The Guide of Souls in July-August 2012 - Mercury Slowing Down, Preparing to go Retrograde at 13 Leo

by Robert Wilkinson

Yes, it's THAT time again! Mercury is radically slowing down, preparing to go stationary retrograde at 13 Leo on July 14, 7:16 pm PDT, 10:16 pm EDT, 3:16 am Greenwich on July 15. This has important implications for all signs.

I'll be composing several articles about this Mercury retrograde in Leo over the next several weeks. Until then, adapt to the slowing pace of things, be willing to put some things on hold for a little while, and take a look at what's been set into motion up to now with an eye to seeing what has to be done before things can again move forward in April.

I know there are many unfortunate things attributed to Mercury retrograde, but there are also many productive things that get done, connections that are made, and different angles of view glimpsed that make our understanding more complete and well rounded.

The two weeks before the retrograde is good for setting things in motion that will need a delay before being picked up anew. Or for doing things that will need research, rehearsing, or reworking to whatever degree before completion. The time before Mercury goes retrograde is good for doing what must be done so that other related things can be done later, as well as reconnecting with people and activities from the past that are somehow related to the future.

The coming retrograde will be an extremely important one showing us how to retire from old dramas and contemplate how our live journey has brought us to a measure of peace and security. It’s a time to look back and distill wisdom from our past experiences while navigating the Grand Irrationality set into motion each time Mercury moves through 1-6 Leo. Earlier in July it first triseptiled Pluto and then Neptune, while later in July while retrograde it will first triseptile Neptune and then Pluto. I’ll be composing more on this in future articles.

This retrograde will help us integrate recent decisions and consolidate our plans and purposes. The light will come through the objectivity we acquire through comparing notes with others, and seeing things to come by what is indicated during this time. While it may not be easy initially due to Sun square Saturn, the stationary retrograde chart shows Moon conjunct Jupiter offering us opportunities in the midst of the difficulties and meltdowns.

Of note is that during the initial phase of the retrograde, Mars in Libra will form the Cardinal T-square with Uranus and Pluto, throwing the void into Cancer. This will bring us challenges to integrate energy in dynamic and productive ways expressing the Mars trine Jupiter at work during the same point in time. As Jupiter is in tight sextile with Uranus during the entire retrograde period it should prove to be a very productive period with a lot of energies released giving us a clear understanding of future patterns as they are “pre-formed” in the present.

So Mercury is triggering the Grand Irrationality throughout the last half of this retrograde period. With Jupiter’s transit of 7-12 Gemini, we can bet we’ll get reflections, reviews, reminders, and a new look at the endings we’ve been through since the 2011 Gemini Solar Eclipse, either seeing opportunity or protection and blessings resulting from that singularly powerful Eclipse of June 2011.

That also means at the end of this retrograde period, Mercury will occupy the Leo zone and Jupiter the Gemini zone of the Grand Irrationality, making for 4 points of the 7 pointed Star. Obviously when the Moon is moving through any of the 7 hot zones it’ll set major things into motion. More on that in future articles.

This Mercury retrograde will give us many signs and signals for what will dominate Mercury-ruled areas from early August through early November. This retrograde is a threshold time, where we again look back before moving forward. We can get all kinds of new insights into future potentials, while seeing things in the recent past differently.

This period will be highly energized due to the T-square fed by Mars trine Jupiter and Jupiter sextile Uranus. This will generate a tremendous amount of favorable energy into the house where we have early Sagittarius. With so much Fire and Air dominating this period (As of July 22, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus are all in those elements) this should be a fairly inspired, interactive, associative time.

I suppose the best thing about this coming retrograde is that it will bring us all to turning corners to accept greater creative challenges and/or new responsibilities, with concentrated doses of spiritual energies shaping many minds and many rewards promised for our “courage and bravery in action.” As we learn to concentrate to see whole pictures, we will not only glimpse the indestructible elements of our nature but will also be able to settle into new roles we can play easily and enjoyably, and find new heart strengths that will be the technique we can use in the future to do reconstructive and/or repair work.

There should be some great things happen with Mercury quintile Saturn and Mars off and on over the next few weeks, and the septiles to Venus and Jupiter will activate the Grand Irrationality wherever we have early Leo and mid-Gemini in our charts. Expect major shifts and choices that will alter the trajectory of your destiny in those areas, as well as those houses ruled by Taurus, Libra, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

These should bring alternative views or unique insights about how past and present can interact differently to move us into altered futures, especially since Mercury trines Uranus during this entire period. That gives the possibility of brilliant insights due to synthesizing many different reflections. Expect flashes of memory and/or insights related to new developments that have occurred the past 2 years since Uranus first entered Aries.

As the Inferior Conjunction happens in late July at 7 Leo, the coming “fusion of life and mind” will show us permanent factors in existence, beyond the temporary changes and fashions of the world. All in all, a very stabilizing period despite the challenges and weirdness of the Grand Irrationality! Welcome to a lot of major issues coming (back) up to the surface, given the retrograde quality of the time.

For all of us, during the next several weeks the future that's already rolling forward will slow a little so we can get a new look at crucial elements of the process we cannot afford to ignore. We will all have opportunities to grow and learn through balanced actions and views, finding a new rhythm or ideal of movement into a synthesized picture of what’s to come. All of this points to the last half of August as being extremely important in things breaking as a result of our insights, signals, understanding, and ability to integrate conflicted energies in elegant and graceful ways.

