Receiving Messages During Mercury Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn
December 29, 2022-January 18, 2023
Tomorrow morning (Thursday the 29th) Mercury once again officially is in retrograde motion, meaning that it appears that he is moving backwards in the sky from our perspective on earth. Retrograde motion is symbolic motion, obviously, the planet Mercury doesn’t suddenly reverse direction in the sky….I mean can you imagine the headlines if this actually happened? As I type these words I find myself with an unabashed grin as I imagine how this would play out.
Mercury retrograde periods are now a part of our cultural lexicon. So much so that I often hear, or see on social media, someone exclaim when something isn’t working out the way they had hoped “Mercury must be retrograde.” And yes these periods are often filled with inconveniences and misunderstandings from the banal and trite to the more aggravating, it is a time that even the most astrologically unaware have come to dread. And believe me, I understand. This particular one is dancing across a very sensitive part of my chart and every time I turn around something is breaking down or falling through the cracks.
This Mercury Retrograde is in the sign of Capricorn so the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) or those with placements prominent in those signs are going to be particularly affected.
But even if you are not one of those signs you have all of them somewhere within your chart. For example, I have Jupiter and Saturn in Capricorn in the 10th house and Mars in Cancer in the 3rd house. In short. the areas of career and parents (10th), siblings, my neighborhood (daily environment) and communication (3rd) are all affected. And because any chart could easily be compared to a beautiful spider’s web, those areas are linked to many other places within my chart.
I have to admit, as much as the swirl of daily details not going as expected can drive me a bit crazy, part of me always looks forward to Mercury Retrograde because I have learned to listen closely to and trust his messages/signs.
The truth is if we are living from the perspective that we dwell in a supportive universe (the realm or a supportive God/Goddess) that actually cares for us then there are signs/symbols guiding our path. To quote Julia Cameron’s opening essay in Week 5 of The Artists Way, Discovering a Sense of Possibility: “Most of us never really consider how powerful the creator really is. Instead, we draw very limited amounts of the power available to us. We decide how powerful God is for us. We unconsciously set a limit on how much god can give us or help us. We are stingy with ourselves.”
What does this have to do with Mercury retrograde?
Mercury is the Messenger of the Gods. The most clever of the Olympian Gods, he serves as messenger for all the other Gods. Thus symbols, signs and synchronicities aka messages from the universe fall under his domain. As an archetypal energy and within our charts he acts as the translator between our outer and inner worlds.
I am reminded on the scene in Evan Almighty when Jim Carrey's character is yelling at God and says if you are there show me a sign! At that moment a truck loaded with blinking signs pulls in front of him that he is completely oblivious to and he just goes on complaining. It's a perfect example of how we unconsciously operate.
Yes, as with any Mercury retrograde it is a time to look back, reassess, re-organize, reinvent and reflect.
During this Mercury retrograde I invite you to have some fun with symbolism. Contemplate any breakdown as a potential message from Mercury on either his own or another God’s behalf that you have been avoiding listening to all along. For example: Stopped up plumbing? What feelings are you avoiding that are telling you that no matter how much you are trying to pretend or make something “fine" the situation(relationship, job, living situation) has outlived its usefulness in its current form.
Choose to view the universe as generous and actively concerned with your well being.
Pay attention to you dreams, to birds (Mercury was famed for using birds as messengers), for unexpected gifts of awareness. In this way we become an ally to grace. But we have to listen.
In the ancient world it was believed that the cosmos was enchanted, that God has spoken, or perhaps sung, this very universe, into being. It was an age of wonder. Let us seed 2023 from his place. Let us begin 2023 from a conscious place of wonder, of connection.
Aries and Aries Rising: Watch for developments your professional life, the pressure to produce can be intense. Remember to slow down where you can and reorient yourself before taking any further action. It is as important to listen at this time as to act. What people are saying to you and about you very much reflects your personal and professional status and you will want to make sure that you are being represented authentically.
Taurus and Taurus Rising: As much as you may be itching to get out in the world, it’s a great time for planning, cooking up new schemes, or rearranging the way you look at things. What beliefs do you have that are in the way of you moving forward? What new vistas would it be fun to explore? Work to get a sense of the big picture because if you try to establish the pattern now it will need to be reworked after Mercury goes direct on January 18. This is the planning period that will take flight after things begin to move forward again.
