The Madness of Mercury (5 page)

—Zodia

I emailed this to Samantha, asking her to reply privately to the sender immediately. This was one I didn’t think needed to appear in the column. I was concerned about some of the letters Zodia
was getting. I always respond as best I can given the limitations, but I can’t help but worry about some of the people who write to me. I just hoped that
Panicked in Petaluma
wouldn’t waste a minute.

I sighed and opened the next letter. Just as I set up the chart, the doorbell rang. From the top of the stairs I called down to the front door. It was Dorothy. I hurried down to let her in.

She was out of breath. “You don’t have a client with you, do you? I’m sorry, Julia. I should have called first.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m working, but I can take a break. How did you manage to get away?”

“Gudrun’s there with my aunts now. I really had to see you.”

“Sure. Come on up.” Was this about Luis? Or something else? I led Dorothy into the office. She sat in my client chair without taking off her coat.

“I’m really sorry to barge in like this.”

“No worries. What’s on your mind?”

“It’s Richard, Julia. He wants to get back together,” she blurted out.

I nodded noncommittally, but inwardly my brain was short-
circuiting.

“Can you look at our progressed composite chart again? Maybe things would be different now?” Dorothy’s face was flushed. I knew that in her heart of hearts she’d very much wanted her marriage to be a success. It was after much arguing, stress, and accusations about financial matters that Richard had announced he was not happy and moved out. Dorothy was heartbroken.

I knew from the charts that Richard was controlling and had a heavy effect on her. She hadn’t been on terribly firm ground during all the marital upheaval, but when Richard left, she’d fallen apart. Privately, it incensed me that Richard wanted to come back just when she was getting stronger. My heart was heavy, but there was nothing for it but to pull up the charts and have another look.

“Okay.” I smiled to soften what I knew I would have to say. “Here’s your progressed chart, and here’s Richard’s.” I turned the computer monitor so she could see the charts. Offering clients a view of the aspects I’m describing often helps them gain a little emotional distance.

Progressed charts are based on a theory that the first day of life is indicative of the first year of life. In other words, the thirtieth year of life is foreshadowed by the thirtieth day of life. To find out what’s currently happening in a relationship, one very good method is to create progressed charts for the two individuals, and then set up a composite chart. A composite is a new chart using the midpoints of both individuals’ charts calculated for the city in which they live. I clicked on the toolbar and mentally thanked the gods for computer programs. How would I have ever managed before all this technology?

“Things have eased a little between you two right now, since the separation. I’m afraid, though, that there could be more difficulties to come.” I really didn’t like the transits that were about to hit.

Dorothy tried her best not to show her disappointment. “Richard says he’s sorry he was so stubborn. He really wants to do things differently.”

I nodded.
Julia, be careful what you say.
“The stresses between the two of you are not going to change. Now, I’m not saying they can’t be worked on, as we’ve talked about in the past, but the same energies still apply. I can see from this that there’s an easing of the hostilities, but, frankly”—I looked up at Dorothy—“my advice would be to just wait a bit. Wait until after the holidays before you make a firm decision.”

“Christmas is less than a week away. You mean after Christmas?”

“Yes. That’s a good way to time it. Just wait until then. Right now the Moon is close to Venus in this progressed composite, and that’s very nice, but it’s somewhat temporary—it’s not everything. Keep talking to each other and review what’s gone on before. Maybe make a list of the things that upset you so much and discuss them with Richard, or together with your counselor.”

“Yes, he’s agreed to go to counseling with me now,” Dorothy breathed. “Isn’t that wonderful, Julia?”

Oh please. Too bad he wouldn’t agree to that months ago!
“Yes, it is. It means he’s serious about working on the relationship, and perhaps dealing with his control issues.”

My concern has to be primarily for my client, so I needed to stay as nonjudgmental as possible about her choices, but I truly had my doubts that Richard Sanger could change that much. And as difficult as Richard could be, Dorothy could be just as stubborn. Either one of them might do fine on their own, but this was a case of each exacerbating the worst traits in the other. Dorothy’s natal Mercury formed hard aspects with Saturn and with Pluto; Mercury indicates how we think, how we perceive, how we communicate, so Dorothy’s placements led her to bend reality and refuse to see things as they really were. We all do that to some extent when we want something very badly, but in Dorothy’s case, I feared she could become even more single-minded and obsessive. She had chosen a person who would bring her own worst failings to the fore.

I had become very fond of her. I wanted to see her have a chance at happiness. I certainly knew how rare a thing it is to find a wonderful, loving mate. I’d lost my chance, but it wasn’t too late for Dorothy. I definitely didn’t want to see her rush back into a situation that had made her miserable for the past few years, especially a situation that might not improve.

“There are correspondences between your charts indicating lifetime connections, but it takes more than that to make a relationship fulfilling,” I continued. “I’m not saying don’t consider this. It’s your decision. I’m just saying wait until this current Moon progression has passed, and then see how you feel. There’s no need to jump at anything. You’re doing great, and you’re on firmer ground now.”

Dorothy took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re right. I need to not feel desperate. And I need to slow down and take my time with this.” She rose from her chair. “Thanks, Julia. I guess I needed you to talk me down.”

