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| 'Free Your Mind' by Catrin Welz-Stein |
Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius
1/30/21 – 2/20/21
How does Mercury express in Aquarius?
Mercury in the fixed air of Aquarius sends messages in
waves that connect through networks of people.
This can link us telepathically, often to greater understanding of our
social systems. These days, such a ‘communal
bath’ for the collective mind tends to come through the internet (and
especially our social media outlets)…where we have the opportunity to instantaneously
share our unique gifts as individuals while we connect to our global community.
The World Wide Web was first introduced to us when Saturn
was last in Aquarius, and now that Saturn is in Aquarius again…this invention
is approaching its Saturn Return. When
we go through our first Saturn Return (around the age of 29), we are often
tasked with the many responsibilities of reaching full-blown adulthood. It is a Rite of Passage where we must commit
to something with newfound maturity and carry it through for the next few
decades of our lives. For us humans, by
the age of 29, we have gone through a series of tests where we confront the
concept of Authority outside of ourselves, only to return to the Authority
within ourselves. It will be interesting
to see how this will play out with the Internet, a non-human entity that humans
so often use. And Mercury in Aquarius will
likely be including this as part of the collective retrograde story this time
around.
Of course, any form of connection with community
(especially when using your individual gifts for a common goal) is linked to
this Mercury in Aquarius energy. But
technological innovation does speed up the process of Group Consciousness. Keep in mind that this energy does not
dissolve our differences to make us just like everyone else. More often, it combines many unique
viewpoints and shares them in ways that inform our world with whatever group
dynamics we create together. So Mercury
in Aquarius inclines us to be more consciousof what we’re contributing to the
group or community. We may be asking
ourselves, ‘how does this thing that sets me apart from others actually offer
something integral to my community?’
What is the purpose of a Mercury Retrograde?
Mercury, the Messenger, has a gift for storytelling. The Mercurial function is to spell the
message out in various ways to get the point across…usually from point A (let’s
say that’s you) to point B (let’s say that’s me). But in transit, bearing the collective
message, sometimes Mercury loops or zig-zags back and forth from point A to
point B three times. It is a message so
important that it needs repeating from multiple perspectives. A Mercury Retrograde expands the message into
a 3-part storyline.
From my view as an Astrology Writer, Mercury’s first direct
pass of the coming retrograde degrees is the Prologue of the story. During this time (January 15-30), Mercury
introduces us to the world and the main characters of the story. There are hints of what is to come, but much
of the detail is left out. Mercury
catches our attention, and promises to reveal more throughout the
retrograde. It is a time where, because
we were speeding along in our everyday lives, Mercury invites us to slow down and
pay attention to something we all zipped past without giving much time for
thought.
Mercury Retrograde, the heart of the story, is the Deep
Think we all need (multiple times a year).
This part of the story begins during Mercury’s station…when our
Messenger planet appears to slow down to a halt and change directions in our
sky. This, of course, only appears so
from our view on Earth…which is why these messages are so poignant to us Earthlings. Mercury is also closer to us in proximity
during retrogrades, so it feels more like an intimate Storytime for all of us. And the closer the degrees to our natal storyline
by dynamic aspect, the more we take in the story as it inspires us on a
personal level.
Because this is true, it means that the lessons contained
within each retrograde storyline are not always so specific to us. But they will be specific and personal to
many…so the more we interact with others during this time, the more we can
learn of the message. Contrary to
popular belief, Mercury Retrograde is not a time to hide under a rock and cease
all communications. Our connections bring
out more meaning to the story. However,
there is definitely an inward journey happening during any retrograde. And with Mercury as the guide, there is great
potential to shift our inward thought patterns into unexplored territory.
Throughout this apparent backtrack through what was hinted
at in Mercury’s Prologue, every aspect (new or repeated) is given a fuller
description. There is time to go deeper
and develop a different perspective on the story. It becomes more meaningful to us…just as a
reader falls in love with or increasingly identifies with a character. We become more engaged with the story. We are immersed in it. Mercury has a multitude of gifts for keeping
our attention stimulated throughout.
Within the Retrograde storyline, there is an Interior
Conjunction between Sun and Mercury that plants the new thoughtseed within each
of us that grows, gives, and composts through the rest of Mercury’s cycle. In a way, this is the main point of the
retrograde…to finish one cycle of thought so another can replace it. However, the Retrograde story doesn’t end
here.
The Retrograde concludes when Mercury carries our awareness
all the way back to the degree where we missed something important as the
Prologue began. This happens during
Mercury’s direct station. The Messenger
planet once again slows down to a halt and shifts directions…but not before
pointing us to a priceless message we need to retrieve and integrate for
ourselves.
The Epilogue, where Mercury describes the events in the
story after all plotlines are revealed, is the 2nd direct pass of
the degrees Mercury has traveled thrice.
During this time (2/20 – 3/12), we are offered an opportunity to
integrate the meaning of this story into our lives. The events that play out during the epilogue
are signals on how to move forward with what we retrieved of the meaning.
