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 current Inferior Conjunction of March 4, 2013, at 15 Pisces.
Because this particular Inferior Conjunction is an extremely important event due to when and where it's happening, this is a long article that will pull together a comprehensive overview of what's been going on for the past three years.
The inferior conjunction is when Mercury (mind) conjuncts the Sun (life) while retrograde. This indicates 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.
The Sabian Symbol for the Inferior Conjunction
This degree is said to be "An officer preparing to drill his men.” In the original Jones class notes, Rudhyar says this symbolizes “Subjection of outer appearances to real necessities,” “Potent compulsion of a great task to be performed,” and “Opportunity seized.”
He goes on to say in The Astrological Mandala that this refers to “the need for thorough rehearsing before any complex and inherently dangerous social ritual in which power is used or evoked.” He states that this symbol culminates and synthesizes a sequence “dealing with the confrontation with superpersonal group or occult power.” Here we prepare for some form of conflict, perhaps with the ghosts of our past, or the karmic echoes of previous confrontations.
He says that we have to learn “the rules of the game,” and “rehearse the dangerous play.” Here we are told that “rashness cannot be tolerated,” and that this culminates “the process of integration of (an) individual into a social Whole, a community,” or a Spiritual Fellowship. This degree falls in the Span of Innocence, and is the final degree in the Scene of Federation on the individual-mental level.
Dr. Marc E Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of our “Self-betraying desire for a hierarchy of allegiances in which (we) can lose (ourselves),” at least regarding superficialities of life. He says this is “a challenge to make the best of situations from which there is no immediate extrication,” but only so we can “participate in some reality of more enduring importance.”
He goes on to say that our “Living is vital to the extent each individual decides to motivate it.” He offers us the keyword PRECISENESS. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree is “a gift for bringing genuine efficiency and real adventure to common objectives.”
So this is a degree where we learn to rehearse some activity before “entering the battle,” whatever that may be. Here we’re going to have to focus on real and urgent necessities rather than pretend, and some very well could “seize an opportunity” or feel a “potent compulsion of a great task to be performed.” Many will prove their valor on the battlefield of life, and may find and efficiently discharge an adventure with others.
The next four months are a time to see that which needs to be ended, forgiven, blessed, or taken as part of the universal human condition. We should be able to flow on out of the past into the NOW, and by what we end and bless we will create space as we practice skills we will use in the near future.
Back To The Future – Remembering What Has Been Awakened Since 2006
Through the looking back yet to be done through the end of this Mercury RX period, we can see how we adapted in the past to achieve a vaster and deeper compassion, originality, and awareness of our unique part to play in the Ocean of Collective Consciousness. Some of what we will glimpse or remember will echo the awakenings that began in 2006.
Whether this shows us how and when we rehearsed something awakened by Uranus since then, or a Jupiter promise, adventure, or truth since 2010 that was given a boost in early 2011 and again just a few weeks ago, this is a perfect example of how a previous retrograde can be brought front and center by a Mercury retrograde.
In our current example, Uranus went stationary retrograde at 15 Pisces in June 2006. It went stationary direct at 11 Pisces Nov 2006, then SRX at 19 Pisces May 2007, and finally SD at 15 Pisces Nov 2007. Thus 15 Pisces became a hot spot that has been triggered by subsequent transits.
This Inferior Conjunction will no doubt bring us flashes of insight about whatever was awakened then, or became a specialized part of our lives. Uranus “fixed” that point in all our charts between June 2006 and November 2007. Some part of that awakening, or specialization, began to expand as truths, visions, promises, and/or opportunities when Jupiter transited that point in March 2010.
The Jupiter-infused Uranus “pulse” was then activated by Mars in March of 2011. That has played out since then. Mars re-activated that Uranian 15 Pisces energy in late February when it again transited that point.
Mercury crossing 15 Pisces before and after Mars and the other inner planets shows Mercury will definitely help us to a more well-rounded understanding of what these complex Pisces energies mean for us. With it “fusing our life and mind” on this theme, you can bet it’ll pay a big part in our lives through the next Mercury retrograde in June.
So we’ll continue to learn about Mercury retrograde in early Pisces until it goes direct at 6 Pisces on March 17, 1:03 pm PDT, 8:03 pm Greenwich. Between now and early April, when Mercury again crosses 15 Pisces, we’re reorienting and reconfiguring things related to the theme of that degree, and should be ready to take that specific message into our world after early April.
What’s Up After the Inferior Conjunction?
