Mercury Retrograde in Virgo in August-September 2010 - Beginning the Adventure Despite the Inadequacies

by Robert Wilkinson

Each Mercury Retrograde period is unique, yet related to other Mercury RX periods, usually because the signs are harmonized with those of past Mercury retrogrades. This one is also entirely in Earth, approximately trine the last period in April-May 2010. What does this mean for all of us?

This Mercury retrograde started 12:59 pm PDT August 20, 2010, 3:59 pm EDT and 8:59 pm Greenwich (August 21 Baghdad and points east). This retrograde moves from 20 Virgo back to 6 Virgo, with the inferior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurring at 11 Virgo at 5:35 am PDT, 1:35 pm Greenwich on September 3, 2010.

We are still in a sequence of Mercury retrograde periods for all of 2010 where the retrograde span is entirely in Earth signs. In Virgo we refine and adjust the energies released in Leo in order to become the ideal forms in Libra. This RX period should offer us a chance to research, re-think, rehearse and get a new look at how to initiate a new "adventure in consciousness," linking our energies with others in forms that educate through material activities.

This Mercury retrograde begins at 20 Virgo, and retraces ground we experienced July 31 through August 20. The degree is "An automobile caravan." Rudhyar says this symbolizes a need to link our energies with others in "an adventure in consciousness," and a need to be joyous in rising to some challenge despite feeling that there in an inadequacy in some way.

We are told to venture with faith in an "ordered and structured endeavor" where we leave the past behind. He says this is a degree of "a totalization of purpose and (cooperative) effort" in reaching a "New World of experience."

He says it falls in the span of "Experimentation," and it's the culminating degree of the actional-physical level of the scene of "Education." So we'll use our Mercury function to experiment in some cooperative activity to become educated in blending internal and external energies to leave an element of our past behind.

This is a threshold point where we begin to link energies with others to reach some "goal of destiny." However, as it is the stationary retrograde point it would seem that this picks up something from the past and extends it into a future that will recur during a retrograde period to come.

Thus it could be a return of something associated with events or people happening when Saturn occupied this degree (November 2008, February 2009, July-August 2009), or when Mars crossed this degree (July 2009). It also portends something that will come to light September 2011, with a special emphasis on the time period when Mars' retrograde span includes this degree. Mars crosses it the first time in late December 2011, then retrogrades over it mid-February 2012, and then crosses it again mid-June 2012.

According to Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, the keyword is VARIETY. He states this is a degree of "nature's prodigality" showing our human genius for "multiplying the facilities of modern life." He says this degree encourages us to "heed (our) visions" and claim "increasing rewards for the skill" we develop.

He continues that this degree tells us to meet our world with courage to bring "a cosmos to its doorstep." We are told when positive, "the degree is an exceptional capacity for creating a greater promise and producing expanded dividends in every area of human activity."

So we enter a time of reviewing our skills in creating a better future and capturing rewards for getting educated in some active form of planned endeavor. And of course, to do it joyously despite feeling like there's a deficiency of some sort.

Many could find information or mental impressions showing a need to mobilize to adapt through direct action in the house where Virgo falls in the chart, or the houses with Gemini and Virgo on the cusp. Expect a profusion of ideas, communications, insights and evaluations that will take many twists and turns before becoming clear visions of how to decide and what to do. By the time this RX period is done, we'll know what's been accomplished to further some work that will fulfill a part of our destiny or discipleship practice.

Of note is that this Mercury retrograde period begins with Mercury having no close aspects except for the trine from the Moon and the all-important biseptile to Pluto, triggering the Grand Irrationality. Thus this retrograde period will stabilize our lives through the important choices we make, even if it makes little or no sense why we're having to make them. It's definitely a turning point in everyone's destiny, with events marking the changes to come around Sept 11-12 and 26-27 as well as the dates noted above.

Other notable aspects Mercury makes during this RX period feature a novile, semisquare, and septile to Venus and Mars and a trine from the Moon. Everything else is minor or never quite exact (in the case of a triseptile to Jupiter and Uranus.) Thus we'll achieve a simple straightforward understanding regarding the Earth areas of our charts, along with how the Gemini, Cancer, and Virgo areas are functioning.

Mercury rules this Mercury RX period, since it rules Virgo and Gemini in the mundane world. Also Venus is very strong during this time as it's in its home sign of Libra until the second week of September when Mercury is about to go direct. And of course, Saturn continues to be a major player while it occupies its exaltation sign of Libra. Then just after Mercury goes direct the power transfers to Mars in Scorpio and Jupiter in Pisces, which they rule.

