Posted on January 5, 2016 by Henry Seltzer of ASTROGRAPH.COM
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Yes, it's that time again: Mercury Retrograde. The 3-4 week period when there seems to be a tricky energy coursing through many of life's circumstances, and it can appear to be more difficult than usual to make progress, or be efficient. While some of us have come to dread Mercury Retrograde, it actually (just like all astrological phenomena) has a myriad of ways of manifesting, and it is still very much within our thoughts, attitudes and choices that our experience of reality is created. As such, we have equal opportunity to attune ourselves to the more helpful and beneficial ways of being with Mercury Retrograde, just as we have perhaps in the past attuned ourselves to the more problematic and challenging sides of it, which are, nevertheless, there to be dealt with also.
Mercury represents mental energy, intellect, and communication, so when it moves backward through the Zodiac, communication breakdown is a common theme, as is re-evaluating, re-calibrating, re-negotiating- pretty much anything starting with "re." In other words, it is not the time to rush forward with vigor, but rather a time to pause, slow down, and take stock. Each Mercury Retrograde period is a little different, depending on which sign it's passing through, as well as the aspects made to other planets along the retrograde journey, and as well to those of your own natal chart. This time Mercury will just have dipped his toes into the inventive and eccentric realms of Aquarius, only to turn backward into the stable, sober-minded, and structure-loving land of Capricorn. This can in the end mean lots of things, including a re-visitation of anywhere you've been advocating (or avoiding!) structure, or perhaps embracing more structure, self-discipline, and responsibility in your life.
As Pluto is also currently in Capricorn, and has been an extra active powerhouse archetype of transformation in our skies lately, I would like to invite you to look back as far as 2012 (if not even a few years before) and reflect on what has been arising in your life around the themes of deep transformation, big life transitions, and how the role of structure, and stability (or lack thereof) have been showing up. In the midst of so much change, many people have experienced profound and fundamental shifts in their approach to and experience of life. It's time to build a new, more stable foundation upon which a brighter world can evolve, and be sustained; and this can be seen happening both individually and collectively. Mercury comes into a conjunction (meaning it's at nearly the same degree in the zodiac) with the Sun, and stays within two degrees, remarkably, all the way from January 19th to the 31st and a couple of days into February. Because Mercury is a fast moving inner planet and Pluto is a slow moving outer planet, the most time these two are ever usually in such close contact would be a few days. For them to be paired up for almost two weeks is very rare, and will likely give us AMPLE opportunity to be in some very deep inner reflection around our fundamental beliefs about life. Where do we need to step up and take greater responsibility for our experience? How can we get in alignment with a purpose greater than ourselves, while offering our deepest gifts to the world? How can we find stability within ourselves when everything in the world is changing and moving with accelerating speed? What in our lives is hindering and causing unnecessary blockage (dysfunctional relationships, material possessions, holding onto resentment, fear, and so on) and how can we actively release that in favor of greater love, flow and trust in the process of life?
Here's wishing everyone an easeful and fruitful Mercury Retrograde period, where the opportunity for deep inner reflection and growth are utilized, and any challenge or difficulty is navigated with patience and compassion.
Important dates:
January 5th: Stations Retrograde at 1º Aquarius
January 14th: Mercury conjunct the Sun at 23º Capricorn
January 19th - February 2nd: Mercury conjunct Pluto within 2º in Capricorn
January 25th: Stations Direct, conjunct Pluto. Big Monday.
February 15th: Escapes "Shadow Period" Returning to 1º Aquarius where retrograde period began
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