Music, Art, Life and Retrogrades have plenty of curves in any direction! Some are on flat land horizontal, some are high and low altitude, some are cross dimensional, span time, are the weave of the fabric of culture and connections we make with one another! Most are variable to a high degree and importantly unpredictable!
All three of the 2021 Mercury Retrogrades are in Air signs, Aquarius, Gemini, now, last, Libra! Libra Mercury wants to know you, your family’s culture, political interests, your marital status, what your favorite arts and music, cuisine are, what countries you have been to and what you do for whom! They are terrifically social and will introduce you to the ‘right’ people, and can’t help being matchmakers. They will mediate for you and help with legal work, teach you manners. Do the calligraphy on your invitations. Oh, and set up your social calendar, plan and graciously manage your events, replete with lovely flowers in all the right colors. You will often see them at art museums and symphonies. Libra is vibrant with love and intelligence. They see both sides, give great therapy. We are different yet we are One and Equal.
Mercury is the planet of the Mind, thinking, our attention, our breath and lungs, how we learn to learn, communication skills, gathering data, paperwork, signing contracts, a hand shake, the laying on of hands. All of these are essential.
Mercury is heady, there is little that isn’t interesting and little escapes its attention. Gemini is Mercury’s first sign, and Earthy Virgo is Mercury’s other sign that focuses on details, looks for perfection, expertly organizes and applies the data Gemini secures, is semi grounded! Both are known to be ultra busy! Gemini listens fast, often replies while you are still speaking! Virgo writes the book, organizes the finances, won’t go home, just has one more detail to finesse, worries about her and your health. They are quite different, you see.
Mercury Rx is don’t sign those papers about issues of the sign(s) Mercury is retrograde in! Or, do everything to make it possible so it doesn’t fall through. Escrows can fall through. Use experienced brokers who can get it done no matter what. People don’t return your calls. The dog ate it. Your computer has a snit. Or you do, LOL! You lose your cell. You get lost, turned around. Rule is be sure purchases are from reputable firms that have reliable returns/guarantees/warranties. Be sure the company is legitimate before you deal. Date and sign any contract changes and make sure they do too. Get/make copies, save and backup. Generally, you avoid making significant purchases/decisions especially of matters specific to the sign/s involved. If possible, don’t move or change or start jobs until you wait 4 days after Mercury turns Direct/forward.
The house/s where Mercury falls in your chart while it is retrograde is the area of your life that will be specially affected. Briefly: If it is in your 4th, it is home and family matters. If in your 2nd or 8th, financial adjustments will be made. 6th can be work environment, skills, coworkers, your health regime. 5/7/8 houses can be important relationships. 3/9 is educational, class requirements may shift. 9 is long term plans, travels. 10 may be career, 11 career associations/associates, friendships. 12 may be your spiritual beliefs, perceptions. So for example, if in your 10th, be cautious about signing professional documents. If in your 4th, you may opt to wait to buy the new refrigerator – a better deal or fridge may come along. In the 1st or 3rd you might wait to purchase a new vehicle. In 2 or 7, wait for the facelift. If you need help with this, see your astrologer!
About Retrogrades!
Inner planet retrogrades have three phase cycles. Sometimes outer planets have five and take 3 years! Sun and Moon have none. The 3 parts are:
- Covering the initial ground, degrees that the retrograde will go back over when the planet ‘turns’ retrograde.
- Retrograde covers the same degrees as Phase 1, only in the reverse direction, so your perspective takes a 180 shift while other planets continue in their own patterns, many of them moving forward. While retrograde it checks on previous actions, improving on choices made as it goes back.
- The planet turns ‘forward,’ and goes over the same degrees a third time, adds finishing touches, makes experienced final adjustments before it moves on.
Stations bring special emphasis! A Station is when a planet literally appears to stand still in the sky at the retrograde and direct turning points. Stations help us slow down. They are a pause when we are able to be still to receive, focus, take time to think. We make things the best we can, anchor important ideas we want to keep. The longer the station the more its strength. Mercury sometimes likes to think things over, draw as much from a valuable experience as possible, or get to know a special person more deeply. More often, it is likely to go crazy waiting for more things to happen and wants to be the first to deliver the news! They may need to rest at the station because a lot has been changing. It can be a relief to take a breather from the rigors of speeding here and there so they don’t miss a morsel!
Planets at different speeds hold station different lengths of time. Mercury stations are about 8 days – four days before and four days after the turns. This retrograde Mercury covers 10 Libra 07 to 25 Libra 28. Prepare for retrogrades as best you can before the Retrograde Station starts! When Mercury turns forward, wait for the Direct Station to finish before turning yourself loose to go ahead.
