Mercury began its latest edition of its retrograde process on December 3, which will last until December 22/23. In the weeks and especially days leading up to it, we start to notice its effects, as Mercury slows down and comes to a stop before moving the other way.
Mercury retrograde is famous for the problematic effects it often has on communication technology, transactions, motor vehicles, anything with moving parts, and commuting in general. We could experience some challenges, misunderstandings, and errors around our communications, numbers/details, and commerce, as well as changes, cancellations, or delays in our schedules. We may also feel more challenged when we are doing excessive analytical work without using our internal guidance.
Although there is a higher probability of experiencing more of these problems during this time, they won’t necessarily apply to every situation. Some people may not notice these energies as much, depending on what types of things they are doing and how the astrology is playing out unique to the person’s astrological blueprint.
Mercury Retrograde can also be a good time to revisit or redo tasks, projects, ideas, or anything else that was initiated in the past. It can give us a different perspective or shift in thinking that can help us to approach these things in ways we wouldn’t have done so before. This may also be a period of reconnecting with old friends or family, or others you haven’t seen in a while.
The Deeper Purpose of Mercury Retrograde
Ultimately, Mercury Retrograde is a time for us to recalibrate our minds and certain areas of our lives. It is a period in which we may receive important insights and see things in a new light. During and following the retrograde, certain areas of our lives can go through changes or shifts, or we can experience a reorientation of some sort.
In the post-retrograde period, we move forward with some sort of new awareness and adjustment. Some people can even experience more significant transformations, depending on their natal astrology chart based on their exact birth time.
The things that you have been doing or putting into place in the two to three weeks leading up to this period could determine how and where this energy plays out. It is also possible that there could have been changes put in place then which may go through a sorting out process during this time. Perhaps in that period there could have been unknown variables, both positive and negative, that were either unseen or hadn’t been conceived yet, which may become apparent over the coming weeks.
The sign(s) and element(s) in which Mercury retrograde travels shows the energy we are reorienting ourselves with. Also, to go with that, if you are more familiar with your natal astrology chart, your house(s) or any planetary placements being affected will show more specifically what areas of life you will be experiencing its energy in. For the astrologically literate, it began at 29 degrees of Sagittarius and will retrograde all the way to 13 degrees of Sagittarius before turning forward again.
Mercury Retrogrades Currently Occurring in Fire Signs
Every year and a half roughly, it transitions from one element to another. We began transitioning from Earth to Fire since last winter’s Mercury retrograde. However, this marks the first of a series of three that will be completely in Fire signs for the next year, the others being in Aries and Leo.
Mercury retrograding in Earth signs prior to this has been a time in which many of us have had to learn to be more practical, organized, structured, productive, grounded, or in some cases, more attentive to our physical health in relation to nutrition or lifestyle. The transition from Earth to Fire over the last year has been shifting the focus toward re-calibrating ourselves around our passions, inspirations, and creativity, and potentially helping us to be more courageous, confident, assertive, and active.
For further reading on this topic and to understand Mercury Retrograde more in depth, I recommend checking out this recently published book by Gary P. Caton.
Began With a Conjunction to Saturn Aligned With the Galactic Center
This Mercury Retrograde began near the Galactic Center in Sagittarius, which is where last year’s retrograde in December/January ended, although it travelled mostly in Capricorn at that time. This could suggest that for many people this period is about continuing, revisiting, or evolving an area of
your life similar or related to what was happening then. Perhaps you are picking up where you left off and/or you are taking a new approach to something.
Astrologically, the Galactic Center has the potential to be a powerful source of inspiration and could trigger new awareness and levels of consciousness. It can be revolutionary or evolutionary, and contacts to this point can help to transmit ideas, intuitions, and perspectives that are beyond what we normally are able to perceive. It can also amplify the energies of the planet(s) travelling there and help to plant seeds associated with what the planet represents.
Mercury started its retrograde while in a conjunction with Saturn at the Galactic Center and also in aspect with Mars in Libra. This part of it was strongest up until December 6 but still has an influence throughout the retrograde. The alignment with the Galactic Center amplifies the energies of Mercury and Saturn.
As mentioned above, Mercury is associated with the mind, communication, writing, information, as well commerce and commuting. With Saturn, this can manifest as powerful focus and concentration around these Mercury related areas. It can also manifest as general Saturn themes related to structure, discipline, commitment, caution, responsibility, restraint, or needing to be realistic so that we can achieve tangible results.
Mars involved with this can help to push and give us some drive to apply ourselves toward something. This is also reflected in the fact that it will be going into Scorpio during this retrograde, where it expresses itself very strongly.
Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius
Sagittarius is the sign of beliefs, opinions, perspectives, exploration, travel, and higher education. It is also associated with marketing, sales, publishing, and media. It is idealistic, philosophical, and
expansive. This energy can also be judgemental, blunt, argumentative, and have a ‘know-it-all’ complex. These are some of the ways in which the Mercury retrograde-related developments or challenges can manifest to ultimately help us move forward in a new way during the post retrograde period after December 22.
Considering that Saturn is a big part of this too, there could be a theme of needing to get real about certain beliefs, revisiting belief structures, or addressing limitations in our perspectives or otherwise. This could also be about applying the Saturn energies toward other Sagittarian themes as mentioned already.
Journey of Mercury Retrograde
Dec 4 – Mercury retrograde began at 6:34am Universal Time
Dec 6 – Mercury conjunct Saturn, both sextile Mars (mentioned above)
Dec 9/10 – Mercury Trine Uranus, square Chiron with Venus square Neptune. This period can be insightful, good ideas can come through, and potentially some nice surprises may arise as well. Issues surrounding our wounds and blockages can come up at this time as well. Venus is also square Neptune, in which there can be themes of idealism, illusion, fantasy, spiritual connection, oneness, or even confusion and deception around our relationships. Some of those themes may even apply to financial matters.
Dec 12/13 – Mercury conjunct Sun. This marks the halfway point of Mercury retrograde and can be one of the most insightful periods and a powerful time of realizations. Some people may also experience more of the common Mercury retrograde complications during this time.
Dec 14/15 – Mercury conjunct Venus. This can be a great time to reconnect with friends and loved ones, potentially in a new/different way, which can be expansive, explorative, and perhaps educational. Alternatively, this can help us to look at matters related to money or pleasure in a different way.
Dec 15 – 17 – Mercury Trine North Node with Sun Trine Uranus. Communications, thoughts, connections, or events happening during this time could be related to consideration of our future and what we are working towards. There can be pleasant surprises, innovation, or new possibilities, or things can be unusual and even exciting.
Dec 22/23 – Mercury Retrograde finishes and it goes stationary direct. At this time we begin to proceed forward with some adjustments, new awareness, or clarity based on what we have learned and what has transpired during the retrograde. You may notice part of this energy on this day, but as Mercury picks up speed in its forward motion over the coming weeks, things will get more defined and we can make progress in a different way.
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Looking for more insight on how this period is affecting you? Or perhaps looking to better understand your life and its potentials? Get a personalized astrology reading with Carmen (author of this article) specific to you based on your exact birth date, time, and location. GIFT CERTIFICATES also available. Click here for more information or to order. You can also follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK for more astrology related.
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