Week Two Side Quest: 

Watch the video on Mercury. Make note of the next Mercury Retrograde cycle and the dates for maximum elongation before the stationary retrograde date and after the stationary direct date, as well as the Mercury-Sun conjunction (Cazimi) in the middle of the cycle. It is possible that these dates will happen up to 12 days after the end of your eight week experience, but most likely there will be some overlap. Regardless, there will for sure be an opportunity to make an attempt to see Mercury at some point during your eight week journey.Mark these dates on your calendar and set the intention to bring mindful awareness to the full cycle, and to also try to make visual contact with Mercury during this time. The best chance for seeing Mercury after sunset is from two weeks before the evening sky date for maximum elongation up through the date of Mercury’s stationing retrograde (about 24 days total, with the best chance being closest to the date of maximum elongation). The best chance for seeing Mercury before sunrise is from the date of Mercury stationing direct (at the end of the three weeks of Mercury retrograde) up through two weeks after the date of maximum elongation (about 24 days total with the best chance being the mornings closest to the date of maximum elongation). This is about a 24 day window when Mercury is easier to see after sunset, and 24 days when Mercury is easier to see before sunrise out of each 116 day cycle (48 days out of 116). If you really want to maximize your chances of seeing Mercury, you should focus on the week before and week after maximum elongation in both the evening sky phase and morning sky phase. This gives 28 days out of each 116 day cycle. The practice includes being aware of the weather during these four weeks and making an expedition to see Mercury on one of the clearest days. You could aim for the date when there is a Moon-Mercury conjunction during this window for the most special sky-watching opportunity.Because Mercury’s maximum elongation can vary largely between 18 and 28 degrees, not every maximum elongation is as optimal for seeing Mercury. The closer it is to 28 degrees, the longer Mercury is above the horizon after sunset or before sunrise, and thus the longer period of darkness for visibility. I have noted the number of degrees to give a sense for whether it is one of the better opportunities for viewing.

2025 Mercury Calendar