Mercury Retrograde Astrology - How Mercury Retrograde Works and How It's Related To Past and Future Retrogrades

by Robert Wilkinson

Yes, it's THAT time again! 3 times each year, Mercury goes retrograde, throwing people and situations into a whirlwind of over, under, sideways and down. But does it? Just what is Mercury retrograde? Over the next week or so we'll find out many elements about this period, and how this one will affect us.

Mercury retrograde is perhaps the single most misunderstood part of astrology, given the widespread number who have heard that phrase. I've given you an introduction about the general meaning of the phenomenon known as Mercury Retrograde in the article, Mercury Retrograde - A New Look at the Guide of Souls. It may serve to help you pierce through many of the superstitions and suppositions concerning this repeating phenomenon, and how it works in our lives.

There's really too much to recap here, so if you're not familiar with some of the technical elements and basic meanings of this phenomenon that happens 3 times a year, you may want to read that article first before picking up the narrative of what this coming period is about, and how best to approach its challenges and potentialities. Or read it after this one. Whatever works for you.

Basically, the phenomenon of retrogradation happens to all the planets as a function of its orbit. Mercury speeds up for awhile, then slows down for awhile, then speeds up again, then slows down again in an eternal dance of racing forward to get new information, then slowing to reconsider that information.

The direct period that follows a retrograde period is the time of getting new information. When it slows, it is called "Mercury Retrograde," and shows a time when we're re-tracing ground we've already covered, but are seeing from a new angle of vision. We take a new look at information we've already experienced to whatever degree.

We get a front end look at the stationary retrograde degree, before turning back to take a new look at things we've already seen or done as it slows in motion. After its point of slowest motion around the Inferior Conjunction, it again begins to move faster until it again passes the Sun and eventually begins to slow anew.

When Mercury goes direct, it is at a platform from which to bring the lessons it has reflected on during the rx period forward into the future life-in-the-making. The angle of retrograde exploration was the stationary retrograde degree. The degree of the inferior conjunction shows how life and mind must come together in a different, perhaps overlooked but definitely useful, view of what must be known.

The entire retrograde function is inward-turned, so we can get insights into what must be known to understand some thing from a more holistic point of view. We can also note how our mind, ideas, or worldview are affected by our subconsciousness, or our receptivity to others' subconsciousness.

Mercury retrograde periods reveal their own unique rhythm in offering us a new look at things. Every period in some way echoes the messages of prior retrograde periods, and affects those to come.

That's why it's important to observe what has been revealed during other periods in the recent months and years past, so that you can see how Mercury, or Hermes, the "Guide of Souls," is leading you to your authentic self. Regardless of appearances, or how difficult or easy, Mercury retrograde periods show us the path to our Soul.

If you want to know how this larger sequence of Mercury retrograde periods is unfolding its roundabout magic, please check out the archives from June-July and January-February 2008, as well as October 2007, June 2007 and January-February 2007. Each of these periods have several articles, so enjoy connecting the dots by looking back to get a sense of the future.

On that note, obviously there are more Mercury retrograde articles coming over the next few days. I'll be exploring the overall meaning of the coming 3 week period, significant degree influences, how it affects individual birthdays, discuss the coming Inferior Conjunction, and what this Mercury Retrograde in Libra is specifically good for. Stay tuned!

Copyright © 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Nancy]

Hi Robert,

I've just discovered your site. A friend told me recently that something called the Aquarian consortium will have a direct impact on my chart. I haven't been able to find much information about this consortium. I was born 6/29/66 and have Leo on my ascendant at 26'38'32. My apologies if this isn't the right place to post this comment/question. I am hoping that you will write more extensively about the consortium at some point.

Nancy

[robyn]

i feel it already...

[Damien]

^Pft. I've been feeling it for the past 2 months.

[Valerie]

Hi Robert,
I've been feeling it, right on schedule, but since Mercury, Venus and Mars have cruising together in Libra for a while already, I've been feeling that, too. Now they are on top of my natal Neptune 23 Lib, so I am 1) dreaming up a storm every night, 2) not getting much work done because I feel lazy, distracted and unmotivated (Cancers get like this alot), 3) having a lot of interesting ideas and intuitive feelings. Mixed bag. Best thing to do now is nothing. Put some of these ideas in writing, gestate, meditate and contemplate and hopefully in three weeks I'll give birth.

Namaste my friend! :)

[Robert]

Hi Nancy - Welcome to the cantina. Don't know anything about "the consortium." But I will find out what I can. Right now, as far as I'm concerned, those who come to this site ARE "the Aquarian consortium." The rest are just coming up to speed with what's happening here at the roadhouse.

Hi Robyn - Most excellent.

Hi Damien - You know they call that prescience.

Hi Valerie - Namaskar to you as well. You're just finding a new balance and rhythm as you easily adjust to a new pulse. Get ready to turn the corner!

[Alix]

hello Robert,
I hope all is well with you :)
I was having a look back at your book on Mercury Rx today to see if there was a chapter on Mercury going retro over some natal planet.
For instance, this last retro happened stationary right over my IC and after last full moon over that degree, I'm unfortunately unearthing some really unpleasant family dynamics, one coming to light after the other, it's been quite a headache.
Next one will happen exactly on my 7th house Jupiter in Aquarius, and I was trying to understand what this can possibly mean.
Would you have some example to give me or some hints on how I can interpret this upcoming event?

Blessings,
Alix

[Robert]

Hi Alix - Well, Mercury RX doesn't bring anything other than what has been before, so the dynamics were already there. Now you have them in your consciousness so you can reposition yourself accordingly and detach from the old patterns, superimposing new ones more appropriate to your evolved understanding. On your Jupiter could mean many things, from rediscovering old opportunities, truths, vision, philosophical realities realized in the past and since forgotten, or even the return of an old Jupiter type of person in your life, or someone resembling him/her. It will also set the stage for your Jupiter return, and give you a hint of things to come. Mid-Feb should be a launch time for something big.

[Alix]

Thanks Robert! I suspected it could be something like that :)