Category Archives: Mercury Direction

Orientation: Late September 2022

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It still feels like late summer, doesn’t it? ‘August Night At Russell’s Corners’ By George Ault 1940 {{PD}}

There’s a trine today between Venus at 29 Virgo and Sedna at 29 Taurus–and if we want to add the timelessness factor, we call it an Earth Grand Trine and count Pluto at 26 Capricorn. This suggests a vibe in our surroundings that’s been building, building, and now feels as if the matter (we think a material one) has reached a crisis point. What we’re really feeling, I think, is stress on assets (whether that be relationships, finances, or other things over which we have a sense of possession–Venus) and our attempts to ‘connect’ with those worldly matters via our instinctual knowledge, what we ‘know but don’t know’ (Sedna). We’re trying to feel our way forward, but the thing we may forget about Sedna is that it also holds our ‘blind spot’ material–hence the feeling that we’re stumbling around in the dark! And Pluto’s involvement doesn’t help–that makes it feel important to figure out, dangerous, and may make us think that if we don’t get things right, we’ll have permanently mauled or jettisoned them–and that can cause real anxiety. With Ceres square Sedna, all our appeals to Mother Nature to give us some insight are going unheeded (She’s in 29 degree crisis mode in Florida, right now! In Leo! So don’t bother her, she’s doing her thing!) And of course this is all during a Merc retro period, in Virgo no less, so there’s just no using the mind to sort this out.

I have a few suggestions. Mars and Saturn are in a neat little Air Trine–and if we add Zeus in Libra, an Air Grand Trine, we have a way to think things through that doesn’t take a beeline through the mind, but instead let’s us use somatic means to understand what we’re dealing with. This is the idea that some people learn best by moving–and with Merc retro in Earth, moving through Air may be the answer. Saturn in Aquarius asks us to take an intellectual or future-oriented approach–What would we like to see happen, best case scenario? Mars in Gemini says, Make thinking and doing simultaneous–one will act as a generator for the other, and round in a circle. It may bring some surprises, but is the most direct route possible to revealing to ourselves what we’re really thinking and intending. And Zeus says bouncing ambitions and desires off others, especially those with whom we partner, can give us clarity in a way that brooding or keeping everything squirreled away in our brains just can’t, right now.

Also of note: Uranus squares Saturn, and the Black Moon Lilith point is sextile Uranus, catching Mars at the midpoint. Remember how I said things might surprise you? It would be surprising if they didn’t! Some of what’s revealed will definitely be of the kind we’d probably rather forget, but remind yourself: even if unpleasant, what we learn will be useful, and should inform our choices and actions. And the Eris-Vesta sextile is slated to form a Finger of God with apex retro, and then direct, Mercury, over the next week=what disturbs our values (especially the ones we’re a little smug about, a little too Self-satisfied over) will be the final piece to the puzzle of how our thinking during the retro period has changed. That means you’ll be able to pinpoint the change much more quickly than usual, in the post-retro period.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

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Merc Direct: We’re Free!

03 Friday Jun 2022

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‘Woman in Ecstasy’ By Ferdinand Hodler 1911 {{PD}}

Merc made apparent turnaround in the wee hours this morning PDT, the 3rd, and we may all be feeling just a bit freer, now–and you may have felt the Moon in Cancer form a sextile soon after direction, giving us a strong dose of emotion around what transpired during the retro period, and that may have been soothing or unsettling, but has probably been put into proportion, by now. What’s coming, though, is where our attention should be.

Mercury direct moves from a retro approaching sextile to Neptune to a waning one, with contact not having been made since Merc first passed in direct aspect, what feels like a lifetime ago (so, roughly a month!). This likely eases the mind as we feel more and more rational, less influenced by an overactive imagination or delusion/ deception–and this easing/ freedom feeling is even more apparent as Merc moves away from a some-time-ago square to Saturn–change and limits seem to fall away, boundaries no longer as defined or restrictive as they seemed.