FIXED STARS
The 10 degree Libra Direct Station is conjunct the fixed star Vindemiatrix in constellation Virgo. Per Robson it is of the ‘nature of Saturn and Mercury (profound liar, thief, blackguard, scandal and slander.) It gives falsity, disgrace, stealing, wanton folly and often causes its natives to become widows.’ Not so fun. Mercury conjunct Vindemiatrix is considered impulsive, too hasty, loss through writings and business. Nervous irritability if badly aspected. It’s true Mercury can be loose lipped, a gossip, so be extra careful with your words. What seems nothing to you may mean everything to someone else. If in doubt, don’t. Jamie Partridge says ‘it figures strongly and regularly in deaths which are in some way dramatic, newsworthy or are resented in much more than the usual degree by those left behind (assassinations, common criminal murders, executions, airline disasters etc.).’ Also it rules the right kidney – drink lots of water. Turn the tables on it!
Mercury’s 25 degree Retrograde Station is square Behenian Fixed Star Procyon. This star is of the Little Dog, arrives in the night sky before Sirius in Canis Major. Procyon gives activity, violence, sudden and violent malevolence, sudden preferment by exertion, elevation ending in disaster, danger of dog bites and hydrophobia, and makes its natives petulant, saucy, giddy, weak-natured, timid, unfortunate, proud, easily angered, careless and violent. Challenges there too. Considered to have the nature of Mercury and Mars it is exaggerative, argumentative, unreliable, unscrupulous, given to invective, mechanical ability, very quick mind, a great talker. It does have some talents! Here we go: As a Behenian star, it gives the favor of the gods, spirits and men, power against witchcraft, and preserves the health. Yes, a square requires some work to make it good for you. Jamie has a lot more fascinating things to say about it! Worth the read.
Mercury’s Rx in Libra, changes our relationships with ourselves and partners of marriage standing and in business. Our social standing shifts as we rethink our alliances. We may come to understand our place in the culture we were born in differently than as told to us by our parents. Our parents’ relationship may have influenced us more than we realized. More beauty, dance, music and art may open our spirits. Get out your art gear, sign up for the dance class! Meet some new people from different areas and countries. Talk about the important things our planet needs today. Take more of a shared leadership position. See what others have to offer and you can give. Rebalance your age associations. Hear what young people have to say; listen to the elders who have expertise. Visit some sacred places.
Jupiter in Pisces was in a brief sneak preview from May 13 to July 28, then Jupiter returned to Aquarius to finish up! Jupiter rules Sagittarius, the arrow arcing over the rainbow, and Pisces is the huge Ocean of civilization! They both can have a broad range of attention. Sagittarius travels and teaches at Universities. Pisces borders the shores, has major international ports of exchange, ships sail the seas linking huge distances. They both have to do with ‘God,’ Sag at church, Pisces in the direct link of meditation. Jupiter is fiery, bold, at times brazen and opinionated, while Pisces will set up a rousing concert, from rock star to symphony making music that moves your Soul! Pisces can be a resounding believer, willing to sacrifice everything including life itself. Jupiter and Pisces are a bit at odds at times, could be as simple as Jupiter talking too loudly when Pisces is wanting quiet time to meditate. But Jupiter has an uncanny knack to tell a joke that makes Pisces laugh after all when Pisces goes too somber for too long. Jupiter sees and wants the best! He will support Pisces to the pinnacles of spiritual power, teach religious studies, improve the Pisces seaside sports business! Whatever it takes. They can go surfing, maybe at Nosara in Costa Rica, famous for yoga and year-round surf! This Piscean adventure with larger than life characters will give Mercury plenty to think about! Take lots of images, plenty of video – make sure the camera is in order and you have spare parts, get the blog going, inspiration abounds! Mercury is ace at sales and advertising. Plus, Mercury in Libra is a terrific companion – intelligent, sophisticated, usually quite educated! See more
So that was the Pisces preview. Jupiter is now back in humanitarian Aquarius through Dec 28, aiming us toward world work. Jupiter is now using these Piscean perceptions and techniques to inspire the people to make new friends and together change the most important things that will free us to make more change in a good way. Grassroots action and long time professionals are working together like never before with all our technology to connect worldwide. Experienced workers are guiding and supporting. Hot spots are reported and promptly attended to. Further technological connections and research are showing us new ways to make working change.
