It’s a busy week of planetary transitions, and as terrestrial life often reflects celestial activity, the routines of daily life take on the hustle and bustle of the sky. Dreams and visions, sleeping or waking, reflect myriad desires, some practical, some reasonable. Expect some of what happens, internal or external, to stretch the boundaries of imagination—it’s as if information from other dimensions infiltrates normal awareness. Don’t be surprised if you’re questioning third dimensional reality and leaning toward the idea that a greater sense of things might be found multidimensionally.
So fasten your seatbelt of personal consciousness to a strong intention to make the best possible choices, and then allow yourself to align with your highest aspirations. Yes…I know this sounds a little like Harry Potter patter. But read on and then decide if I’m lost in magical writing.
Today, Mercury (not the Earth) “stands still,” as it prepares for its final retrograde phase of 2015 that begins tomorrow, September 17. Mercury will stay retrograde until October 9. Most of us have memorized the Mercury Retrograde drill, but for those new to this ritual, here are the Cliff Notes:
Mercury symbolizes all things related to communication and travel, including mail of every denomination, from email to office mail to snail mail or express mail, and within its vast domain of language, you’ll also find text messages, Twitter tweets, memos, and contracts, to name but a few ways we communicate with each other—and in some instances, with our machines. Phones, from the smart to the barely sophisticated, are also part of Mercury’s domain, which means even if you’re backed up in a Cloud of one type or another, you might want to be backed up on the ground as well.
Mercury Retrograde is never a good time to initiate new projects. It is always a great time to reflect, review, and reconsider the details of plans already in motion. Ultimately, each of its retrograde phases is about finding the patience to take a deep breath, sit with what’s happening in your life, and if that makes you antsy and/or nervous, then Mercury Retrograde is also about refining your patience.
According to the ancient myth of Hermes—the Greek equivalent of Mercury—Hermes was impatient from the moment he left his mother’s womb. He is emblematic of the mind, which has the potential to move at a restless pace, flitting from one topic to another, curious or anxious about what’s next. So it’s interesting that when Mercury is retrograde, we are forced to stay put in what is.
But that’s not all. On Friday, September 18, early in the morning GMT, Saturn enters Sagittarius. (Yes, Scorpio, it’s time to take a deep breath; Saturn won’t be back in your Sign for another 26 years.) Saturn’s entry into Sagittarius picks up where it left off mid-June, so look back at your calendar or journal (a fine thing to do during Mercury Retrograde), see what you were doing back then, and see if you can find a correlation to those activities over the course of the next several weeks.
Just be aware, we’re also in the grip of two other major planetary transitions and one more interaction, all of which make it difficult to access clarity about Saturn themes until mid-October.
(1) The first additional shift takes place on September 25, when Pluto goes direct. Pluto’s “course corrections” aren’t often felt as keenly as Mercury’s or Uranus’. But because this “slow down” collides with Mercury Retrograde and Saturn in Sagittarius, Pluto Direct could resemble the latest iteration of “hurry up and wait.” Pluto likes to move, but only at its own pace. Saturn, too, is controlling about the when, where, and how of its influence. But Sagittarius, a Fire Sign, wants its heat to translate into action. Add in Mercury’s insistence on plowing through the details, and the result could be a traffic jam. (More about Saturn’s transit through Sagittarius next week.)
(2) A lunar eclipse on September 28 contributes to the astral confusion by making it a little more difficult to assess the validity of certain insights and intuitions, especially as those hunches relate to relationships. The Sun, in Libra, overrides the Moon, in Aries, which could result in putting the needs of significant others over your own. Normally, this is not necessarily negative, but given just how much is going on, taking care of one more thing could push some of us over the edge. Be gentle with your fellow travelers and with yourself. These are a lot of powerful influences to manage all at once.