How do I know if this Retrograde relates to me personally?
Not everyone speaks the language of Astrology, I get
that. There are ways to learn these
things…but most prefer to just consult an Astrologer for such advice. That is my job, and I love it. However, I was born in the Aries season so I
also tend to champion the way of self-reliance.
If you’d rather learn to fish, I’m willing to teach that. But since I have a mixed group of readers and
clients (from novices to professionals), I’ll include more detail than the
general information. I was born at
Mercury Cazimi (the Exterior Conjunction of Sun and Mercury) after all, so ‘show
and tell’ is a big part of my personal toolkit.
If you are familiar enough with your natal chart, you can first
look to the part of your chart where Aquarius 12 – 27 is. This will show you the area of life (the Astrological
House) where this story will be set. For
example, this retrograde takes place in my 10th House…the House of
Career and Public Contribution. Then you
may notice if you have any planets or angles in this part of your natal
chart. If you do, you will have some
distinctly personal lessons throughout this time. If you don’t have anything in this part of
Aquarius, as it is in my case, you’ll see the lessons playing out by other
aspects with your natal chart.
The next thing to look for is whether you have natal
planets or angles in any of the other fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, and Scorpio)
between 12 – 27 degrees. It is likely
that you do. So, in this case, Mercury
will bring up dynamic square aspects (to Taurus or Scorpio) or a tense balancing
act with your personal Leo lessons. For
me, it’s all about the squares to my Taurus Ascendant-Chiron and my Scorpio
Moon-Ceres. In fact, there will be a
square between Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius and Mars in Taurus on Feb. 10
that will highlight my exact Ascendant degree.
At that time, I’ll no doubt be pressed to take communicative action in
some way.
For those who have it relatively easy, and Mercury is not
making any dynamic aspects to your natal energies, you may find trines or
sextiles to natal planets in other air or fire signs (Aries, Gemini, Libra, or
Sagittarius). In that rare case of only harmonious
aspects, you may find you float along during this time with a great deal of
ease where nothing pushes you to engage with this story. It is possible, then, that you will be the
one who falls asleep during this Storytime and you miss the message. Or, if you do respond to the creative flow
and the opportunities this story presents for you, a lot of good can come from
your participatory engagement. Cancer,
Virgo, Capricorn, and Pisces are the parts of your chart that might not relate
to the Mercury Retrograde storyline much at all (as they are non-aspects to
Aquarius)…but it is highly unlikely that everything in your chart is only in
those signs.
And if you want to get really Astro-geeky with me, you may
find my outline of Mercury’s retrograde journey to be useful for timing
purposes. I’ve included Sabian Symbols
of the degrees that will be highlighted throughout as well…which can give you
some clues to the story’s action.
Keep in mind that the degrees listed are rounded up. So, where this whole Mercury journey begins in
11.01 Aquarius, it is considered the 12th degree of Aquarius.
1/15 – 1/30:
Mercury’s Prologue (AQU 12 – 27)
1/20: Aquarius Mercury trine Gemini North Node
(part 1) (AQU/GEM 20)
Mercury- ‘a white dove bearing a message’
North
Lunar Node- ‘a cafeteria’
South
Lunar Node- ‘men cut ice for summer use’
1/30: Mercury
stations retrograde (AQU 27)
‘An
ancient pottery bowl filled with violets’
1/30 – 2/20:
Mercury’s Retrograde in Aquarius (AQU 27 – 12)
2/8: Interior Conjunction of Sun-Mercury (AQU 21)
‘a woman, disappointed and disillusioned,
courageously faces a seemingly empty life’
2/10: Aquarius MercuryRx trine Gemini North Node (part
2) (AQU/GEM 19)
MercuryRx- ‘a forest fire quenched’
North Lunar Node- ‘a large archaic volume reveals traditional wisdom’
South Lunar Node- ‘pelicans seek safer areas to raise their
young’
2/10: Aquarius MercuryRx square Taurus Mars
(AQU/TAU 18)
MercuryRx- ‘a man’s secret motives are being publicly
unmasked’
Mars- ‘a woman airing an old bag through an open
window’
2/13: MercuryRx conjunct Venus (AQU 15)
‘two
lovebirds on a fence’
2/14: MercuryRx conjunct Jupiter (AQU 14)
‘a
train entering a tunnel’
2/20: Mercury
stations direct (AQU 12) ‘People on a vast staircase, graduated upwards’
2/20 – 3/12:
Mercury’s Epilogue (AQU 12 – 27)
3/2: Aquarius Mercury trine Gemini North Node
(part 3) (AQU/GEM 16)
Mercury- ‘a big businessman at his desk’
North
Lunar Node- ‘a woman activist in an emotional speech’
South
Lunar Node- ‘seagulls fly around a ship in expectation of food’
3/4: Mercury conjunct Jupiter (AQU 18)
‘a
man’s secret motives are being publicly unmasked’
Love and Gratitude,
Felina Lune Kavi
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