So that’s all good. The question becomes: will these perceptions be accurate, in terms of our reality? The first two contacts Mercury direct makes tell the story: a trine to Pluto, followed by a conjunction to Sedna. This suggests that all the loosening and relaxing may lead to a surfacing of rage, an impulse to purge, a destructive desire, or a wish to transform or resurrect. This might apply to something one spent considerable time pondering or dealing with during the retro–suddenly, a big change might seem very positive. Judgments about the fitness of this conclusion can only be made in light of the natal scenario, but if things have been overall steady and positive, it may be just the thing to pursue, particularly if it has the character of attending to the long-neglected or the long-sensed but unaddressed. Use your instincts, and be honest with yourself–genuine honesty is the only way those instincts are worth a sh*t.

Saturn retrogrades on the 4th, and Neptune in just over 3 weeks, on the 28th. The former may lift even more restrictions, opening the way further, especially in intellectual pursuits, the new and the innovative, the original and unique, if you’re a Saturn retro responder– but, if the retro cycle tends to withdraw security or dependable supports in your world, then you’ll see the characteristic responses, concentrated in changes to your understanding of things, or calling into question what seemed unique, original and worthwhile just days ago, with the springing up, likely without explanation, of roadblocks and denials.

With Neptune we’ll be looking at a change in background noise, more than anything. Re-consideration of the creative, of ideas and ideals, may be on the agenda, and often this turnaround can prompt one to dig for the Truth of something, as we try and connect our conceptions to reality.

That’s our glimpse ahead. Have a wonderful weekend!

In The Light of the Full Moon 12 October 2021

12 Tuesday Oct 2021

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Jupiter mansplains butterflies while Mercury warns Virtue not to point out he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. ‘Jupiter, Mercury and the Virtue’ By Dosso Dossi c1517 {{PD}}

The approach to this upcoming Full Moon will be more than usually loaded with insight and revelation. Mercury officially goes direct once again AM Pacific time of the 18th at 10 Libra 07, trine Ceres-Black Moon Lilith, as apex to a loose Finger of God with base of Uranus sextile Pallas, and just a hair past perfection of an opposition to Chiron. This points to a lot of retrograde activity, most of which we’re not yet even aware of, bringing ideas, realizations, and denouement at the direction point that we may be caught off guard by.

We’ve been thinking about and reviewing relationships of all kinds; the direction says those are still on our minds, with Merc’s forward motion offering a new perspective and the dawning of things we hadn’t considered. We are likely to be more sure in our personal power position, and more confident–and yet we’re also aware of those things we’re not willing to inspect, of those things that we are ignoring or denying, probably because we don’t feel ready to face them yet. Considering our new, post-retro surge of personal authority, we might want to consider those matters that have been particularly difficult to deal with–as there may not be a better time than this period between the direction at 8:16 AM PDT of the 18th and the Full Moon at 7:56 AM PDT of the 20th.

We’ll also likely recognize how at least some of our retro experiences and conclusions may have been (unfairly) influenced by our past and especially our past hurts. That offers us a choice: do we pretend we don’t know that, or do we let go of our defensiveness so that we can revise and repair? You know the right answer to that one.

And finally, the direction point brings us a magic formula of sorts: spontaneity, accident, or Higher Mind inspiration or revelation, combined with inner wisdom and practicality (and that’s vital, that smarts and a sense of being reasonable are applied), gives the potential to create the optimum relationship(s) with both others and projects/ plans with which we’re involved. The message here is: Go with the flow, think on your feet, and don’t be afraid of change. Best interpretation lens is that there are no accidents, and the Universe is perpetually working in our favor–see things that way and anything unexpected, even if it seems negative on initial encounter, becomes a gift.

Hope you’re enjoying your week!

