-James Baldwin
This Wednesday Mercury, presently in Aquarius, enters its shadow phase before its next retrograde cycle. However, it should really be called the “foreshadowing phase.” This is what usually happens as the planet appears to slow down. At this time we get to see some of the issues we will be dealing with on a logistical and psychological level. Technically speaking, the “shadow” phase or period is terrain that the planet will cover once Mercury has backed up and will retrace its steps. Of course, the planet only appears to change directions from our vantage point here on earth. No planetary body actually changes direction, but everything is about perception, no? The ancients read this apparent reversal as a very important happening. Remember astrology is a divination system. It’s a way of reading the signs and omens around us. This is not a science, but it is one of many systems that aim to give life a deeper meaning.
Mercury’s actual retrograde cycle starts February 6 at 3+ degrees of Pisces and ends on February 28 at 18+ degrees of Aquarius. The entire retrograde cycle plus shadow phase is from January 22 to March 20. Starting in emotionally sensitive Pisces and retrograding back into intellectually cool Aquarius is something to contemplate in terms of what this leg of the journey has in store for us. Can we think and feel? Can we honor our intuition and our rationale? Can we take what we’ve gathered in back rooms of our unconscious and use it in our conscious life? If you have any planets in these degrees or you were born while Mercury was retrograde you’re likely to feel this cycle more precisely. Situations will present themselves that you will be forced to deal with.
Mercury retrogrades are seen as time when things go a little awry, seemingly out of our control and annoyingly slippery, tricky and delayed. Western culture has such a preoccupation with this astronomical happening and astrological meaning because we are so hell-bent on being able to control everything, doing whatever we want whenever we want. Mercury retrograde is famous for being a bad time to start new projects and a great time for reworking, reconfiguring and reorganizing ones already started. It’s not a bad time to start something that needs to stay a secret or somewhat hidden for a time being. However, I advise against doing anything that is out of integrity, harmful or careless.
The last time Mercury went retrograde was back in the fall from October 21-November 10. The most interesting thing about that time period was the series of conjunctions that Mercury made to Saturn and the eclipses that happened in tandem with them. Saturn rules structures, boundaries and exposes the bones of things; if you build your house out of straw you are begging for the wolf to come a-knocking. Many astrologers, including myself, urged readers to spend time considering how they were using their minds. Mercury rules communication, thoughts, speech, sales and movements made in ones local environment. A good reason to right our thoughts, use our mind skillfully and do some mental flossing. The retrograde happened entirely inside of Scorpio, a sign known for its need to purge, compost and renew.
This time around Mercury’s retrograde will start in Pisces but will quickly meander back into Aquarius; a sign that squares Scorpio, the sign that Saturn still inhabits. A square is an aspect that frustrates a situation propelling us into movement. When we get uncomfortable enough we change. There are two things about this square that are important to note. One: it’s a waxing square which makes it more intense and two: Mercury is in the sign that Saturn rules (Aquarius) which makes it a little friendlier (like being at your BFF’s house).
A waxing square is more intense because it’s a building energy. We can look at planetary cycles like the moon’s cycle with the sun. At a conjunction, it’s a new moon or a beginning, at the first square the light is building towards the opposition. There a crisis occurs. Are we building in the right direction, what will we need to complete the journey? The opposition brings us the full moon or the realization of said beginning. What’s done is done and we get to see the fruits of our labors. Next we have the waning square which is another crisis point. At that point it’s a crisis of release. Eventually we end up back at the conjunction/new moon phase ready for another go around. In this cycle Saturn acts as the sun would because it’s the slower moving body. Mercury acts as the moon since it is the faster moving body. All this to say (and if none of that made sense forget it and pay attention to the next sentence) when you think back to October/November did anything happen that is now either resurfacing or getting repurposed? It took me a second to figure out what this was for me. Once I did it made perfect sense and is quite profound in terms of the lessons of these planets.
Astrology is as good as how we use it. If you are really into this stuff then I would start writing down days/months/time periods when major things happened and then looking at the astrology. Or make time to sit down with an astrologer to see what planetary movements were taking place and then keep observing how the astrology affects you personally. Mercury squares Saturn on January 25, February 18 and March 10. My suggestion, if you are interested in following these rhythms, is to put those dates in your datebook and notice what arises around those times. The other dates to watch out for are the days Mercury “changes” direction (also called “storming”, which is so much more dramatic). On February 6 and February 28, again just notice what goes on at these times without an agenda or too much attachment. Each retrograde will connect with our charts in different ways, some more intense than others.
This is not an excuse to blame everything that goes wrong on the planets apparent movements in the sky. However, it is a time for the wise among us to relinquish a little more control, cultivate a lot more consciousness and practice a more mindful relationship with the heavens. Do not fear the retrogrades. How will that help anyway?
Because Mercury is in Saturn’s sign (traditionally called domicile) it appears as if Saturn will be a friendly task master, like the cool kid in class who decides to help us for no reason by giving us an answer or two during a pop quiz. I think we can aid this by being active in the boundaries that we create. How can you next level your clarity of speech? Can you challenge yourself to being more rigorous in your honesty, especially with yourself? Can you slow down (the influences of Saturn and any retrograde movement) long enough to contemplate if what you are saying is kind, true and necessary? And if it isn’t, why the hell are you saying it? We may also get routinely stopped by Saturn and blocked in our communications in some way. Take every dropped call as a moment to meditate, every delay as an opportunity to be mindful. Take every miscommunication as a moment to be with yourself.
Shadowy Mercury Mischief Blessings!
Chani
