Mercury Retrograde: Searching for Signals

Mercury is retrograde again at 4 degrees Sagittarius- 18 degrees Scorpio beginning on Election Day, 11/6 (thru 11/26). Mercury delights in tricks, so this could make for some interesting Election Day shenanigans. Remember the hanging chads debacle of 2000? That was what happened the last time Mercury went RX during an election. Personally, I'm trying to be mindful of what Mercury's backward walk through my Second House of finances & possessions might bring, and hoping few unexpected expenses will occur (or items break) during this time period. So far (and this happened far before today) my fave facial gadget has broken, my website was been down, and forms I needed to prep for a big event ended up in my Spam box – which I didn’t find till after the fact, forcing me to abandon preparation & improv (Mercury). While Mercury is transiting my Second House, it rules my Twelfth and Ninth Houses.

While it’s annoying to have stuff break down, I’ve been pondering getting a handle on Mercury's cycle. On his site astro-counselor.com, friend and mentor, Paul Bogle, says Mercury “telegraphs” what would be useful to work on during this reversal phase. That sounds far more promising than the game of telephone Mercury often plays.

How to re-frame Mercury retrograde? There are a few key dates to help us sort out Mercury's trajectory. For instance, the shadow point of Mercury fell on 10/17-10/18. What was happening for you, then? We often see hints of what’s coming down the pike at that time. Whether you received the message about what that is back in October, or today, Mercury can help you re-work, re-appraise a situation.

Another key date for the Mercury cycle is the time between when Mercury meets the Sun in an inferior conjunction (11/16/-17) and when Mercury turns direct (11/26). Greg Bogart, in his book Planets in Therapy, says key insights emerge around the time Mercury and the Sun conjoin, when our “mental circuits” are very active, and that between the conjunction and direct motion, “discriminative intelligence” is high: we can succinctly edit, revise, and reshape decisions or conclusions drawn.

What do you need to re-work during Mercury’s retrograde period?

Where will you receive benefit by adopting an attitude of re-examination?

Mercury RX the 1st House: self-image, makeovers, decisive choices, how you act and appear, your life journey and your vehicle for accomplishment, your point of view.

Mercury RX in the 2nd House: money, confidence, investing in your self, taking risks that require courage, your ability to provide for your self, personal safety, body consciousness.

Mercury RX in the 3rd House: self-expression, communication, the appearance of omens and synchronicity, neighbors and siblings, journeys of the mind, learning/teaching, education.

Mercury RX in the 4th House: home, parents, clan, security, roots and personal legacy, the past, psychological introspection, endings, where your heart is, what the soul most wants.

Mercury RX in the 5th House: lovers and love affairs, expression of creativity and talent, luster, getting noticed, self re-creation, playmates, karmic partnerships, short term relationships.

Mercury RX in the 6th House: befriending the body, environmental psychological and spiritual hygiene, mentors and apprenticeship, work life balance, co-workers, self-care.

Mercury RX in the 7th House: partners, negotiation, bridge-building, the building of trust, seeing through the eyes’ of another, marriage, making your relationships new again.

Mercury RX in the 8th House: psycho-sexual intimacy, death and grief, shared resources, repressed and unconscious material, sexual and trauma healing, healing betrayal.

Mercury RX in the 9th House: religious and spiritual teachers, questions of morality, long journeys, expanding your possibilities, belief systems, dogma vs. wide-open perception.

Mercury RX in the 10th House: how you appear to the public at large, public image or status, your calling card or career, bosses and higher-ups, recognition, doing what you love.

Mercury RX in the 11th House: distant friends and groups, shared long-term plans and goals, people you want to be like/you admire, social networks, finding your place in the world.

Mercury RX in the 12th House: consciousness and quietude, restorative activities, spiritual pursuits, enjoyable time spent alone, connection to all of life through art/beauty/music.