After the tumult of the last few months, we are facing another turn of the calendar in astrology and the start of a new year. It is both proper and timely that those of us who have esoteric gifts cast a look forward to see what may be on the horizon, especially with the coming Mercury Retrogrades. In doing so, however, we must first start with the prelude in December, which will set the tone for the months ahead.

The last of the four Mercury Retrogrades of 2010 starts on December 10th. This one, while only lasting until December 30th, is going to have a powerful impact on the world at large, especially since Mercury the Messenger will also be in conjunction with both Pluto and Mars during that time. We have already started to see some of the early effects with the uproar around the Wikileaks “cablegate” releases.

The promised (threatened?) release of documents from a major financial institution could have a strong impact on a shaky financial world. Misunderstandings will lead to anger and impulsiveness; mixed messages can misdirect.

The Plutonian influence cannot be understated either. Shadowed by the Messenger’s retro effect, the dark side of human nature will be illuminated and the failures and confusions of communication may lead to an escalation of fear and actions of a primal nature. Even Santa may need to batten down the hatches at this time.

The first quarter of 2011 sees a major area of conflict both in terms of international issues and personal turmoil. In truth, this is truly a time when “macro” and “micro” interests will mirror each other. Less than a month after the first conjunction of Mercury and Pluto, it happens again mid January. This will be a time when much of the “shadowside” of things will be revealed: a possible political scandal is in the offing as well as a major event internationally.

The Plutonian Effect is going to be a major player in events of 2011. Going retrograde itself on April 3rd (right in the middle of the Mercury retrograde which starts March 30th), it stays in reversal until September 16th. The whole gambit of Pluto’s influence will be the subject of an upcoming article. For the moment, however, the word “intensity” would be the hallmark of the five months of the dark planet’s journey backwards.

The second quarter of 2011 will be a time when the focus is on the day-to-day issues of survival. Economic swings (both high and low) will impact a large segment of the globe. Fortunately, we are spared the Mercury Retrograde impact until March 30th (after the first quarter, we will need a break from the chaos and confusion that began in December). Underscoring the first half of the year is the emotional fragility that we all will have to deal with (in one way or another); relationships are subject to a lot of stress and many could fall apart.

Another aspect to watch carefully in 2011, is the Neptune retrograde that begins June 3rd. It seems that the planet is truly vulnerable at this time to the Sea King’s wrath. A major hurricane could impact the U.S. as well as another oil spill/gas leak issue. This comes just two days after a Partial Solar Eclipse and New Moon. The bywords here are “CAUTION IN ALL THINGS”.

The third quarter of 2011 is going to be dominated by, not surprisingly, politics. The President will be under a siege, or sorts, and definitely the focal point of much of the activity. This will continue through the end of the year which will be marked by the influence of at least one, if not two, powerful women.

While it is all too easy to link certain prominent figures to this scenario, I would caution that things may not be what they seem at this point. August 2nd gives us the second of the three Mercury Retrogrades this year; suffice it to say that communications will be skewed and we all must look carefully behind the messages to be sure of the meanings.

Of even greater significance is the Uranus Retrograde that beings on July 9th and carries through to December 9th. This is the textbook aspect for the phrase “Expect the unexpected”. Outward behavior, particularly by public figures, may be “just for public consumption” and may mask hidden feelings and agendas. Trust in all institutions is going to take a real hit during this time, and many of us will be left wondering exactly where we fit in.

The last quarter of the year also contains the last Mercury Retrograde (Nov.23rd through Dec 13th). I get the sense that during this period, we will all be able to see “the wizard behind the curtain”, so to speak. There will be a lot of resignations and, quite possibly, a retreat in our actions. Fight or flight could appear to be the only options. Choose your words carefully at this time and know that they could have a far greater impact than you could imagine.

In mathematics, there is a construct known as the Chaos Theory. Briefly, it states that changes on a micro (individual) level can and do have an impact on how a dynamic system functions making a true prediction impossible. 2011 is much like that: there is so much opportunity for surprise, innuendo, and misunderstanding in the coming months that the ultimate picture may be changed a thousand times over.

What we can do is to be mindful of the kind of events (and circumstances) that could have an impact on ‘the big picture” and be open and able to adapt our paths accordingly. The advisors at PsychicCosmos.com are aware of this and will stand ready to offer guidance and understanding during this time of upheaval. As the song says ‘a change is gonna come’ – and knowledge is the best roadmap to finding a way through it all.

“A change is gonna come” (with deep respect to Sam Cooke)

Tags: Astrology, Horoscopes, mercury retrograde, Predictions