mercury is just about to station retrograde, exact today thursday 2/6/14 at 1:43pm PST. mercury is the linear, logical mind and his retrograde journeys are akin to underworld excavations where the non-linear, irrational and illogical is in control. as such all things mercury related (i.e. communication, technology, travel) tend to go haywire and awry. the best use of these periods of time is shift from external, control oriented focus to internal, reflective and introspective focus. with mercury stationing retrograde in mystical, intuitive, otherworldly pisces today- this inner focus is amplified tenfold!
we have been in mercury’s shadow (the period of time that he first goes over all the degrees he will go over two more times) since 1/22- bringing us intimations of what this retrograde journey will be about for us personally as well as collectively. interestingly on 1/22 the sun squared the nodal axis- bringing us to a pivotal point of shift and choice on our evolutionary paths. getting clear about what direction we are headed in may very well be a big part of this retrograde journey!
the main aspects that dominate this mercury retrograde include the following:
mercury stations retrograde today (2/6) in conjunction with the royal fixed star fomalhaut, associated with the archangel gabriel. this is a very powerful fixed star associated with magic, prophecy, idealism and the occult. having mercury station on this powerful fixed star is significant but my guess is the significance will be personally felt on a very subtle level (so don’t look outside for manfiestation, look within). openings into our psychic gifts, intuitions and ability to tune into/connect with the World around us are possible today! pay attention to what is going for you on this day and the days surrounding it- and take notes!
mercury trines the north node in scorpio three times- on 2/2 before his retrograde, on 2/11 during his retrograde and then on 3/16. with the intuitive, spiritual, idealistic mind aligned with the evolutionary north node of destiny and growth- opportunities for eye/mind/heart opening insights into our unfolding path can arise right now. it is interesting to note that the nodes are about to change into new signs- on 2/18 the true position of the nodes moves out of scorpio/taurus and into libra/aries (more on that in the monthly forecast). with mercury aspecting the north node 3 times just before it shifts into a new home sign- i get this sense that information is coming in that is highly time sensitive and if we follow it to where it leads us it will set us on a brand new course in our lives- in a new uncharted direction.
on 2/12 mercury backtracks into aquarius- shifting the intuitive, irrational, idealistic mind to a more detached, mental, intellectual focus. both pisces and aquarius are signs of evolution- so we could say that this mercury retrograde is asking us to look deeply into our hearts (pisces) and minds (aquarius)- or our Souls (pisces) and Spirits (aquarius)- so that we can see what is no longer serving us and what in fact may be holding us back from the evolution we seek!
when in aquarius mercury squares saturn in scorpio three times- on 1/25, 2/18 (the day the true nodes change signs) and on 3/10. saturn is the task master and in square aspect to mercury he challenges us to address our mental ideas, our stubborn attachments and our disconnected thinking. mercury/saturn can be a time of serious discussions with others or with ourselves. it can also be a time where we are being forced to address the reality of situations- realities that the pisces energy is not really all that interested in addressing or admitting!
the midpoint of the mercury retrograde cycle is 2/15- so pay attention to what is going on that day as insights, aha moments and bolt out of the blue awarenesses are all possible. the first part of mercury retrograde is excavation mode- but after the midpoint sun/mercury conjunction we can start to see the Light and realize we are making our way through a tunnel one step at a time.
mercury will station direct on 2/28 at 18’09 aquarius and he will exit his post shadow on 3/20. it is interesting to note that the aspect mercury makes once he passes his shadow are really powerful! on 3/22 mercury cojoins neptune, the ruler of the sign pisces he is in. and then from 3/26-28 mercury trines jupiter, sextiles pluto and cojoins chiron- getting activated by the outer planets/planetoids and no doubt bringing in higher information with opportunities to heal the mind and the split from the heart.
this is a powerful mercury retrograde cycle we are in! be sure to take time to turn within and retreat from the world- especially this week while mercury is retrograding in pisces. insights that come in can provide answers to questions your rational mind has been battling with for weeks or months! tune in- don’t tune out! for more information about this mercury retrograde cycle and how it impacts your personal chart check the weekly horoscopes and be sure to read for sun sign and rising sign.
blessings…
~divine harmony