Practical Astrology in October-November 2007 - What is Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio Good For?

by Robert Wilkinson

There are many things that are favored while Mercury is retrograde, despite the general opinion that it leads to massive confusion, miscommunication, and things going everywhere and nowhere all at once. Usually the week just before and after the beginning of the period is most difficult for people, and yet if you know how to adjust your sense of timing, you'll see things fall into place in ways you never suspected.

As I've written in other articles, during a Mercury retrograde period we all know we're NOT supposed to sign contracts, make purchases of electronics, make major moves or decisions, and are supposed to hang out with the energies, seeing that things may not be as they appear, and so on. That said, there are many things that a Mercury retrograde period is good for, such as traveling. I have found that as long as one is flexible, retrograde travel is actually a good thing.

Also favored are research, reflection, review, rehearsals, and returns from the past. It's also a great time for reconnecting with old friends, finding people and things thought lost, It's a great time to explore possibilities, as long as no definitive decisions are made, since they are usually modified or reversed later on.

It's a good time for doing things left undone, or neglected, from previous times. It's good for resuming something from the past, as long as you remember that it may not look like it used to, or requires a different approach than before. It's also good for doing things that fill in gaps in understanding or activity, or for doing things that seem to go in one direction but lead you to entirely new information and understanding.

It's a good time for resuming things begun in previous retrograde periods, or for picking up threads that had to be set aside while other things developed. It usually indicates a time when you need to be able to build in a time lag with whatever you're doing, since retrogrades often show that there are things yet to develop that will ultimately fill in whatever is missing in the present.

In my book, "A New Look At Mercury Retrograde," I included a chapter on Mercury retrograde in the signs. Obviously what sign Mercury retrogrades through makes a huge amount of difference in what is appropriate during that period. Since it is retrograde in Scorpio, in this article I'll offer you some possible manifestations of what we may expect, regardless of what Sun sign we are or which house(s) it moves through in our individual chart. This article outlines what to expect concerning which house it transits in your chart. That said, here's a bit about Mercury retrograde in Scorpio from the book.

In Scorpio, Mercury's energies slow down to rethink in a reform mode. In this position the mind intensely destroys previously held conceptual forms. Hidden things are ferreted out… There are fantasies around what might be, if certain conditions were fulfilled. Here the mind seeks to find the path to the truth behind forms; it drills ever deeper, and may find gold, oil, or garbage. Mercury here is never satisfied with superficialities, and it is relentless in the pursuit of whatever will lead to completion.

This position takes a new look at what was discarded. There may be an unusual feeling-understanding of some desire, or sudden insights into another’s subconscious values. This position instinctively spots self-destructive behavior or mental-verbal evasions, and has the ability to pierce through others’ defenses.

Mercury in Scorpio is in its own 3rd sign: Here power and desire are constantly exploring, intensely pursuing and gathering information. Mercury in its own 6th sign indicates a placement where the mind constantly self-adjusts to practical exigencies, and uses power and desire to alter situations. Here the mind explores final adjustments before bringing any given idea or approach to the surface. Knowledge comes through piercing the form and feeling the depth; knowledge also comes from seeing what of value must be reclaimed from the past.

The coming three weeks will be a good time to harvest the best of what has emerged in your life in the past few months, and search for the mystery of what you've attracted and what has been denied. I suspect the coming Mercury retrograde period will be a good time to sort things through, letting go of what you no longer need and regenerating what you will need in the near future.

Just don't allow the mind to wander off into negative feeling-thoughts, and if old resentments and suspicions come up, do all you can to let go of them by being as positive about things as possible. Due to it being in a water sign, you can bet that intuition will be up, but so will misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and intense points of view.

Which brings us full circle to something I said in the second paragraph: Hang out with the energies and information, pay attention to details while remembering that a lot of it won't make sense for several weeks or months, and don't believe everything you're told. It will be a great time to review recent practical adjustments, and rethink your desires and shared resources or value systems.

Don't get stuck in negative feeling states, open to the new that's already in motion, take time to enjoy what you've accomplished, let go of outmoded or obsolete ways of viewing, speaking, or interpreting, and don't allow useless discontent to mess up what should be an inspired time of interacting with others on deep, connected levels. And of course, be willing to sacrifice old ways of life that no longer serve the need of your life or the times.