(3) A Jupiter/Neptune opposition is the portal into the multidimensional quality of this week and the coming week. Jupiter signifies great good fortune and expansive ideas. Neptune signifies the vastness of the unconscious—it’s all states of altered consciousness except this one (but only if you agree that this is not an altered state, which I’m no longer willing to do). Jupiter was the original ruling planet of Pisces; it was replaced when Neptune was discovered; and on close study, both Jupiter and Neptune have similar qualities, particularly their relationship to the infinite vastness of the human mind. Oppositions usually represent tension and strife, but defining that stress will be difficult given the combined wide range of their domains. What that wide range can provide is access to a multidimensional perspective. And that would be a good thing, given the great number of perspectives vying for dominance this week and during the coming weeks.
Remember, patience is the key to these liminal weeks, as is a compassionate perspective that can stay focused on the notion that each of us is doing the best she or he can—even if it looks to you like it isn’t good enough.
Sun Bursts: 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 relationship, so expect to be reviewing the details of partnerships with significant others, personal as well as professional. As you make your way through this process, try to make it a habit to stand in the shoes of your partner so you can see each situation through a different perspective.
Taurus April 20-May 20
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of work, service, and health, inviting you to look at all those areas of your life to see what needs refining. Even if nothing is out of balance, use this phase to look a little closer at the details. You may discover a level of stress you didn’t know was there, or a level of health you can build on.
Gemini May 21-June 21
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of self-expression and romance, so don’t be surprised if you experience a renewed passion for former projects or if old flames flare up. There’s no clear-cut way through this phase other than to be with your feelings, trust your intuition, and let the situation play out.
Cancer June 22-July 22
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of the home, a sector of the chart you can experience externally or internally. From an external perspective, Mercury’s presence could translate into taking care of lots of details around the house. From an internal point of view, this phase could result in improved meditation habits.
Leo July 23-August 22
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of communication, which means you’re talking—a lot—and so is everyone else. Be prepared to repeat yourself several times. Also expect others to do the same. Some of these conversations refer to previous conversations you may not remember. So just try to listen carefully, and you’ll manage this phase with skill.
Virgo August 23-September 22
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of personal finance, insisting you take a look at your money matters. Don’t worry; this does not have to be a negative review. It’s simply an opportunity to reflect, reconsider, and refine your financial plans, especially if you’re operating at a deficit. Use this time to make an accurate assessment of your situation.
Libra September 23-October 22
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of personality, and its presence is stimulating an identity crisis—a “who do you want to be and how do you want to present yourself” process. Embrace this phase and allow yourself to explore a variety of new images. Try on a few—no commitment required.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of the unconscious, so better be ready for a wild ride of dreams and visions, as well as a potential visit from the Brain Worm, that famous parasite that steals all your mental energy by encouraging you to brood about things past or worry about what’s to come. Use this retrospective to simply observe, not obsess.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of community, and as part of its review, you’re reflecting on how to share your gifts with the world. Be ready and willing to reexamine your current level of participation—is it too little or too much? And then be willing to refine your habits to reflect your new understanding of just how much you’ve got to give.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of career and recognition, and as it retraces its recent path, you’re sure to be retracing yours. It makes no difference whether you’re actively pursuing career choices or just exploring a change. Be open to examining what you want to accomplish and how you’d like to do it.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of spiritual search and global travel, inviting you to review your belief systems. This could be a powerful phase of personal exploration, especially if you’re up to the task of facing doubt as part of a larger process of strengthening faith. It’s as complex as it sounds, but it is worth the effort.
Pisces February 19-March 20
Mercury is retrograde in your Solar House of transformation, sexuality, and the values of others, just a few of the easier arenas of human experience—just kidding. Be willing to review your attitudes toward all these challenging areas and you’ll make good use this phase.
Ralfee Finn specializes in Transformational Astrology. For readings, call 1-212-222-3232, write P.O. Box 343, New York, NY 10025, visit AquariumAge.com, or e-mail ralfee@aquariumage.com.
Copyright © 2015 by Ralfee Finn