“My Grandmother told us a long
time ago that the seasons as we know them will not be anymore.I wonder how these old people who never went
to school and never left their land knew these things, which are happening right
now in front of our eyes.As I get
older, the significance of the stories and teachings of my elders becomes
clear.They say that in our land – the land
of the Big Ice – that the Big Ice will melt and that at its place the most
beautiful flower will blossom.”
-Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq, Kalaallit Shaman from Greenland
This Full Moon is perhaps the
most significant of the year, stirring up second chances through unusual
happenings on Earth.Not only is this an
Astrological Blue Moon (2nd Full Moon in the sign of Aquarius), it
is also a Seasonal Blue Moon (3rd of 4 Full Moons between Solstice
and Equinox).And on top of this
double-dose of Blue Moon energy, the luminaries are in a T-square pattern with
Sedna at the apex (stressed by the tension in the opposition).
Art by Genevieve Cseh
Some may not be too familiar
with Sedna, a trans-Neptunian dwarf planet discovered in 2003.This planet is named after the Inuit Goddess
of the Ocean…Mother of the Sea Creatures and provider of sustenance and
resources for those who live in the treeless, frozen arctic.At the farthest extreme of Sedna’s orbit, she
is the most distant of all dwarf planets.Yet, in 2076, she will be the closest to Earth that she can be in her
distant orbit.Last time Sedna was
closest to Earth was the end of the last Ice Age and the beginning of agriculture.
And what are we learning now of
the importance of Earth’s frozen lands, the oceans, and the relationship
between humankind and our global environment?It just recently rained for the first time on record at Greenland’s ice sheet summit, which has been melting at an alarming rate and causing a dramatic
rise in sea levels.This is an
unprecedented (‘once in a Blue Moon’) event, though it is also interconnected
to the many events that have escalated over the years to this season being the
hottest on record for the Northern Hemisphere.Greenland has recently banned all new oil exploration.The government cites the escalating climate
emergency and concern for the fragile arctic environment as reasons for this decision.
Now, with this knowledge, let’s
move back to the mythic storyline of Sedna.There is much more to her story, but there is a key part of it that
seems to be highlighted in these recent events in Greenland (and the T-Square
pattern).Sedna provides sustainability for
the arctic people…and the arctic provides sustainability for our whole
planet.And now, as we continue to see
undeniable and escalating instability in this region…we humans are tasked with
how to remedy this to ensure that our future generations even have a
future.In her story, when the great Ocean
Goddess provider became angry with humanity’s greedy consumption and destruction
of the planet, she would withhold her gifts from them.In her rage, her long hair would become
tangled…and the shamanic healer of the tribe would journey to the bottom of the
ocean to comb out her tangled hair to soothe her.This part of the story illustrates the
importance of caring for our life-giving waters, and the necessity for a sacred
bond between humans and the Earth.
'Extensions' by Jeanne Simmons
And though Sedna was once only
known as a local Goddess to the Inuit people, she has rapidly risen to a global
goddess of great importance.The necessity
that arises from Sedna at the apex of this Blue Moon T-square is that human
beings must come together to ‘comb out Sedna’s tangled hair’ in some meaningful,
respectful, and dedicated way.And the
emphasis on Aquarius during this season suggests that this journey is more
impactful if we align our focus to this common goal, rather than focusing on
ourselves and the human-made rifts we keep creating between us.
And though it may all seem
very daunting as we wrap our heads (and hopefully our hearts) around what is
happening and what we can do…this Full Moon conjunct Jupiter Retrograde and
ruled by Saturn Retrograde (all three in Aquarius) suggests that a ‘Cosmic
Clean-Up Crew’ is supporting such efforts.
Jupiter’s conjunction to this
Moon amplifies the benefits of expansive, progressive, and community-minded
endeavors.And Saturn’s rulership of
this conjunction demands sustainable commitment.There is also support from Saturn’s trine
with Venus in Libra and their harmonious relationship with the lunar
nodes.This kite pattern suggests that
the commitments (Saturn) we make are best done in a spirit reciprocity and
balanced relationship (Venus in Libra). Essentially,
there is opportunity for harmony in these collective efforts, but we will need
to engage on a soul level (lunar nodes).
