Astrology Class - Mercury retrograde and the Superior and Inferior Conjunction

by Robert Wilkinson

2 critical points in the Sun-Mercury cycle are the inferior conjunction of Merc to the Sun while retrograde, and the superior conjunction, which is when Mercury again catches up to conjunct the Sun while direct, leading eventually to the next inferior conjunction during the next Mercury retrograde.

The Inferior Conjunction brings insights from the collective to the life and vitality symbolized by the Sun. They can be reflections leading to new insights about past or present life coordination issues, they could be messages or symbols from personal or collective subconscious, and/or they could be new or alternative insights about some part of the life experience, also symbolized by the Sun. The Sun is the Law of our Light-Life, the Central Order of our personal Solar System of our material, emotional, and psychological affairs, so all conjunctions to our Sun are important fusions of parts of our life, affecting the era to come, whose length is determined by the particular planetary cycle engaging our Sun.

The Superior conjunction again brings mind in direct connection to our life, with all that it learned from the first period when it initially covered what will be its retrograde span, the second period when it actually retrogrades over that span, and the third phase when it again traverses that span during its new direct motion phase. It conjuncts the Sun one or two signs later, and about four months after that it again goes retrograde, preparing for another inferior conjunction when it again delivers all that it has learned since the last superior conjunction.

Mercury's direct motion period is when it directly learns, evaluates, classifies, divides, and generally disects reality. The mind (Mercury) races ahead of the life (Sun) and gets as far ahead as it can before it begins to slow and turn inward, look backward, listen to other beats, other drummers, other interpretations, other ways of weaving the experiences of life into something we can understand from a different point of view. This is called perspective, and is essential if we are to learn the many ways the Higher Self both is and is not.

The experience that gives us perspective allows us to become well rounded in our knowledge and ability to apply or knowledge, skills, and talents in ways that fulfill our purpose on this Earth. It is said that Mercury, or Hermes, is the "Guide of Souls." If that is true, then perhaps looking back with a different perspective may help us to reconsider our footprints in time, and choose to re-think some of our assumptions that are not leading us to our Higher Self. Then we can consciously choose a different way to coordinate our mind, feelings, and lives, and begin to live a more fulfilled sense of purpose.

Mercury retrograde periods are an extremely important period of getting signals that can lead you to your Soul. Take an unusual view, look back with a new perspective, see the patterns, both productive and destructive, and then when it goes direct, implement your new insights and perspectives into new ways of seeing, communicating, and envisioning.

© Copyright 2006 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Jennifer]

Hi Robert...I was hoping you would have another mercury retrograde article. Last year at this time, I began writing. That was put on hold in regard to submission. I didn't feel it was the right time. Here we are in a mercury retrograde period. I have picked up the writing again and believe it is done. I know reviewing and re-doing is fine during a retrograde but what about submitting it. Should I wait until March or is it okay because it was a piece from the past? Thanks.

[Robert]

Hi Jennifer - Writing, rewriting, return to writing, editing, and rethinking the pitch are all great Mercury RX activities to do. I would think that you may want to submit it say, with Moon in Leo in a Grand Fire Trine on February 28 or March 1, when Mercury is still RX but increasing in speed, and it's before the Full Moon. I'm not sure submitting in between two eclipses would be better than submitting it before either.

[Jennifer]

Thank you Robert. I'm glad I brought it to your attention.

[Barbara]

I need to convince my partner not to sign some very important contracts and spend a lot of money on buying a car and transfering money now. When is the next time period for these matters. I read about mercury retrograde but since I am not an astrologer, I am confused about when to advise him of this. His birth is July 20, 1946.

[Robert]

Hi Barbara - Well, first remember you seldom convince anyone of a thing when they are determined to do something unless they are amenable to dialog. Whether apparently reasonable, misguided or just impulsive, people tend to demand "reasons" for not doing something they've made up their minds to do rather than ask if this IS actually the right time for doing something. I've always felt caution can trigger a review of something that needs to be dealt with before it becomes a "good time." Also, since he has Mercury RX at birth, his life tends to go forward during these times. Mercury is now speeding up, so we're about to leave the depth of the RX period and begin to feel a quickening.

Some things may not be a bad thing to do, like money transfers, if it is something that should have been done before, or something that is precursor to another important thing happening. As for contracts, I hope he's checked the wording EXTREMELY carefully, including a potential bail-out clause satisfactory to both parties. Also some assumptions may need to be questioned, and language inserted to deal with something not being considered at present. Usually a Mercury RX contractual issue deals with interpretation of the same words in different ways, or something that was left undefined that will be important down the road.

As for buying a car, well, gooooood luuuuuck. If I were buying a car, I'd get one July 7 or even 8. I tried for years to "beat the Mercury RX thing" around machines, but gave up in the late 70s due to too many malfunctions over too many years. Now I just wait patiently for the right aspects to Saturn (and if possible Uranus) so I have long life and good value. That's probably even more important than Mercury RX, though Mercury does in fact rule travel and means of transportation. I believe it's not that Mercury RX "causes" the malfunction, but probably that the machine was originally built or assembled with funky aspects indicating sloppy workmanship, defective parts, or any number of other reasonable causes for malfunctions.

[Deb]

Hi Robert,
My boss was born on 6 May 1946 and always has problems with technology. I was wondering if he could have been born when mercury was retrograde?

[Robert]

Hi Deb - No, natally he has Mercury direct in Aries square Saturn, and a Mars in early Leo septile Uranus at 16 Gemini. His Moon may be near 1 Leo - if so it's semisquare his Uranus. At present his Prog Mercury is exactly conjunct his natal Pluto and slowing down quickly, going stationary RX in about 12-14 years.

[Henry]

I guess next Friday Full Moon in Taurus will be exciting, when dealing with Scorpio Sun/Mercury Rx...

Auuuuuuuuuum...

[Robert]

Hi Henry - The coming Full Moon, being the flip of the Wesak Festival Full Moon, shows the form of the illumination and the illumination of the forms that were released at that Spring "festival." And so far, this Mercury RX, while peculiar in many ways (as all retrogrades seem!) is still yielding positive results and reconnections, or at least definite understandings about who is connected to whom and what. There's definitely a sifting going on.