Whether or not you put much stock in astrology, some extra 'challenges' may have crept into your everyday responsibilities during the month of July. Things like meetings, phone calls, simple errands, and travel plans just don't seem to flow the way they normally might. So what is the invisible source of all this interference? Well, you may actually be able to see it.
If you stuck around after watching the fireworks back on the Fourth, when all the smoke had cleared, up there in the sky the planet Mercury left its usual progressive arc with all the other stars and appeared to start moving backwards (not unlike the share price, market share, dividend, earnings, employee count, and credit status of the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury motor company). Mercury, by the way, was named after the famed wing-footed messenger god who was apparently known around the Acropolis as much for communication and commerce as he was for speed.
Mercury retrograde will last until around the end of the month or early August, depending on whom you ask, and comes around generally three or four times a year. During this period, you can count on everything from TVs, computers, and Blackberries to simple personal functions like speaking and writing to get a case of the 'yips.' Essentially, Mercury retrograde is to your email what heavy wind and rain are to smoke signals.
The problem is that different people are affected in different ways depending on what time of the year this phenomenon occurs. For example, Mercury retro this time around will cross both Leo and Cancer. To really keep you on your toes, it will affect those with the signs Gemini and Virgo the most. These guys should pretty much pack up and flee on vacation for a month or so. (On second thought, considering that they and their luggage will likely be lost somewhere, maybe they should just commit themselves to the dark confines of a basement or trunk of a Grand Marquis somewhere and wait it out.)
In a cruel twist of irony, sales for the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands are down by 9% for the first six months of 2006. Revenues for Q2 are a negative $123 million, compared with a $946 million profit a year ago. The results do contain a one-time charge of $486 million for buyouts in North America, but I think I would still classify this as moving backwards.
Actually, symbolism is rampant when you consider the current astrological curiosities and that of the Ford "Way Forward" turnaround plan. With Mercury isolated (both the planet and the brand), the abbreviation of the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury group is FL, which just happens to be the abbreviation of the state of Florida (traditionally one of the Mercury brand's favorite states in terms of new car registrations).
Also, when you break apart the word "retro-grade," you have both a reference to the current Ford design theme bringing back names of yore like Thunderbird and Fairlane, as well as the company's credit rating (grade), which Moody's Investors Service just cut from junk status B2 to"'wouldn't touch it with a 19 foot Excursion."
Now, does this mean that Ford, Lincoln, Mercury's troubles will all disappear once the clock chimes midnight on July the 30th?
Not necessarily I'm afraid -- though it does look like William Clay Ford, Jr. may have been in touch with his cosmic advisor (or Sylvestor Stallone's mother), as he just announced that the company would be in a position to introduce further strategic plans within 60 days, well into Mercury's forward motion.
I guess even the heavens aren't out of bounds in Bill Jr's quest to right the ship with his obvious appreciation of astrological influence on the automotive industry. Which is really no coincidence when you consider that he was born on May 3rd, 1957 making him -- you guessed it -- a Ford Taurus.
Wow this explains the communication block I have this month between myself (a virgo..) and somebody else (a gemini!)...It's terrible! On point...
Posted by: Astra | July 30, 2006 at 12:28 AM