It is clear that Sedna’s
imperative at this time echoes what Naalakkersuisut (Greenland’s government)
has stated, ‘The future belongs to renewable energy’.
Love and Gratitude,
Felina Lune Kavi
P.S. Because this is the Blue Corn Moon where I live...this song from my childhood seemed appropriate.
(Translation of the Scots
Gaelic fonn (chant), ‘Duisg, mo Chridhe’
recorded by the Ceile De)
In the Dog Days of the
Northern Hemisphere’s Summer, in between celebrating the Lughnasadh
Cross-Quarter Holiday (August 7th this year, when Sun is at 15
degrees of Leo) and witnessing the heliacal rising of Sirius (the ‘dog star’ will
be visible here sometime after August 11th this year)…we welcome in
the Corn Moon cycle.
And this is no ordinary Corn
Moon, as it will grow from this seed in Leo into the Blue Corn Moon in
Aquarius.Our previous Full Moon (the
Blessing Moon) was also in Aquarius.So
the Full Moon of this lunar cycle seed will be an astrological and a seasonal
Blue Moon…a cycle of amplified wisdom.
There are a few types of Blue Moons:
The Societal Blue Moon (2nd
full moon in a calendar month)-which we
last experienced on Halloween/Samhain 2020.These Blue Moons tend to have more of a social significance…where societal
groups of people experience the time as something very different than what they
have gotten used to.
The Seasonal Blue Moon (3rd
of 4 full moons in one season)-as we have
coming up on August 22nd 2021, between Solstice and Equinox (Summer to Autumn
for Northern Hemisphere, Winter to Spring for Southern Hemisphere).These Blue Moons reconnect us to deeper
wisdom from our Living Earth…where Mother Nature reveals the kind of wisdom
that only comes along ‘once in a Blue Moon’.
The Astrological Blue Moon (2nd
full moon in an Astrological sign, tropical zodiac)-as
is also true of August 22nd, in the sign of Aquarius.These Blue Moons amplify a message from our
Living Sky…where we receive a double dose of the Cosmic Medicine needed for our
times (which is Aquarius Medicine this year).
And what we are building
toward now is a combination of the last two, so this New Moon in Leo is where
we sow the seed for something extraordinary.
New Moon square Uranus
'Uranus' by Michael Whelan
If there’s anyone in our
Cosmic Neighborhood that knows about the extraordinary, it’s the planet
Uranus.Uranus was our first planetary
introduction into the eccentricities of things beyond the established order of
our world view (Saturn).It’s a planet
that flips the script on what we think we know, and introduces us to sudden
change through surprises and awakenings.Uranus, like Prometheus, brings an enlightening fire to Humanity that
lets us see ourselves in a new light.
And as this New Moon squares
Uranus, it is a potent seed for unexpected awakenings.Uranus is currently in Taurus (2018 through 2025),
sending a generation of shock waves through solid earth throughout this 7-year
cycle.But our luminaries at this time,
conjunct Mercury, are in Leo.Leo, the
sign of our Sun, is the way of heart-centered leadership and creative
self-expression.This Leo Stellium shows
us something much more personal at this New Moon, it shows us a way to be as we
open this lunar cycle.The combination
of these energies awakens the Heart of Humanity to respond to the extraordinary
events of this year…a year where the pressure of Aquarius Saturn square Taurus Uranus
(the Old vs. the New) defines our time.
Moon and Sun in Leo 17
(Sabian Symbol- ‘a non-vested
church choir’)
'Choir of the Blue Song Turns to Joy' by Randy Burns
In these Aquarian times, where
we are invited to join with others for a common goal, this New Moon degree
shows us the wisdom of willing participation and engagement with the group
while shining our individual passion and authenticity.The choir in this symbol is full of what we
might call ordinary people in their individual attire (non-vested).But together, and connecting to each other
through heartfelt harmony, ‘ordinary’ people can create extraordinary
things.As each voice sings or chants
from this heart-centered place within, spiritual communion is amplified with acoustic
resonance.And whether we’re ‘singing
our heart out’ or just witnessing, those ordinary people doing extraordinary
things can send inspiration to the hearts of others.We may feel inspired by a moving performance
at this time, or we may just feel it as a collective vibration that moves us to
respond.But what is being seeded now
encourages us all to shine our brilliance from the heart.
