by Robert Wilkinson
Each Mercury Retrograde period is unique, yet related to other
Mercury Retrograde periods, usually because the sign of Mercury is
closely related to those of past Mercury retrograde periods. About 4
months ago, we had one that began in Airy Aquarius and retrograded back
into Earthy Capricorn. The one happening now begins in Airy Gemini and
moves back to Earthy Taurus. What does that hold for all of us?
This Mercury retrograde
starts 10:01 pm PDT May 6, 2009 (6:01 am Greenwich, May 7) and ends
6:22 pm PDT May 30 (May 31 in Casablanca, Reykjavik, and points east).
This retrograde moves from 2 degrees Gemini back to 23 Taurus, with the
inferior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurring at 28 Taurus at
3:03 am PDT May 18, 11:03 am Greenwich.
Of note is that the Inferior Conjunction happens around the time
that Saturn is sitting on its 15 Virgo stationary point, going direct
at 7:07 pm PDT May 16, 3:07 am Greenwich. From that point on Saturn
begins its trek toward its entry into Libra at 10:09 am PDT, October
29, 2009. I'll be composing more on that in a few months.
This Mercury retrograde begins at 2 Gemini, and retraces ground we
experienced April 22 through May 5. The degree is "Santa Claus is
furtively filling Christmas stockings," symbolizing "the hidden pride
of benefactors," "alertness to the wishes of others," and the heart's
beneficence.
Remember that Santa acts furtively, meaning there is no one to
perceive him. He leaves what a person needs rather than necessarily
what they want, and in the legend the gifted one is supposed to leave a
snack and then go to sleep to await the blessing.
Rudhyar also says this degree is about "a rewarded faith in
spiritual blessings." It is a degree of the blessings that come to
those who have purity of heart, receptivity, and understanding. It is a
degree where our innocence and faith can experience the visitation of a
"celestial Power" that will will bestow blessings from the spiritual
realm.
This falls in the Span of Zeal, and is the counterpoint degree in
the Actional-Physical level of Discovery. It symbolizes the answer from
Spirit to the new discoveries and insights into previously unknown
things experienced at the first degree of Gemini.
According to Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, it is a
degree of the "... the illimitable source of everything ever needed for
life and experience," showing rewards. This degree is about the
complementary nature of nature's blessings, society's favors, and
personal appreciation, maintaining rituals of spiritual values "alive
in human hearts."
Its formula is Manipulating, Practical, Ingenious, Specializing,
Physical and Sesitive. He offers the keyword PRODIGALITY, and says it's
a degree of "an unusual capacity for bringing... possessions into a
wide acceptance and for heightening every proper joy in worldly goods."
It also indicates that we can discover things others have
offered us we may not have seen before now, or find ourselves the
benefactor of another, or vise-versa. We can find richness and our
faith rewarded for our purity of heart at this time.
Of note is that this Mercury retrograde period beings with Mercury
septile Mars and biseptiles Saturn, quickly septiles Venus, and then
moves back into squares with Jupiter conjuunct Neptune in the Aquarius
zone of the Grand Irrationality, triggering that on-going configuration
and making it an active part of the Mercury retrograde lessons for this
period of time. It seems that every Mercury retrograde of the past year
has something triggering the Grand Irrationality (besides the Moon).
During this Mercury retrograde period, Venus and Mars move through
the Aries zone of the Grand Irrationality toward the middle of May,
septile Jupiter and Neptune and biseptile Pluto. This makes the second,
third, and fourth weeks of May potentous of major changes, especially
when the Moon configures with this 7-point Star Pattern. Please
reference the link just below to find out when the Moon will be
triggering this pattern, showing forks in the road of choice and change
for everyone on Earth.
These energies are on-going. You can reference Spiritual Astrology in April-May-June 2009 Pt. 4 - The Grand Irrationality and When It Will Be Set Into Motion
to learn more about the weird larger atmosphere of the Grand
Irrationality that is affecting all of us from time to time throughout
the year.
By the time this period is over, we'll be prepared to receive
multiple rewards that will confirm whatever we feel is worthy. Please
keep in mind that since Saturn will go direct during these weeks, we
will now move forward toward crystalizing whatever we've found in the
past 4 1/2 months that we deem venerable, and worthy of standing for in
the future.
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 Gemini
and Taurus is specifically good for.
Copyright © 2009 Robert Wilkinson