“No worries. We all need that sometimes.” I walked her to the door and we hugged. “Any more news about Luis?”

Dorothy sighed. “I spoke to his family last night. Just awful. Evandra and Eunice are so upset.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“What do I owe you for today?”

“Nothing.”

“But … ”

“Shush. No. Put your wallet away.”

“Thanks, Julia. I’m sorry I have to rush off so quickly. Are you still coming by today? Evandra’s been asking for you to visit.”

“Yes, definitely, if I’m not running too late.”

After Dorothy left, I filled a bowl with the last of the pea soup and stuck it in the microwave. Then I dropped two kitty treats on Wizard’s tray. He lunged at them, quacked, and walked away. I finished my meal and went back to answering a few more letters.

Between Dorothy’s wanting to reconcile with her husband and
Panicked in Petaluma
, I felt discouraged. I know astrology works and I know sometimes I can actually point people in the right direction, particularly when a question of timing is involved, but I often wonder if my clients actually listen and take what I say to heart. Other times I wonder if I’m deluding myself that I have anything pertinent to say anyway.

The phone rang and I grabbed it, assuming it was Don returning my call. The voice was male, low and gravelly. “
A soothsayer shall be put to death and they shall stone them with stones.
”

F
OUR

M
Y HEART WAS BANGING
against my rib cage. A wave of anger washed over me. “Who is this?” I shouted. I heard a chuckle on the other end.

“Lose my number, you whack job!” I slammed the phone back in its cradle, but not before the caller clicked off. I was so furious my face was burning and my hands shook. They—whoever they were—had my home number. But not my cell. Not yet. I dashed an email off to Samantha. I was sure now that my address and phone number hadn’t been secure at the newspaper.

The phone rang again. I grabbed it on the first ring, certain it was another anonymous caller.

“What!”

“Hey! What’s wrong?” It was Don.

“Oh. Sorry,” I replied sheepishly. “I thought you were … ”

“Were what? Or maybe I should say ‘who’? You left me a message earlier?”

“Have you talked to Sam?”

“Not yet. She left me a message to call her, but I figured I’d get back to you first.”

I brought Don up to date about my emails and anonymous caller. I felt better already just hearing his voice. Don is the backbone of the newspaper’s research department and able to lay his fingers on every ounce of trivia in the city and elsewhere. He’s a one-man walking encyclopedia. I knew he’d have some good advice.

“That’s bad, Julia,” he said when I’d finished. “I’ll have a chat with Les and Sam and see what they can find out. You think your info’s been leaked from here?”

“Has to be. I can see where these creeps might guess at my
AskZodia
email address, but how else would they have my landline at home? Don … ” I hesitated. “It’s just hit me. That means they know my name and my home address.”

Don sighed heavily. “Jeez, I’m sorry, Julia. Why in the hell are there so many crazies in the world?”

I shivered, thinking of the dark thoughts behind the Biblical quotations. I doubted anyone would be able to stone me to death outside my apartment on a city street, but I didn’t want to take any chances.

“I’ll see what we can do at our end. If we find out who accessed your info, they’re done for, believe me. Les’ll fire ’em on the spot, which is a lot less than I’ll do if I get my hands on them. One thing though, Julia. Don’t delete any of those emails. If this gets any crazier, they can be traced. The police have a department for that, and you can go to the District Attorney about it. And keep a log of these calls too. That could be important. Just the date and time they come in. The phone company won’t give you any info, but you can file a complaint if they find they’re coming from the same phone line, okay?”

“How depressing. Like I don’t have enough to do. I’m going to turn off the phone in a little while when my client arrives, but I’ll talk to you later.”

“Stay in touch, all right?”

Don and I hung up. The living room clock chimed once at the half hour. I’d have to get moving. Darlene, my new client, was due soon. I made a small pot of coffee and heated water for tea in case she wasn’t a coffee drinker. Then I lit a cone of incense and placed it in the small niche in the belly of my big bronze Buddha. He sits on the hallway table and guards my apartment. I made sure there was a fresh tape in the recorder in case my client preferred something portable instead of digital. I straightened up the desk, checked that a box of tissues was close by, and placed my big amethyst crystal in front of the monitor. Amethyst reminds me to be humble and helps me avoid the bad habit of wanting to be right.

Darlene was thirty-five and had recently gone through a breakup with a boyfriend. She was considering a geographical move. When I checked her chart for the location she had chosen, I wasn’t happy. She needed to focus on a new career path, not a new location, and I hoped she’d be open to my advice. I’m always a little nervous with a new client. Once into our session, I’d be better able to gauge her reaction and judge how carefully I needed to tread.

I brushed my hair and pulled it back with a clip, then slapped on a little makeup to look presentable. I live in jeans but always try to wear slacks or a skirt when meeting clients. I placed Darlene’s folder in the center of the desk and booted up the computer. All was in readiness. While I waited, I reviewed her chart one more time, and double-checked the timing on a couple of transits. I glanced at the clock. Another quarter of an hour had gone by. Either my new client was running late or she had cold feet and might be a no-show, which sometimes happens.

The phone rang. I hesitated for a second or so, fearful it might be another threatening call. It could also be my client. I grabbed it on the third ring.