This Blessing Moon shines full
in Aquarius, which is Saturn’s diurnal expression.Saturn is also co-present in this sign, where
Saturn and Moon will meet the following day.Saturn in Aquarius holds a very objective view of the future, and one
that focuses on the work required for the greater good instead of how such
responsibility may feel to each of us on a personal level.It is both humanitarian and relatively detached
from human drama all at once.So Saturn Retrograde
is informing this Aquarius Moon with his plans for reconstruction of Humanity’s
systems, while Moon illuminates the needs of the community.
While not all of us with
Aquarius planets are so detached and objective (you really have to take the
whole natal chart into account), this particular time in our lunar cycle has
that underlying signature.The Air element,
thus intellect and discussion, is highlighted through a Grand Trine with Libra
Vesta and Gemini Persephone.So while
the Air element does tend to bring people together through relating and
communicating, it operates on the mental plane…which often works to distinguish
one thing from another to describe a concept clearly.The amplification of Air at this time
suggests an ability for each of us to reach a point of clarity about what began
in the dark of the New Moon two weeks ago.
'Vesta' by Pamela Matthews
These asteroids, Vesta and
Persephone, represent two mythic storylines where detachment for the greater
good also plays a key role.Vesta, named
after the Goddess of the Hearth, is Keeper of the Sacred Flame…her Vestal
Priestesses tasked with the responsibility of tending the Sacred Flame of the
community.In dedication to her Sacred
Work, Vesta willingly chose to remain chaste…detached from the pursuit of Gods
like Apollo and Neptune.The Latin word
for Hearth is ‘Focus’…and Vesta shows where focus and dedication is
needed.In Libra, this focus is on maintaining
balance in one-on-one relationships…but Vesta brings a more platonic focus to our
relations.Echoing the call of Venus,
who recently moved into Virgo, Vesta asks us to consider relating with each
other through acts of service.
'Hades and Persephone' by Sandara
Persephone, named after the
Queen of the Underworld, is another Goddess with a rich storyline. And while
her abduction by Hades (Pluto) is a well-known part of her story (which relates
to the later patriarchal takeover of the Great Mother’s rulership over death
and rebirth), it is a reframing that happened later.As Demetra George notes in her book ‘Finding
Our Way Through the Dark’:“In the
Pre-Hellenic version of her myth, Persephone voluntarily went into the
Underworld for part of each year to tend to the dead.”
Persephone’s significance in
this Grand Trine, and through Gemini, brings up her conscious choice to move
across the threshold (a sacred object of Vesta’s) from maidenhood to her
womanhood as Queen of the Dead…which necessitated that she be an integral part
of two worlds.In each story, Vesta and
Persephone chose to become what was needed for the greater good…by their own
volition.This suggests that one of the amplified
themes of this Full Moon is about making a conscious choice that takes us
beyond our personal experience to serve a greater goal.
This call to step beyond the ‘why
me?’ and just choose to do the hard work required of each of us is also
indicated by Sun’s conjunction to Psyche in Leo.This conjunction is the fiery anchor point of
the airy flow of the Grand Trine, creating a Kite pattern and suggesting that
there is more opportunity to use the trines in a beneficial way.
Art by John William Waterhouse
The Asteroid Psyche, which I
refer to as the ‘Mind of the Soul’, is intricately tied to her lover Eros
(which I call the ‘Heart of the Soul’) in their mythic storyline.There is a separation…a detachment…involved
in their story too, where Psyche must complete some seemingly impossible tasks so
that she may be reunited with her love.This
separation resulted from her own choice to reveal the true identity of her
lover, Eros.And while ‘the path of true
love never did run smooth’ (as Puck says in ‘Midsummer’), Psyche’s choice led
to her becoming who she was meant to be (just as it was for Vesta and
Persephone).It seems The Heroine’s
Journey is written all over this Full Moon.
And to bring it all back
around to Moon in Aquarius, this Moon is also tightly conjunct Chariklo (in the
same degree of Aquarius).Chariklo is the
largest body classified as a Centaur, whose orbit moves between Saturn and
Uranus without moving beyond the orbital paths of those planets.As her name means ‘Graceful Spinner’, she
represents the graceful enforcement of boundaries.Her unique rings indicate the ability to
uphold personal boundaries while her dance between Saturn and Uranus indicates respect
for other’s boundaries.