Lead Up to the Full Moon 22 & 23 June 2021 What’s Practical, What’s Wise

21 Monday Jun 2021

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I’m most interested in two things for this pair of days: a sextile between Juno and Saturn, and a progression of aspects, starting with Venus’ still extant trine to Neptune, then tracing Venus as she goes on to oppose Pluto and trine Pallas, then sextile Black Moon Lilith, and finally sextile Sedna. And of course, Mercury’s station direct afternoon of the 22nd, Pacific time.

The Juno-Saturn pairing suggests that maturity, in the form of accepting responsibility for ourselves and the impact we have, not only offers us stability, support from the material world, but also brings us constructive physical results.

Venus’ journey, on the other hand, either started with great inspiration or great delusion–so we’re already on a massively creative track, or a completely wrong one. The opposition to Pluto will be the jolt that makes clear which Venus path we’re pursuing, and requires we either commit (if it’s the inspired one) or eliminate this direction altogether (if it’s the delusional one).

Important to note, though, that at the same time as the opposition, Venus will also be trine Pallas, offering excellent guidance as to what’s practical, what’s wise–and since this involves Venus, we should expect relationships, finances, or both will be in the mix–but whatever it is, with Venus in Cancer, we’re going to care–just don’t allow sentimentality to masquerade as something worth investing in–because it’s not.

The sextile to BML, followed quickly by one to Sedna, suggests that relationships or financial matters bring a glimpse into areas we may have been ignoring or in denial about, and then our instincts or what we ‘know but don’t know’ chimes in to tell us how to handle what has been revealed. The real trick over these next couple days is to be open, to listen to the inner voice–not the one that gets us in trouble, but the one that makes us say after, ‘I knew it!’–because we did.

Mercury officially re-gains direct status at 16 Gemini 09, and soon after receives an opposition from the Moon in Sagittarius. Information may dawn immediately, delivered with a bit of an emotional punch and an urge to contradict it–but facts are facts, and we’ll have a much better time of things if we accept them and move forward. Also note the Sun-Jupiter trine in Water, promising clarity in belief, perception, social situations, and in the authenticity of any opportunities that come before us. The only thing to guard against is overflowing optimism, just because any overflow, even being overly positive in outlook, always causes a bit of a mess.

This Week 1-5 November 2020 Echoes

31 Saturday Oct 2020

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The Arnold Children, Western Washington, 1939 Photo By Dorothea Lange, available through the US Library of Congress

On the 1st we’re still ridin’ that Full Moon wave (or are they tremors, in humble Taurus?) It’s a matter of trying to square (see what I did there, between Merc and Saturn?) thinking with reality, communication go-aheads with information shut-downs, and travel inclinations with staying put. It’s important to know that the pressure we feel to ‘prove ourselves’ in some way is actually an echo of things we’ve repressed or denied–so that tension is Self-inflicted, and so unnecessary (Juno contra-parallel Black Moon Lilith). In this state of mind, it may seem impossible to use the love in relationships and talent expression to heal what ails us, but that’s exactly what we must do; get past the apparent difficulty, and the ability to ‘fix’ things will occur via supportive relationships and the receipt of timely resources (Venus opp Chiron).

On the 2nd we’d be wise to draw on lessons from the past, and specifically to use what we’ve learned to adjust our approach (especially in terms of what’s practical for us) to shape the future (Pallas qnx NN, Sun nov SN).

The 3rd sees Mercury station direct, and though that could signal a lightening of the thought processes and a general opening up of communications, it could just as easily still feel like a troublesome monkey sitting on your chest if you have anything close to 25 Libra or in hard aspect to that spot–‘when will it move?’ may be the only thing you can think. Ambition and power acquisition and/ or making an impact in our world are all on our minds (Merc parallel Zeus and Juno); take care not to be so distracted by goals that you neglect relationship or financial matters where others are counting on you (Venus qnx Uranus).