Mercury in Libra’s relationship and partnering skills are perfect for the needs to join forces in unity. Libra can mediate on their feet, talk us through for the best collaborative results! Libra brings out the best on both sides and the middle, LOL! Mercury in Libra models how to successfully speak with one another, respect, mutual listening, valuing differences. As a result, surprising discoveries are common! People change right in front of your eyes! Libra tends to be one to one, whereas Aquarius is groups and networks, communities, class action suits, but Libras are renowned for their lawyering skills in behalf of individuals and organizations! Then there is sharing sweet social time, beauty, all the more precious when our lives are full of making the world a better place for each other.
There are four outer planet events repeated three times during Mercury retrograde!
The planetary connections made during a retrograde cycle, especially the ones that repeat, indicate part of its purpose, how the retrograde can help. Those combinations, along with the retrograde, help prepare us for planetary aspects that follow, whether the aspects are in the sky or in your personal chart. And, of course, the connections they make, or don’t, with your chart, factor in personally! See your astrologer if you need help with this!
Mercury in Libra inconjuncts Uranus in Taurus. Both Libra and Taurus are Venus signs. Taurus rules the Earth and her Beauty, the blessings of trees that breathe, water, foods, the condition of our climate. Libra rules the people that stand up for her, the relationships we have with one another, the ability to share problem solving. Together, with Uranus humanitarian expertise, we can make broad change. Mercury can quickly spread the word to let people know what they can do, even everyday things that make a difference. Libra can make illustrations, connect top experts. Mercury brings the data, suggests amazing options that are doable. Taurus is sensible and knows about excellent applications that have already been tested in other areas. They all work beautifully together. There’s that phrase, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Uranus in Taurus
Mercury in Libra is inconjunct Neptune in Pisces also, forming a YOD! Mercury links Uranus and Neptune at the point of the Y among the three of them! To activate one activates the others! Neptune has the 6th sense of the most important needs. Neptune rules the oceans, the great Mystical Drift of Souls. Significant change will lift Spirits. Fears, Depression and Grief will lift as we each do our part to balance our systems. Mercury is quite intellectually gifted in Libra to find connections that are life changing, both in our environment and among the People. Differences become assets, and Neptune psychically sees how mergers and unity of cause will give blessing beyond what was thought possible. Neptune in Pisces
Mercury in Libra trines LUCKY Jupiter in Aquarius! Finally we can expand the Network with dedicated and skilled craftspeople who are artisans in their own right! The promises of the future are so exciting it may take a bit of time to settle down, delegate the right work to the right people. There may be too many people in the beginning and two groups may need to be formed to work different legs of the project toward the common goal! Travelers, teachers, guides, legalities, publications will all figure in. Research specialists will be working the hours to find the best new options for these times. Keep your meetings on track, and be sure to have some special social time too! Jupiter in Aquarius
Mercury in Libra is square Pluto in Capricorn! Now this can be a toughie. Pluto is the one to convince. He can be back in the old ‘that’s what my father did’ ways. Or, he has been waiting so long to get free! Mercury can open that gateway to some fancy dancing thinking that is refreshingly up to date, an adventure you can’t resist! All the most marvelous citizens will be along. There will be the needed funding. The project looks sophisticated, elegant, an honor to be on board! Capricorn likes intelligence and no wasting time. No time like the present. They can remove old blocks, solve what comes along. It’s all new to us, heroes in the making! [Pluto has been in Capricorn since January 2008. The most powerful aspect perhaps has been Saturn, Capricorn’s planet, Conjunct Pluto!]
Libra Mercury Retrograde Timeline – Pacific Zone
September
06 Mercury starts Phase 1, Labor Day Virgo New Moon
10 Inconjunct Uranus -1
17 Inconjunct Neptune -1
20 Trine Jupiter -1, Pisces/Virgo Full Corn Moon
22 Square Pluto -1, Sun into Libra, Fall Equinox!
23 Mercury Retrograde Station Sep 23 to 30
26 Mercury RETROGRADE 25 Libra 28, 10:10 PM Pacific
October
01 Square Pluto -2
03 Trine Jupiter -2
05 inconjunct Neptune -2
06 Libra New Moon
11 Inconjunct Uranus -2
14 Mercury Direct Station Oct 14 to 21
18 Mercury DIRECT 10 Libra 07, 8:17 AM Pacific
20 Aries/Libra Full Harvest/Hunter’s Moon
22 Sun into Scorpio (Mercury is in Direct Station)
24 Inconjunct Uranus -3
30 Inconjunct Neptune -3
31 Trine Jupiter -3 (Halloween fun!)
November
02 Square Pluto – 3, Mercury finishes Phase 3
04 Scorpio New Moon
More About Retrogrades!