Art by John La Farge
As the loving and supportive
wife of Chiron, Chariklo went from nymph to what some have called ‘Lady Shaman’
in her mythic storyline…in some accounts even transforming into a centaur
through this marriage.One of her
significations is the ability to hold space for others through any process of
transition or transformation.She was a
midwife to the healing process of her husband as well as a midwife for others
through birth, death, and all Rites of Passage in between.She creates a container of grace in which the
difficult, but necessary, work can be done.And while she is known for her compassionate care, she also employs some
amount of detachment so that she can hold this kind of space for the larger
process that needs to take place.
The Full Moon reflects
Chariklo’s graceful enforcement of boundaries so that we may all be held in
that safe container as we make our individual choices now…to heal, to step up
to our challenges, and to become what calls us beyond the Self.
“Human beings were invented by
water as a device for transporting itself from one place to another.”
--Tom
Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction
As the heavy squares of the
previous lunar cycle relax, Moon moves into her comfort zone of Cancer for
renewal.The Mead Moon gives way to the
Blessing Moon’s beginnings in cardinal water…where what is felt is key to the
Collective Soul experience.We may
retreat into our innermost cave, feeling around in the dark for something
familiar.We may find our comfort in
family, ancestral roots guiding us toward a feeling of home.Or we may feel like floating along on a
current of creativity with this Moon carrying the blessings of a Uranus sextile
into a flowing water trine with Neptune Retrograde.
However you feel through this
experience, this New Moon is gently guiding us to relax with her as she
recharges with the Sun.And couldn’t we
all use a little break after the fixed squares amplified some of the harder
lessons of this year?Cancer Moon, like
a caring mother, embraces us and says ‘change is good medicine, especially when
we integrate it through rest.’
This is a good time to
reconnect with water…the water you carry within you and the water you interact
with in your environment.Not only does some
form of water cover four-fifths of our world, but our bodies are made up of
roughly 60% water.Water is in our brain,
our heart, our lungs…even in our bones.We are carriers of water…this primordial substance which does not die,
but only transforms.We are immersed in
its life-giving blessings from our very beginnings in the womb of our mother.
Water is so natural to us,
that we sometimes forget how integral it is to who we are.Like the Soul, it is everlasting…and speaks
through us and to us in subtle, often quiet ways…like gentle undercurrents
weaving through the dizzying din of earthly interaction.The carriage of our matter holds it for a
time, and then releases it to new form…just as Soul carries on through many
incarnations.Both water and Soul carry
memory of where it has been…and of what was felt.The journey of water, just as the journey of Soul,
is long and winding.It is not like the
direct path of Spirit…as Soul, like water, takes its time in the depths of
experience.This New Moon in the watery,
lunar sign of Cancer connects us with that felt experience that is, as David
James Duncan has called it, ‘indestructibly alive and interior’.
We are water lovers here in
our family, where we bless water with words of love and gratitude.You may recognize the animation of Soul
within water as well, depending on how deep you immerse yourself in the flow of
this restful beginning.Some of us may
even feel inclined to initiate this Blessing Moon with a ritual bath or by sending
intentional blessings through our nearest body of water.
Moon and Sun in Cancer 19
Sabian Symbol-‘a priest performing a marriage ceremony’
'Handfasting' by Lorraine Imwold
Like the couple who wishes to
sanctify their union through ritual ceremony officiated by a Priest or
Priestess, Moon and Sun join together in this degree through the sacred bond of
Soul and Spirit.But to solidify such a
commitment, a sacred container is created to hold it…’till death do us part’.This sacred container is the Matter (Earth)
which brings Soul and Spirit together to be embodied in our world…giving it
tangible substance through which this Sacred Marriage can interact with and
fully experience earthly life.
As we experience the blessings
of this New Moon, recognizing the sacredness of our emotional bonds with those
dear to us may become priority.We may
make vows, either to ourselves or others, that carry on to create something
larger than ourselves.This New Moon is
a perfect time for ceremony or ritual (large or small, officiated or not) where
we make sacred a commitment that comes from the heart.If there is something arising within you that
you want to commit yourself to during this Blessing Moon cycle, the few days following
this New Moon are potent for such initiations.
