by Robert Wilkinson
Mercury goes direct in motion 3:03 pm PDT 11:03 pm Greenwich on August 26 and speeds up for many weeks to come. This shows a quickening of the ability to coordinate, put things together, understand the whole and the parts, the process and the larger cycles. Mercury, or Hermes, "the Guide of Souls," is also known as the Divine Trickster, as well as all lesser models. It is now stationary at 19 degrees of Leo, affecting that area for months to come.
We are told the symbol is "A houseboat party." Rudhyar says this is a degree of "the transforming power of pure joy over routine existence," and "human fellowship in the effort to makde life happier, freer."
In "The Astrological Mandala" he states the keynote is "the enjoyment of temporary freedom from rigidly structured social behavior." He notes this "implies a less conventional and more youth-oriented type of gathering," suggesting "in such a gathering, men and women seek to at least get the feeling of the free flow of energies, as an escape from the routine activities of their business or student lives." This "indicates the possiblity of finding 'release' for natural energies in group entertainment and enhanced interpersonal contacts."
Of note is that this was also Mercury's degree in the July 2011 Capricorn-Cancer Full Moon. Therefore over the next four months Mercury will bring us signs and signals of the lessons indicated by Mercury during that Lunation, which set some major choices and changes into motion for all of us. We may receive messages or ideas related to what we learned in late July, or we may come to a new understanding of how that Lunation cut us loose from old rigid behavior and/or introduced us to our tribe.
In any case, we should all start seeing, hearing, and understanding things that point the way to some Mercurial technique of how we have been and continue to be "guided to our Soul," given Mercury, or Hermes, is known as "The Guide of Souls." Given where it falls in Leo, it shows us some form of natural self expression, creativity, or fun in actions that help us release old inhibitions and routines.
The symbol is oriented toward techniques of actional release and the heart fire that Leo symbolizes. It follows the alchemy of 18 Leo and precedes the ritual of connecting to the source of life on Earth of 20 Leo.
Mercury going direct will re-activate many of the aspects it's made over the past few weeks, since it made important conjunctions, oppositions, septiles, tredeciles, quintiles and semisquares during that time span. It now begins a new set of aspects, initiated by the biseptile to Jupiter and septile to Saturn in the beginning of September.
As Mercury moves through its "shadow span" (the set of degrees traversed three times during the forward, then retrograde, then forward movement) we see an accompanying Sun septile Mars, Mars quintile Jupiter, and Venus sextile Mars, all while Mercury is opposing Neptune. Once Mercury re-enters Virgo on September 8-9, it quickly moves out of the retrograde degree span and enters "unknown zones" where the themes of this retrograde will be played out in forward motion.
So in early September, expect unique gifts and circumstances, hard-edged choices, a generally productive atmosphere, and many signs and signals that will remind us of what was set into motion back in mid-July by that Full Moon. Also, given that Mercury will transit degree spans already experienced when the Sun and Venus moved through them, rather than being a "herald" it will bring final insights around those processes that took place in August while we were still doing our Mercury retrograde time of reflection, rehearsal, and review. This is where the "after the fact" nature of the retrograde will help us come to a more well-rounded set of insights and understanding of recent events.
Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, tells us here we can find "creative relaxation as a prelude to effective effort," and our ability to achieve what we will through "an everyday rehearsal of co-operative relationships" with others. Here we "seal off a pleasant pocket of life for an intensified culture of the skills and inspiration" which implement our contributions to the world.
He goes on to tell us that "any dull routine of existence may be exalted as a common adventure in self-expenditure." The keyword is CONGENIALITY, and when positive, we are told this degree is "a gracious eagerness of participation in the more worthwhile or enduring aspects of human affairs."
So at the end of this retrograde period, we find ourselves poised to use our creativity and capacity for congenial relationships to find new life adventures that help us overcome dull routines of action and relating. We can find new ways to cooperate that result in effective effort, and free ourselves from rigid ways of interacting with others.
As the Sun rules Mercury, it's time to find illuminating ways to adjust to practical necessities so that we can integrate our personalities toward more effective training, work, or forms of spiritual discipleship. Whether in service to another or ourselves, we can shine the light of Divine Discrimination on recent events and find new ways of interpreting what happened, why it happened, and new insights into subconscious signals coming from heart strength, or a lack of it.
The coming 3 months promise major openings into greater love, enjoyment, freedom, and creativity for all who began the journey into these in mid-July. These were accelerated, illuminated, and given pleasing shape over the past several weeks even as we've had to take a new look, or do rehearsals, reviews, revisions, and/or research at parts of this emerging process during the past 3 weeks. Again, now it's time to get it on!!!
Here we face the future, and do what we must to weave elements of that future into our current life and affairs. Here we divorce the attitudes and interpretations no longer appropriate to our emerging process, and given Mercury's dance with Venus in the weeks to come, open to new people, new ways of being with others, new values, and new ways of capturing what is pleasing to you.
We're riding the edge of change, refining the life energies that empowered our new beginning of March through May 2011. These have already begun to change our lives forever, so keep opening to new freedom, new ways of relating to others, new signs, signals, and activities that are enjoyable to you. Release what needs releasing, loosen up a little, and play a lot more. Tap into your creative joy in fellowships, refine what needs refining, and move through the major forks in the road since it's the last set of challenges related to these choices that began a few weeks back.
Use play and creativity as you come to new understanding, new views, and new ways of relating to others. Even though things will speed up considerably for the next three months, you'll know who are the relationships you should be cultivating as you say goodbye to those which left you up tight or feeling rigidity in your body. There's a new freedom to be lived, so go for it!
© Copyright 2011 Robert Wilkinson
Sweet... as the Sun enters my 5th. Yep, good times and smiles---more fun! I hope to influence those around me to lighten up. Mooey B. Yen, Roberto!
Posted by: jan | August 25, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Oh boy! My natal Uranus is @ 19 Leo in my ninth house. For me, it seems to be a turning point for sure.
Posted by: Pamela Van Rooij | August 26, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Robert, I have a q for you. Hahaha. Thanks for your mail. I am taking a break from all the mad hysteria. I have done my part in signing the petition and I already put on facebook a few times and I sent it out to friends. I need to focus on myself and calming myself down. As I had been on that particular facebook group and it was getting sick with all that mad stuff they were (other group members) making me stressed out again. So, my q is. As this is mercury retro turns direct at 19 d leo, is close enough to my 23 d leo ac that area of my life. I guess, I am confused as to whether it will affect my 12th house or my first house or just my ac. Thanks sorry to ask. I know you are super busy.
Hope all is well with you too.
Posted by: Micheline | August 26, 2011 at 03:08 PM
And Robert one more thing. I just finished reading volume one of The Ancient Secret of The Flower of life. I am now reading part two and I found a broadcast by Drunvalo. It is very cool if you have not had a chance to see this.
Look for this title on youtube The Maya of Eternal Time 2012 by Drunvalo Melchizedek
okay love and light
Posted by: Micheline | August 27, 2011 at 06:46 AM
this station of mercury will pass right over 8th house -in combination with latest new moon in virgo as well-what can i expect
Posted by: db | September 04, 2011 at 07:35 AM