by Robert Wilkinson
Today we take a look at important Sabian Symbols, aspects, and other factors in play the next three weeks as Mercury is retrograde in Aquarius and Capricorn.
This Mercury retrograde begins at 3:41 am PST on January 14. The retrograde moves from 11 Aquarius back to 25 Capricorn, with the Inferior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurring at 4 Aquarius on January 23. As this retrograde begins in the second decan of Aquarius it deals with the emotional and social levels of life, and has a sub-influence of Gemini with an added dose of Mercury.
In Aquarius, we’ll get a look back at the bigger picture which emerged in 2021, and in Capricorn, we’ll get a look back at the “real structures” put into play in 2020. The beginning of the RX period gives us a new look at how inspired we are, with the ability to adjust or recalibrate our sense of what we’re contributing to in the bigger picture. The end of the RX period in late January and early February will put us at a different view or understanding of the type or quality of “group performance” we’re involved in.
Because of the signs involved, it could mark the return of old relationships, old roles we once played in larger events but in a new application, or new perspectives about what our duties and responsibilities are and aren’t. It could mark the return of friends, spiritual Sisters and Brothers, or points of view we haven’t thought of for a while. This is a good time insights from a different angle of view in the life area(s) where we have the first and second decans of Aquarius and the third decan of Capricorn.
Mercury RX in any Air sign is extraordinarily associative, so there’s always the possibility that your renewed inspiration or insight may come from another, or in some roundabout way. You may find a new way to view another’s insights or alternative view of things, or find a new inspiration in an old aspiration. Mercury RX in Air is harmonious with its Gemini nature, and Mercury RX in Earth is harmonious with its Virgo nature. You can bet we’ll all have a new understanding of our relative “transcendent security” by the time Mercury is finally out of its shadow zone in late February!
The Sabian Symbol for Mercury’s Stationary Retrograde Degree
The Sabian Symbol for the 11th degree of Aquarius is “Man tete-a-tete with his inspiration.” In the original Jones notes published in The Astrology of Personality, Rudhyar says this symbolizes “Creative power in man: its relationship to social behavior” and “Self-crystallization in a form of power, or else self-exploitation.”
In The Astrological Mandala, he states this degree is about “the need to rely upon inner inspiration and guidance at the start of new developments,” where we must keep open to higher, spiritual, or Soul energies at the threshold of a new period of individual activity. He says we cannot afford to depend on outer circumstances or traditional incentives, but instead must tap our inner creative power as we learn to get out of our own way to express that power.
He offers this “refers to the overshadowing of the individual consciousness by an inner, yet transcendent Power.” He states this falls in the Span of Defensiveness, Act of Capitalization, and Scene of Contribution on the Individual-Mental level.
Dr. Jones says this is a degree of our “satisfaction in the transcendental experiences of selfhood, and of a new realization that each individual lives in a consistent intimacy with spiritual verities of every sort and on every hand.” He says this involves “the need to act continually in personal self-interest, and to translate every vision into practical consummation.”
He states that as we accept “the overshadowing of a universal life and order” we must demonstrate our “special capacities and rededicate (our) own individual achievements.” He offers us the keyword ECSTASY. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree "is an enthusiastic idealism and a tireless desire to serve others.”
So the focus of this retrograde requires us to take a new look at our creative power, and how its serving our spiritual purpose. This is a symbol of “enlightened self-interest,” an inward turning and connection to be at one within, demonstrating our power to create what we will as a beginning of an individual spiritual contribution of some sort.
Because this was Saturn’s degree at the December Solstice, it definitely means this retrograde will be worked out “backwards and forwards” with an added perspective offered through Saturn at this time occupying the exact degree it went SRX in May 2021. So Saturn is intimately involved as it rules this retrograde, with the Saturn Solstice lesson become crystallized in strange ways, or preliminary ways, or finally expressed after a delay.
As I offered you at the Solstice, “Saturn, backdrop for the Light/Life of the next 90 days, rules from its own sign, and adds to the Light of Aquarius the quality of us opening to a greater vision of how we can contribute to the future of humanity in our unique way by getting out of our own way and demonstrating a transcendent power or understanding. This is about how we can contribute to a larger goal in our own unique way.” This retrograde is a new look at that.
Behind the Scenes in this Aquarius and Capricorn Retrograde
While in Aquarius and Capricorn, Mercury is ruled by Saturn. Even though it now shares the stage with Jupiter in Pisces as a “final dispositor,” Saturn is still dominant for many weeks to come. While Mars in Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, when it enters Capricorn it will be ruled by Saturn as it triggers all the Capricorn and Aquarius conjunction points of 2020 and 2021.
Because this retrograde span is the same as Pluto’s transit between the Spring of 2020 and December 2030, we may catch glimpses of things to come by seeing the seeds which are sprouting at this time. And because it includes 25 Capricorn, it is related to the Jupiter conjunctions with Pluto in 2020, and also includes 1 Aquarius, it links via a “backward look” the Mars conjunction with Saturn and Jupiter conjunction with Saturn in 2020.
That’s why this period could yield a new understanding of those times as rehearsals for what’s now established, or a new sense of where these interlocking cycles are headed. It could seem like “past as prologue” or even a new understanding of how to be creative with the spiritual energy we’re feeling. By the time it’s done, we’ll definitely understand why things have been as Plutonic as they’ve been!
