On Monday November 25th 2024 Mercury stations Retrograde at 22’40 Sagittarius- bringing the Winged Messenger to a Standstill as he heads into his 3 week Underworld Journey. Mercury Retrograde is a time to rethink, review, revise and go over the past. When in Sagittarius we are rethinking, reviewing and revising our beliefs and attitudes- politically, spiritually, philosophically and otherwise. It is a time to question Truth and be willing to let go of hubris and self righteousness (shadow Sagittarius) so that we can come back to Beginner’s Mind.
Mercury stations Retrograde opposite Jupiter in Gemini, quincunx Uranus in Taurus and square Neptune in Pisces. Jupiter demands we open our minds and be more committed to the Truth than we are to being right. Uranus demands that we are IN THE BODY- not in our heads and minds in ungrounded, checked out ways. And Neptune demands we have the rose colored glasses OFF- so we can see the Truth within and without-without illusion, delusion or distortion. All 3 bodies make tense aspects so there will likely be some challenging conversations, realizations or information coming in the coming weeks. The key is to keep your MIND OPEN and stay curious- as we can only learn new things if we are receptive to it!
Mercury Stations Retrograde conjunct Ras Alhauge- a fixed star in Ophiuchus. The key words for this star according to Solar Fire are “the desire to heal a wound”. Ophiuchus is commonly seen as the male Serpent Bearer and he possesses the medicine of taking the poison and turning it into the cure. He is seen as connected with the myth of Asklepios- the human man who was such a powerful healer he could raise the dead! He was seen as so concerning to the gods because he was ‘interfering in their powers of life and death’ so Zeus had him killed and put into the heavens as a constellation. So the modern myth is one of a Great Healer being punished for the gifts he carries.
In Stargate Mystery School we explored the ancient meanings of the stars and constellations pre-patriarchy and pre Greek and Roman influence. Ancient Ophiuchus was known as Al-Hawwa to the Arabs. Al-Hawwa means life, snake or serpent, and EVE (as in Adam and Eve). The Serpent Bearer was a SHE- known as the Lady of Life, the Lady of the Serpent, the Source of Life and the Mother of Humanity. She possesses Serpent Power- which is the power of life, death, creation, destruction and Kundalini Shakti. Kundalini is the spiritual energy we all possess that is conceived of as a sleeping serpent in our pelvic bowl that needs to be awakened and come all the way up to the crown. Until the Serpent has awakened- we are asleep and unconscious of who and what we really are.
The degrees of Al-Hawwa correlate to both the Great Attractor and the Galactic Center – two VERY POWERFUL Galactic Points that tap us into Greater Truths that lie beyond. (The GA is currently 14’11 Sagittarius and the GC is 27’11 Sagittarius in Tropical Astrology- both correspond to Tropical degrees lying on the ecliptic which correspond with this constellation seen as spanning approximately 8-28 Sagittarius). This constellation is sometimes called the 13th sign- and many astronomers who want to argue that astrology is wrong will use this constellation as a way to prove astrology incorrect. What the astronomers do not realize is there is validity to the Tropical system that is seasonal based AND ALSO there is validity to the Living Sky system. It does not have to be black and white- right or wrong- it can be both/and.
From the Living Sky perspective the foot of the Serpent bearer does cross the ecliptic and is in fact a constellation the Sun moves through- so it can be thought of as the 13th sign. 13 is a number deeply associated with the Divine Feminine, the Moon and lunar cycles, Venus and her cycles. It’s a maligned number said to be unlucky today- but actually it very benevolent and its associations with the powerful feminine is in part why it got demonized. You can read my more about Ophiuchus in my article posted 10 years ago here- https://divineharmony.com/writings/my-thoughts-on-ophiuchus-the-13th-sign/
The Goddess Asherah – the wife of Yahweh who was removed from the Bible- was called the Lady of the Serpent and she was represented by Asherah Poles that symbolized the Tree of Life. In the Biblical Story of Eden we see the same archetypal symbols of a tree of life and a serpent- and we see both of them connected to this constellation that is Eve- the Mother of Humanity.
Al-hague is Ra’s al-hawwa in Arabic and it means the Head of the Serpent Collector, the Serpent Keeper or the Serpent Bearer. Classically it is women who bears things- from babies to grails to water urns- women are the ‘bearers’ and this Serpent Bearer is a She. So this more ancient myth speaks to the Feminine power of life and death being born by the Great Mother- of All (Asherah) and of humanity (Eve). She also was maligned- Asherah removed from the Bible and Eve punished and said to be the reason humanity suffers. And yet hidden in plain sight is a deeper awareness of Who They Were Before. The Serpent is also a node to the serpentine structure of DNA, of our spines and of the true power we all possess- asleep in our pelvic bowls, awaiting our desire and commitment to our deepest healing and awakening.