As I pointed out yesterday, at this Inferior Conjunction at 15 Pisces we will have “a fusion of life and mind” that will help set a platform, where in blending these principles, we will see a shift in our affairs, attitudes, and understanding about those things symbolized by Mercury in Pisces. Natal points in harmony with 15 Pisces will see productivity, understanding, stabilization, and unique qualities come forth. Natal points in friction with 15 Pisces will see turning points, blocks, braking action, and release of potential. These are the primary “Life-Mind” fusion lessons through the next Superior Conjunction on May 11-12 at 22 Taurus, a degree that will cut us all loose into a a new view, a new life, and a new world after that time.
So we are moving from our current vision "back to the future," to gain a new perspective on much that has been awakened since 2006. This Inferior Conjunction point makes no aspects to the Inferior Conjunction points in 2012 except for the very serendipitous tredecile to the Inferior Conjunction in Scorpio of November 2012. However, it establishes a platform for the July 2013 Inferior Conjunction at 18 Cancer, which trines this point, as does the Inferior Conjunction in November 2013 at 10 Scorpio.
So this Inferior Conjunction should bring a roundabout return, reflection, or echo from the past about prior rehearsals that have turned into realities since then, or how current rehearsals are forcing us to look at necessities rather than superficialities. It’s time to achieve closure on things from long ago, and this can show us past or present valor in what we’ve done or are doing. We can see old motives and ghosts from a new angle of evolved being and self-awareness, or conversely, through the retrograde lens see how this has happened in the past and how it affected our current lives.
Mercury introduced these energies when it first crossed this degree on February 8-22. The Inferior Conjunction now makes this a "hot spot" for months to come. One major factor at work in the chart for the Inferior Conjunction puts the spotlight on a MASSIVE T-square with the huge stellium in Pisces (Venus, Chiron, Sun, Mercury) all square the Moon opposed Jupiter at the Inferior Conjunction. This clearly indicates we need to cultivate routines, pay attention to details, and exercise Divine Discrimination in all matters these next few months. Simply, we’re all back in training!
Lessons for the next four months
Some of the primary lessons involved not getting distracted into settling for lesser things when greater things are at stake, learning sticktoitiveness while putting our best self forward, awakening to some urgency we sense and putting it out into the world as something to be dealt with, getting clear in our minds about what we need versus what we want, and taking a new look at a larger purpose or greater service we’ve already begun to embrace. The blessing is that the stellium is trine Saturn, offering us a chance to use Saturn energy to great personal benefit.
The harmonizing trine from Saturn allows the Pisces energies to be stable in their expression via the Saturn virtues, and this opens a very favorable understanding that will blossom this July and August leading to great opportunities in the Autumn. These harmonious Scorpio to Pisces energies can be expressed, or released into action, via the T-square. Expect a LOT of “mutable” activity in the houses in your chart where you have early and mid-Pisces, Gemini, Virgo, and Sagittarius. Stay flexible, since “if you’re ambitious, you win the prize!”
There is a very important Moon biseptile Mars at the Inferior Conjunction, showing some important forks in the road of how we do what we do, what aggravates us or spurs us to action, or how we need to achieve closure by “building our own world” while simultaneously seeing just how interdependent we are. The coming months will spur us to action, and as long as we don’t get too scattered during what’s melting down, we should be able to see both the whole and the parts of what’s evolving.
Those most impacted by the biseptile have planets or points around 9-12 Sagittarius, 1-4 Aquarius, 23-26 Pisces, 14-17 Taurus, 6-9 Cancer, 27-30 Leo, and 18-21 Libra. If you have something in these zones, the next few months will spur you to “forced growth.” As you will be given the protection you need, go for the good fortune created by your own autonomy.
Don’t look to others for praise or permission as you embrace a new adventure, whether of body or mind or both. There are major rewards coming for those willing to act with confidence on their own behalf as they reach out to the world to fulfill their own highest expectations.
Forming aspect show future conditions. The Mutable T-square dominates the landscape of this chart, so thank heaven for Saturn’s harmonizing, stabilizing, and patient influence!
Other significant forming aspects are work influencing the next four months are Mercury and Venus sextile Pluto, Mars quintile Jupiter, Jupiter quincunx Pluto, Saturn sextile Pluto, and Uranus square Pluto. Overall these indicate great productivity and some highly specialized gifts, along with some hard adjustments and sacrifices by the beginning of the Jupiter-Pluto entry into the Yods/Fingers of God that will impact everyone later in March.
So Just How Does the Process Work?
The Inferior Conjunction between Mercury and the Sun 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. This is called a “Superior conjunction.” Most recently this occurred at 29 Capricorn on January 18, 2013.
As Mercury is faster than the Sun at any “Superior Conjunction,” after that event Mind again outraces Life, gets ahead of the Sun, and explores ideas and perceptions of experiences yet to occur. That’s what we experienced between mid-January and mid-February, when Mercury began to slow down.
After Mercury gets as far forward from the Sun as it can, it begins to slow, eventually going stationary retrograde. It then 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.