More on the influence of the October-November 2007 Mercury retrograde in Scorpio and Libra can be found in the linked article covering its overall meaning. There are more insights at Mercury Retrograde Astrology in October-November 2007 Pt. 2 - What It Means For Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, while to repeat an earlier link, How Mercury Retrograde Affects Us In The Different Houses will help you understand its influences based in what house in your chart it is retrograde.

© Copyright 2007 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Alexandra]

Hi Robert,
If some decisions that were made during the last retrograde in the June/July have come up for review during this one, is it okay to follow through? For example, I made a commitment regarding a new living arrangement in a new city during the last mercury retrograde. That choice has proven not to be the best one and I have been on the look out for a new place - an opportunity has come up which appears to resolve all these problems nicely but which I wold probably have to move and sign a new lease during this mercury retro! I was also wondering how a mercury retrograde in Scorpio might effect a Scorpio born during a mercury retrograde...and I guess, things to do with finding a new home, for that matter! : )
(Nov 13, 1966)
Namaste -
Alexandra

[Robert]

Hi Alexandra - Yes, very definitely. As I noted in my book, things that happen during one RX period often come back up in some way in a subsequent RX period. Perfect Mercury RX manifestation! I signed a one month lease during a RX period for a pad that has lasted 17 years. It's gone through many incarnations and certainly hasn't been anything like what I thought 17 years ago. Just don't sign the lease with Moon in Scorpio. A Sun in Scorpio should get new insights and new looks at their light, life, illumination, or integrity. Since Mercury rules Scorpio's 8th and 11th houses, it would probably also affect things related to these life areas. Scorpio's home is ruled by Saturn, which has been in favorable aspect to Mercury, Venus, and Mars, as I noted in a recent article.

[Alexandra]

Thanks Robert! It looked like a green light but there's no doubt there's a sense of suspension in other areas of my life that make it hard to tell exactly where its okay to move and where not. The place is exactly (last RX) what I was looking for. Was that your article you posted on the 12th, "Astrology in 2007 featuring Jupiter in Sagittarius Square Uranus in Pisces - Evolution Revolution NOW!"?
Best Wishes,
Alexandra

[Wild Horse running]

Hi Robert...

I have noticed somthing...ref rx planets...or just growth in general....it seems I dream about it, talk about...and start to put it into practice...before I actually become concious of it....this has happened pretty much with each new ah ha....and there have been alot over the past 2 years of the fixed planets-Saturn in Leo.. I am very fixed(11-15-59 3:22am Tarrytown NY)...Saturn-conjunct the Snode now I just got another a ha....and I see the process has been the same.

Before the "elevator" gets to the top...it stops at each level? Now the discipline comes in as I see what I have to let-go of. Merc rx in the 1st house....new I.D. or presentation of self?

Namaste...

[trish]

Hi & best to you Robert,
04-28-71 10am ny est
what a week! I just checked and you verified MERCURY IN RETROGRADE; I went from solid hand shake to no thanks in biz. Feels insane, sigh..
In regards to timing when initiating or to propose new ideas in relation to Mercury retrograde...before begins then what?? wait til period passes then resume as usual?....also revisiting old contacts to be done while in retrograde or wait til period ends...
Open to any love you can throw my way....you're graced, you have been in the presence of His Holiness..
Thanks for giving life to all the gold threads.
ox t

[chickie]

Your Highness

Can you tell me when the last time mercury was R in Scorpio and/or at the same time in a grand trine?

gracias

chickie

[Robert]

Hi Alexandra - No, it was part 1 of the Mercury RX articles.

Hi WHR - Mercury RX is kind of a rehearsal, which dreams also can be. Mercury RX is in your Solar 12th house, again pointing you toward closures and seeing your life as a whole from different perspectives.

Hi Trish - Do research, rehearse, and discuss scenarios, and find a good lunar aspect to put things out there. Revisiting old contacts is a perfect thing for Mercury RX, as long as you remember there are things yet to be known that will influence whatever is happening now. Aum Mani Padme Hum!

