So far 2018 has had a lot of fixed energy, so it’s nice to conclude the year with a sense of flux and freedom, in the way that Mercury and Jupiter in Sagittarius can offer. Uranus recently shifting into Aries has fired-up warrior God Mars whose recent retrograde period has seen him residing in Aquarius since May.
After a year of dealing with slow-moving, stagnant energy—particularly for fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius—we are finally able to get things moving and take action!
During November’s Mercury retrograde period, we are asked to look back in order to look forward, at our commitments, contracts, promises, and the integrity of our words. The truth may not be what it seems during this time, and statements can be largely exaggerated and blown out of proportion. There is a spiritual aspect to this transit, and some events may even transcend language, forcing abstract expression. With Venus’ recent retrograde motion through Scorpio and Libra, there may be echoes of relationships both present and past, which require review during this time.
Listen to your inner voice – it’s your higher consciousness advising you.
Mercury Retrograde Key Dates
October
29th – Mercury enters pre-shadow
November
16th – Venus stations direct 25°14′ Libra at 10:55am GMT
17th – Mercury stations retrograde 13°29’ Sagittarius at 01:32am GMT | Moon–Neptune square Mercury
18th – Mercury semi-quintile Pluto
20th – Moon sesiquadrate Mercury
22nd – Mercury semi-square Venus | Sun enters Sagittarius
23rd – Full Moon 0°52’ Gemini opposite Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius 05:39 GMT
25th – Mercury semi-sextile Saturn
26th – Mercury square Mars
27th – Sun conjunct Mercury | Moon trine Sun–Mercury | Mercury conjunct Jupiter
28th – Mercury semi-quintile Venus | Moon square Mercury | Mercury semi-quintile Saturn
December
01st – Mercury enters Scorpio | Moon sextile Mercury | Mercury semi-sextile Venus
02nd – Venus enters Scorpio | Mercury quincunx Uranus | Moon semi-square Mercury
03rd – Moon semi-sextile Mercury
05th – Moon conjunct Mercury
06th – Mercury stations direct 27°16′ Scorpio at 21:23pm GMT
07th – New Moon 15°07′ Sagittarius at 07:30 GMT
24th – Mercury leaves shadow period
Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius
Offers us:
- A leap of faith into the unknown
- Sharpened focus on impractical ideals
- Raised awareness of new philosophies and beliefs
- A positive outlet for resentment and victimisation
- Broadcasting potential
Watch for:
- Choosing your comfort-zone instead of adventure
- Experiencing sabotage (through yourself, or others)
- Manipulative and argumentative encounters
- Putting up with ill-treatment just to feel accepted
- Becoming ‘tabloid fodder’
Who is Mercury in Sagittarius?
Mercury in Sagittarius is an optimistic and adventurous young man. He is able to see the whole process as well as his place within it. He asks the bigger questions in life and is intrigued by ideas of spirituality and religion. Interested in theosophical ideas and debate, Mercury in Sagittarius likes to spread his message far and wide, accorss oceans and vast expanses of land. However, he can be prone to sensationalism and exaggeration.
Astrologer Rick Levine appropriately coined the nickname Exaggetarius to describe mutable Fire sign Sagittarius. Mercury rules both Air sign Gemini, and Earth sign, Virgo.
Purification and Purge
The image I get when thinking of this combination is the flames rolling along a dry field, or the bushfires of Australia (when out of control). Fire is a purifying element and can be extremely nourishing for the soil. At the end of the summer in the UK when farmers have harvested their crops, they often do a ‘prescribed burn’ of the fields to remove unnecessary weeds and foliage which shouldn’t be growing and providing the soil with nutrients. It is good for the general health of the field and the fertility of the soil. Mercury-ruled Virgo is associated with the harvest, grain, and wheat, and a common image for the sign is a maiden clasping an ear of wheat. Gemini, also ruled by Mercury, is an air sign and without oxygen, there can be no fire. The image of fire rolling through the fields can be likened to a symbol of uninhibited, independent, free-flowing inspiration with a mind of its own.
Fighting For The Victims
Moving into a conjunction with Neptune in Pisces during this process, Mars squares Mercury, sharpening our focus on charitable, religious and spiritual attitudes. Longing to transcend the physical experience for an intangible soul connection, the desire to surrender or sacrifice, or to fight for the disadvantaged—this is a great time for victims to speak out—those who are in power, be it through politics, religion, or spiritual groups may have some explaining to do. The film Spotlight springs to mind, which explored the coverup of paedophilia in the Catholic church.