Mercury Retrograde - Past As Prologue
In an interesting "co-incidence," many stationary points and Inferior Conjunction points make significant aspects to other points in previous Mercury retrograde periods. I pointed out one such example above. 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 co-ordinations toward Soul understanding.
For example, beside this Inferior Conjunction which is tredecile the 2012 Inferior Conjunction in Scorpio, we also see that the recent Mercury SRX point at 20 Pisces is in a close trine to the 2012 Mercury SD point at 19 Scorpio. Taking a look back (always a good thing when Mercury is retrograde!), we were told by Rudhyar that 19 Scorpio is a degree of “channelship,” so we’ve all been listening to the inner voice since then to hear what we need to hear.
Now we get to move that Scorpio “message” into the stable expression via the SRX 20 Pisces point as well as this 15 Pisces point. As it creates a very harmonious void in Cancer, we can expect significant events this Summer directly related to the elimination, repair, or regeneration work associated with Scorpio that we had to do in December, January, and early February that are now beginning to move forward via these Pisces degrees. In general, the magnetic work done during those months has led us to a point of looking back to say goodbye so we can acquire what we need this Summer.
This Inferior Conjunction of mind "looking back" into life will help us reinterpret experiences we've had which showed us what we needed to do to embrace the new future indicated by the last Mercury retrograde period in Sagittarius and Scorpio. This would imply that either a) we can examine how we previously found newer truths, futures, and adventures that required something to be eliminated and/or regenerated before we could move into those truths and futures, or b) we need to get back on track through examining how the past few months have shown us the way to resurrect past understanding of these possibilities and renew our lives over these past 4 months.
In the same way, this one at 26 Scorpio last November helped us take a look back to examine how we adapted and/or became more efficient in our functioning since late 2006, or we found a new way to regard those adaptive challenges helping us become more effective by moving on in some way. We were shown ways to get back on track with our ability to find a home in any environment, and perhaps find new ways of understanding, perceiving, or interpreting the circumstances in our lives helping us learn these.
What About the Moon's Influence?
The fact that the Inferior Conjunction falls with the Moon at 9 Sagittarius would imply that through the "looking back" and alternative views and understandings, we will get insights into the promise or adventures opened between January and August 2007 when Jupiter both transited and went stationary direct on that point. We may get glimpses of how we’ve been spurred to growth, or how our ambition brought us some form of reward. We can now see all that opened then as symbols of broader or wider significance, and how the inner externalized in events that began in the Summer of 2007. We also may awaken to a new vision or future over the next 4 months directly related to what we learned and embraced back then.
The Moon brings forms through reflection. The Inferior Conjunction is about “subjecting outer appearances to real necessities,” “potent compulsion of a great task to be performed,” and “opportunity seized.” The Inferior Conjunction is ruled by Jupiter making it a very powerful factor in coordinating events so we can be led to our Soul. As Jupiter’s duality is “Wealth/Poverty,” we will see how our ways of “grasping circumstances with abundance or neediness” is creating our material and mental circumstances.
As the backdrop to how our mind and life relate to each other, perhaps we can learn how to deal with Jupiter energies in ourselves or others from a different angle of view, organizing or reorganizing or ideas, perception, interpretations, and way of communicating. This is about new discoveries within a social or emotional setup, and “a stirring of the collective, unconscious factors of being toward the repolarization of the conscious ego.”
All in all, the coming 4 months will bring interesting returns of doing what must be done “in the battles of life,” and bring us compassionate insights into things that have ended, or are ending. Whatever has seemed delayed, postponed, or dragging along will move forward soon. This can bring forth a greater feeling-awareness, a greater sense of connection to a larger community, and closure on some things that are way overcooked.
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 couple of weeks, and find a new way to view how those things may symbolize the future somehow.
Just remember during retrogrades, especially Mercury retrograde, that often things that don't turn out one way lead directly or indirectly to other things somewhat related manifesting down the road. It's as though nothing should be taken at face value, and often what we do or think during Mercury retrograde creates odd echoes in the future that take different shapes, or different functions related to the original intention.
And as usual, here are links to recent articles on what this February-March 2013 Mercury Retrograde in Pisces is all about:
Here’s what I’ve composed on this Mercury Retrograde so far:
The Guide of Souls in November 2012 - Mercury Slowing Down, Preparing to go Retrograde at 20 Pisces
Mercury Retrograde – A Repeat Look At the Guide of Souls
Astrology and Mercury Retrograde February-March 2013 in Pisces - What Is Mercury Retrograde?
Plus yesterday’s class introducing what the Inferior and Superior Conjunctions of Mercury with the Sun are all about.
Copyright © 2013 Robert Wilkinson
Thank you Robert for such a detailed and informative writing.(and understandable :)
Posted by: boo | March 05, 2013 at 08:26 AM