At 04:01 UT (Universal Time), on Friday, Oct. 12, 2007, Mercury, the cosmic trickster, turns retrograde in Scorpio, the sign of the Scorpion, sending communications, travel, appointments, mail and the www into a general snarlup! Once again, it's one of those tricky time zone issues, as in the Americas it happens late on the 11th! This awkward period begins a few days before the actual turning point (as Mercury slows) and lasts for three weeks or so, until November 1, when the Winged Messenger reaches his direct station. At this time he halts and begins his return to direct motion through the zodiac.