by Robert Wilkinson
Today we explore specifics of the Superior Conjunction of June 5 at 16 Gemini. This “fusion of life and mind” will impact the rest of the Mercury direct period, as well as the first part of its next retrograde up to the Inferior conjunction coming on August 8 at 17 Leo.
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 7 weeks.
Since Mercury is direct in motion and moving faster than the Sun, it now makes a “superior conjunction” that begins a several week period when mind will race ahead of life, heralding things to come. The degree of any superior conjunction shows how our perceptions have caught up with our lives, which can bring forth a new expression of our light.
The Sabian Symbol for the Superior Conjunction
The Solar-Mercurial degree symbol for the Superior Conjunction for the 16th degree of Gemini is “A woman suffragist haranguing.” In the original Jones class notes offered in The Astrology of Personality, Rudhyar says this is a degree of “Rising of the human Soul in demand for the recognition by the outer nature of the needs of inner being” and “self-assertion.”
In the Astrological Mandala, he goes on to say that this degree symbolizes “a passionate response to a deeply felt new experience.” He states that “what has been ‘discovered’ not only needs to be discussed and tested through an intellectual exchange… it also demands “exteriorization” in the world of those who are “still unaware of the new knowledge. A public is needed, and it has to be convinced; its inertial resistance to change has to be overcome.”
He explains this usually requires a form of “dramatization of the issues at stake,” and the imagery suggests someone who uses feelings and dramatic images “to sway the receptive public.” He states “what is at stake is a process of communication of new experiences” via “the proselytizing mind.” He says this degree falls in the Span of Restlessness, Act of Differentiation, and is the initial degree in the Scene of Exteriorization on the Actional-Physical level.
Dr. Jones tells us this is about “the soul’s demand for a full participation in the responsibilities of human society,” and how values “are maintained only as there is a mutual give-and-take” respecting differences in views. Here “right” is substantiated through “reasoned conviction,” as well as “enlarging the privileges of (all) through a broad extension of all common or community functions.
He offers us the keyword INDIGNATION. He say when this degree is operating positively, it represents “an unswerving determination to expand every potential of being and take part in every possible detail of world-wide reconstruction.”
So we'll use the ”fusion of life and mind” through the next Inferior Conjunction to look forward, anticipating things to come while being moved by a great message, or moving others with a great message. Here the light coupled with and carried forward by the outward turned mind results in the personality learning what the Soul needs, of “spreading the word,” of passionate pleas for the purpose of persuading others of something, and finding those who are receptive to a message or knowledge we deeply feel is important.
What’s Up After the Superior Conjunction?
At this conjunction, mind is no longer following life, trying to catch up to it. Now mind races forward as herald, catching glimpses of knowledge, perception, and understanding that shows us where life is headed in the near future.
Also remember that when Mercury outraces the Sun and moves ahead of it, it no longer "leads the light." Now "Life" leads "Mind" even as Mind blazes the trail the Light will follow these next few weeks. Still, we've just shifted to Uranus "leading the Light" from far away, except for those periods when the Moon closes in on the Sun during its "Old Moon" 3rd Quarter and Balsamic phases. This won't change again until the Inferior Conjunction in Leo in August at 17 Leo. Then Mercury will again "lead the Light" through the next Superior Conjunction at 29 Virgo in September just before the Equinox.
This Superior Conjunction can fuse foresight and life experience to see how new forms of light, life, and perspectives can come forth these next few weeks. Because this “fusion of life and mind” takes place in the second third of Gemini, it represents a time of seeing how to weigh and balance the parts of things to come to a well-rounded view of how all the pieces fit together or don’t, or how the balance or proportion needs to be adjusted. This challenges us to become the articulation of the Light fused with “the Guide of Souls” to offer visions of a more ideal sense of fairness, and a more balanced, elegant, mature and responsible way of moving forward at the intersection of Fate Street and Freewill Street on Eternity Boulevard.
As I have pointed out in the first article about the Superior Conjunction, during this Superior Conjunction at 16 Gemini we will have “a fusion of life and mind” that will help set a platform. In blending these principles we will see a shift in our affairs, attitudes, and understanding about those things symbolized by Mercury in Gemini.
Natal points in harmony with 16 Gemini will see productivity, understanding, stabilization, and unique qualities come forth in that chart house. Natal points in friction with 16 Gemini will see turning points, blocks, braking action, and release of potential. These are the primary “Life-Mind” fusion lessons through the next Inferior Conjunction on August 8 at 17 Leo, a degree that will bring us a greater faith and a greater striving to release spiritual potential into actions.
