MEDIUM RARE
Jullie Y. Daza
Three times during the year, Mercury goes into retrograde, sowing a world of confusion, delays, and deception among earthlings.
Based on readings shared by a believer whose astrologer uses the Ephemeris, charts, compasses and past events (collectively called history), one of those periods is now, starting last Sunday May 30 and lasting until June 23. Obviously, one of the first casualties had to be the ruling party, PDP-Laban, caught in a love triangle: its chairman, President Duterte; vice chairman, Energy Secretary Al Cusi; and president, Senator Manny Pacquiao. Unless the effects of their national council meeting held Sunday in Cebu were undone, political pundits foresee a situation leading to a watak-watak – what an onomatopoeic word! – or an unraveling, a breaking up, disintegrating.
Senator Pacquiao objected to the meeting because, he said, this is not the time to discuss politics -- four months before candidates are to file their certificates of candidacy? In the time of a global pandemic and with temperatures hitting the high 40s, this is not the time for water shortages and power interruptions; yet they are happening throughout Luzon. In the Visayas and Mindanao, and as Metro Manila sizzles and fries, the southern islands are in the grip of rain, waist-high floods, landslides, cyclones.
Confusing politics – President Digong, candidate for VP? VP Robredo, candidate for president? –and confusing weather patterns? Do human beings influence the weather or does climate influence politics? Ask Mercury, named after the messenger, the planet that rules messaging, trade, thievery; in retrograde it affects communication and transportation (and vehicles of all types and makes). Teletowers, phones, computers, electronic devices go haywire – notice how several of our power plants have shut down at the same time; a crazy or scheduled coincidence?
Naughty Mercury reminds us of Ghost Month in August, when people are cautioned to lie low, scrutinize written documents. “With Mercury in retrograde, read every word of a contract twice, thrice. Ask questions to clarify vague provisions,” advised my friend’s friend, the astrologer, “and double-check travel plans, routes, schedules, hotel reservations.”
Mind those ever-changing airport protocols. Look what happened to the stressed-out OFW’s who were caught between the jaws of a Saudi-DOLE memo that kept them from boarding their plane for days and days.