Mercury is Retrograde February 16-March 10th …. what to expect

Posted on January 28, 2020 by

Shadow begins: Feb. 03 until Februry 16 2020
Mercury is Retrograde February 17 – March 10, 2020
Shadow Fades: March 11-Mar. 30 2020

This Mercury retrograde starts in Pisces but ends in Aquarius. These are the two most overarching and collective signs, suggesting that all of humanity are one. We like to think of that spiritually and in terms of political or social well being not to mention all humanitarian considerations. At this time we seem to be experiencing our collective oneness in anxiety producing ways, the most obvious being the virus which is slowly spreading throughout the entire world.

This retrograde period offers us an opportunity to step back and remind ourselves about all the good ways that we are one: one human family but also one living planet. It’s a perfect time to dive deeply into our connections with others and to acknowledge our hopes and fears of the future. As we do that we might consider how compassion for ourselves as well as others is the most peaceful and secure way to move into the future.

It also may be a good time to delve into your favorite flavor of science fiction or fantasy. We are the future of someone else’s past.

Julie Simmons, Astrologer

What area of your life will be affected by this retrograde energy?   Align with the best of Mercury Retrograde this year andjoin our alignment sessions at the webstore.

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Flavor of Mercury Retrograde October 31, 2019

Posted on October 19, 2019 by

Join us!

Mercury is stationery, retrograde conjunct Venus in Scorpio. This might be encouragement to express our feelings
with as much beauty and art as we can. The secret of using Scorpio energy is to feel what we feel but not to act on it until we know that we will not cause harm. Scorpio feelings are very intense. When we hold back on releasing them we often discover that what felt like poison becomes medicine or possibly even art. 

As Mercury journeys through its retrograde phase it will sextile Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn and trine Neptune in Pisces, rewarding those who can master their intensity. In a world so rife with the misuses of power we need to be careful not to let fear determine our actions. This is an excellent period to practice that very thing!  

Mercury will go direct on the 20th which is the day after Mars enters Scorpio. They will not be conjunct but there is probably some message there regarding the places in our lives that require mastery. We don’t practice to become perfect. It’s more like we practice whatever we practice for the sheer necessity of becoming. 

Warm regards, 

Julie 

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Flavor of Mercury retrograde July 7th 2019

Posted on June 30, 2019 by

This particular Mercury retrograde period seems to start with a bang which I truly hope is not literal! Here is what I posted on facebook:

The gods (planets) are not in a good mood. You can tell when you tune into the news of the world or even your own sense of safety and security.
Our mandate as humans is to express the energies with as much kindness and as little reactivity as we can muster. This is not the same as pretending we don’t feel what we feel. It’s about not  hurling those feelings at the projection screen of our lives.
Mercury is gearing up for a pretty hot retrograde (July 7. Conjunct Mars, square Uranus).
That’s how it is in the ‘above’. Here in the ‘below’ we dance but we choose our steps, whether we think so or not.  

The astrology of Mercury stationery so close to Mars as it approaches an exact square to Uranus is like a finger pointing to the issues of reactivity, which is Mars’ specialty. To be human is to react. To be aware requires us to hold back on our reactivity and let the river flow until we are prompted to respond, not react. Uranus is explosive and revolutionary at its core. It’s as though Mars and Mercury are shaking their fist at Uranus and saying, ‘Enough already! Let’s do it!’ It’s about frustration, never a good starting place for action.  

I have very little to say about the ‘state of the world’. Just like everyone else I am fascinated and frightened by it all. And astrology reminds me over and over that each individual matters. How we behave in our own, small sphere of influence creates the ripples that bring change or not.

The intensity of this period peaks with the exact square of Mars and Uranus on July 11th. After that it’s more of a regular retrograde period. Time to be in the flow rather than grabbing at things. Mercury will move back into Cancer on the 19th and it will station at 23 degrees of Cancer which is opposite the conjunction of Saturn and Pluto in January 2020. That conjunction is big news in Astrology-ville so we should all catch a glimpse of the shape of things to come with the station at the end of July. We might be thinking in terms of security for our family, chosen or given. An increase in tribalism would be the worst… a sense of nurturing and fostering connections in our local environs would be most optimal.

The most important day of any Mercury retrograde period is the conjunction with the Sun which happens on July 21st. This is the day when we might ‘hear’ a message from the depths prompting us to move in one direction or another. It’s subtle and only comes from stillness.

Mercury will conjunct Venus on July 24th which is generally thought to be a time for art and poetry, music and expression of feelings. The shadow of Mercury retrograde period which suggest a time to put in order the things which were disordered or difficult while Mercury was retrograde, lasts until August 16th.

You can read more about Mercury’s aspects at Insights for the Month. 

Warm regards,

 

Julie 

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Flavor of mercury retrograde March 5 – March 28: Pisces

Posted on February 26, 2019 by

Each and every Mercury retrograde has its own personality or flavor in that it highlights the astrological picture of the moment and asks us to pay attention in a particular way. This one is most definitely about the Jupiter, Neptune square, with a dash of Saturn, Pluto and Mars. Mercury will square Jupiter, sextile Saturn, Pluto as well as Mars and, as if with a flourish, it will make the station, direct conjunct Neptune. At the very least it is a period of connection and integration.

  • The square to Jupiter seems to point to the ongoing confusions we are experiencing collectively as well as individually. The issue of true and false is aggravated by the retrograde issues of miscommunication and distraction. 
  • The sextiles to Mars, Pluto and Saturn suggest there is lots of opportunity to overcome the sense of confusion if we embody our experience rather than, let us say, research it. If you feel swept away in confusion which may simply be too much information, go for a walk and while you are walking tune in to your arms and legs, your eyes and ears. Earth (Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn, Mars in Taurus) loves presence. 
  • The station direct on Neptune underscores all things Pisces: The soul of our planet, our species, is a real thing. To deny this is to risk something profound, to be swept into the sea of algorithmic manipulation with no boat. Compassion is Pisces’ greatest gift, addiction might be its worst. We might reach toward compassion by starting with ourselves and let this be as a stone in the water, creating ripples, touching all who touch us.

The most important day of any Mercury retrograde period is the conjunction with the Sun which happens on March 14th. This is the day when we can ‘hear’ the message on the wind of thought that may indicate exactly what we need to know to navigate the retrograde. This is quite close to the first quarter moon and the square to Jupiter suggesting that we need to be fearless in asking the questions. Answers won’t necessarily be what you wanted to hear.

You can read more about Mercury’s aspects at Insights for the Month. 

Warm regards,

 

Julie 

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