Aquarium Age, Blogs

The Aquarium Age: Oct. 23-29

By Ralfee Finn

I proclaim before every reading: The planets are not causal, but there are two exceptions to that rule: (1) Mercury Retrograde, and (2) all Uranus interactions. It’s an astrological conundrum. And for the next several weeks, daily life provides plenty of opportunities to live through the paradox.

Mercury’s final retrograde phase of 2013 began on October 21 and ends on November 10. Most of us know too well how to sing the Mercury Retrograde Blues especially the choruses devoted to frustration and angst about computer glitches, travel snafus, and equipment problems. For those of you new to the Retrograde Blues, Mercury symbolizes all things related to communication, as well as negotiations, commerce, and travel. And because Mercury is also known as an infamous trickster, during a retrograde phase, when this quick moving planet appears to be moving backwards, all things under its vast domain tend to go behind instead of ahead. Be prepared for communication damage control. Also anticipate time distortion—simple tasks could take longer than expected, and complex assignments might be finished in a jiffy. Leave yourself plenty of time for your morning commute, even if your office is just around the corner. Try not to initiate any new plans or projects, and if you must, be prepared for lots of delays and detours.

As Mercury retrogrades, it travels in tandem with Saturn, a position that’s sure to turn Mercury’s final review of 2013 more than a little serious. Saturn tends toward the dour, and it’s been a tough year. Do you best to avoid getting mired in regrets, and instead stay focused on what there is to learn. Also try to keep in mind that all of us will be under the influence of this retrograde. So when possible, offer solace and kindness to your fellow travelers. We will all be in need of many kind words, particularly those of us who didn’t know or didn’t have time or simply forgot to back up really important information.

If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that, too.

Aries March 21-April 19
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of transformation, a position that facilitates more than a few confrontations with change. There’s no reason to worry about these challenges, especially if you’re willing to take an honest inventory of what isn’t working.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of relationships, which means you’re reviewing the ghosts of relationships past. Clarity is the key to navigating this retrospective, so rather than rewriting history to protect or defend yourself, be emotionally honest with yourself and others.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of work and service, a placement that is certain to keep you too busy. Try not to let the details derail you—gather the facts, but keep your eye on prioritizing and organizing the information. Not all data is equal, and being able to identify the key pieces of the puzzle is important.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of self-expression, inviting you to reconsider your relationship to creativity. Focus this review on how you can increase your commitment to creative endeavors. Just don’t confuse creativity with an art or a craft. Creativity is also an attitude that can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Leo July 23-August 22
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of home, so don’t be surprised if all you want to do is hunker down beneath the covers and ruminate on all that’s been done and all there is still to do. Just don’t get caught up in brooding about all that’s gone wrong.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Mercury is retrograde in your house of communication, stimulating conversations about every little detail of every little. There’s nothing wrong with embodying this gift of gab. Just be sure you don’t waste words on people who are listening.

Libra September 23-October 22
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of personal finance, and as a result, you’re thinking about the details of m-o-n-e-y. Try not to resist or avoid this process. If you’re worried, face the anxiety, and figure out what you can do to stabilize your situation.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of individuation, a position that invites you to reassess your public persona—no easy feat for those who play their cards close. Complete privacy might not be possible, so spend a moment reconsidering the benefits of sharing.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of introspection, which means there is no escaping this phase of internal review. Be determined to examine whatever arises from a variety of perspectives, and you’ll open up several previously closed systems.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of community, inviting you to reconsider how you share your gifts with the world. Don’t dismiss this process as unnecessary because you think you have it figured out. Examine the threads of your participation to see how you want to refine your contribution.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of career, reviewing the intricate details of ambition and accomplishment. Stay open to this process even if it means giving up a prized position. You may not have to let it go completely; you just need to realize what it costs you to hold on.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of spiritual inquiry, asking you to review your belief systems. Embrace this phase even if it gets uncomfortable, because there’s nothing like the fresh air of new insight to weed out stagnant ideas or ideals that no longer serve.

This article was originally published on October 24, 2013.