Each year, Mercury the planet of communication, commerce, transport and language starts (three or sometimes four times a year) an apparent Retrograde movement of the planet through the sky. The motion is not real in that the planet does not physically start moving backwards on its orbit. It just appears to do so because of the relative positions of the planet and Earth and how they are moving around the Sun.
During the times that Mercury is retrograde, people often notice more challenges with correspondence, our communication as we interact with others. It can also show up in our relationship to our neighborhood, our siblings and challenges with cars, transportation or electric equipment.
To be more specific, Mercury in Astrology rules everything that has to do with communication, including listening, speaking, learning, reading, editing, researching, negotiating, selling, and buying. Mercury also rules all formal contracts and agreements, as well as important documents such as book manuscripts or term papers, agreements, deeds, contracts, leases, wills. As well as any type of code such as computer codes but also transportation, shipping, and travel. So, when the planet retrogrades, all these areas tend to get out of control because, the planet is like in a sleeping mode so the domains that Mercury governs do not have a well functioning energy to keep them in check.
The Mercury Retrograde cycle will start this year of 2023 in the Earth sign of Capricorn, following three more retrogrades periods further down the year within the signs of Taurus, then Virgo and last one in Capricorn and getting back in the fire sign of Sagittarius which will last until the beginning of 2024. These are all Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) which are very practical and down to earth and the last retrograde also with a bit of Fire from Sagittarius which will call for new adventures and a refreshed Spirit.
Mercury will be in apparent retrograde motion during the following range of dates (depending on the time zone, the dates will slightly differ):
- Dec 29, 2022 to Jan. 18, 2023 in the earth sign Capricorn.
- April 21 to May 14 in the earth sign Taurus
- Aug. 23 to Sept. 15 in the earth sign Virgo.
- Dec. 13 to Jan. 1, 2024 in the earth sign Capricorn and fire sign Sagittarius.
Mercury governs the signs of Gemini and Virgo in Astrology, thus everyone with their Sun, Ascendant or Moon in these signs or that have a strong relationship with Mercury in their Astrology charts are more likely to be affected by the transit.
Being aware of our Shadow:
At a personal level, one way of looking at Mercury Retrograde is that it reveals disowned components in our awareness, communication, and interaction with others and with the world around us.
Mercury in Gemini expresses the way that we reach out, interact and discriminate our neighborhood. The shadow of Gemini is Sagittarius. When Mercury is retrograde, it often expresses the negative nature of Sagittarius, thus the tendency is to generalize, anticipate, judge or assume, without checking first to see what is real or not.
Mercury in Virgo expresses the way that we integrate our experiences and recognize the world around us using our mind. The shadow of Virgo is Pisces. When Mercury is retrograde, it often expresses the disowned nature of Pisces thus we can imagine that others will make things happen for us or we could simply disconnect to our inner core searching an outer connection instead, thus becoming victims of our own ignorance.
The blessing of Mercury Retrograde:
We can use these retrograde times to reflect and see where we are being caught in the patterns of our shadow, especially that it’s in these times where we become less conscious thus it’s a good introspection exercise.
Also, the Retrograde period can be a blessing because it mainly reveals what it’s no longer working properly and needs a new approach, or things that it’s important to resolve, fix or address; by being centered we just need to become aware and make the necessary changes down the line.
We can say the Mercury retrograde cycle happens at two levels:
1st – Being more aware of others actions and how they impact us – at this level there’s not a lot that we can do, just to double check things and be prepared for delays or errors that may occur.
2nd – This is a more personal level that we can avoid the consequences of our actions by becoming more centered and being aware that when we are not acting from our hearts there are always some aftermath that we need to solve or take care. Our wounds and buttons are being pushed in order to become conscious and work with our reactions and not by re/acting from our shadow self.
Here are some activities that is best to pay more attention to and avoid or postpone until the period ends:
- Signing important contracts (best time to review contracts and/or important agreements);
- Buying electronic equipment (including mobile phones or cars, etc);
- Taking any major decisions;
- Travelling (delays, accidents, losing items might happen, etc);
- Buying expensive items (you may see them on Sale after the period end);
- Communicate a new release related to information and/or data.
Mercury in Capricorn: December 29, 2022 to January 18, 2023
From December 29th, 2022 to January 18th, 2023, the retrograde will occur in the goal orientated, authoritative, hard working and responsible sign of Capricorn. Capricorn rules corporations, carrier, social status or position, authorities, institutions that rule over us, elders. These areas will be in the spotlight for all of us so any previous plans, goals, dreams that we had need to be re-evaluated and tweaked, improved or let go for good if they do not serve us anymore. The universe is telling us through this transit that there’s still unfinished business, so it will will be hard to jumpstart projects or to get our resolutions moving in full gear until the retrograde ends on Jan. 18.
Mercury in Capricorn will meet one by one, Venus and the Sun. With Venus we are invited to reevaluate and create strong relationships, firm values and enjoy the comfort of a solid structure or back bone that could stand the test of time. With the Sun, we are invited or triggered by these energies to speak with confidence, express ourselves in a more courageous and authentic way and with Mercury here it’s going to make things easier to communicate our wants and needs. However, it may also bring or ask from us a more complex approach to a specific solution or situation.
Capricorn a cardinal, solid Earth sign, ruled by Saturn represents obligation, maturity, learned wisdom through hard work, and life’s many restrictions, it is the planet of maturity, responsibility and discipline which wants to protect the old, working structures that have been in place for some time. So with this retrograde, we have to examine what we need to keep and what needs to leave our life for good if we want to build a solid foundation and something on the long run. This will also be the foundation for themes that will be important to us when Saturn will transit the sign of Pisces and Pluto in Aquarius later in 2023.
Below are the domains of life where each zodiac sign will be triggered by this Mercury Retrograde transit to review and reconsider (look for your Sun, Ascendant, and Moon Signs):
Aries: career, public image, reputation, social status.
Taurus: beliefs, principles, relationships with foreigners, studies
Gemini: renunciation, power, sexuality, unpaid money, loans.
Cancer: relationships, couple, association, marriage.
Leo: health, work, colleagues, daily schedule.
Virgo: love, children, creativity, hobbies.
Libra: house, family, lifestyle, dwelling, soul.
Scorpio: communication, electronic equipment, studies.
Sagittarius: money, personal goods and values, talents.
Capricorn: decisions, self-actions, ambition, physical body, image.
Aquarius: health, relationship with God, self-analysis, letting go of battle.
Pisces: friends, future plans, aspirations, ideals.
Many blessings,
Isabela
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