Mercury Rx in Libra

Because I am a complete and total nerd AND because I feel like some of you will appreciate this, I’ve compiled a timeline of transits/events that help to tell the story that is Mercury Rx in Libra. Venus, Mars and Jupiter are all intimately entwined with Mercury during this period and therefore will be the sign posts that mark its journey into the underworld and eventual rebirth. It’s a tragicomedy for sure. I’ve been laugh-crying the whole time and we’ve only just gotten through the first shadow phase.

Each planet has a multitude of significations, so I’ll give you the broad strokes. Some things Mercury represents are communication, words, travel, learning, information processing, marketplaces, exchanges, logic/rationality, the occult, and divination. In the Tarot it relates to The Magician and The Lovers. My favorite of Mercury’s titles is psychopomp, one charged with ferrying the dead to the afterlife. In Greek mythology, Hermes (Mercury) is the only god who has the ability to move freely back and forth between the world of the dead and the world of the living. 

These themes are all accurate and present for our purposes here, but the one that is most important is Mercury as the archetypal trickster. Its character runs across many cultures and classic works of literature. It is known as Loki to the Norse, Coyote to the Indigenous Americans, Iktomi specifically to the Lakota People, Anansi in African folklore, and so on. The one called William Shakespeare cast it as Puck (“I go, I go; look how I go, Swifter than arrow from the Tartar’s bow”) in Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. These characters are essential to the development of rich and moving stories. They are catalysts. They are what insight change by antagonizing us out of the mundane and into some  journey that forces us to grow into the beings that we are truly meant to be… That is, if we choose to answer the call.

A Mercury retrograde cycle is a lot like that. We just move through life minding our own business (some of us, anyway) and then as the the pre-shadow phase opens, we are confronted by that which seems true but ends up being false… but when things come back around, we find that maybe we were right in the beginning but not in the way that we had originally felt… or perhaps we find that the thing that we wanted was the thing that was absolutely not right after all. Lots of plot twists. In any event, I can guarantee that it won’t be boring. 

In order for this dissertation to really hit we need to understand the natures of ALL the planets involved. The wicked and playful Mercury is mostly absorbed by the workings of Venus, who represents love, harmony, beauty, friendship, bringing together, feminine energies and people, art, money, values, the senses, sensuality, luxury, and creativity. Then we have Mars, who represents personal will, how we go about getting and doing what we want, separating/severing, assertiveness, masculine people and energies, war, fire, and blades. Finally we have Jupiter, who is often referred to as ‘the guru planet’ and can represent our beliefs, the meaning we find in life, the force of expansion, growth, illumination, wisdom, higher knowledge, and good fortune. (These lists are not exhaustive and all themes included can be applied for better or worse.)

Mercury’s pre-retrograde shadow phase started August 21 when it was at 24 degrees of Virgo. This means that it will retrograde back to the degree it occupied on that day and station (stand still) in preparation to move forward once again. This also means that the period of time between then and when Mercury actually starts moving backwards (it doesn’t really go in reverse, just looks that way from our vantage), September 11, is the period we are reviewing during this cycle.

Act 1: This is what has happened since we entered the Twilight Zone ( also known as the pre-shadow phase):

• Mars moved into Gemini (a Mercury-ruled sign) on August 21, the same day that the shadow phase began. When a planet is in a sign ruled by another, it means that the visiting planet is sort of at the whim of its host. Since Mercury was in Virgo at this time, it had a lot of power. I would say that this combo casts the vibe of Mars’ 7 month Gemini journey as one that really asks us to be precise with our words and how we deliver them to others… among other things.
• On August 27 we had the New Moon in Virgo which was squared by Mars in Gemini. A square represents a challenge from one planet to another. In this case, Mars took off its glove and challenged the Virgo New Moon. This could have felt a bit stressful as New Moons are times where the symbolic seed is planted. So, did we plant the seeds of strife!? Mars was also in trine to Mercury from the day of this Moon and will be until September 11 (when Mercury actually turns retro). A trine is a harmonious aspect that generally creates a sense of ease between the planets involved, but with these two… It’s almost like they’re plotting something. But maybe it’s something fun! We’ll find out at some point during this cycle, no doubt.
• This is a big one, or at least it feels that way: Mercury opposed Jupiter Rx in Aries as it was preparing to station AND as it begins to move backward. This started August 29, peaked around September 3, will move back through that peak degree September 18, and will release September 21. Since this conjunction was going on throughout Mercury’s station (DURING THE FULL MOON) and for such a long time before and after as its motion was and is so slow, it carries a lot of weight.
• On September 5 Venus moved from the sign of Leo, where she had been having a great time, into Virgo (ruled by Mercury) where she is considered to be at her detriment. Basically, Virgo/Mercury is waaaaay too logical for the sexy, luxe life that Venus wants to lead. However, directing Venus themes through the lens of Virgo can really help us to get our shit together on the physical. That being said, Venus has also been under the rays of the Sun since it entered Virgo and will be until late December. Being close to the Sun generally reduces a planet’s power to perform optimally. There is a little reprieve when they are joined at the same degree, which we will discuss in more detail later.
• Right up in between all that Jupiter opposition fun, Mercury, now in Libra (ruled by Venus– This is called a mutual reception and means that two planets are occupying one another’s signs. Though Venus is challenged, it’s still a strong bond.) stationed on September 9, at 8 degrees Libra, and will begin its backward journey on September 11. Right in between THAT we had the Pisces Full Moon, which was conjunct Neptune and Juno, opposite Venus in Virgo, and square Mars. I talked about that in my Full Moon Post. What I didn’t get into there is how the scene was set for this Moon cycle during the Virgo New Moon, as I explained a few points ago.