Foggy Outlook
The day Mercury goes retrograde, the Moon is in conjunction with Neptune, creating tension with Mercury. With current circumstances feeling vague and diluted, there is a need to reflect on past sacrifices to find meaning. Hopes and dreams which have been left behind require release in order for the vision and faith for the future to develop. It might feel as though you are standing in dense fog at a crossroad; You have a decision to make with no clear way of seeing the right path. Aiming a flaming arrow in each direction, each road has slightly better visibility; you’ll have to move in a direction which feels right.
Lunar Navigation
This is a rather psychic placement for the Moon, and a confusing aspect for Mercury. There may just be a sense that words expressed are being used to subliminally persuade, rather inform. However, intuition will be strong trusting your inner compass offers a real chance for personal growth and release from the past.
Thor’s Hammer
From the 17th to the 22nd Nov, there is an aspect pattern called Thor’s Hammer, which indicates instability and sudden change. Involving the North Node, this retrograde period indicates a doorway for others to enter our lives and create an impact. As Mercury is the apex of this highly volatile aspect, expect friends or acquaintances from the past to play a role during this period. There could be some extremely significant chance meetings, perhaps synchronistic or serendipitous – pay attention to your thoughts and feelings during interactions with others. Has this encounter prompted you to question why in some area of your life?
Full Moon in Gemini
The Full Moon in Gemini on the 23rd highlights a need to communicate, deliberate, and seek alternative opinions. There is duality implied here, so questions requiring a definitive answer could steer us onto one specific path. During this time, seeking the input of others is essential to maintain perspective. Conversations with those who inspire you or happen to be in a place you wish to be may give you the motivation to strive in the right direction.
Preaching to the Converted
The inner landscape may be experiencing conflict on the 26th which presents as a particularly high friction day. There is a need to address unresolved anger, bitterness, and resentment. It is important to have the courage to speak in a situation where you feel victimised, scapegoated or manipulated. Self-sabotage is also a signature of this aspect pattern so if you are particularly lacking productivity, try channeling your energy into a more positive outlet, but don’t give yourself a hard time if you just don’t feel like it! This is a great time for artistic pursuits and creative writing. Perhaps writing is the best outlet as speaking to others could perceive as preaching – Mercury in Sagittarius is so convinced of its own opinions he is often able to convince an entourage that he is right, even if he isn’t!
Rebirth
The 27th is a pivotal day during this period: Mercury retrograde enters the heart of the Sun and is reborn. This is a cleansing process, and in Sagittarius is a way of releasing that which holds you back. During Cazimi, realisation may ‘dawn’ on you as Mercury rises from the Sun’s beams in its Epimethian or ‘hindsight’ phase. With a fresh new philosophy on your situation, new potentials will arise. A sense of ‘knowing’ will present a truth, and if you are receiving clear messages from the messenger God, it’s best you pay attention to what he has to say.
Tempting T-Square
The 29th and 30th are both days to watch as a dynamic t-square needs to be addressed on this day, and if you feel like you have been taken for granted, or even deceived, this could be time to make sense of the situation. There is a chance that things could be blown out of proportion; Hypocrisy or hubris could have you falling from a great height. Ensure you take time to indulge mind, body, and soul; this could be a great time to indulge in activities which bring together these three aspects of yourself in order to recalibrate. A situation where common sense is reflected through the actions of others may alert you to your own dysfunctional ways. There is a tendency for excessive gestures and over-indulgence during this time, and the temptation to reach for drugs and alcohol may be difficult to resist.
The planet of publishing, Jupiter, may encourage news to be spread farther than first intended. Be sure you aren’t sharing with the wrong people as the potential for news to go viral may thrust you into the spotlight before you’ve had a chance to edit your statement!
Recognising Ingrained Patterns
December has a decidedly different feel as Mercury moves into Scorpio, adding an air of mystery about his movements. You might think about some of the issues brought up by very the recent Venus retrograde who moved through Scorpio at the beginning of her transit. Secrecy, hidden motives, and intense conversations are triggered by Mercury’s Scorpionic ingress. The very next day, Venus enters Scorpio for the second time this year. Expect to be enthralled by her love of darkness and appreciation for all things taboo This is a great time to explore our existential validity.