Gemini and Gemini Rising: With Mercury Retrograde in the 8th house this is a profound time of letting go of what is no longer serving you or your life. Where have you put off moving forward? What are you trying to make work that really has outlived its time? The 8th house reminds us that everything in our lives has a cycle. The 8th also also rules inheritance and other people’s money, including debts and taxes.
Cancer and Cancer Rising: Mercury is retrograde in your 7th house of partnerships. Old flames may come back into you life, or perhaps old business opportunities. The 7th house is the house of contractual relationships. Just take your time with Mercury Retrograde, slow down and really listen. You may find a flood of emotional intensity coming your way and how you utilize it could largely shape the direction of the relationship. It is a time to be particularly understanding and realize that though feelings may be overstated at this time and emotions run hot, the message underneath is sincere and needs to be taken seriously. Communication is key.
Leo and Leo Rising: Now is the time to get your head out of the clouds and deal with the nitty gritty details of everyday life. I get it, details aren’t necessarily your thing. You like the big picture but Mercury is retrograde in your 6th house which rules your health, job and the daily grind. Take care of yourself, eat healthily, go for a walk, take a deep breath. Take this time to plan and focus on the next small step in front of you. Something may be calling to you but choose your new path well before you embark or it will be a flash in the pan.
Virgo and Virgo Rising: Mercury is retrograde in your 5th house of play. This is a time to let loose and have some fun. Make love, dance, anything you do for enjoyment will seem twice as good right now. Reclaim your creativity and break the inner child out of jail. If you call on the muse for a creative project, she will definitely show up and you’ll find that your juices flow faster and easier than usual. Throw a spontaneous dance party. Put on some music and do some automatic writing asking Mercury to divine messages from your angels. Pay attention to your creative urges right now and you will be richly rewarded.
Libra and Libra Rising: Roots, home and family will be affected. You might feel a great push and pull between who you are at home and who you are out in the world. More of you will be pushed to make sure the two are in closer alignment. Authenticity is the word of the day. Letting out your deeper expressions of feeling to another can make things especially intimate right now, but make sure you express yourself clearly and are not misunderstood. The perfect time to feel “at home” with someone, either literally or figuratively. Where you stand is sacred ground, now is the perfect time to reclaim it.
Scorpio and Scorpio Rising: The area of your chart associated communication and social activity is highlighted. It may seem as thought the phone is ringing off the hook, or that you are bursting to the brim with new ideas. Lots of opportunities might be coming your way. And it may just be that you are bursting at the seams and eager to get out into the world again; reconnect with old friends that you have simply lost touch with over time.
Sagittarius and Sagittarius Rising: This Retrograde is highlighting your 2nd house of money and values. It may feel like unexpected expenses pop up or, on the bright side, it may also be that money that has been owed to you unexpected returns. Either way keep an eye on your bank account and more importantly ( money issues pass) use this time to explore what’s really meaning fun and matters to you.
Capricorn and Capricorn Rising: This Mercury Retrograde heralds a time to prepare for a personal beginning. This is the moment to prepare to launch what you’re going to do next from the small to the more significant rather than pulling back into your shell. Ask yourself what new horizon to I want to take a step towards?
Aquarius and Aquarius Rising: This retrograde is moving through your 12th house which rules our unconscious mind, and intuitive abilities. Keeping a dream journal during this period could be particularly rewarding. Meditation also will be especially gratifying. This is a gestation period, pay attention to signals from your unconscious mind. Or it might be that there is a lot going on behind the scenes and you have plans to launch.
Pisces and Pisces Rising: Your 11th house of tribe is being highlighted. It’s time to reach out and connect or reconnect to close friends. Shake the dust off of your dreams during this retrograde and select one small doable goal that you could take a step towards after Mercury goes direct. New opportunities might be coming up or something on the back burner suddenly makes a new appearance. If you can try to put off doing anything concrete until after Mercury goes direct on January 18. If you can’t wait just double check all of the information and make sure that the details are clear to all involved parties.