Oh! On the 4th our eyes are likely to still be on those aims and wants we were thinking about yesterday–but today we are empowered to go after them, despite the difficulties presented by a mind clouded by matters we’d rather ignore or are in denial of. Have confidence, in spite of the way the social order, or the actual facts of the matter, create problems for us, though be aware that too much focus on desire fulfillment just isn’t healthy. If you find yourself in a mental muddle, take a step back and give the mind a little time to clear–those same opportunities will still be there in the morning (Juno parallel and Jupiter sq Zeus, Merc contra-parallel BML, Sun sq Hygeia).

For the 5th our actions and options need to be consciously chosen in light of our actual empowerment situation–we can’t pretend to have more power, or less power, than we really do, and still expect to get a good, accurate result. Jealousy, a desire for love, greed, or a willingness to compromise values are all super-unwise–don’t even chance it (Mars qnx Juno, Venus contra-parallel Pallas).

Not quite a full week, I know. Looking for the Full Moon that led into this? It’s here– Stay sane, stay hopeful, dear Readers!

Mercury Retrograde 13 October 2020 Feeling It

12 Monday Oct 2020

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The Messenger (and Trickster) enters apparent retrograde motion at 6:05 PM PDT of the 13th at 11 Scorpio 40–and his first move will be to reapply by opposition to Uranus, which is also retrograde. That aspect last perfected on the 7th, and perhaps offers a glimpse into this Water (Scorpio) into Air (Libra) cycle.

‘Mercury Sent to Admonish Aeneas’ By JMW Turner http://www.artuk.org/artworks/mercury-sent-to-admonish-aeneas-202360 {{PD}}

Mercury always means review: re-visiting, re-considering, reflecting, and perhaps going over plans or making plans to ‘try again’. We start that period in emotional, intuitive Water, and will initially be asking ourselves, “What am I feeling, and what do I think about that?”

In Scorpio this kind of review involves digging, getting to or acknowledging secrets, assessing our feelings about change and determining what further change we might want. It also encompasses those situations where Power is in play, and any relationships or situations where passions have been stirred, or betrayals have occurred (and remember, the concept of betrayal is seldom objective, when it comes to personal interactions–often it can be a matter of perspective, and this retrograde may bring consciousness of this to the fore).

With the re-visit to the Uranus opposition the first aspect, we may find that something we ‘knew’ (especially something Higher Mind or academically. i.e. fact-oriented) is overturned. We are likely to be surprised by some discovery we make, or shocked at something we witness, perpetrated by others in our direction or by ourselves unexpectedly, that latter as we ‘explode’ from accumulated pressures or act erratically in a bid for freedom. It could be that we wrap our minds around some spiritual concept for the first time (something we may have sensed or ‘known’ but been unable to put into mental forms like words), or we may find that accident illuminates our feelings about something–and so changes our perceptions.

House matters that come forward for this retrograde always have the chance of involving the subjects and energies of the natal Houses Mercury rules, and we must typically add to this the House where Mercury is currently transiting. That gives you some idea of where to be on the lookout for change, research, and re-thinking, as well as the potential ‘surprise’ factor of this particular retrograde, and can offer a head start if you know present circumstances in one or more of these realms are dicey.

The Inferior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury (‘Inferior’ referring to Mercury’s retrograde status) occurs around the 25th-26th of October, marks a point I would characterize as a ‘birth’ point, where some attitude or mental choice takes form and perhaps is decided upon or simply becomes conscious, and this is based on what’s been revealed so far during the retro. Just remember not to act, yet.

Fountain with head of Mercury on Mercury Street in Pompeii watercolor by Luigi Bazzani from the book “Pompeii”, by Amedeo Maiuri (Pompeii superintendent from 1924-1961) {{PD}}

We re-align our passions, explore what we’ve been hesitant to think about or to really know what we feel about it, and then Mercury retros into Libra–and all the focus moves to our relationships, or, less probably, to financial or aesthetic matters. This occurs in the final few days of October, and is characterized by a back-and-forth square of Mercury to Saturn, which happens one more time after Mercury turns direct (on November 3rd, with the final square very close the 4th-7th).

