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 Aries.
This Mercury retrograde begins at 3:14 pm PDT on April 1. The retrograde moves from 28 Aries back to 16 Aries, going stationary direct on April 25. As this retrograde begins in the third decan of Aries it deals with the psychological and spiritual levels of life, and has a sub-influence of Jupiter with an added dose of Venus.
At 28 Aries, our mind will turn inward and look backward at the themes of this degree involving “shattering illusions,” getting new perspectives on old ideas, and being courageous, constructive, and fearless in facing certain facts. I can see this working several ways. It could be that we in fact realize we’ve achieved a new way of seeing some ideas we’ve lived by, or it could be a look back at when this happened in the past.
It can help us pause to review some facts in our life, or see how we took responsibility for delivering on a promise in the past. Many will take a new look at what was awakened when Uranus transited this degree in 2017-2018. Of course there are other possibilities as well, each appropriate to who we are and what we need to reflect on.
The beginning of the RX period gives us a new look at where our “synthesized individual spirituality” has brought us, and gives us a chance to find a new understanding of our potential, or the potential of a situation we’re in. This gives us a different take on our “impulsive mind” or any tendency we might have to “jump the gun” in our assumptions. There may be memories of how we busted an illusion in the past which led to our current understanding.
Take a new look at where you’re at, and if an old sense of self isn’t working any more, review the past to find a new approach to the future. This brings insights from a different angle in the life area(s) where we have Aries. Mercury RX in any Fire sign is extraordinarily active and inspired, so there’s always the possibility that your renewed ideas about your public self and what needs to be faced could come in some roundabout way.
By the time Mercury is finally out of its shadow zone on May 13 we’ll all have a new understanding of the “new lands” we began to enter in January. We’ve all had “new openings,” and this will give us a look back to see what’s been accomplished, and what is yet to be accomplished through some focused “potency.” As Mars is the ruler of Mercury, there will be distinctive Pisces energies during this RX period, so close out the old, bless the passages, and see the life renewal in play since last June.
The Sabian Symbol for Mercury’s Stationary Retrograde Degree
The Sabian symbol for the 28th degree of Aries is “A large disappointed audience." ” In the Astrology of Personality, where Rudhyar uses the original Dr. Jones' class notes on the symbols, 28 Aries is said to be a symbol of "A new light is shed upon cherished ideas," "fearless, constructive and public facing of the facts of existence," and "adjustment."
In The Astrological Mandala he states this is a degree of "the necessity for mature preparation and self-criticism" and learning how to handle a situation where someone may have promised more than they could deliver. He says this is a stage of learning how to be objective in considering the use of power requiring “an objective inclusiveness of the whole environment; thus a sense of responsibility for what one's actions will produce."
He gives the keyword "Responsibility," and points out that this is where we begin to understand how to evaluate potential results from the use of our focused power. He says this degree falls in the Span of Examination, Act of Differentiation, and Scene of Potency on the Individual-Mental level.
Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of "the transiency of the rewards in a life taken too literally and narrowly," and "the disillusionment that comes when an individual learns that (they) cannot depend on the applause of (others), or make the collective mood a guide for which values they should pursue. Here we must "rest secure" in our creative potential and not be swayed by externals.
He offers the keyword DISJUNCTION. He states that when operating positively, the degree is "complete spiritual independence."
So the focus of this retrograde is about a new way of seeing ourselves and our responsibilities and duties to society. This will round out our understanding of how to concentrate or focus our spiritual potency or potential.
Again, take a new look at finding new ways, new ideas, new methods of evaluating what has been and what could be. This is a degree of awakening others and being awakened by others, so see what’s opening on the individual spiritual level of your life, accept your power to make a constructive difference by offering a new light on old ideas or a new take on old ways of viewing or understanding something, and enjoy focusing your will power, backed by courage, to find the harmony possible in each moment.
Behind the Scenes in this Aries Retrograde
While in Aries, Mercury is ruled by Mars. As Mercury rules nothing in the chart and is ruled by the “Mutual Reception” of Venus in Pisces and Jupiter in Taurus, this is the primary “behind the scenes” flashes related to where these planets occupy in our chart. All the themes related to these planets will play a part in our reflections and impressions from the subconscious mind or past events we remember.
