Shadows, Shadow Play

Toying with a simple pen and ink depiction, I was trying to convey the messages of Mercury in its apparent retrograde pattern, and what that means, how it plays out, and what the future holds by way of looking at the past.

The timing is what interests me. The messages have largely been familiar, and while my earliest teachers talked about how “Mercury in retrograde is bad,” I’ve grown to understand it is a natural time, and can be useful.

The image, I started with a simple line drawing of the alchemical glyph for Mercury, the symbol I associate with the planet. It looks like a Venus — or female — symbol with a little set of horns sprouting from the head. It is supposed to be a winged helmet, associated with Hermes, the messenger of the gods, later known as Mercury. Although somewhat distanced, Loki is similar in form and function. Personally, I like the character Puck from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream as a mercurial fellow. That symbol, though, a simple line drawing, small circles, stick coming out the bottom, a cross bar, then, the little ears on the top, again symbolic of Hermes’ winged helmet. Mercury had wings on his sandals.

“Fly monkeys, fly!”

Sorry, wrong mythos. Anyway, the glyph? Venus with little antenna, for communications.

Shadows, Shadow Play

June 13, Mercury arrived at 16° Cancer. Mercury crawls up to 26° Cancer, turning retrograde on 6/29. Mercury retrogrades back to 16° Cancer on 7/23, staying at 16° until 7/28. Mercury doesn’t arrive back at 26° Cancer until 8/24 (coincidental with the Sun going into Virgo).

Shadows, Shadow Play

I’ve got a pepper plant thriving with my abuse, overwatering, drought, too much attention, no care, and similar inconsistent behaviors. It’s about two feet tall, and the shade in the direct sun is negligible, but as the afternoon light dips lower on the horizon? That plant can cast a shadow up to a few feet long if only for a short time. The shadow is ephemeral yet still exists. It can appear longer, taller than the object causing the shadow itself. The shadow of Mercury can extend well beyond the known limits of the actual, observed retrograde. This Mercury in Retrograde?

the Portable Mercury Retrograde

Locations

Prompted by an old find, Anatomy of a good customer? Where to find me? “Where is Kramer?” Some years back, an old buddy, friend, co-worker, and occasional mentor? I noticed that he only worked certain events. His advice, this dates back over three decades, but his advice, then?

“Work every show in your home town.”

Or area? Much earlier, I would work every show in the Austin/San Antonio area. Thirty-plus years.

astrofish.net/travel

Times change. The market shifts. Clear divisions exist. Then, too, there was a local event that was the epitome of a “Charlie Foxtrot” set-up. Even if I paid well enough in advance? A coveted wall spot and table, guaranteed in contractual form, paid for up front? I still used an electrical outlet at the time, but that spot — I had to show up early. Like, get there before the event promoter was there. Scramble with a roomful of irritable spiritualists for a spot to ply my wares. In return? It was usually a financially rewarding event, almost every time. Just, jockeying for a position? Get in early and hope for a spot that had juice?

Locations

One Austin promoter had repeatedly asked for my return to the big Austin shows, but I can’t be half-arsed to participate. Too much trouble, not enough return for my investment. The new rock shop? Highway construction is brutal. Austin traffic is brutal, but then, I’ve driven in Dallas and Houston, so, no big deal to me. Austin traffic is brutal, nonetheless.

astrofish.net/travel

A brief conversation with the owner/operator at the storefront in San Antonio? First off, at the shows she produced? I could show up at 11, rip through my five-minute set-up, and be ready to roll. Professional, quick, seamless, and most important? Problem-free. Same with her storefront. Super easy for me. Problem free.

Locations

I’m in two locations these days, Austin and San Antonio. If that schedule doesn’t work for you? I’m always available by phone, but the answer to the un-asked question? No, I don’t do Zoom, FaceTime, or any other of the video conferencing style. Live is in person, at the listed places. Phone is over the wire, like, with a handset. All consultations are arranged via e-mail only.

astrofish.net/travel

In summary, the bullet points?

1. astrofish.net/travel
2. astrofish.net/contact
3. astrofish.net/shop

Explained?

1. astrofish.net/travel (where)
2. astrofish.net/contact (contact)
3. astrofish.net/shop (price/pay)

Unrelated?

Anatomy of a good customer.