The next few weeks will pick up on some of the themes of the June 2012 Venus inferior conjunction with the Sun on this exact degree. As Jupiter went SRX at 17 Gemini in October 2012, clearly many of the Venus and Jupiter related themes from that period of shifting likes and dislikes will be in play in the near future.
The Lunar Influence and the Backdrop to What’s Happening
The Moon is at 8 Pisces for this Conjunction. That means there will be a lot of vast feelings and a need for closure on old ways, forgiving all you can, blessing much to flow down the time stream during the next few weeks. As it falls in the first decan of Pisces, we will be moved to hear what calls us to renewal as a result of knowingly dedicating ourselves to some ideal we first sensed June 2014 through January 2016. Events of that period will prove important to what develops between now and when Mercury next goes retrograde.
The Sabian Symbol for the Moon implies we will “hear a call that spurs us to self-renewal,” where “tomorrow acts through today” to “summon us to rebirth.” This degree is said to create a greater life through “service to the whole,” and will call us to participate in a larger work. Embrace a process of self-perfecting, enjoy becoming more skilled through being challenged, and leap to every opportunity for renewed self-expression.
The Superior Conjunction falling in Gemini makes Mercury the ruler of the conjunction. As Mercury is in Gemini, it is its own dispositor and very secure in its own self-awareness and self-expression. We all are having a new message or a form of life renewal being introduced to us in some way, so gladly take on the task of spreading the word!
Summing Up
Because it falls at 16 Gemini, this Superior Conjunction forms an immediate conjunction with Neptune and semisquare to Uranus, setting powerful octile series aspects into play. Be clear about what role you’re playing, don’t allow any putdowns, whether in your inner world or outer world, and give voice to your ideals.
These aspects mark a crucial turning point in both the Uranus and Neptune cycles set into motion with the Sun and Mercury conjuncted them months ago. This implies that our Life/Mind awareness is at a transformational threshold unto itself, and now has a message to hear and/or spread to or from the collective.
From here, even though Mercury will outrace the Sun for the next few weeks, it’s going to begin to slow down in speed, and will go retrograde at 10:03 pm PDT on July 25, 1:03 am EDT, 6:03 am BST on July 26. That retrograde station will happen at 24 Leo, a degree of concentrating on inner things at the expense of outer appearances. That will give us yet another period where we can learn about how Mercury functions from a retrograde “review and return” perspective.
As I explained in new book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend, Mercury’s duality is “Life/Death,” so we can get a new look at how our consciousness and responses are either creative, destructive, or both, to cite the venerable Kabalistic Arhat Paul Foster Case. Mercury is where we learn if our mental processes are creating chaos and disorganized scattered conditions through ambivalence, and thus come to see how to use discernment to coordinate various functions to bring forth perfect knowing how to do whatever needs to be done.
Because we’ll be dealing with Mercury retrograde energies beginning July 7 when it enters its shadow zone, please take a look at the appropriate chapters in my book A New Look at Mercury Retrograde. You can find out all you need about Mercury Retrograde in Leo, as well as the houses it occupies in your chart.
Here's the Amazon link to the page where you can purchase a paperback edition of A New Look at Mercury Retrograde. You can also get a Kindle ebook at that site, or go to Barnes and Noble for a copy on Nook. (Please note that if you go to amazon, make sure you're ordering the 2015 edition, and not the earlier one. There are plenty of used ones for sale, but they are far inferior to the newest edition.) It's a great resource to check out possible ways the coming Mercury retrograde effect could play out in July, August, and September 2018.
Copyright © 2018 Robert Wilkinson
Personally, I like the description of 16 Gemini in the Astrological Mandala much better:
(GEMINI 16°): A WOMAN ACTIVIST IN AN EMOTIONAL SPEECH DRAMATIZING HER CAUSE.
Posted by: Denise | June 05, 2018 at 05:00 PM
Summer-Fall 2012 was just retched for me. My career was destroyed by political game-players that I made the mistake of trusting. Although it wasn't over until January 2013. I've been trying to put that all behind me for the past 5 years. It's kind of a drag that I'm going to have to deal with it again.
Posted by: bomega | June 06, 2018 at 03:52 AM
June to October 2012. I prepared for my first European vacation and fell in love with Italy. My Asc at 16 Gemini already is feeling inspired as I am in Italy now for another visit to some of the same regions
Posted by: Anna Wilde | June 06, 2018 at 08:01 AM