Hi chickie - Mercury was RX in Scorpio making a trine to some other planet(s) in 1953, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1986, 1993, 1999, 2000, and 2006. The only grand water trines it's made the past 57 years was in 1953 with Uranus in Cancer and Moon in Pisces, 1966 with Moon in Cancer and Saturn in Pisces, 1973 with Moon in Pisces and Saturn in Cancer, 1974 with Jupiter in Pisces and Saturn in Cancer, 1986 with Moon in Cancer and Mars-Jupiter in Pisces, and 2006 with Moon in Cancer, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter in Scorpio, and Uranus in Pisces.

[chickie]

Molto Grazie!

chickie

[suz-d]

Hi Robert....
I'm about to cancel the upcoming negotiations with my record label and my attorney due to possible Mercury Retro influence. The last time we were talking together, I broke off the negotiations due to the upcoming Mercury Retro period. Then we all went off and did different things. Now, we are about to reopen the negotiations, and already there are a few problems, the very same problems that came up in the original negotiations, BEFORE Mercury had even gone retro. hmmm... interesting...

So my intuition is sensing that it's only another week until Mercury goes direct, and I just thought to run that by you, to reschedule the talks, as waiting another week isnt going to matter that much....

thanks again for your always wise and wonderful counsel... much appreciated !

suz-d

[Robert]

Hi suz-d - Sounds like a perfect time to discuss some things, revisit some things, and renegotiate even more things while you wait for final decisions. Throw it on them to come up with something that's workable and then tweak the deal until you come to something mutually acceptable, whether it's ideal or not. Mercury sextile Pluto and Jupiter at this time makes negotiating favorable. At least you're done with Venus conjunct Saturn and SN.

[suz-d]

sounds good.
only thing is, we cant even get started, as the label refuses to send us the contracts we want to review. this is the point earlier in the negotiations when things broke down. it's too much to go into here, but this is ridiculous! I sense that he knows that when my attorney sees the contracts, that there will be some bad vibes and some challenges. and this is just one of the ways that labels screw their artists, while at the same time, labels wouldnt even exist without the artist and their creations. it's all ass backwards.
.....sigh...!
keep you posted
thnx Robert.

[suz-d]

hi
everything changed today. we're getting the contracts. things are actually better than I thought...thank heavens.... and we'll conference next week.
so you dont need to respond, you have so many more that need your attention. I'm fine
thanx Robert

[Larissa]

Hi Robert, I know my question is not on the subject with this article. I want to know if someone's has Mars in Scorpio, is it good for me in general, since my moon is in Scorpio. I have heard Mars-Moon combination can't be too opposite.

[Robert]

Hi Larissa - It's not that simple. A Mars-Moon contact can mean 10,000 things. The best I can say is their Mars stimulates your Moon, which reacts emotionally to their Mars in many different ways.

[d3mill]

My first time Robert,
I have been a reader and watcher for a while and have valued your knowledge and insight.Dealing with a fixed cross - Moon Leo 21 (6th Hs)opps Trans Nept con (w) natal Chiron 27 Aqu(12th hs), Squ sun 24 Taurus (3rd hs) opps Jupiter 27 scorp(9th hs). Trans saturn opp ASC 5 pisces, con Pluto 1 Virgo....just a bit nervous about Fullmoon conjuct IC 1(?) Gemini...helpful hints advice...I would be grateful..can't say it's been boring.
Thanks
dianne

[Robert]

Hi dianne - Glad you like the site. You have Jupiter ruler of your Asc trine Moon sextile Chiron quintile Asc helping you for a few weeks before it's sextile the Asc while trining transiting Saturn. The Full Moon reveals the promise of the New Moon, which is at 18 Scorpio conjunct your Jupiter. It's lower square your Moon showing new emergent Lunar power, and opposite your Sun, shows ways for your light to exteriorize. Adjust, prepare, cut through vagueness or generalized uncertainty, stay clear about your role, let go of obsolete feelings, and get as focused as you can. Overall 2008 should be very good to and for you.

[MO]

what's the sconedery zodiac for Aquarius born in 1981, and cancer born in 1974?

thank u.