Mercury RX in Fire is harmonious with its Gemini nature. As noted yesterday, Mercury in Aries is in its own 8th house relative to its Virgo qualities, and in its own 11th house relative to its Gemini qualities. In its own 8th sign it calculates what it eliminates to move in the direction it wants. So it’s very regenerative and aware of shared social values and resources, as well as more ambitious in Aries.
Aspects and the Sun and Moon
In this retrograde station chart, the primary aspects to/from Mercury include a tredecile with the Moon, a septile to Mars, and a semisquare to Saturn. Besides these, other major aspects in play in the retrograde chart show the Moon quintile Venus, square the Sun, trine Jupiter, sextile Saturn, and quintile Neptune. All that is built by the harmonious and specializing aspects will be released through the square.
We also see Venus septile Jupiter and Uranus and conjunct Neptune, and Mars is conjunct Saturn and quintile both Jupiter and Uranus while decile Pluto. Jupiter is conjunct Uranus, septile Neptune, and tredecile Pluto. You can find out more about the outer planet aspects and configurations by taking another look at part 2 of the recent Full Moon eclipse articles.
The Moon is at 11 Capricorn is in a Disseminating Moon phase, showing a time of giving and receiving information and weaving ideas together to be spread to others. We are told this phase is assimilative, evaluative, and innovating, where we disseminate what we’ve learned. It’s on a degree of “capitalization upon opportunity,” where we refine what needs to be refined to demonstrate our “aristocracy” in some way. The square of the Lights requires that we see things as “both-and” rather than “either-or,” and learn to compartmentalize different life areas so they don’t jam each other up.
The Sun is at 13 Aries, a degree of de-fusing pressures as we find a new perspective or see our “new identity” in a different light. Be courageous in facing any “intangible fears of nascent selfhood,” and see it all as a test of growth connecting the visible with the invisible during our “call to rebirth.” As the last Mercury RX station had the Sun at 20 Sagittarius, this makes a trine to that Sun, indicating this RX period will be a naturally harmonious expression of the Light of that previous RX period.
What is remarkable about this retrograde station is that it shows this will be a revolutionary retrograde, with extraordinary unique events promised by the 10th harmonic evolutionary configuration in this chart! We have the Sun decile Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus while quintile Pluto. Mars is quintile Jupiter and Uranus and decile Pluto. Jupiter and Uranus are tredecile Pluto.
Together we have FOUR points of a “10 Pointed Star of Quintessential Serendipity” active as an influence for this retrograde period. Areas affected include 1-4 Aquarius/Leo, 6-10 Pisces/Virgo, 12-16 Aries/Libra, 18-22 Taurus/Scorpio, 24-28 Gemini/Sag, and 30 Cancer/Capricorn. If you have planets or points in these zones, expect some very unique things to happen over the next few weeks.
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 how to relate and who to relate to (or not!). These lessons will be illuminated when the Sun crosses this degree around April 15-17. We’ll get another look when Mercury leaves its shadow zone on May 13/14 and will find an appreciation or value of our harmony and sense of fulfillment when Venus transits 28 Aries on April 26/27.
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 we realized when we needed new information, understanding, or approaches in the past. Perhaps we’ll see new ways to apply our skills or spiritual values so that we can find some harmony in our lives. Many will recall times in the past when they reorganized because of certain things being revealed about their individuality or spirituality and found themselves living a “new identity” with a new perspective.
We can now take a new look when “the Guide of Souls” takes us within where we can see what parts of the past still work for us so we can adjust the plan or the trajectory of our spiritual work. These 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, given Mercury only makes one frictional aspect during this retrograde. This will be a productive retrograde period with strength in how we reposition for future movement. Accept new ideas and new approaches; be fearless as you flow through the adjustments necessary before everything springs forward in a few weeks.
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 the greater Capricorn and Aquarian work going on since 2020.
This period gives us yet another look at or understanding of how to shape our world view as an active participant in co-creating some part of the vision we pursue. See different ways of relating to Self, to others, and to Source. 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 our Aries sectors or planets need reconsideration in the context of the larger Aquarius and Capricorn training. If necessary, connect the dots or renew how you express your Wisdom in your own authentic way.
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 are fulfilled and can bring a greater harmony and greater good to the world.
A New Look At Mercury Retrograde
If you want to know what we can expect from Mercury retrograde in Aries, 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 Aries in April 2024
The Guide of Souls in April 2024 - Mercury Slowing Down, Preparing to go Retrograde at 28 Aries
Copyright © 2024 Robert Wilkinson
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