I believe this will be an important retrograde, where a lot falls into place. It will help us rehearse or do the research we need to get ready to spring forward in early August, freed from even more old ghosts so we can play roles we were born to play with joy and happiness. New ideas, new perspectives, new ways of acting, new ways of being are all promised by this retrograde. And of course, more on this Mercury retrograde period will come soon!

Copyright © 2012 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[per marhsall]

this is indeed high quality astro-babble hear, great to stumble on to this site!
thanks for the excellent work, but one question - this grand irrationality thing - is is just about the early degrees of leo or something more? any astrological rationalizations you can share that might bring further elucidation of this new concept to me and other readers?

[Robert]

Hi per - I wouldn't exactly call this "astro-babble," in that each term is chosen with specificity. This site is about cultivating critical thinking skills as we explore vectors of time-space frequencies manifesting in various material, emotional, mental, and spiritual forms. That's not "babble" any more than quantum physics (or more accurately, quantum trigonometry) is babble to a middle schooler. As for the Grand Irrationality - I coined that term years ago for what the world has been going through for over 12 years. I have posted at least 100 articles referencing or explaining the phenomenon. It correlates with Neptune septile Pluto, and generates an ever-evolving set of 7 frequency zones that people react to in all kinds of obsessive, compulsive, and non-rational ways. You can find more by going to the archives via the site google box on the site. Enter "The Grand Irrationality" and enjoy following the bread crumbs through the forest. It explains why things are so weird, and yes, I will be explaining more in future articles on how this Mercury retrograde is triggering effects related to that configuration.

[Claudia]

I have a first decan Cancer Asc. & Sun, Venus, Neptune in first decan Libra with Mercury at 20 Libra just into the 5th. This level of synthesis is way over my head. Could you please offer some overall guidance Dear Mentor?

[Robert]

Hi Claudia - Briefly, in mid and late June when Mercury and then the Sun made the Cardinal T-square from Cancer to Uranus and Pluto, it threw the void into your Sun, Venus, and Neptune zone. Those were the elements in your personality that were challenged to come forth in productive ways. Now Mars is transiting your early Libra planets, setting a new two year cycle into motion regarding those inner and outer functions in your personality.

What you had to demonstrate in mid to late June in balanced forms is now being activated by Mars in a few days showing you the need to demonstrate the positives of your Cancer self image. Again, with Mars and Saturn activating your 4th house, it's time to build or repair your foundations so that you can express yourself with greater focus and potency when Saturn enters your 5th house this Autumn.

With Mercury RX crossing between your 2nd and 1st, it's review time. You may find a whole new take regarding values, resources, and how you use what you have in creative, playful, spontaneous ways. You could even remember ways to make money through your creativity or some form of creative self-expression. Everything depends on how you relate to your 12th and 3rd house sectors, and how much you've learned in antidoting and transcending Mercury's dualities. Check out the article on planetary dualities if your memory needs refreshing.

[ull]

..throwing the void into Cancer. More coming? Cancer 25´ is taking refuge in herself. So many in need.

[Claudia]

Thank you kind Sir! I thought very carefully about your advice concerning my Ascendant and have I believe successfully navigated a delicate situation regarding my siblings/business partners. Tact and diplomacy at my Libra best!

[StarFly Awakening]

I love your contributions... and injoy sharing them.. Thank you.

StarFly

[Baba]

Aquarius sun and rising here. When will career improve for Aquarians especially university related stuff? Thanks.

[Robert]

Hi all - Thanks for your kind words and encouragements.

Hi Baba - Not enough information. This is not fortune telling. It should have already improved for Aquarians due to Saturn trine and/or tredecile your Sun and Ascendant from the 9th. Career will take a shift beginning October through December this year, but not knowing any specific things about your chart makes further comments less than precise.

[Baba]

Oh Hi Robert. I wasn't expecting you to reply. Thank you so much for replying. I am new to your website and it seems very informative. Thank you so much for putting in all the effort. You seem like a very nice person and from what I have read, you certainly are the best out there.

Sorry for not putting in enough information. I am new to astrology and am learning every day. Here are my planet positions. I have been going through a very tough career situation regarding publishing since July/ August 2011 and there is no sign of resolution. One option is that I change my profession but I love what I do. Do you see anything weird in my chart?

Sun Aquarius 15.40
Moon Taurus 28.08
Mercury Aquarius 12.38
Venus Sagittarius 29.40
Mars Aquarius 12.04
Jupiter Leo 2.32 R
Saturn Virgo 12.24 R
Uranus Scorpio 20.50
Neptune Sagittarius 19.56
Pluto Libra 19.11 R
Lilith Leo 12.44
Asc node Virgo 17.57
Ascendant Aquarius 14.56
Midheaven Sagittarius 0.32

Thank you again. You are the best.

[Baba]

Robert, as I read more of your website, I have to say you rock man! I wish I could afford a personal reading from you. But I am still in grad school and barely surviving. Some day...

[Robert]

Hi Baba - Will try to say something relevant when I have time. That said, this site is not about giving personal readings. You went from too little to too much information. That's why I chopped a bunch out. Again, I will try to answer with something coherent, but I haven't had time to do the next New Moon article, the next set of articles on Mercury retrograde, nor other things that are pressing in my personal life. This is not about money, or scheduling sessions. I am overwhelmed with work and other important spiritual matters in the lives of friends and loved ones right now. I am as subject to external pressures as anyone else. I just use my spiritual disciplines to maintain equilibrium in the midst of generic chaos.

[Baba]

Hi Robert, again I'm sorry. I hope I did not offend you. Can I ask you one thing? What should I look in my natal chart for career? Maybe you have written an article on it that I can read?