Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius and Capricorn in January 2009, Part 1 - Signals of A Rapidly Approaching Future Launching in February

by Robert Wilkinson

Each Mercury Retrograde period is unique, yet related to other Mercury Retrograde periods, usually because the sign element of Mercury is closely related to those of past Mercury retrograde periods. In 2008 we had three in Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra, offering an Air trine where we reconsidered many ideals, ideas, relationships, remembrances, and perspectives from different angles of vision. This one starts in Aquarius, but then moves back to Earthy Capricorn. What does that hold for all of us?

This Mercury retrograde starts 8:44 am PST January 11, 2009 (4:44 pm GMT, January 12 in east Asia and Australia) and ends 11:11 pm PST January 31 (February 1 everywhere east of there). This retrograde moves from 8 degrees Aquarius back to 22 Capricorn, with the inferior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurring at 1 degree Aquarius at 7:59 am PST an hour before the Presidential inauguration on January 20.

This Mercury retrograde begins at 8 Aquarius, and retraces ground we experienced December 25 through January 10. The degree is "Beautifully Gowned Wax Figures," symbolizing a "need for public presentation of life virtues and standards," and the need to share our values in some external manner with others."

Rudhyar also says this degree is about "the inspiration one may derive from the appearance of Exemplars who present to us the archetypes of a new culture." It is a degree of fixed symbols of a culture, mental archetypes, and patterns in which we can find inspiration and new ways of dealing with others resulting from new forms revealed to our consciousness.

What we can see are the symbols and sign that "pre-form" what is on the way. We are told that this energy heralds "new collective developments." It is in the Span of "Defensiveness," and the synthesis degree in the Emotional-Social-Cultural level of "Contribution."

According to Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, it is a degree of the "...vanity of the human spirit as it gathers strength" from superficial displays of form and reputation, "here emphasized through personal idealizations." Its formula is Manipulating, Ideal, Ingenious, Specializing, Social, and Receptive. He offers the keyword IMPACT, and says it's a degree of "achievement through the effective dramatization of human character on some level of everyday understanding."

We also find that it is a degree that mobilizes our efforts due to the influence of others' dynamic energy, and we are told that we need "to recognize and identify the values worthy of emulation." This would imply that we need to evaluate the impact various images and people have on us, and how they are shaping the choices we make that determine a future that we're already glimpsing through symbols.

It also indicates that our own behavior can serve as something that others could emulate. We should find ways to externalize our values, our understanding of human nature, and strive to be outstanding in an appropriate way. Just be alert to futile tendencies of trying to recapture obsolete experiences.

Of note is that during this Mercury retrograde period, Saturn re-enters the Virgo zone of The Grand Irrationality, triggering that on-going configuration and making it an active part of the Mercury retrograde lessons for this period of time. It seems that every Mercury retrograde of the past year has something triggering the Grand Irrationality (besides the Moon).

Venus, Mars, and Saturn were activating The Grand Irrationality during the Sept-Oct 2008 Mercury retrograde period. The Mercury RX point in May 2008 featured the Sun in the Gemini zone of the Grand Irrationality, and the one before it in January 2008 also triggered the configuration in major ways. From the January 2008 Mercury retrograde article:

... This stationary degree is conjunct Neptune and septile Pluto and Venus, thus triggering a long term "Grand Irrationality" effect. This is yet another in a string of Mercury sensitive points that are triggering this long wave global irrationality.

A look back at previous Mercury retrograde articles discusses this more extensively, but in just one example, Mercury's RX station in October 2007 at 10 Scorpio put it biseptile Neptune's stationary RX point of Spring 2007. This stationary point is within the "hot zone" created then that will be triggered continuously by Neptune and Pluto throughout 2008-2009 as they respectively biseptile and septile this Scorpio point.

This would indicate that whatever "threshold" lessons, ideas, and perceptions the October-November 2007 Scorpio-Libra retrograde held for us will help us move into our Higher Destiny over the next two years each time the Grand Irrationality pattern is triggered by transits, including the Moon. As a result of deepened relationships and connectedness with life, expect opportunities to teach and be taught how to manage feelings and social-cultural experiences. This will help many to find a group work where they can embrace higher ideals and activities creating a better world on whatever level that group operates.

These energies are on-going. You can reference Spiritual Astrology in November-December 2008 Pt. 2 - The Grand Irrationality and When It Will Be Set Into Motion to learn more about the weird larger atmosphere of the Grand Irrationality that is affecting all of us from time to time throughout the year.

I'll be composing an update shortly providing more information about The Grand Irrationality in 2009. Please keep in mind that since Saturn is now re-activating the larger irrationality pattern constantly over the next few weeks, expect Virgo, Capricorn and Aquarius related things and people to go through choices and changes marking a fork in the road of destiny.

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 over the next few days. Future 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 Aquarius and Capricorn is specifically good for.

Copyright © 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Kristina]

Hi Robert,

Thank you for this article. . . I adore your site.

I typically hang in the background, but I've got a truly interesting period ahead of me and would appreciate whatever brief insights you may have. ASC TAURUS 24' 58"; SUN AQUARIUS 8' 57''; MOON CANCER 11' 40"; MERCURY AQUARIUS 14'46"

I realized from this article that the Mercury Rx occurs right on my natal sun. Later in the month, the new moon eclipse occurs almost exactly conjunct my natal sun as well. In February, Mars conjuncts this eclipse point. . . Also, Jupiter and the Sun conjunct on Jan 23/24. Finally, I turn 29 on January 29, 2009 and that is significant for a couple of reasons. . .

I'm going through a process of self-transformation and can feel that many changes are on the horizon. I truly appreciate any thoughts you're able to offer.

Namaste, Kristina

[Anne]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap081211.html
The Galactic Center. Happy 2009, Robert and all

[Viki]

Hi Robert,

The Mercury retro starts exactly square to my Sun and ends exactly square to my Moon. Portentious, no? Should be interesting!

[WarriorLady]

Robert, am I the only one sensing a great deal of military activity/news soon?

[Damien]

Hey Anne,

Do I detect a smile in that photograph? :D

[Anne]

Hey, Damien. Looks as if it is sticking its tongue out at us...lol

[Robert]

Hi Kristina - You're most welcome, of course. You will get unusual views of your light/life in the coming period, perhaps seeing how you can know the future by embracing your light. Much will be triggered as Mars transits your Sun, and expanded by Jupiter's transit. Of course, you're going through your Saturn return, so be patient with the process of coming into your maturity and power to shape your future according to your free will and vision.

Hi Anne - Great photo of cosmos! So that's what's teaching us....

Hi Viki - Sounds like a lot of light will be released, or at least turn a corner at Eternity Boulevard!

Hi WarriorLady - Soon? Seems like we're in the thick of it, have been, and will be until we collectively decide to make "war no more."

Hi Damien (and Anne) - It looked like a dancing couple to me! Now if I can just figure out if that cluster is a sax or a guitar;-) A cosmic Rorshach test indeed!