*Eleditor’s note: Astrology isn’t a religion. We’re not sure it’s a science, either. It’s magic, maybe. But, as with feng shui, say, things affect things. So as long as we don’t go blaming our problems on the stars, as long as we assume responsibility for our own actions…well, hell, a little auspicious coincidence and applicable wisdom can’t hurt. And so, with that grain of salt…enjoy!

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Strike up the band and break out the champagne because on May 22^nd Mercury retrograde is officially over.

The planet Mercury goes direct. Say hallelujah. Planetary cosmos officially returns our life back to normal.

In the past, I’ve warned about the evil plot to make our life go crazy during the three weeks (from April 28 to May 22) when Mercury is retrograde. Now that it’s finally over, hopefully some took my advice and fared well. But others of us may have encountered some problems and now it’s time to do a little damage control.

If so, I think I can be of help.

In my 35 years as an Astrologer, I’ve found that there are two types of people: those who take Mercury retrograde seriously and those who don’t.

Honestly, which group do you belong to?

Regardless, whether we are believers or skeptics, we may have experienced some problems during the retrograde period.

Mercury Retrograde Experiences (No Laughing Permitted).

These past three weeks were a horrible time to make purchases, sign agreements and make commitments. Some of us did anyway.

One of my clients wrote me and said, “I was sure the new computer I bought was covered for all defects, which is why I didn’t buy the warrantee. I can’t believe it broke down a week after I purchased it. Now I’m having a dispute with the store because they say it’s my responsibility to pay the cost to repair it.”

Another wrote and said, “Screw Mercury retrograde. I do what I want to do, so I accepted a new job. How was I to know that my boss turned out to be a wolf in lamb’s clothing.”

Another person took a spontaneous vacation during this time, and confessed that she spent the first half-day of her vacation at the airport lost and found. Then her challenging vacation continued when she unexpectedly slipped on a banana peel causing her to hobble for the first three days.

One man ignored my advice not to buy gifts during Mercury retrograde. He found a great sale, and bought his new girlfriend a beautiful dress he was sure she’d love. He didn’t know that a wool dress would cause her to breakout in itchy hives. Worse, when he tried to return the dress,  he was told: “All sales are final.”

A friend told me that one of his salespeople said: “Hey, I don’t care what this Schwimmer guy says about ‘not trying to close a sale during Mercury retrograde.’ Nothing stops a great salesman from closing a deal. I think it’s just a big coincidence that I haven’t closed one sale over these past three weeks.”

Hopefully, you’ve fared better through the retrograde period.

But the good news—now that Mercury retrograde is over there are some things we should do to take advantage of Mercury being direct.

10 Great Things to do Immediately.

1.~Resolve any miscommunications or arguments.

It’s not the mistakes we make in life, it’s how we clean them up. If we’ve yelled at our child, misspoken to a loved one or had a heated argument with a colleague or boss, Mercury direct is the perfect time to discuss our differences, apologize and be forgiven (or forgive someone else). We’ll have the mental clarity to express ourselves and come to new understandings that will patch up any upsets.

2.~Shop ‘til you drop. Okay. I don’t mean this literally. But this is the perfect time to reconsider the things we wanted but didn’t buy during Mercury Retrograde. If they make sense now, buy them. You’ll realize that some of the items you wanted to purchase really don’t suit you, now that you have all your “marbles back.” If we’re ready to buy that expensive suit we coveted, we may discover that it just went on sale. Or, go ahead and buy that flashy sports car you’ve been admiring over the past several weeks. When you return to the showroom, you’ll find the car salesperson so happy to see you, he’ll hug you like you’re his rich uncle. After he’s given you his best price, you’ll purchase your car with the confidence that you’re getting a great deal that won’t be a “lemon.”

