Winter 2021 Mercury ℞

WHAT’S A RETROGRADE (℞)?

When planets are in retrograde it doesn’t mean they’re actually going backward. What it means is that from the perspective of Earth, the planet looks like it’s traveling in the opposite direction of what we’re used to seeing. The reason is that Earth is traveling past the planet in comparison to its orbit. An analogy I’ve used in the past to help people to understand this would be to imagine you’re driving on a two-lane street. One lane is going in one direction and the other is going in the opposite direction. Now let’s say you want to pass the car in front of you. You’ll probably cut over into the other lane when there aren’t any on-coming cars, and pass the vehicle by going quicker than their speed. For a split second, you’re actually going the same exact speed as their car and this is when Mercury is “station direct.” Mercury appears to stop moving in the sky, or slow down, just as the car next to you. When you overtake the car by going faster, it looks as if they’re going backward from your perspective in the car, and this is when Mercury is in retrograde. The other car isn’t actually going in reverse, it just appears that way.

This year Mercury will station retrograde in air signs, and station direct in Earth signs. This encourages non-conventional conversations, and thoughts of how we regulate processes and outcomes.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Mercury in Aquarius thinks in unconventional ways that many cannot even begin to fathom. It can be shocking and unusual to others, and Mercury in Aquarius could give zero fucks about what anyone thinks of their views or what they’re doing.

Mercury in Capricorn is practical and concerned with what’s on the surface. He is way too busy to have deep meaningful conversations unless it deals with his personal gains in regards to his status or goals.

Some classic Mercury Retrograde (M℞) associations are agitation, confusion, and setbacks when it comes to all things ruled by Mercury—communication, language, learning, exchange, and the mind. This is a time that’s best for being acquiescent to things not going how you expect them to. Most astrologers will tell you not to start anything you want to continue doing after Mercury goes direct, but I think that isn’t true. I’ve started things during a M℞ that I still do to this day, I even moved during a M℞—drove 9 hours without my moving truck breaking down or traffic, and everything went smoothly—and I was still living in that same house 2 years later. My other half started a new job during a M℞ and is now a foreman running his own crew and continues to make promotions and get raises. It’s all about mindset.

Pro tip: There’s a lot of doom and gloom surrounding the Mercury Retrograde that people actually manifest fucked up situations for themselves because they go into this transit with that type of a thought pattern. Mercury Retrogrades are the most productive times of the year for me, and the way I’ve made this work in my favor is by learning how to move in tandem with this energy. Be flexible, because sometimes he’ll throw you curve balls and instead of taking it so seriously and getting pissed off, realize that it’s not happening TO you, but FOR you. You will not believe how much you can actually get accomplished and it’ll go better than you thought.

HOW THIS COULD AFFECT YOU

Don’t be surprised if there are communication hiccups between you and others. Misunderstanding can happen because we aren’t taking the time to understand where the other person is coming from. For this MR, I say agree to disagree. It’s not worth the arguing or stress. If you don’t get it, don’t worry about it. Stay in your lane.

Pro tip: Instead of coming off and emotionally detached, have compassion and realize that we all don’t have to think exactly the same way in order to love each other.

One thing I want to point out is a pattern I’ve noticed with people who have their natal Mercury linked with their natal Venus or if the transiting Mercury Retrograde is activating their 5th, 7th, 8th, or 11th house, ex-friends, ex-lovers, ex-business partners, ex-whatevers come back into the picture during the M℞. So be ready, hoe.

In order to get an accurate interpretation of how this will influence you based on your natal chart, you must know your Sidereal RISING/ASCENDANT sign.

AQUARIUS RISING • 1ST HOUSE

SELF IMAGE: The Self, Your Personality and Appearance, Your Personal Views on Life, Self Identity, Self Image, Beginnings, How you Initiate, Physical Body

CAPRICORN RISING • 2ND HOUSE

MATERIAL WORLD: Possessions, Money, Stability, Values, Hidden Talents, Sense of Self-Worth, Self-Esteem and How You Value Yourself, Financial Gains, How You Spend Your Own Money, Livelihood, Material Circumstances

SAGITTARIUS RISING • 3RD HOUSE

COMMUNICATION CENTER: Communication, Memory, Perception, Local Movement or Short Journeys, Neighbors, All Forms of Transportation, Thinking Patterns, Early Education, School(s), Siblings

SCORPIO RISING • 4TH HOUSE

HOME LIFE: Home and Home Life, Emotions, Subconscious Mind, Family, Your Roots, Land, Personal Foundations, Inner Emotional Security, Mother Figure or Parents

LIBRA RISING • 5TH HOUSE

PLEASURE PALACE: Children, Creativity, Pursuit of Pleasure, Love Affairs, Personal Interests, Hobbies, Teaching, Self-Expression, Love Given, Romance, Entertainment, and Fun

VIRGO • 6TH HOUSE

HABITS & HEALTH: Health, Work, Service, Skills, Habits, Physical Sickness, Physical Ability, Employees, Coworkers, Chores, Care Taking, Routine, Pets, and Small Animals

LEO RISING • 7TH HOUSE

COMMITMENTS: Partners, Marriage, Contracts, Cooperative Relationships, Divorce, Lawsuits, Separation, Open Enemies

CANCER RISING • 8TH HOUSE

TABOO TOPICS: Sex, Death, Transformations, Inheritances, Joint Finances, Taxes, Possessions, Personal Sacrifices, Loss, Other People’s Money and Possessions, Clairvoyance

GEMINI RISING • 9TH HOUSE

BIGGER PICTURE: Beliefs, Teaching, Travel, Higher Education, Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy, Ethics and Morals, Dreams, Visions, Ideas, Laws

TAURUS RISING • 10TH HOUSE

CAREER SECTOR: Career, Social Status, Calling, Ambitions, Bosses, Authority Figures, Honor, Community Power, Reputation, Dominant Parent

ARIES RISING • 11TH HOUSE

FRIEND ZONE: Friendships, Hopes, Goals, Ambitions, Social Groups, Community, Aspirations, Associations, Networks, Helpful People

PISCES RISING • 12TH HOUSE

SECRET SPOT: Self-Undoing, Unconscious Mind, Seclusion, Endings, Secret Enemies, Hidden Matters, Karmic Debts, Escapism, Limitations, Hospitals, Prisons, Dreams