On Solstice Day, Jupiter
stationed retrograde in Pisces.This
Full Moon in Capricorn, coming just a few days after Solstice, is in a
beneficial sextile with retrograde Jupiter.With JupiterRx in Pisces re-envisioning the parental axis of
Capricorn-Cancer where the luminaries reside, this Mead Moon is illuminating
how to bring back more joy (JupiterRx) into how we nurture (Cancer) and
structure (Capricorn) our lives.
The opposition between Cancer
Venus and Capricorn PlutoRx is still weighing on the heart and soul at this
time.Their opposition colors the
feeling of this axis with a heavy dose of value and depth.We’re digging under the surface of what we
care about…finding some hidden gems and maybe even some shadowy feelings to
address.
A Full Moon in Capricorn does
bring up our responsibilities, as well as a need for practical action.It can be weighty, even without the influence
of Venus opposite Pluto weighing in.It
is because it illuminates Saturn’s nocturnal domicile, which is opposite the Moon’s
domicile of Cancer.So it’s not really
about feeling comfortable…it’s about doing what needs to be done.
Fortunately, we have that big
jovial influence of JupiterRx in Pisces to help keep us afloat.There’s a big-picture optimism that brings a bit
of ‘whistle while we work’ into the mix…if we choose to engage with it.And if we do, we’ll find some creative inspiration
to make what feels hard seem a little easier.
With Saturn in Aquarius
guiding this Full Moon, we’re prepared to do the work that Saturn’s square with
Uranus requires of us (even if we don’t like it).This square is the theme of our year, and we’re
still in the 2nd of 3 phases of it this year.Essentially, it is the long process of
grueling change that follows a hard year bookended by Saturn conjunctions.In one way, it requires us to make difficult
changes after better understanding the gravity of a pandemic…but it is much
deeper than that.2020 brought us
face-to-face with so many more of humanity’s collective fears and systemic
issues than we could ever acknowledge otherwise.And 2021 is in response to that…because it’s
all out there now to be dealt with.There’s no sweeping it all back under the rug.The rug was pulled out from underneath us, as
you may remember.
And at the same time as we’re
all collectively feeling that square, each individual is feeling it on a
personal level in some way that relates to our own responsibilities as human
beings.This Full Moon shines a bright
light on providing for our own needs and how that can reflect on the needs of
those we provide for.
So those ‘shoulds’ that have
been building up on your shoulders lately…like a parental voice within cutting
through all of our excuses for procrastinating…yeah, they’re only going to grow
in intensity if we keep ignoring them.Mars in Leo is building toward an opposition with Saturn and a square to
Uranus by the last quarter of this Mead Moon cycle.There’s really no hiding from the imperative
energy of this season.Can we, maybe,
just try to access some of the Brightside of the practical efforts we’re
putting forth?
Not everyone will, of
course.Jupiter’s sextile and trine to
our luminaries are much more subtle influences than the squares and oppositions
we’re all feeling loud and clear.But it
really is the key to working well right now with these harder activations
pressing us to change.I hope we can all
find that silver lining in the bigger picture of things.
Annular Solar Eclipse/New Moon
in Gemini: New Pathways of Thought
Moon conjunct Sun- 6/10/21 @
5:52am CDT
The cycle of the Mead Moon
begins while eclipsing the Sun in the northern latitudes.Along parts of the mostly arctic path of this
‘Ring of Fire’ eclipse, this lunar cycle has been known as Hunting Moon.For our Northern friends, the Moon near her
apogee will show a halo of sunlight around her for a few minutes as our
luminaries join together.And though
many of us will not be in that path…we’ll all feel the effects of New Moon near
her North Node.
'Annular Solar Eclipse' by Richard Bizley
A North Node Eclipse brings
the unfamiliar shadows of our future into our immediate present.This is the opposite of the familiar shadows
of the past that confronted us during the South Node Eclipse of May 26th.Now a glimpse of our future is revealed…confronting
us with more choices for accelerated change.Dispatches from the next eclipse of this Saros Series 147 (on June
Solstice, 2039) are calling us to choose from the many possibilities our future
holds.And the only way we can do that
is to move beyond habitual thought patterns to create new pathways.It is a shift into unknown territory.And though the Mind is most comfortable with
what it knows, it needs new ideas to grow.It’s time to explore our possibilities through imaginal ideas we’ve yet
to understand.