Retrogrades are fascinatingly complex! The wild dynamics of retrograde cycles are, as viewed from Earth, that a planet appears to go forward, backward, then forward over the same ground three times, and if outer planets sometime five, times! Of course that doesn’t happen in reality. It is visual because of the perspective from Earth. During that time, all the other planets are moving too, so even when a retrograde planet is going ‘backward’ over the same area, they are ALL going forward, even the retrograde planet! It’s ‘illogical,’ but that’s what happens. Venus retrogrades about every 19 months for only about 40 days. Only 7–8% of the population has it in their natal chart. Mercury retrogrades 3 times a year, once every 6 years it’s 4 times that year. Mercury actually spends little time retrograde. In fact, only 18% of the population is born during Mercury retrograde! Mars retrogrades every 25/26 months for 60-80 days.
The good part is that where people or businesses have retrograde planets, in their birth charts, they often have special skills. The most successful Corporations often have a lot of retrograde planets – they keep working it until they are best, and they keep working it as time goes on, so they stay the best! They go back, keep up, update! The type of special communication skills of Mercury retrograde depend on which sign, house and planets Mercury connects with in your chart and what type of connections are made. Check out the planets of your own chart and charts of babies born during retrogrades!
Every Retrograde is unique by sign, aspects, and where it happens in your chart! As time goes on the planetary backdrop changes. Context shifts. Retrogrades, like any other astro phenomena, evolve. Each planet has its own matters. The sign(s) it is in while in retrograde, are how those matters are applied, what matters are processed.
Sometimes retrogrades cross Portals, where sign changes happen! As they go forward, retrograde, then recross forward, we learn how to make that particular crossing. Gradually we see how those two signs are linked, work together, support each other. We see the contribution of each sign, how they each are part of the Zodiacal Great Circle. Be mindful of your own talent, offer it. Be mindful of what others have to offer, be grateful. You may not like them, but we can’t do without their part of the divine tapestry, the Light they hold at that crossroads.
What a journey! When you are traveling, what amazing beauty lies around each new bend. Different directions, different views. Maybe what’s behind is out of sight, a memory; what’s ahead is a mystery! Inward turns, like retrograde, give us time to pause, hold steady, slow down. Outward bends like turning forward/Direct, extend our vision of potentials. Mercury in air sign Libra lets us think about alliances, working together. It shows us natural flow, keeps our Spirit fluid, makes us aware of deeper channels within us. Each turn, that Station, gives us time to think, recalibrate, prepare for the next stretch. It’s important that there are changes, reversals, old ideas that clogged things up are left behind, revelations have room to occur, new ideas are teased into action! Potential is remembered and we are rededicated.
Clearly life doesn’t stop during retrogrades, and not all people’s charts are connected to all retrogrades. If your chart is connected to any given one, you will need to do your best and what you can. You can’t explain this astrological stuff to all people, maybe not your boss or even a good friend. Astrology? You’re nuts! Ok, so there are times to find ways to stall or not connect, delay. You can estimate the possibilities of others not bringing certain papers to the meeting and bring them yourself, save the day! You can ask for a review of the current decisions 4 days or more after Mercury goes Direct/forward. If there are important must do meetings, Dr and Veterinarian appts, call in advance to verify that the date and right time are on their calendars AND yours! Verify that part you ordered IS ordered, being sent to the correct address, the expected arrival date! Know that it might be late. Keep track of keys, wallets/purses.
Document your work and events daily, save ALL emails and backup safely off the premises. No giving your passwords or copies of keys to anyone. If all goes well, fine. If not, all the pertinent information you need is available.
If you have other favorable prevailing aspects, especially with outer planets, it is likely changes will ultimately be to your benefit. Do check with your astrologer for your good dates and times of day to make the best of it! And pray their chart isn’t affected by the retrograde, LOL!
With a transiting Retrograde, if you have factors in your chart at or very close to those degrees, especially at the station degrees, you will be activated. Check in with your astrologer if you have significant plans at those times. Plan ahead for what you want to get done, as much as possible, well before those times, and line up what you can do during those times!
Engage Honorably in your Relationships. Cherish our differences. Give Gratitude for sharing.
Updated 9.22.21
For more details see your 2021 and 2022 AstroLogical Annual Planning Special Edition Newsletters to make all your plans potent and well timed! See your astrologer for how they connect with your personal chart!
Please, always remember these planetary combinations are what’s happening in the world. Check with your astrologer to see how they do, or don’t, activate your personal chart! May it go very well with you….
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