What Is The Difference Between Mercury's Inferior Conjunction and the Superior Conjunction With the Sun?

by Robert Wilkinson

Mercury conjuncts the Sun two ways. When Mercury is direct in motion, it's called the Superior Conjunction. When Mercury is retrograde, it's called the Inferior Conjunction. These conjunctions of the Sun and Mercury mark important points showing how our life and mind are fusing past and present to vitalize the future. We have another one tomorrow, so if you want to know more, read on.

Mercury symbolizes our mind, eternally racing forward or backward. The Sun symbolizes our life-in-the-making, illuminating the integrity of the moment. When these two conjunct, it allows the mind to evaluate and process experiences past, present, and future.

I sketched how these work in the article Astrology Class - Mercury retrograde and the Superior and Inferior Conjunction. Please check it out to understand more about how this Inferior Conjunction at 28 Taurus on May 18 will affect all of us.

Tomorrow we will explore the specifics of the coming May 2009 Inferior Conjunction in Taurus, and what its lessons hold for us over the next 4 months.

© Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[duse]

It's fascinating, Robert, that Tr Mars will leave the last degree of Mercury Rx's Shadow Period -- and thus help close, with the earlier help of Tr Venus, the lessons learned from this Mercury Rx period? -- the day of the Superior Conjunction.

More and more, I'm watching Mars to help predict when events happen or situations come to a close in some way. Not so much the aspect he's making -- although that is important, of course --, but which planet he's contacting, in what way they're meeting and how that might manifest in one's life.

It's fascinating work and your articles are a huge help. One of the first places I turn when I have a question. :^)

[duse]

Hey, Robert. You mentioned in an earlier response that the Earth Trines in June should work out just fine. Before then, though, we have some potentially fascinating Fire Trines as Mars and Venus work their way through Aries, most notably with my partner's Jupiter in Sagittarius and Uranus/Ascendant in Leo.

What might the difference be between a trine in Earth as opposed to a trine in Fire? Is one more of an "event" -- and potentially more ephemeral in the long run -- whereas the other has something more substantial and long-lasting to it?

I'll also be watching to see what happens as Mars and Venus square the degrees (15 Cancer, 29 Cancer and 13 Leo) of the upcoming Eclipses. Already he had a video conference with the new company as Mars hit 15 Aries and has a face-to-face meeting planned on the 20th when Venus moves over 15 Aries. It is possible for the events brought about by an upcoming eclipse to begin before the eclipse itself, right?

As always, your thoughts are appreciated. :^)

[Robert]

Hi duse - Not sure what you're referring to. Mars will not cross through Mercury's 3X transit span until the first half of July. It will trigger the Inferior Conjunction effect the second week of July. Glad the articles help make things clearer.

As for the trines, you're mixing transit to natal with transit to transit. One shows what's going on with an individual, the other a symbol of the larger gestalt of the times and generalized conditions that could affect us depending on where it falls and whatever configurations the trine makes with our positions. Fire trines brighten things up. Earth trines stabilize material things.

I don't believe that eclipse effects are set into motion until after the event. They are lunations that move into play as they happen. But it can also be said that events (as indicated by other planets) can be seen as precursory "set up" forces from which the other stuff arises in its own time.

[Isabel]

For me, this sentence of your linked article says it all :

"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."

And this is the effort that must be done RIGHT NOW!

Thanks...

Isabel