The strongest aspect to our
luminaries is a conjunction with retrograde Mercury, the ruler of Gemini,
relaying the messages of this season.Less than 15 hours after Moon conjoins Sun and MercuryRx, the Interior
Conjunction of Sun and MercuryRx begins a New Mercury cycle.At New Mercury (8:10pm CDT), we all receive a
thoughtseed that grows throughout the Mercury cycle.This thoughtseed is planted in our Gemini
house, and it is potent with curiosity and a fascination for ideas.So as we rise from this Eclipse Season, we
head toward new pathways for the Collective Mind.
But these initiations in
Gemini are in a square aspect with Neptune and Pallas in Pisces.We’re pressed to negotiate our differences
between what is thought (or said) and what is felt.Pallas Athene, showing us the patterns and
shapes of our mindscape, weaves her wisdom through intuitive strategy.Neptune guides us through his otherworldly
realm where seemingly disparate parts dissolve into one another.Together they speak with inspired, big-picture
vision…all while challenging the influx of information in Gemini.A square is an aspect that demands change,
and the vibration of it can be used creatively or destructively.There’s never an easy fix, which is why
negotiations worldwide feel blocked but imperative.Within
yourself, a stalemate will also need to be moved through.There is an invitation here to take action
and move forward into the new, no matter how uncomfortable it may be at
first.
Sabian Symbols of the Solar
Eclipse
North Lunar Node in Gemini
11:‘A New Path of Realism in
Experience’
'Pathway' by Kalfy
The head of the Nodal Dragon,
whether it ascends in the Northern Hemisphere or descends in the Southern
Hemisphere, leads us to our unknown future…where destiny calls.In this degree, the Collective Soul is avidly
incorporating an influx of new pathways to future potentials.So much possibility is open to us, it might
feel overwhelming.Currently, we are
learning to trust that the experience of something new will ultimately lead to
our growth.Behaviors, attitudes, and
thought patterns must change in order to embrace a new way of being.This future orientation is full of
opportunity to realize our potential.An
uncharted step requires a choice within us to take the leap…so the shadows of
this eclipse will confront us with that choice.You might ask yourself, ‘what am I afraid will happen if I choose this
new path?’.Because a revelation is
within your response.
Moon-Sun in Gemini 20:‘A Cafeteria’
When we look at food as
energetic information that we digest through our bodies, we may understand the
cafeteria symbol as an abundance of information from many different parts of
the world.Prepared for our consumption,
many varied ‘Thought Cuisines’ are available to us.The thing about a North Node eclipse is that
it tends to amplify both the energy and the appetite for it.We may be more prone to overloading our
plates…or taking in more information than our systems can handle.Take time out to empty the mind for a
spell.As we move through this
collective shadow of Overabundance and Waste, we’ll need to temper our desire
to know it all.And if we fill ourselves
too full with other people’s ideas…we don’t leave room for our personal piece
of Mercury’s message.
MercuryRx in Gemini 21:‘A Labor Demonstration’
Nurses strike in New Zealand for fair pay and safer staffing
In the same degree where Sun
and MercuryRx will meet several hours after the eclipse, Mercury is
highlighting an important conflict that inspires the action of this new
beginning.That which has previously
been ignored arises in this energy to confront our consciousness.The demand, for all of us, is essentially
that something must be done to address our future.For some, it may be very personal…like the
need to replace an unhealthy habit with a healthy one.For others, it may be expressed in the social
sphere…a strike or a protest, for example.Either way, the thought or idea comes into form as a response to the
conflict.And, through its
demonstration, it encourages more response and more consciousness to address it.
Love and Gratitude,
Felina Lune Kavi
"I'd rather meet the Me down the road, to lead me through the fog...wouldn't ask for more." -Brittany Howard, 'Future People'
When Mercury is in the mutable
air sign of Gemini (May 3rd to July 11th this year), the planet of
communication is at home…multi-tasking with the myriad of fascinating ideas and
ways of conveying them.Mercury’s
Trickster/Sacred Clown archetype is active in this sign, where important
messages are often relayed through humor and opposites…often so that we may
better think on them without absorbing them through emotional reaction.Appealing to our sense of humor during heavy
times is a clever trick, and one that better stimulates the thought process.