Hammer of the Gods
As the Moon moves through sextile from Mercury to Jupiter and then the Sun—a translation of light—we are able to check in on our feelings, make sense and explore what it all means, and align these considerations into future aspirations. This is a time of confidence. Inclusive of these transits, the final week of Mercury retrograde hosts yet another Thor’s Hammer configuration. The Sun—known to the Norse as Sol (pronounced ‘Soul’)—is part of this configuration, and I get the sense that this is part of the soul’s alignment to its true path during this time.
From Dusk ’til Dawn
Alongside Sol, a second, fated aspect to the North Node of the Moon draws Mars and Neptune into the equation. This is a highly volatile arrangement giving external output to an internal process. In transit, this posits a time of sudden change, triggered by a need to take care of a variety of issues which all demand attention. If escapism features in your relationships, this is a chance to acknowledge any buried resentment, dysfunction or truths; progress cannot be made if neither party is willing to put their best foot forward.
Nourishing Cravings
The Moon enters a conjunction with Mercury on the 5th, so following your subconscious desires will be the right thing to do as thoughts and feelings will be in sync at this time. Having a hunger for knowledge, broadening your horizons through higher education or travel, looking at a holiday or courses will nourish your craving. Personal improvements during this time will put you in good stead for the future; the steps Mercury has taken gives way to a new and exciting adventure.
The End of an Era
Concluding on December 6th, Mars and Neptune make a partile (exact) conjunction in Pisces, with a New Moon in Sagittarius on the following day. Both Jupiter ruled (traditionally) the end of this cycle gives birth to another, bigger and more optimistic future. There is a sense of accepting that all good things come to an end, and better things lay ahead. We just have to accept that sometimes we have to let go of the things that don’t work for us anymore.
When Mercury leaves his shadow period on Christmas Eve, he is in conjunction with Jupiter once again. However, this time, he as shifted from Scorpio to Sagittarius. This eight-week process magnifies our bondage and allows us to shed patterns (and people) who just don’t resonate with our true cause anymore.
The Closing Cycle
December has a decidedly different feel as Mercury moves into Scorpio, adding an air of mystery about his movements. You might think about some of the issues brought up by very the recent Venus retrograde who moved through Scorpio at the beginning of her transit. Secrecy, hidden motives, and intense conversations are triggered by Mercury’s Scorpionic ingress. The very next day, Venus enters Scorpio for the second time this year. Expect to be enthralled by her love of darkness and appreciation for all things taboo. This is a great time to explore our existential validity. As the Moon moves through sextile from Mercury to Jupiter and then the Sun. A time of confidence, we are able to check in on our feelings, make sense of how we feel, explore what it all means, and align these considerations into future aspirations.
Hammer of the Gods
Inclusive of these transits, the final week of Mercury retrograde hosts yet another Thor’s Hammer configuration. The Sun, known to the Norse as Sol (pronounced ‘Soul’) is part of this configuration, and I get the sense that this is part of the soul’s alignment to its true path during this time. Alongside Sol, a second, fated aspect to the North Node of the Moon draws Mars and Neptune into the equation. This is a highly volatile arrangement giving external output to an internal process. In transit, this posits a time of sudden change triggered by a variety of issues which all demand attention. If escapism features in your relationships, this is a chance to acknowledge any buried resentment, dysfunction or truths; progress cannot be made if neither party is willing to put their best foot forward.
Food for Thought
As Mercury begins to slow into his station to direct, the Moon enters a conjunction on the 5th aligning intellect with intuition. Decision-making processes need to feel right and making sense of our roots will feature, as well as a strong desire to communicate and reflect on past experiences. This is a time to analyze nostalgic ideals, and allow them to remain in the past if they no longer serve the long-term vision. Trying to make a decision when feeling overly emotional may blow situations out of proportion, so do be mindful of this, and also be aware of the tendency to overindulge in pleasure-seeking, food or idle gossip.
A Leap of Faith
Mercury retrograde concludes on the 6th with an exact Mars–Neptune conjunction in Pisces, and a New Moon in Sagittarius the following day. The end of one cycle gives birth to another, leading to a definitive pathway, be it a course of education, the growth of a relationship or home improvements.
The steps Mercury takes when he has concluded his retrograde period gives way to a new and exciting adventure and the New Moon in Sagittarius seals an exciting period of movement, development, and growth.
You’ve gotta have faith.
Read more:
Venus Retrograde 2018 | Bipolarity And Lacking Clarity
Mars Retrograde 2018 | The Peak of the Furnace
Jupiter In Sagittarius 2018 | Rise Above It
Uranus in Taurus 2018 | A Tenacious Break for Freedom