Can there be a more auspicious day for the avowed contrarian to begin a blog than Friday the 13th during Mercury Retrograde?

The legend of Friday the 13th being a very unlucky day may have something to do  with King Philip IV of France declaring that all Knights Templar be arrested on Friday, 13th May, 1307.  Alarmed by the Templars’ growing influence, the King and the Vatican took possession of all their money and land.  The Templars were summarily tried, found guilty of heresy (the standard accusation inevitably resulting in a guilty verdict) and sentenced to death. But of course, not before being mercilessly tortured as Medieval society warranted.  Legend says that Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the order, cursed both the king and the pope and they died shortly thereafter.  So bad luck all around.  And consequently a host of bad luck superstitions about the day continues through the centuries.

Now, I don’t recall ever having experienced bad luck on Friday the 13th.  In fact, I generally manage to find something on sale that I need.  (Today it was chicken.)

Mercury Retrograde is another story, however.  Astrologically speaking, the planet Mercury appears to move backward around the sky for about three weeks, three times per year.  As Mercury rules the areas of communication, contracts, buying and selling, and travel it is important to be wary during this time.

Mechanical items tend to go awry, miscommunication is rampant and all manner of havoc may ensue.  Astrologers advise not to negotiate contracts, begin new endeavors such as jobs (or writing blogs), travel, make important long-reaching decisions such as marriage or buying a house, or have elective surgery to name a few.

This is my first post in the blogosphere; it could also be the last post given all of the above!

How is your Friday the 13th going?