3.~Assess what we’ve learned. One of the purposes of Mercury retrograde is to help us slow down, reflect and re-evaluate all that’s going on in our life. If we did, we’re now more conscious of changes we can make to improve it. With that in mind, make a list of: people you’ve had questions about, projects you considered starting and activities you were contemplating. What have you learned about them that you didn’t know three weeks ago? The new knowledge that comes to light will help make needed changes and more successful decisions.

4.~Initiate new (and re-initiate old) contacts.

When we meet a new client or even a new love interest during Mercury retrograde, there’s a high likelihood of bad timing and miscommunication that could hamper an otherwise promising relationship. For example, going out on dates with new people is problematic. We find ourselves meeting someone we like, who’s not quite over their last relationship. Or we turn the other person off because we start kvetching about how bad our last marriage was. When I was single, if a friend offered to fix me up with someone new, I always waited to contact that person until Mercury went direct because it was a more fortuitous time for a successful romantic connection.

5.~Re-approach people who turned down your request.

Follow-up with the customer who turned you down during Mercury retrograde, and gave the business to your competitor. You may find out that he’s unhappy with the service he’s getting and is open to doing business with you. On a personal level, you may find your spouse who said, “No,” to that extravagant around-the-world cruise will now say, “Yes.”

6.~Make important decisions. 

During the retrograde we were evaluating areas of our life where we needed to make decisions. We may have discovered errors, mistakes and learned some useful information. We now have the facts and are ready to implement a new project or buy a piece of real estate or select a new tax accountant.

7.~Accept the job opportunity or start the new job now. Any confusion about our job options is gone. The fog has lifted and our vision is clear. We’re now able to evaluate the pros and cons of any employment opportunity and choose the one that will be right for us. When Mercury is direct, it’s a positive time to begin a new job because we’ll be communicating clearly without any of the confusion that causes misunderstandings between people or makes bad first impressions.

8.~Take a vacation. If we’ve used the retrograde wisely, rather than book a trip with a travel agent, we held off. Instead, we did our own research, made some inquiries and found some people who’ve just returned from our holiday destination. They’ve informed us that the hotel we chose is not a good choice because it’s now under a noisy renovation. We still have time to book the charming villa they recommend. With Mercury direct, we won’t experience the usual delays, inconveniences and accidents that occur during the retrograde. We’re going to have a wonderful vacation filled with fun instead of frustration.

9.~Search for any lost items.

Make a list of any items you’ve lost recently, or even months or years ago. Think back to where and when you lost the item. Mentally, you’re as sharp as a tack; with a mind so clear you’re able to recall details you had long forgotten. You’ll think of a new place you’ve never looked before. Or, you may suddenly remember someone you should call who could help you recover what you’ve lost.

10.~Make a new roommate selection or move in with someone you already know.

When we meet new people during the retrograde there is often miscommunication in the matters we discuss with them. This may include dishonesty. There is something unknown that we will learn when Mercury goes direct. Now that Mercury is direct, we can depend on the facts a new roommate gives us. Their information will be more accurate and reliable. This will help us make a more informed decision about whether you’d be compatible and enjoy living together.

Enjoy this period of sanity when the world is no longer going haywire—that is—until August 30, 2016 when the next Mercury retrograde begins. Until then, get busy. You have some things to do.

If you want to know if you were born with Mercury Retrograde; and where your personal transits are in your Horoscope—to see if they are affecting your life, go to the Free Transit Calculator and enter your birth date. And, if you’re curious to learn what your Horoscope says will be happening in your future – this year, in such areas as your love relationships, and marriage prospects, as well as career, investments and health in 2016: Order your customized Report: Your Horoscope & Future in 2016.

If you want to learn about your unique personality, strengths, weaknesses and talents you were born with, order your: Personal Horoscope Report. It includes a copy of your birth chart.

If you’re in love and want to find out if you’re really compatible for marriage (or partnership) with another person, go to the Free Love Compatibility Calculator and enter your birth date and theirs. And, if you want a customized report on your compatibility together, order Your Love Compatibility Report.

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