Got unfinished business? Mercury Retrograde to the Rescue!! Part 2
by Robert Wilkinson
Each Mercury Retrograde period is unique, yet related to other
Mercury RX periods, usually because the signs are harmonized with those
of past Mercury retrogrades. In early 2009 we had Mercury in Airy
Aquarius retrograding back to Earthy Capricorn at 22 degrees, the exact
point this Mercury goes stationary retrograde. What does that hold for
all of us?
This Mercury retrograde
started 6:38 am PST December 26, 2009, 2:38 pm Greenwich. This
retrograde moves from 22 Capricorn back to 6 Capricorn, with the
inferior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurring at 15 Capricorn
at 11:06 am PST, 7:06 pm Greenwich on January 4, 2010.
Up to this point, due to all of the 2009 Mercury retrogrades moving
retrograde from an Air sign to an Earth sign, we have had a year of
anchoring ideals in whatever forms are appropriate and workable. To
elaborate, in Astrology the Air element represents ideas and ideals,
relationships and other types of connections. Earth represents
grounding, practicality, and "real world" activities.
We now enter the first Mercury retrograde period in a year-long
sequence where the retrograde span is entirely in Earth signs. Since
its current stationary retrograde degree is the same as last January's
stationary direct degree, we will no doubt be taking a look back from
new angles at things related to last January, February, March, and
April.
In Capricorn we claim personal power and/or authority in a public or
group situation preparing for a greater collective contribution in
Aquarius. This RX period will give us a chance to research, re-think,
rehearse and get a new look at "apparent defeats that spell real
spiritual victory" of the past year.
Also, this Mercury RX period will give us a front end view helping
us prepare for what's coming forth the next few years as Pluto moves
through Capricorn and triggers the Mercury retrograde span. Since
Saturn rules the sign of this Mercury RX, we'll also be given
information about the Saturn in Libra ideal we've begun to live since
late October.
This Mercury retrograde begins at 22 Capricorn, and retraces ground
we experienced December 9-26. The degree is "A General Accepting Defeat
Gracefully," symbolizing the ability to move through apparent defeats
to achieve spiritual victory. We will be able to win out through
conforming to what is established, and through inner strength find
resilience and the ability to overcome obstacles and opponents through
will and integrity.
This degree is said to be in the span of "Dependence," in the scene
of "Group Performance" on the social-cultural level. We can surmise
that many of our dependencies could be seen in the light of our greater
group connectedness during 2009, and that led to major emotional,
social, and cultural changes affecting our futures. This Mercury
retrograde will give us a new perspective on what 2009 was all about.
According to Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, the keyword
is EXPEDIENCY. He states this is a degree of an "uncompromising loyalty
to the long range ends in view," "a self disciplined grace of spirit,"
and overcoming opponents by finding shared values. We are told that
this offers us "a genius for learning from experience and transforming
setback into accomplishment."
So we enter a time of reviewing our loyalty to our long range views
and how to accomplish them. We can get a new picture or information
about group work and how we can contribute to a greater ideal with
others. It marks a time of filling in any gaps in our resolve,
perseverance, and understanding what is personally relevant to us
within our larger cultural field.
Many could find information or mental impressions showing a need to
take personal responsibility in the house where Capricorn falls in the
chart, or the houses with Gemini and Virgo on the cusp. Expect a
profusion of ideas, communications, insights and evaluations that will
take many twists and turns before becoming clear visions of how to
decide and what to do. By the time this RX period is done, we'll know
what's been finished and what still needs finishing to make real the
new day that's dawning, with new obligations, responsibilities, and
rewards for our faith and persistence.
Of note is that this Mercury retrograde period begins with Mercury
tredecile Saturn and sextile Uranus, and moves back through novile
series aspects to the Aquarius stellium, giving us unique and
productive circumstances leading to spiritual realizations. It will
then go direct conjunct Pluto waxing square Saturn septile the Aquarius
stellium. I'll address that set of important "fork in the road of
destiny" energies in a future article.
Saturn rules this Mercury RX period, since it rules Capricorn and
Aquarius in the mundane world. (Uranus rules both signs in the
spiritual realms.) As Saturn is in Libra (the sign Venus rules), when
Venus moves into Capricorn on December 25-26 she and Saturn will be in
"Mutual Reception," a very strong self-reinforcing energy.
When they're in square (through Jan 1) there will no doubt be some
hard lessons around relationships, but also the possibility of
re-organizing some non-productive power dances. Venus then moves into a
biseptile and tredecile to Saturn in January, very favorable indicators
of an element of our Venusian destiny externalizing into serendipitous
unique interactive situations.
Saturn will occupy its stationary RX point at 5 Libra for the entire
Mercury retrograde period, showing the backdrop to this retrograde is
helping us live our wisdom, find greatness in ourselves being called to
greatness in another, and through inner inspiration grow toward our
ultimate potential. We will find affinity with people and ideas in line
with our genius, where we can know and show character.
Since Saturn is in fact in close square to Pluto during this time,
I'll remind you that during its time in early Libra, Saturn will square
Pluto at 2, 5, and 3 degrees of Libra, ending some things forever and
introducing us all to new worlds of experience, activity, and
necessity. A link to an article on these major squares from Saturn to
Pluto is at the bottom of this post.
We got hints about what's culminating when the inner planets in
Libra squared Pluto in Capricorn showing major culminations of the
Plutonic process set into motion at the conjunctions in late 2008. We
now are re-setting a new set of waxing squares to Saturn with current
Pluto conjunctions. All of these will have ramifications through the
time that Mars moves across 1 Libra conjuncting Saturn also at 1 Libra
July 31, 2010 with both opposition Uranus at 1 Aries and Jupiter at 4
Aries.
Mercury retrograde is good for reworking, rehearsing, rethinking,
researching, or finding a different approach to whatever is not well
understood. It's also great for busting lies and misconceptions, though
if you have the misfortune of dealing with someone operating from a
delusion, they still may not get what's right in front of their face.
In that case, let them go and apply your energies to more worthy
relationships and endeavors.
The Grand Irrationality is not a major factor in this retrograde
period, unlike most of the others in the past year. During this 3 week
period, (besides the Moon doing its regular thing) only Jupiter moves
through any of the 7 zones of influence, discussed at length in other
articles.
By the time this retrograde period is over, we'll re-enter an
earthquake zone of Saturn stationary retrograde exactly square Pluto.
This will bring tremendous gear grinding and challenges to activate
growth in many lives, as well as separations from old fears,
responsibilities, and limiting conditions. This will be a time of major
catharses and purifications, as well as newer, higher ways to live our
Spiritual Truths.
On a final note for today, during any Mercury retrograde period
there are always strange twists and turns and returns. However, if it's
not a return of something you should have taken care of before then,
remember that whatever happens it probably won't turn out the way it
seems at the time.
Obviously there are more Mercury retrograde articles coming over the
next few days. Future parts in this series will discuss aspects and
configurations with other planets, the nature of its coming stationary
direct degree influences, how it affects individual birthdays, the
coming Inferior Conjunction, and what this Mercury Retrograde in
Capricorn is specifically good for.
As promised, here's Explaining the Squares and Oppositions of 2009-2010-2011-2012-2013 Pt.2 - Saturn in Libra Square Pluto in Capricorn
Other articles explaining Mercury Retrograde:
Astrology and Mercury Retrograde December 2009 and January 2010 in Capricorn - What Is Mercury Retrograde?
How Do Mercury, Venus, and Mars Retrograde Work, and How Are They Related to Past and Future Retrogrades?