This back-end bookends the retro period with a hard reality check for each of us, concerning all that we’ve reviewed and concluded over the cycle. Our present realities, as well as any boundaries, limitations, and requirements of duty or obligation come into direct conflict with at least some facet of our thinking–and this is a good thing, meant to show us where we might have slipped into thinking that doesn’t take into account where we really are or what we’re actually surrounded by or must deal with.

Use this retro period to see where you can transform the thinking or perceptions about those things you feel passionate about, have an overwhelming curiosity over, or need to investigate for what’s been hidden from you, and how this can constructively be applied to relationships with those you care about–and be ready for revelation, that can spin the whole game in another direction. The usual admonitions apply, with no signing or buying of major items, unless you’ve already pre-retro thoroughly inspected conditions and agree to them, and with the expectation that any agreements reached or conclusions drawn will likely need review or revision after Mercury goes direct.

A Good Day To . . . 12 July 2020 Dare to Be Wise

11 Saturday Jul 2020

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Man with a full back tattoo, ‘Michael and the Dragon’, adapted from Die Bibel in Bildern (Revelation) engraving. Enlightenment motto “Sapere aude” is tattooed in the upper back, meaning ‘Dare to know’ or ‘Dare to be wise’. Tatoo: Anton Ivkin, Photograph: Alexander Kuzovlev CC BY-SA 4.0

The 12th Is A Good Day To . . . make important plans, and to get very clear on what you want. Mercury goes direct in Cancer, and the Sun trines Neptune, freeing the mind so that suddenly it all falls into place. By ‘all’ I mean what you care about, and with the Sun’s spotlight on our ideals, our dreams, and our creative goals, we’ll be able to picture exactly where we want to go, and probably how to get there, as well. But, there are a couple of cautions: don’t share with the social order–they won’t offer support; the facts may not seem to support your aims right now, but don’t worry, they will eventually; and don’t think that somehow what we might refer to as ‘The Laws of Wisdom’ are suspended at this point–what you know to be wise or smart still needs to be taken into consideration with your planning and prepping. But otherwise, dream, love, create, and visualize away!

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

A Good Day To . . . 20 November 2019

19 Tuesday Nov 2019

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Peru, South or Central Coast, Inca peoples. Feathers knotted and sewn onto plain weave cotton ground. LACMA 77.70.12 Created between 1470 and 1534 {{PD}}

The 20th is a Good Day To . . . align our efforts with reality, and heal injuries to our sense of personal authority, via the dawning clarity offered as Mercury stations direct. We’ll see where we’ve been ‘off’, how we may have misjudged the facts or the social fabric, and we’ll see much more effective ways to express our creativity. It’s a load off the mind, today, that opens the way toward better understanding and a closer connection with the Truth of things.

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

New Moon in Sagittarius 6 December 2018 What Will You Learn?

04 Tuesday Dec 2018

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The New Moon occurs at 11:20 PM Pacific Standard time of the 6th at 15 Sagittarius 07. This New Moon falls square to the close conjunction of Mars and Neptune in Pisces, which adds an active ‘punch’ to discovered facts, new journeys, new beliefs, new horizons, fresh starts, to knowledge exchanged and the exotic or foreign revealed. The NM beginning may arise from an action, choice, or assertion that carries ideals, creativity, or delusion, or may be the cause of such; in either instance, the event of the New Moon brings conflict or tension to a head: action or a choice based on a dream (Mars-Neptune), for example, could bring upset for what facts it uncovers or beliefs it reveals (Sagittarius).

