This Mercury Retrograde comes on the heels of Mars’ retrograde which began on April 17^th. Although they don’t exactly aspect each other Mercury is making its station on the 28^th exactly opposite the degree of the Mars station at the end of June. It is a kind of opposition by association.

Mercury retrograde is often a time when we are called to reflect and consider (con = with, sider = star) things from a different perspective; one that is less about our assumptions and more about what the world is actually showing us. Never is this stronger than when Mercury is retrograde in an earth sign such as Taurus.

Mars retrograde asks us to be strategic about our actions. To consider what truly motivates us and how we might act based on our true motivations rather than our primal instinctive reactions.

The opposition of Taurus (where Mercury is) and Scorpio (where Mars will be when it goes direct) is always about trust and sharing. When parents try to teach their children to share what they really want them to do is to give. They want their kids to be generous. but every little child who clutches a toy to his or her breast knows that there is no reason in the world to give up something if you aren’t going to get something else. When Taurus and Scorpio look across the cosmos at each other this is the issue. What are you willing to give so that you can get? Or we might say, How is it that loss can create gain? Or What will I have to lose to get what I want?

This is one of the themes of this Mercury retrograde.

The other major one is that it will be making a (not quite exact) grand trine in earth with Jupiter in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn. As well as a conjunction with Venus. This suggests that if we build it, s/he will come. Given that it’s retrograde we would do well to look at the structure underlying the things we want to build. No rushing. Retrograde motion is always an encouragement to slow down. Smell the roses. Check twice, cut once!

Julie Simmons
Astrologer
www.JulieSimmons.ca