MERCURY RETROGRADE
Mercury goes retrograde on June 29. In the final degrees of Cancer, it will remain in the cardinal water sign until entering Leo in early August. Mercury, representing the mind and our mental processes, is focused on Cancer’s themes surrounding emotional bonds, family (especially maternal), and care in the physical as well as emotional/ psychological sense. As a period of revision and correction, the retrograde motion gives us an opportunity to revisit these themes where they affect a certain area of our lives, shown by the house in our chart where the transit takes place. This period is notorious for coinciding with significant delays, hiccups, misunderstandings, and a lack of clarity and straightforwardness in general, which is especially the case when Mercury is in a water sign that operates intuitively rather rather than rationally. Cancer is nurturing, but needs to be nurtured as well. Depending on where the transit falls in our individual chart, we may see things going less smoothly, taking longer than anticipated, people going back and forth on their statements, our own ideas not coming to fruition as planned, or business going slower and less predictably. Mercury’s domain extends to business, money, travel, technology and communication, which is exactly where the retrogrades are known for potential chaos and disruption.
What we need now is to allow ourselves to withdraw and reorganize our internal, emotional world even if the external world puts pressure on us. We don’t have to perform like trained seals just to function and fulfill obligations; we also need to take enough time for ourselves and cultivate something, whether that’s our own inner world, a small garden where we can watch things grow, or an interest that is important to us. Mercury “thinks“ in Cancer’s terms, and therefore, we must not forget to feed our own souls. It’s also possible that emotional wounds from the past are revisited during this retrograde, connected to the life area where it happens for us personally. The worst we can do in this case is try to sweep things under the rug or become emotionally reactive and frustrated. Instead, we’re faced with the chance to clear the air once and for all, even if it may not be the easiest thing to do at first. Given that Cancer rules the stomach and digestive process, it’s very possible that we’re challenged to verbalize emotions or to stop looking for false comfort and find what truly nurtures us instead. Contrary to the more drama-centric version of modern astrology, the grounded and pragmatic view is to put the retrograde in perspective as a time of course correction and revealing something that isn’t healthy or aligned. Yes, it can be unpleasant, chaotic or annoying, but it doesn’t have to be.
Mercury goes direct on July 23, but the shadow period lasts until August 7, which is why we might still see the themes of the retrograde lingering until then. Since the retrograde indicates a literal (optical) change of direction, so does Mercury on a personal level. Meaning, decisions made under this influence might not be of a lasting character, and therefore, astrologers have always advised against making big changes, starting something new, undertaking major dealings in business or money, or getting married under a Mercury retrograde. Of course, common sense and discernment are to be used in any case.
General outlook for Sun, Moon and rising signs:
♈ Aries: 4th house. Areas of influence: Your past, family, home, childhood, your concept of home and what you’ve brought with you into adulthood from your earliest home environment
♉ Taurus: 3rd house. Areas of influence: Communication, mentality, travels and means of transport (short distances), your relationship with siblings, neighbors and neighborhood
♊ Gemini: 2nd house. Areas of influence: Material and moral values, money from your own income, moveable property, any decisions/ values pertaining to saving or investing
♋ Cancer: 1st house. Areas of influence: Your identity, appearance, how others perceive you, how you present yourself to the world and approach change
♌ Leo: 12th house. Areas of influence: Past-life or karmic realm, subconscious drives/ fears, places of isolation, tendency for self-sabotage, hidden enemies
♍ Virgo: 11th house. Areas of influence: Friends, social groups including social media and your position therein, society, your wishes, hopes and ideals in life
♎ Libra: 10th house. Areas of influence: Your career/ business, public appearance/ image, reputation, your position in the public realm in general, the fruits of your beliefs
♏ Scorpio: 9th house. Areas of influence: Beliefs (leading to later success), spirituality, travels far outside your known terrain, higher education (formal or not), legal dealings
♐ Sagittarius: 8th house. Areas of influence: Self-transformation, “death & rebirth“, sexuality, intimacy, secrets and grief/ sorrow, shared finances, inheritance
♑ Capricorn: 7th house. Areas of influence: Partnership (steady), marriage, known enemies, one-on-one relationships in general, also your personal vocation/ mission
♒ Aquarius: 6th house. Areas of influence: Daily habits, how you adapt to everyday reality, health & health practices, work, healing, critical thinking capabilities, body-psyche balance
♓ Pisces: 5th house. Areas of influence: Self-esteem and -expression, creativity (career for creative professionals), relationship with children, fun in existing or non-committal relationships
© Olivia Solner