Dear Friend and Reader:

We’re now in the Mercury ‘storm’ phase: the few days on either side of its station retrograde (there’s also a ‘storm’ when Mercury stations direct). For many, this can be an especially challenging part of the retrograde process, calling for increased awareness, deliberate focus and patience. Eric’s forthcoming weekly horoscope will tell you everything you need to know about this particular Mercury retrograde.

Casco Street reflections, Portland, Maine. Photo by Hal J. Cohen and Amanda Painter.

Mercury will be stationing retrograde Thursday, Feb. 6, at 4:43 pm EST, and is the star (along with Neptune and Ceres) of Eric’s broadcast of Planet Waves FM this week. He also revisits Venus in Capricorn, and looks at the charts for critically acclaimed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. Musical guest this week is Big Spoon.

Eric has also posted a short article about the astrology of Philip Seymour Hoffman, which is open to comments.

For today’s Daily Astrology column, we’ve republished a condensed version of Eric’s article from Jan. 24, An Expert’s Guide to Mercury Retrograde — just in case Mercury takes on his role of Trickster and you can’t find your way back to the original version.

Monday’s Daily Astrology column took a closer look at navigating Mercury’s shift from sailing along in quick, airy Aquarius, to wading into Pisces — and potentially getting a little lost or in over its head with Neptune’s fantasies and psychic openness. Pallas and Ceres offer two ways to work with the energy productively.

Also, if you have any interest in joining the ongoing, lively and insightful conversation about the astrology of the NFL, modern-day ‘gladiator’ energy or head trauma, you’re invited to add your comments under the post for Friday’s issue, or else under Eric’s additional column, Football is a Scorpio.

At noon on the Planet Waves blog, Len Wallick looks to the Moon and Mercury, and suggests that we K.I.S.S. — Keep It Simple, Sweetheart. Sounds like an excellent plan for this week.

Yours and truly,

Amanda Painter

P.S. If you have not yet purchased access to the Mars Effect readings, individual signs are $29.95 (with discounts for multiple signs). You also have another chance to purchase the 2014 All-Access Pass, which grants you access to all signs of The Mars Effect, plus all birthday readings for a year and much, much more.