It was a huge moment -- historic, unprecedented, witnessed enthusiastically by millions around the globe -- President-elect Barack Obama's taking of the presidential oath, a relatively straight-forward affair. But then a miscue by Chief Justice John Roberts led to some missteps, resulting in a slightly botched delivery, glossed over by a smile but ultimately leading to a retaking of the oath Wednesday evening.
Nobody actually chooses to give an important interview, make a speech or take an oath when Mercury is knowingly in retrograde motion, a period when the potential for flawed communication is greatest, even for the most eloquent of speakers. But sometimes dates are imposed upon us. This time around, the dizzying influence of Mercury Retrograde is in effect from about January 3 until February 8. Things said or promised during this period of chaotic thinking and expression are often redone, revised or reassessed. Like the oath, which was re-administered last night.
Caroline Kennedy's withdrawal from the U.S. Senate seat race is also typical Mercury retrograde fare, such a decision being made during this time of rethinking, re-evaluating and reconsidering. Unsurprisingly, this event was preceded by an evening of misleading or incorrect reports, some retracted, the uncertainty of the situation not clarified until Kennedy's official statement this morning. A classic example of Mercury retrograde! (For those who want more technical information about Mercury Retrograde periods, read my post "Mercury Retrograde Renders Sarah Palin Even More Incoherent".)
There's about 16 days left of this fluid period, a poor time to communicate and make initial decisions but a great time to review, reconsider and redo. Hopefully President Obama will make the best of this time by reconsidering or reversing bad policies, as he is doing in regard to Guantanamo Bay. After eight years of Bush, there is surely much to rethink and revise.