And from May 7th to May 30th,
Mercury the Magician has been travelling out-of-bounds from the
ecliptic…inclining us to follow our curiosity off the beaten path of where
rational thought would dare go.With
this boundless Mercury in Gemini inclination, the Collective Mind is exploring
and expressing much more freedom of thought.With curiosity piqued, we may follow many fascinating avenues of thought
at once…trying to learn as much as we can at this time.
The Gemini influence invites
us to share ideas with our brothers and sisters, network in our immediate
environment, and communicate as we learn.Throughout this long stay of Mercury in Gemini, it may feel to some like
too much mental activity to sift through.For others who work well with a lot of mental stimulation, it will be a
breath of fresh air to ride this wave of information.
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 (May 14 – 29), 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
intensely we feel the story and take it all in (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 communication
may not be operating the same as usual, but connections with others 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 (June 10th)
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 (6/22
– 7/7), 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.
What is the collective theme
of this Mercury Retrograde in Gemini?
Collectively, we’ll all be working
with a theme brought up thrice by the Gemini Mercury square Pisces Neptune
transit. When that transit was first exact, during
Mercury’s prologue, I wrote:
These dynamics can create the
kind of cognitive dissonance that Alice experienced when she encountered
Wonderland. She followed the rushing rabbit (who was full of square energy
imperatives) into a world where everything seemed illogical to what she has
been taught. But in this confusing Wonderland journey, she found herself
changing in imaginal ways.
A square urges us to make
change a necessary action…like the Caterpillar must become the Butterfly. There
is some urgency within a square dynamic, and it is ultimately creative. But it
will also bring up a clash of energy to inspire a turning-point shift.
Just as Mercury and Alice, we
release some of the insistence upon logic, detail, and knowing. And just as
Neptune, we allow for Knowledge to take a trip through our Otherworld realm,
critiquing and questioning until arriving at an expanded awareness from what
was known.
Give yourself more room to
explore the dream you sometimes mistake for reality. Is it really what it
seems? You don't have to answer that definitively...just follow where it leads
you.
Currently, you may be swimming
in the unknown. Find beauty in the weirdness, then let it inspire you to learn
from a different perspective. Follow your curiosity into ‘curiouser and
curiouser’ concepts. You may arrive at something magical beyond the looking
glass.
Have a conversation with what
is otherworldy. Yes, it might be riddled with uncertainties...but the journey
is worth the bewilderment it takes to arrive at a shift of consciousness.
How do I know if this
retrograde relates to me, personally?
'Music of the Spheres' by Fiona Watson
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), 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 Gemini 17
– 25 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 2nd House…the House of Resources and Values. 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 Gemini,
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 mutable signs (Virgo,
Sagittarius, and Pisces) between 17 – 25 degrees. In this case,
Mercury will bring up dynamic square aspects (to Virgo or Pisces) or a tense
balancing act with your personal Sagittarius lessons. For me, transiting
Mercury is very close to opposition with my Sagittarius NeptuneRx, but it turns
retrograde before reaching that degree.So, that opposition will resonate on May 29th, when Mercury stations
retrograde…but it is something that comes up stronger once Mercury’s epilogue
ends.
For those of us who have it
relatively easy this time, 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, Leo, Libra, or Aquarius). In that 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. For me, transiting
Mercury will be providing some beneficial hints to my natal opposition of
Sun-Mercury in Aries and SaturnRx in Libra.
Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, and
Capricorn are the parts of your chart that might not relate to this Mercury
Retrograde storyline much at all (as they are non-aspects to Gemini)…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 this Mercury 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 the Mercury retrograde station is
in 24.43 Gemini, it is considered the 25th degree of Gemini.
5/14 – 5/29:Mercury’s Prologue (GEM 17 – 25)
5/22:Mercury square Neptune (part 1) (GEM/PIS 23)
Mercury- “Three fledglings in a nest high in a tree”
Neptune- “Spiritist phenomena”
5/29:Mercury conjunct Venus (GEM 25)
“A gardener trimming palms”
5/29:Mercury stations retrograde (GEM 25)
“A gardener trimming palms”
5/29 – 6/22:Mercury’s Retrograde in Gemini (GEM 25 – 17)
