season, the retrograde period lasts from July 4 until July 28 --Ed.]. 'Appears' is the key word here because, technically speaking, no planet actually moves backwards in its orbit around the Sun. In fact, they don't even slow down.

"Retrograde cycles are essentially illusions that result from our point of view from Earth, simply because the Earth is orbiting the Sun at a different speed than the other planets. Mercury turns retrograde more frequently than any other planet. It can never be more than 28 degrees from the Sun [as seen from Earth], and whenever it reaches its furthest distance from the Sun, it [appears to] change direction.

"As the planet of communication, Mercury's retrograde cycle tends to breed a certain level of confusion. Mercury rules our 'lower' mind -- how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. Mercury has rulership over such things as speaking, negotiating, buying and selling, listening, formal contracts, documents, travel, the mail and shipping, and so forth. All of these areas of life are affected when Mercury is functioning in a sluggish state.

"Decision-making is challenged during Mercury retrograde. Needless to say, it is not advised to sign contracts*, engage in important decision-making, or launch a new business. Delays and challenges are more probable with Mercury retrograde. This period is best used for re-organizing and reflecting.
"Not everyone feels the effects of Mercury retrograde. Those born with Mercury retrograde in their natal chart [like me --Ed.] may not notice the effects described above."

See also: "Managing Mercury Retrograde," by Nicoli Ann Bailey.

* My Lady Friend and I left Egypt to teach in Taiwan (after a layover in Thailand) right after the retrograde phase began last November. This was in the back of my mind the whole week, and on the day that we signed our contracts, I picked up a copy of the Taipei Times -- which offers a lunar astrology forecast each day-- and "signing contracts" was listed in the "it's a bad day for..." column. We left for Korea two-and-a-half frustrating months later.