Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn in December 2009-January 2010 - Surrendering To Achieve Spiritual Victory

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. In early 2009 we had Mercury in Airy Aquarius retrograding back to Earthy Capricorn at 22 degrees, the exact point this Mercury goes stationary retrograde. What does that hold for all of us?

This Mercury retrograde started 6:38 am PST December 26, 2009, 2:38 pm Greenwich. This retrograde moves from 22 Capricorn back to 6 Capricorn, with the inferior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurring at 15 Capricorn at 11:06 am PST, 7:06 pm Greenwich on January 4, 2010.

Up to this point, due to all of the 2009 Mercury retrogrades moving retrograde from an Air sign to an Earth sign, we have had a year of anchoring ideals in whatever forms are appropriate and workable. To elaborate, in Astrology the Air element represents ideas and ideals, relationships and other types of connections. Earth represents grounding, practicality, and "real world" activities.

We now enter the first Mercury retrograde period in a year-long sequence where the retrograde span is entirely in Earth signs. Since its current stationary retrograde degree is the same as last January's stationary direct degree, we will no doubt be taking a look back from new angles at things related to last January, February, March, and April.

In Capricorn we claim personal power and/or authority in a public or group situation preparing for a greater collective contribution in Aquarius. This RX period will give us a chance to research, re-think, rehearse and get a new look at "apparent defeats that spell real spiritual victory" of the past year.

Also, this Mercury RX period will give us a front end view helping us prepare for what's coming forth the next few years as Pluto moves through Capricorn and triggers the Mercury retrograde span. Since Saturn rules the sign of this Mercury RX, we'll also be given information about the Saturn in Libra ideal we've begun to live since late October.

This Mercury retrograde begins at 22 Capricorn, and retraces ground we experienced December 9-26. The degree is "A General Accepting Defeat Gracefully," symbolizing the ability to move through apparent defeats to achieve spiritual victory. We will be able to win out through conforming to what is established, and through inner strength find resilience and the ability to overcome obstacles and opponents through will and integrity.

This degree is said to be in the span of "Dependence," in the scene of "Group Performance" on the social-cultural level. We can surmise that many of our dependencies could be seen in the light of our greater group connectedness during 2009, and that led to major emotional, social, and cultural changes affecting our futures. This Mercury retrograde will give us a new perspective on what 2009 was all about.

According to Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, the keyword is EXPEDIENCY. He states this is a degree of an "uncompromising loyalty to the long range ends in view," "a self disciplined grace of spirit," and overcoming opponents by finding shared values. We are told that this offers us "a genius for learning from experience and transforming setback into accomplishment."

So we enter a time of reviewing our loyalty to our long range views and how to accomplish them. We can get a new picture or information about group work and how we can contribute to a greater ideal with others. It marks a time of filling in any gaps in our resolve, perseverance, and understanding what is personally relevant to us within our larger cultural field.

Many could find information or mental impressions showing a need to take personal responsibility in the house where Capricorn 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 finished and what still needs finishing to make real the new day that's dawning, with new obligations, responsibilities, and rewards for our faith and persistence.

Of note is that this Mercury retrograde period begins with Mercury tredecile Saturn and sextile Uranus, and moves back through novile series aspects to the Aquarius stellium, giving us unique and productive circumstances leading to spiritual realizations. It will then go direct conjunct Pluto waxing square Saturn septile the Aquarius stellium. I'll address that set of important "fork in the road of destiny" energies in a future article.

Saturn rules this Mercury RX period, since it rules Capricorn and Aquarius in the mundane world. (Uranus rules both signs in the spiritual realms.) As Saturn is in Libra (the sign Venus rules), when Venus moves into Capricorn on December 25-26 she and Saturn will be in "Mutual Reception," a very strong self-reinforcing energy.

When they're in square (through Jan 1) there will no doubt be some hard lessons around relationships, but also the possibility of re-organizing some non-productive power dances. Venus then moves into a biseptile and tredecile to Saturn in January, very favorable indicators of an element of our Venusian destiny externalizing into serendipitous unique interactive situations.