So we have Mercury stationing Retrograde on this star associated with healing old wounds and then we learn of the older powerful Feminine Mysteries of this constellation- and I believe what needs to be healed is our forgetfulness of more ancient myths and Truths that are very different from the ones we are told today and the ones we are told to believe in. From our myths to our politics to our medicine to our education- now is the time to question it all, dig deep and find what was there before that was more holistic, more integrous, more healthy and life affirming. Myths of killing, war, dominance, rape and egoic hubris are destroying the planet and devolving humanity. We need new myths to inspire humanity to awaken!
(If you love learning ancient myths and what was there before- this content I am sharing comes from my Stargate Mystery School available on demand for 25% off until 12/2 here- https://divineharmony.com/stargate-mystery-school/)
Mercury trines Chiron three times during his Underworld journey (including front end and back end shadows). This amplifies the need for healing and the need for dealing with what is underlying our wounds and pain for resolution. Mercury also triggers the Jupiter/Saturn squares 3 times. Mercury opposite Jupiter- the ruler of the sign Mercury is in- demands we OPEN OUR MINDS but the opposition can also exacerbate our mental tension, hubris and self righteousness. Mercury square Saturn can bring some heavy realities to deal with- ones that require we SEE WHAT IS not just what could be, should be, might be or used to be. It is only from this present moment of reality as it is on its own terms that we can truly be empowered to make the necessary changes to create what is possible. The Jupiter/Saturn squares can feel like we are between a rock and a hard place. One part of us wants to go for it- another part is holding us back- it is between the tension of these two opposites that the alchemical crucible for transformation and change is created.
The entire Underworld Journey of Mercury is in Sagittarius (and almost all of the degrees correlating with Ophiuchus!)- so the Sagittarius part of your chart should be paid attention to. I will speak to this in the Weekly Horoscopes for the week of Monday November 25th so stay tuned! You can sign up to become a member to access horoscopes, gate calls and more here- https://divineharmony.com/become-a-member/
The coming Underworld journey is one of letting go of what we think we know so we can realize Greater Truth. LET YOUR MIND BE BLOWN OPEN. Being committed to Truth more than we are to being right is the medicine required right now. This medicine is not sweet like sugar- it’s salty, sour and spicy. It may shock our socks off- but it can also trigger a healing crisis that is desperately needed. In medicine the poison IS the cure. So use the serpent medicine available right now to face shadow, heal and transform, and shed the old skin of the past so we can move into the future.
The Sabian Symbol degrees for the Station points are interesting. The Station Retrograde degree speaks to “Consciously accepting the ways of a new stage of experience, in readiness for the opportunities it will present”. As we cross the threshold into a new realm of existence we have to adjust and keep our minds OPEN. The Station Direct degree speaks to an “Emotional Rebirth” and opening of the heart- which is actually what is required to heal the wounds of the past and turn the poison into the cure. The Heart- not the mind or the ego will- IS THE PATH TOWARDS HEALING.
The Star Sparks degrees for the Station points are also insightful. The Station Retrograde degree talks about how in order to be open and fully present with WHAT IS right now “many values must be sacrificed. In a sense, she must betray every single context on its own terms. For her’s is the path of universal synthesis and this depends upon not allowing anyone or anything, inside or out, to be It.” And the Station Direct degree reminds us to not make an enemy of everything and everyone- “This is a hard one to give up. Making sure nobody and nothing can collapse our space is an activity that is addictive. We get hooked on the sensation of warding off the enemy and showing ourselves we’re still just as alert and ready for anything as we ever were before. We get caught in the story, the role, the way it looks.” A reminder that if we are on the path of Universal Synthesis- we need to let go of the story, stop seeing enemies everywhere and start looking at the deeper undercurrent of the subconscious mind.
You can read the full text for the Star Sparks and Sabian Symbols degrees for Mercury below. The dates for important Mercury aspects are below as well.
Have a blessed Mercury Retrograde and Holy-day Season ahead <3
~Harmony
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DATES
11/25- Mercury Stations Retrograde 22’40 Sagittarius
12/15- Mercury Stations Direct 6’23 Sagittarius
MAJOR THEMES
trine Chiron- 11/19, 12/2. 12/31
opp Jupiter- 11/18, 12/4, 12/26
square Saturn- 11/12, 12/6, 12/27
SABIAN SYMBOLS
by Dane Rudhyar
23 Sagittarius- the degree of Mercury Retrograde
PHASE 263 (SAGITTARIUS 23°): A GROUP OF IMMIGRANTS AS THEY FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF ENTRANCE INTO THE NEW COUNTRY.