Aspects and the Sun and Moon
In this retrograde station chart, the primary aspects are Moon exactly quincunx Venus and the Sun two degrees from its conjunction with Pluto. That promises to make this an intense retrograde, since it begins with a Pluto conjunction and will end with Mercury conjunct Pluto. This should take us down to the core of any given thing, and of course it’s time to be cautious as we illuminate the underworld and prepare to revisit our perspective of it in a couple of weeks.
The quincunx is about adjustments and sacrifices. As the Moon is at 16 Gemini, it is naturally curious and wants to externalize what it’s already discovered. Venus retrograde at 16 Capricorn is very proper and organized and still focused in an interior way. Because the Moon is also square Neptune and opposed to Mars, it translates the light of the separating Mars/Neptune square and brings it all back into focus with the void between 15-24 Virgo. This is a powerful integrator of multiple sources of information, so get a good attitude, claim or re-claim your inner spiritual power, refine your cooperative skills and instincts, and demonstrate your skill.
The Sun is on a degree of fulfillment of transcendent security in relative comfort, and the Moon is on a degree of sharing information to others. As both the Sun and Moon ultimately have Saturn as their “final dispositor,” and Saturn is on a degree of spiritual acceleration, this retrograde and its aftermath will make it clear how that acceleration has been in play in our lives since last May.
Short Term Past and Future Triggers
During this Mercury retrograde period, pay attention to the roundabout signs and signals you’re receiving about past and present times you need(ed) to turn your focus to other angles of understanding. These lessons will be illuminated when the Sun crosses this degree around January 29-30. The themes of 25 Capricorn-11 Aquarius will be triggered in a big way when both Venus and Mars transit that span between Feb 26 and March 17-20. That implies many of the retrograde themes and lessons will produce “instant karma” in the weeks that follow!
Looking Forward
A retrograde is always a great time to see things we didn’t understand before, or perhaps reclaim something from the past. Here we take a look back and reconsider or renew how inspiration and focusing spiritual power could take a different shape, or remember a time in the past when we did this in order to find a new application of that power. This is about taking a new look at our individual spirituality and vision of the greater work we’re in to find what we need to utilize in the future.
This is about finding a new inspiration, a new understanding of our “self-transcendence” in play since the recent New Moon. (Remember this period falls almost entirely in the span of time ruled by that 13 Capricorn Lunation.) Remember Mercury retrogrades are great times for moving things forward which were stalled or delayed up to that point, so some things will no doubt make progress, even though we need to exercise extreme caution as we “light up the darkness” of the Sun conjunct Pluto. The point of this retrograde is to accept the power to move things forward, building in some time lag. So while things may begin slow and/or confused, it’ll be easy to see the core of things and use the techniques of acceleration we’ve been practicing since last May.
As with all Mercury retrogrades, some projects may have to be postponed, or a new way found to make something be more relevant to our current life. This can give us insights into why we need to get a new angle of seeing things, going inward rather than keep going in unfulfilling directions. All of us will get glimpses of how our past experiences and choices since the last Mercury retrograde have led us to a new view of Libra things in our past and present.
This period gives us yet another look at or understanding of how to shape our world as an active participant in co-creating some part of the ideal we pursue. See different ways of being inspired and inspiring others, with an eye to purifying what needs purifying to embrace the ideal with fewer restrictions and rules which hinder rather than help the building effort. Just remember that because of the RX quality, it may a) take a roundabout way to get there, b) require a delay before we understand what these things are about, or c) we’ll see how we’ve begun parts of our Aquarius and Capricorn training and now have to connect the dots or renew something we neglected.
In general, these are excellent periods to find a new angle of perspective on what we need to coordinate our lives to express our Soul, and revise and/or renew some things from the past. I gave you a lot about the themes of this retrograde period in prior articles in this series, so please check them out when you’re done here. Links at the bottom of this post.
In the next article in the series, I’ll give you how this retrograde will impact every sign and birthday. For now, please review what I’ve written so far, since it’s rich with material which can help you navigate the next three weeks and come out more aware of how you can contribute to a greater good in the world.
A New Look At Mercury Retrograde
If you want to know what we can expect from Mercury retrograde in Libra, as well as all the other signs and houses, if you haven't already gotten your copy, please consider getting my award-winning 2nd edition of A New Look At Mercury Retrograde.
The first major work on Mercury retrograde ever written, it offers in-depth information about Mercury retrograde people, Mercury retrograde in the various signs and houses, and what the entire Mercury Retrograde phenomenon is about. If you want to know what we can expect from Mercury retrograde in any sign or house position, it’s all in there.
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. NOTE: make sure you’re buying the second edition with the award sticker on the cover, and not the first edition originally published by Weiser. The edition you want is published by Fifth Ray Publishing.
Previous articles in this series:
Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius and Capricorn in January-February 2022 - An Overview
It’s Mercury Retrograde in January-February 2022 –A New Look at the Guide of Souls
The Guide of Souls in January 2022 - Mercury Slowing Down, Preparing to go Retrograde at 11 Aquarius
Copyright © 2022 Robert Wilkinson
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