by Robert Wilkinson
Following up on the general meaning and function of the "Inferior conjunction" between the Sun and Mercury, today we explore specifics of the Inferior conjunction of January 4, 2010 at 15 Capricorn.
(Just to let you know, this Mercury retrograde has resulted in one lost article just before I completed it day before yesterday, and all day today we've had an internet, cell phone, and local phone outage. That's why this didn't get posted about 9 hours ago! Anyway, let's get this posted before something else happens.....)
The inferior conjunction is when Mercury (mind) conjuncts the Sun (life) while retrograde, indicating that signals, messages, and ideas from either outer sources or subconscious sources will fuse with the life principle, setting the tone for the lessons involving how our minds are relating to our lives during the next four months. Since Mercury is retrograde, the degree of the inferior conjunction shows how our lives will merge with our perceptions and bring forth a new understanding of our light.
This degree is said to be "Many toys in the children's ward of a hospital," symbolizing "the goodness of life...(in) first attempts at self-regeneration," and "administered responsibility." It is the culminating degree of the first half of Capricorn, and therefore of crystalized authority of some kind.
Rudhyar says this degree symbolizes "the responsibility of society to ensure the welfare and total health of the new generation." We are told this is a degree of repairing negative conditions through love and concern. He says this is a degree of tender care in protecting fresh dreams of growth.
Dr. Jones says this is a degree of life's richness, and its "ample rewards on the social and ideal side." He states that there are always forms of physical or psychological limitations which seem without reason that rather than a travesty "are always an unrealized opportunity for a deeper fellowship." He says the keyword is ABUNDANCE, and represents our ability to develop potentials of self and others "despite every transient accident of circumstance."
Mercury introduced these energies when it first crossed this degree on December 15-17. The Inferior Conjunction now makes this a "hot spot" for months to come. We will get synthesized understanding when Mercury again crosses this point for the third time January 28-30.
We will find that the next 4 months are very important around this set of lessons and challenges. Venus crosses this point January 5-7, helping us to appreciate what these lessons are about, or see the value in them. Obviously this is a very important degree for everyone for many months to come, so take note of where it falls in your chart.
This is the second step in a two-conjunction process. The first step is when Mercury conjuncts the Sun in forward motion after its retrograde period. As Mercury is faster than the Sun, after this Mind again outraces Life, and explores ideas and perceptions of experiences yet to occur.
Then Mercury goes stationary retrograde, and moves into the second step when Mercury again conjuncts the Sun while retrograde. This is when Mind is being absorbed by Life, or Life takes on the results of subconscious or collective ideas returning to source. Eventually Life gets as far from Mind as it can, Mercury goes stationary direct, and begins to speed up preparing for the first step anew in a different part of the zodiac.
In an interesting "co-incidence," many of the stationary points and the Inferior Conjunction points trine other points in previous Mercury retrograde periods. Perhaps by studying the sequence of retrograde, conjunction, and direct points we can see how Mercury, a.k.a Hermes, the Cosmic Magician and Guide of Souls, is steering our long range perceptions, understandings, and coordinations toward Soul understanding.
We are told that 15 Capricorn is the fifth step of CRYSTALIZATION on the Individual, Mental, and Spiritual level of experience within the span of ILLUSIVENESS. Here we can find some level of fulfilled understanding in the process of activating power or authority as individual Spirits.
This prepares us for a period of group activity that will show us what we've learned about these qualities. This Inferior Conjunction of mind "looking back" into life will help us reinterpret experiences we've had which showed us how we've been awakened and initiated into a greater spiritual authorship.
The fact that the Inferior Conjunction falls with the Moon at 10 Virgo would imply that through the "looking back" and alternative views and understandings, we will understand a way to look within and without simultaneously and find how they are related. The Moon trine the conjunction implies this can help us stabilize those insights in practical ways that will help us see a broader consecration, as well as how old knowledge is not relevant to confirm new conditions.
The Moon brings forms through reflection. The Inferior Conjunction is about a care or concern to reverse destructive conditions while nurturing fresh dreams and whatever "offspring" we are empowered to protect. This would imply that by finding a practical methodology we can harmonize our efforts to stabilize our dreams and projects. As Mercury rules the Moon, no doubt we'll be reflecting back on old ways of doing things and reorganizing our efforts to take care of what we really care about.
The Inferior Conjunction is ruled by Saturn, making Saturn a very powerful factor in coordinating events so we can be led to our Soul, whether through catabolic events that break things down or dynamic action that builds for the future.
Saturn is square Pluto and biquintile Jupiter, which continues the pressure to bring new ideal forms out of old binding situations. The more we deal with the tough stuff up front, the better the outcome will be down the road.
With the Moon in Virgo, there will be a need for sensitivity and discrimination about what is of greater or lesser importance to overcome any drifting tendencies. There will also be a need to turn away from diverting challenges and limitations, get oriented, and be a good pathfinder for self and others.
The biquintile from Jupiter to Saturn offers a period where interactive unique gifts can come together, creatively and/or regeneratively. That Jupiter occupies its retrograde stationary point of June 2009, it's a great time for looking back to see how we are living a different set of life rhythms or ideals based in the foresight and preparations we've embraced since last June.
Generally, the 11 days before the inferior conjunction (fusion) of mind and life is a good time to take a new look at how you can bring out your inner wisdom by adjusting to a future vision or broader perspective that's opening for you. It's also good for getting a new point of view regarding what your imagination is willing to consider and how to coordinate your life to reorganize it productively.
It's great for intuitive flashes, insights into the larger collective consciousness and unconsciousness, and seeing how you're being led to see elements of your Soul you may not have recognized before now. So think back on what's happened in the past two weeks, and find a new way to view how those things may symbolize the future somehow.
Here are links to recent articles on what this December 2009-January 2010 Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn is all about:
Copyright © 2009 Robert Wilkinson
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