Saturn will occupy its stationary RX point at 5 Libra for the entire Mercury retrograde period, showing the backdrop to this retrograde is helping us live our wisdom, find greatness in ourselves being called to greatness in another, and through inner inspiration grow toward our ultimate potential. We will find affinity with people and ideas in line with our genius, where we can know and show character.

Since Saturn is in fact in close square to Pluto during this time, I'll remind you that during its time in early Libra, Saturn will square Pluto at 2, 5, and 3 degrees of Libra, ending some things forever and introducing us all to new worlds of experience, activity, and necessity. A link to an article on these major squares from Saturn to Pluto is at the bottom of this post.

We got hints about what's culminating when the inner planets in Libra squared Pluto in Capricorn showing major culminations of the Plutonic process set into motion at the conjunctions in late 2008. We now are re-setting a new set of waxing squares to Saturn with current Pluto conjunctions. All of these will have ramifications through the time that Mars moves across 1 Libra conjuncting Saturn also at 1 Libra July 31, 2010 with both opposition Uranus at 1 Aries and Jupiter at 4 Aries.

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.

The Grand Irrationality is not a major factor in this retrograde period, unlike most of the others in the past year. During this 3 week period, (besides the Moon doing its regular thing) only Jupiter moves through any of the 7 zones of influence, discussed at length in other articles.

By the time this retrograde period is over, we'll re-enter an earthquake zone of Saturn stationary retrograde exactly square Pluto. This will bring tremendous gear grinding and challenges to activate growth in many lives, as well as separations from old fears, responsibilities, and limiting conditions. This will be a time of major catharses and purifications, as well as newer, higher ways to live our Spiritual Truths.

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 Capricorn is specifically good for.

Copyright © 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Mary]

"a genius for learning from experience and transforming setback into accomplishment." - I wish, I could finish many things that I have started. Seems like a better time to do them.

Is it okay to renew my passport during this time ? I could have done it before, but somehow things dragged and lead me to this time. Just wondering, if this might hurt anything ? Thanks as always.

[su]

I get the feeling that everything is unstable at the moment.
There is no fear or anxiety just an openess - there is definitely a sense of something coming to light, old paradigms being abandoned.
Wishing you a year filled with laughter, peace, understanding and unity.

[Alix]

Dear Robert,

You said: "By the time this retrograde period is over, we'll re-enter an earthquake zone of Saturn stationary retrograde exactly square Pluto. This will bring tremendous gear grinding and challenges to activate growth in many lives, as well as separations from old fears, responsibilities, and limiting conditions."

Indeed, and this all takes place in combination with the next solar eclipse! And the north node is right on the degree you mentioned, the one of surrendering to achieve spiritual victory, there will be a lot going on in January!

For me there will also be Jupiter conjunct the south node, OMG... that all seems so fated... hehe...

May 2010 cover you with joys and blessings!

[airsea]

Many thanks for your insightfull posts :)
happy new year to all of us !

[H]

Cheers to you Robert & wishing you, yours & all the fellow souls who visit at this magical "cantina" a time of peace, blessings & re-cooperation....
I always feel so lucky & abundant to be able to participate in such a diverse/interesting/spiritual community.... Happy Hooternanny for the 31st :0)

[Beth]

Thanks Robert!! So right on with my life at the moment, but knowing all of this info really helps me to take a step back and observe it all from arms-length until things are more clear.

Happy New Year!!

[Robert]

Hi Mary - Mercury RX is a great time to revisit things to finish what should have been done before. Of course it's okay to renew something - perfect time to do it!

Hi su - Yes, there is some intensity of instability due to the ongoing Saturn square Pluto. Thanks for your good wishes!

Hi Alix - Jupiter conjunct SN can be good for opening up ways to "show what you know." May we all be covered with joys and blessings! What a great wish!!

Hi airsea - You're most welcome, and I'll echo Happy and Merry everything to all of us.

Hi H - I hope your Hootenanny was all the hooting and nannying that could fill your Soul with joy and celebration! Blessings to you as well in 2010.

Hi Beth - Glad this gives some perspective so that you can play the game of life more to your satisfaction.