KEYNOTE: Consciously accepting the ways of a new stage of experience, in readiness for the opportunities it will present.
As we pass any threshold leading to a new realm of existence we have to meet certain requirements and the necessity to adjust to new ways of life – in action, thought and feeling. At times this may seem an ordeal but it is inevitable. Everything that will follow depends largely on how we cross this threshold, and on the spirit in which we meet unfamiliar and perhaps shocking experiences.
At this third stage of the fifty-third five-fold sequence we face a combination of the two preceding symbols. We find ourselves in a period of TRANSITION. We have to imitate, yet retain our inner integrity.
7 Sagittarius- the degree of Mercury Direct
PHASE 247 (SAGITTARIUS 7°): CUPID KNOCKS AT THE DOOR OF A HUMAN HEART.
KEYNOTE: A stirring-up of individual longings for romantic love.
In contrast to the preceding, this symbol refers to what one might call a personal initiation through an ideal love. Far from being related to social value, ideal love tends to exalt individual characteristics in that it glorifies what seems able to fill poignant and often unconscious needs. Such a love is a projection of the anima or animus Images which in a sense complement the outer character of the one who loves. It is a subjective event which tends to bring to the lover a crisis or emotional chaos. Such a love often turns asocial if not antisocial and is blocked or frowned upon by society.
This second stage symbol is in direct opposition to that of the “cricket game.” Intensely romantic love knows no rules and ignores collective purpose or dictates of reason. Yet it may bring to the individual an intensity of feeling which no group togetherness can arouse, at least at the ordinary social level. What is implied is a challenge to EMOTIONAL REBIRTH.
STAR SPARKS DEGREES
by Ellias Lonsdale
23 Sagittarius- the degree of Mercury Retrograde
Sagittarius 23
A woman wearing many tiny bells.
She keeps her world delicately poised on an edge or verge, which she makes sure to hold to and never let slip away. It takes everything she’s got to hang in that space. She is aware that everything depends upon being the juggler, the fool, the magician, the one who performs and the one who looks on from a great distance.
Her links are alive with any and every realm she has ever explored or ever will explore. All of these are equally relevant, present, and integral to her quest. The task is to give specific weight and authority to each one in turn, yet to remain as well open to the multiple possibilities stretching on every hand. So she has to be all here with it yet light, effervescent, mobile. That is quite an edge to surf upon in this world.
The shadow of the task is that everything can come tumbling down. At any given point, all is at risk. The pressure is on to keep the spotlight moving, keeping the attention always upon the next juicy possibility without losing all focus and definition.
In order to be this way, many values must be sacrificed. In a sense, she must betray every single context on its own terms. For hers is the path of universal synthesis and this depends upon not allowing anyone or anything, inside or out, to be It.
The rewards are immense. She can become exposed to just about any facet of existence she is drawn to. And, she can throw that aspect into the hopper with all the others and see what comes out. This is great fun and an exercise in learning at high speed and being everywhere at once.
The struggle is that it takes so much youthful life force to be this way and such vibrant awareness to stay on top of it enough to tap the riches. Therefore, she must exceed all the limits and become adept if she wishes to fulfill this potential.
7 Sagittarius- the degree of Mercury Direct
Sagittarius 7
Rats with ruby eyes.
The tracker, the navigator, the sparker hangs out in places where they must hustle to get by. That way, they can hone their edge relentlessly. And when that’s all you wanna do, making sure you get to stay on your edge is the pulse of your life.
The subconscious mind becomes the most powerful tool in the world. It points you onward, even when it seems to entangle you in a mountain of stuff. That stuff is relevant, and you won’t get on unless you cut through the middle of that mountain.
But it takes forever. It is so exhausting and consuming to be in the thick of all this old stuff when all you wanna do is stay on a sharp edge and keep getting more incisive, effective, on the beam, amazingly in touch with what is happening. The battle that goes on internally is more than too much. We balk at contending with the fragments when we only want a clear moment to hone our instincts inside of.
This is a hard one to give up. Making sure nobody and nothing can collapse our space is an activity that is addictive. We get hooked on the sensation of warding off the enemy and showing ourselves we’re still just as alert and ready for anything as we ever were before. We get caught in the story, the role, the way it looks.
Meanwhile, our subconscious mind is eagerly pushing us through all of this, avidly insistent that we can find our way. The wisdom is there in that direct knowing. We may wander as far as we can from what we really know. Somebody under there keeps insisting that every inch of the territory is fresh and alive and that all we have to do is embrace what comes, despite ourselves.