The big gorilla in the corner continues to be the closely separating Jupiter opposed Saturn, Jupiter square Pluto, Saturn opposed Uranus and Saturn square Pluto. Links to articles about this major Cardinal T-square that jolted everyone in significant ways at the end of this one.

Mercury retrograde is good for reworking, rehearsing, rethinking, researching, or finding a different approach to whatever is not well understood. It's also great for busting lies and misconceptions, though if you have the misfortune of dealing with someone operating from a delusion, they still may not get what's right in front of their face. In that case, let them go and apply your energies to more worthy relationships and endeavors.

Regarding The Grand Irrationality - this is a huge ongoing influence that symbolizes why our world is spinning in some very weird ways. It shows a long wave period where obsessive-compulsive behaviors are in the air, irrationality pervades the atmosphere, and why humanity is at a major fork in the road of our individual and collective destiny.

Right now in history, the 7 "hot zones" of the Grand Irrationality are approximately 2-6 Capricorn, 24-29 Aquarius, 15-19 Aries, 6-10 Gemini, 28 Cancer to 2 Leo, 19-23 Virgo, and 11-15 Scorpio depending on the exact degrees of Neptune and Pluto. Whenever something crosses through any of these zones, choices and changes are set into motion that move us into our destiny.

During this 3 week period, the Moon will trigger the irrationality effect several times. Heads up on August 23-24, August 27-28, September 1, September 4-5, September 8 (New Moon at 16 Virgo!), and September 12 (Mercury stationary direct with the Moon in Scorpio.) These points will be when we can expect dramatic changes connected to the "adventure in consciousness" we're supposed to joyously embrace.

As I mentioned, when this retrograde period is over, we'll enter and intense period of Venus and Mars conjunct in Scorpio with Venus slowing toward its retrograde period in October and November, and Jupiter re-entering Pisces and conjuncting Uranus yet again. As Mercury goes direct in motion, it will sextile Venus for most of mid-September, generating productivity between these sectors.

However, the big news will be seen when the Sun crosses the SRX point in mid-September just as Mercury goes stationary direct, and then again as it crosses its SRX point while septile Mars toward the last part of the month creating a huge Grand Irrationality trigger. Expect major events to be in play in late September through early October.

Also of note is that just after Mercury goes direct on September 12-13 at 6 Virgo, Pluto goes direct at 3 Capricorn. From there Pluto re-traces ground it covered between November 2009 and now, getting ready to move into unknown zones in January 2011. The skill set we're learning during this retrograde will be tested between September and December 2010.

As Jupiter and Uranus finish their stay in late Pisces, finish up whatever needs finishing, since December 2010 and January 2011 is a time to finalize some practical things in order to seek entrance to a beyond that's already been shown to us in seed forms during this year.

On a final note for today, during any Mercury retrograde period there are always strange twists and turns and returns. However, if it's not a return of something you should have taken care of before then, remember that whatever happens it probably won't turn out the way it seems at the time.

Obviously there are more Mercury retrograde articles coming in the near future. Other parts in this series will discuss aspects and configurations with other planets, the nature of its coming stationary direct degree influences, how it affects individual birthdays, the coming Inferior Conjunction, and what this Mercury Retrograde in Virgo is specifically good for.

Articles about factors in play during the recent Cardinal T-square:

Jupiter Opposition Saturn in 2010 and 2011

Astrology Class - The Dynamics of the 2009-2010 Jupiter Oppositions to Saturn

The Cardinal T-Square Showing Turning Points - July and August 2010

Jupiter Stationary Retrograde Square Pluto and Saturn Opposed Uranus in July 2010

The Coming Cardinal Squares and Crosses of Saturn in Libra, Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries 2009-2010-2011-2012-2013

Other articles explaining Mercury Retrograde:

Astrology and Mercury Retrograde August-September 2010 in Virgo - What Is Mercury Retrograde?

When Mercury, Venus, and Mars Go Retrograde, What Does It Mean and How Are They Related To Past and Future Retrogrades?

Copyright © 2010 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Sherry]

Hello Robert - Very informative as always. This Merc Rx cycle is seemingly rather active for me. It starts conjunct my natal Pluto and IC, passes over my Venus and Pallas and moves forward conjunct my Jupiter...all of this in the 3rd house. More interestingly the inferior conjuntion (on 9/4...i think) is conjunct my Venus while transiting Venus is conjunct my natal Sun (27 Libra)...AND in my progressed chart I have Venus conjunct Venus in the 3rd house Libra. All of this is leaving me VERY CURIOUS! Have any thoughts on what to tune into here? Namaste...

[caliban]

Synching with the dream, in spite of the hate machine.

