As I gaze at the planetary configurations for March, I'm reminded of the old fable about the tortoise and the hare. I'm sure you're familiar with this story about the impulsive, quick-paced hare who challenges the plodding tortoise to a race simply because he knows he will win. The hare, in his complacency and arrogance, along with his grasshopper mind, gets distracted; he goes off and does other things, falls asleep, and wakes up to see the tortoise crossing the finish line. There is a lesson in here about the ego and needing to be the best— the first—and always being in a rush to get somewhere now. Since Mercury will be retrograde for much of the month, we would do well to take a leaf out of the tortoise's book and apply patience, since there is great potential for "winning" and for manifesting change and new beginnings now. But if we're in too much of a rush and allow the ego to dominate, we might "come a cropper" [Editor's Note: fail].

Step Back from the Clock

All organic life operates in cycles; there's a natural ebb and flow to life, and yet somehow we humans—at least in the Western world—expect to always be productive, always be going somewhere, always doing something and achieving. No wonder the Mercury retrograde periods are associated with frustration and chaos, as many people are forced to stop for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the computer won't work properly or the car won't start or the traffic is making you late or communications go astray—all signs that we're not meant to be persisting with normal daily life. It's always useful to know the dates when Mercury turns on his heels, as it enables us to be more tolerant when things go wrong and to perhaps see it as a sign that we're meant to be doing something else. Mercury will turn retrograde on March 12 and will remain retrograde for the rest of the month. Use this time to break free of clock time and enter into a more timeless world if at all possible. Now is the time to slow down, reflect, and press the pause button on life for a moment so we can rest and gather ourselves. Don't rush or try to force things at this time. Instead, adopt a "go with the flow" attitude, and be prepared to change your plans.

Since Mercury is side by side with Uranus throughout the month, we can expect more glitches with technology than normal, and people may seem more wired and stressed than usual. This is a very scattered, erratic, and impatient combination of energies, and in Aries, it becomes doubly so. There is a greater risk of accidents and injuries now, and it would be a good idea to keep a bottle of Rescue Remedy on hand for those around you who might be experiencing high levels of stress or shock. Try burning a few drops of lavender or chamomile, or putting a few drops in the bath, as these oils help to soothe and calm the nervous system.