15/08/2024
Mercury retrograde and retrogrades in general. I was asked about Mercury's current effect in a post yesterday as it seems some peiople are interpreting it as a sign to stay at home, don't go out, don't talk (communicate) with anyone. So I thought I'd copy what I wrote here to be, I hope, useful to others:
I'd say first that one of the things about astrology is that everyone brings their own perspective to it, which means you always get different views. Often the thing that catches someones eye will be something that is impacting or influencing them through their own chart or their own way of seeing things. That said Mercury goes through a retrograde phase 3 or 4 times a year. So, while each time can be different, its something we are familiar with. Retrograde phases like everything else are understodd through the paradigm of our own particular belief systems. We're used to progressing, acheiving, getting things done. This is a cultural quality as well as a personal one. When we can't do this then we often understand the situation as difficult or dangerous, rather than the opportunity that it also is. Retrograde means, through the paradigm of Evolutionary Astrology, at least, and certainly the way I see it, an opportunity to revisit, to reflect. Then as the planet in question stations and turns direct, we are able to move forwards again with renewed insights. So, for me, Mercury's retrograde action is an opportunity. But yes, comunication, and some kinds of plans don't come together as we had expected. But its not Mercury dissapointing us, it is our own expectations, yes? This is where astrology is useful, it shows us the seasons and cycles that we are always living within. Most of us benefit from living in sheltered concrete houses with electric light and comfort and feel independently secure from the world outside, but its an illusion. We are so much more interconnected than we often realise. And if we don't realise it, then it comes as a suprise when something seems to be out of our control.
But speaking of current transits, I'd encourage people to focus more on the impact of Saturn at the moment. This slow moving giant is squaring Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. Curently it is square to Mars and Jupiter, but as Mars moves more quickly it will pass out of this sphere of influence, leaving Saturn and Jupiter square to each other for some time to come. And Saturn is moving retrograde too. Much more than Mercury, Saturns square will highlight whatever is in our way that needs addressing before we can progress.
Coming back to the retrograde theme for a moment. The moons nodes are naturally retrograde for most of the time, relative to Earth. And the moon often instills us to reflect. Without reflection theer is no learning from our path and expereicnes in life.
And Pluto is retrograde relative to Earth for almost half the time. It represents the template for the Soul's journey. So it helps us take 5 steps forwards and then 4 steps back, so we progress in a seemingly slower way, but have opportunity to integrate our life experiences. The Soul evolves through the emotional body, through experiencing.
It can be frustrating when we make plans and something slows us down, but if we make use of the opportunities, then the way we move forwards is informed by all that we do and all that we have learned.
Mercury stations on the 28th/29th of August, but we won't feel the difference until it moves forwards, our of the retrograde shadow, past the point that it was at when it started to go retrograde, which will be 12th September, when it reaches 4 degrees of Virgo again.
If you would like to know more about how these things affect you through your natal chart please do pop me a message by email here:
Blessings and much love
Joe ✨️🙏♥️
joe@shamanastrologer.com
Understand your life choices Souls Journey and your birth natal chart through Evolutionary Astrology with Joe Molloy Shaman Astrologer