[Jane Axtell]

Thank you for this article and especially for the thought "Beginning the Adventure Despite the Inadequacies." That is very much my theme for now.

Neptune will cross my natal 17 Virgo Neptune in the 12th and I find health and the mysterious "why am I here" all entangled now. Over the last few days I have realized that my first plans to develop an income again after serious and extended illness held serious political and soul traps for others. What to do?

I am probably not strong enough to take up the long abandoned work on civilization theory, and yet even considering it has me stronger in mind and body. So thanks for the encouragement. I will not hold you responsible for whatever problems I may encounter.

If this is mine to do and do now a way will open although it may be rusty and need a push.

[Kit Walker]

ahh my Saturn return is Sept 17. (10/4/51)
any suggestions?
thank you SO much Robert, your insights are very helpful.
i know no astrologer that goes into the nuances (like the septiles) like you. much appreciated.

[Donna Grey]

Unbleivable for me as this descrbes to a 'T' my comparative lifestyle study I am about to embark on September 3rd !!!! lols ! I have bought a camper van and a camper trailer and I am traveling Oz as a single mummy of a 2 yr and 5 yr old comparing 2 lifestyles for parenting purposes ! I was stunned when I read this report as it literally describes everything I have been planning in the last 6 mths and now I am down to my last week in my 3bd rental home having sold and given 'ALL' of our furniture, most possessions and kids toys ~ and my cousin sends me this ! http://travelparenting.blogspot.com/

[caliban]

oh my Donna Grey, you are on the road. Eat pray love. Have you seen the movie Up? Can't wait to read your book. May the force be with you.

[caliban]

Hi Sherry, a third house question for you since you must be the master. Is your local environment where you are most effective or comfortable working? Something I once read somewhere, (may the plagerism god forgive me cuz I don't remember where) about a 3rd house Pallas.

[Robert]

Hi Sherry - It would seem that getting a new look at Venusian qualities you may or may not have suspected is your focus these next few months. Not sure how you could have Prog Venus conjunct Natal Venus unless it was RX at birth and went direct at some point between then and now. Venus on your Sun creates a new way of Venus expressing your Light/Life. To sum up what you said, the rulers of your Gemini, Leo, and Virgo sectors just conjuncted your ruler of your Taurus and Libra sectors that sets insights into motion for the next 4 months.

Hi caliban - Yes, the atmospheres are very volatile and sometimes deliberately misleading. As for your question of Sherry, much would depend on how the 3rd house planets aspect the ruler of the 6th, or a planet in the 6th.

Hi Jane Axtell - You're most welcome. I'm sure you meant a transit over your natal Neptune at 17 Virgo, which should bring light and insights into that way you have of relating to collective consciousness. Glad you paused if something would have created negative karmic traps for others. Here sometimes we have a duty to serve the greater good, regardless of what apparent damage it does to those who are unconscious, or consciously destructive. Most of the political world is a cesspool. But it's always good to examine possible karmic kickbacks ahead of time. I would think that work on "civilization theory" could be a good thing if it holds some hope for a better way in the future. As for holding me responsible for anything, well, I tend to be response-able most of the time if there is any positive response able to be done.;-) But by all means, do whatever you need to do to make the world a better place!

Hi Kit Walker - Just finished my own over the past 2 years, so.... First, go into the archives and read what I wrote about the Saturn return. Then read the articles I've done about Saturn transiting a natal planet, in your case the Sun and your Mercury. It's the end of a long cycle of self-definition that began back around 1980-81. This is a time to conserve energy, figure out what works and does not work for you, become a student again, and practice mental-verbal discipline. This is where you can find your long range purpose that you could embrace the rest of your life, so go slow, balance what needs balancing while leaping into the new possibilities shown the past 3 months, and remember that you've really already begun the long term transformative process. It began when Mars and then Venus crossed your Sun. By next March-April many things will surface in your life showing you the next steps. And of course you're most welcome.

Hi Donna Grey - I do get it right occasionally!;-) Enjoy your "walkabout," as it can provide you insights outside of your "normal" ego-structured assumptions. I'm sure your adventure will open not only your eyes, but as it has been said, it will no doubt be an excellent learning experience for your children (if difficult at times, as all disruptions of routines are for young children, at least for a little while.) "Happy trails, to you, until we meet again...."

[Sher]

Hi Robert & Caliban...thanks for the thoughts.

Robert...my bad...in my progressed chart prog. venus is conjunct my natal sun...transiting venus is also conjunct my natal sun (27 lib).

Caliban - LOTS of truth in your statement about Pallas. The answer is yes and no...ugh.... :)