By Johannes Hevelius 1689 {{PD}}

The New Moon also sextiles both Black Moon Lilith and Pallas, though it doesn’t fall at their midpoint, suggesting the interactions with the NM are unrelated to each other. The New Moon carries the aura of wisdom or practicality, or may call on you to use skills, and its new starts may also be driven by material that’s been denied, that’s enraging, or that’s perceived as unjust–and though we each may respond to both sextiles, my sense is one or the other sextile will predominate for the individual. Too, if you have a natal placement at 13-15 Taurus your natal body is apex to a Finger of God with NM and Pallas as its base, steering you in the direction of a smart beginning or revelation that inspires expression of the natal energy–or if you have a natal placement at 13-15 Cancer, you have apex to another Finger with base of NM and Black Moon Lilith, which points to the New Moon stirring up or making undeniable what’s been shunted aside until now, forcing you to deal with the situation using the natal energy.

We also have a loose configuration, a Fist of God, with base of Uranus square the North Node, apex the New Moon. Here the individual clashes with her or his own life direction, possibly rebelling from a long-planned route. Is this a good rebellion, freeing the individual from unfair restraints? Or is it a rebellion led by the insistence on seeing the Self as independent, or as ‘special’, trying to prove uniqueness via erraticism or an uncooperative attitude? This likely plays in tune with the Merc direction, described below.

The New Moon also rests at the (very rough) midpoint of the Venus-Vesta square, suggesting that the NM event may carry the essence of the clash between highest values and wants. With Venus in Scorpio and Vesta in Aquarius, the primal nature of both what’s revered and what’s desired may be displaced digging for a ‘Truth’ that may or may not differ from the surface, and in intellectualizing what’s better felt through New Moon experience.

All the aspects suggest at least some effort (the sextiles), or friction (all the rest of the aspects) occurs, and that may be the place to focus: on the ways in which we are causing or using the available energy. Don’t think of it as energy going out, so much as an undifferentiated flow, ebbing and surging all at once, so that we are receptive (Lunar energy) as much as we are active and choosing (square to Mars, all hard aspects).

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘Sea Gulls Fly Around A Ship In Expectation Of Food’. The birds are looking for sustenance, but what does the presence of sea gulls say to the sailors? That they are near land. This is an image of promise, beyond the survival needs, to arrival at a ‘new destination’. This suggests that the land we find ourselves in post-New Moon will be solid, whether it’s familiar or unexplored, verdant and populated or a deserted wasteland, welcoming or forbidding.

Mercury also goes direct today, ready to perfect a Water Grand Trine with Chiron and the North Node. That suggests that wounds and/ or the opportunity to employ skills figure strongly in thinking, and so in shaping the life direction. We find emotional balance in this regard, probably surrounding the mentality finding a ‘groove’ and falling into it. Sometimes a subdued rhythm to life is the most desirable thing imaginable.

Outlook for the 5th is here–scroll down for previous days. Have a wonderful New Moon, and please consider making a book purchase, rating my books on Goodreads, or rating my astrology on Facebook–thank you for your participation and feedback–it’s all very much appreciated!

 

17-18 August 2018 Becalmed

16 Thursday Aug 2018

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Photo By S Walker – Guide to Drawing & Interpreting Graphs in Geosciences. School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh., CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49339603

It may feel like the calm before the storm–you look around and see an abnormally still landscape of the time stream at rest–and the moment resonates (and lasts!) like the reverberation of a struck tuning fork. Wherever you find yourself mentally at this time is setting the tone (and initiating a turn of the wheel) for the coming period for Self-expression, the power situation, health/ relationship with Nature, and with what you’ll get and give. One of those times we tend to move through almost coma-like, with both heightened sensitivities and a kind of obliviousness existing all at once, where tracks for the future are laid down–so be as conscious as possible, especially of the potential implications of what you choose, do, and fail to do (No new aspects perfect on Friday, followed by Mercury’s station direct on Saturday, when he noviles Ceres and sextiles Venus)

Word image for these two days is a CEO who may lose control over his company because of his indiscreet tweets. That fits so many situations right now, doesn’t it? Err on the side of restraint when it comes to communications, and in particular, be aware that what you’re putting out now (and thinking, and saying, and focusing on) is, as noted above, building what’s to come.

This is wonderful, perfect for this weekend.