Act 2: From here we are in true retrograde territory and we will be reviewing all that has come up so far. This is where the reversals of fate, road blocks, surprise reappearances and disappearances, etc. come into play in earnest. This is what we’ve got ahead of us for the next three weeks until Mercury, once again, stations:

• On September 23 Mars squares Venus, both in Mercury-ruled signs. As I mentioned before, squares carry some friction and since Mars is in the ‘superior’ position this might feel abrasive for an already somewhat delicate Venus
• Mercury reaches ‘the heart of the Sun’ on September 23. As stated earlier, planets close to the Sun have sort of a rougher time, but since Mercury moves so quickly, that doesn’t last too terribly long. On this day it is exactly conjunct the Sun, which is likened to being ‘exalted’. There is a moment of clarity here where we may be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, make a bit of sense out of the Looking Glass world we’ve been in the past few weeks. But don’t get too excited because we still need to come out the other side. It’s like being in the eye of the storm.
• On the 24th Mercury retrogrades back into Virgo, the sign of its rulership. Since Venus is still here for a few more days, this actually gives her a liiiiiiittle bit more power for her passage through the more difficult last degrees of Virgo.
• While all that’s going down, the New Moon in Libra comes along on the 25th and Mercury Rx enters a conjunction with Venus, where it will be until the 27th. This Moon is also in trine to Mars AND opposite Jupiter Rx. Oof. Track those themes, baby. I feel like we’re gonna be talking some things out. Quite possibly things that have been on the table since September 18 when Mercury rolls back through that peak opposition degree with Jupiter Rx. PS Chiron is also floating around in this vicinity, so pay attention to how the collective vibe of world events is impacting you energetically.
• Thankfully on September 29 Venus ingresses into Libra, one of its signs of rulership. It’s still under the rays, but being in its own domicile definitely gives any planet a boost. 
• As soon as this happens, Venus enters an opposition with Jupiter Rx which lasts until October 3 (the same day that Mercury starts moving forward). This is actually a fairly fluffy aspect, and my hope is that it provides us with a soft place to ride out the rest of this Act. Being that it’s an opposition, it will probably also be providing us with some sort of ‘aha’ experience that relates back to when Venus and Jupiter were conjoined back at the end of April, in square toward the end of July, and then trine on August 18 (right before we entered the Twilight Zone).
•  October 1 Mercury stations in preparation for forward movement, which will commence on October 3. The pause.

Act 3: In which we come out the other side. Nope, we’re not done yet. We’re gonna pass over a lot of those points one more time before the post-shadow phase is complete. This is the part of the cycle that generally helps us to understand, integrate, culminate, etc. all of the weird shit we have seen since August 21. The next two weeks brings:

• The final pass of Mercury, now direct in Libra once again, over the opposition to Jupiter Rx happens from October 10 to 13. I am expecting some maaaaaaajor revelations from this. Please keep me posted.
• Okay, so the post-shadow phase ends on October 16, but ON that day and through the 22nd Mars will be trine to Venus and I think that puts a very nice cap on things that were harder to deal with around their square from September 12-20. I’ll take it. 

Like I said, Venus is still under the rays until after the Winter Solstice, but I do want to mention here that after all this intensity with relationships and communication, the Cazimi (conjunction with the Sun) comes October 21-24. This is the sweet spot. Mercury retrograde is over. Our hearts have been crushed and reformed six ways til Sunday. Our self worth has been going through a real Hero’s Journey, along with any other areas of our life that Venus rules (which houses of the natal chart it rules), and it is not over, friends. BUT we have reached the eye of the storm. A reprieve from the torrent. Venus is raised up in reverence. Kinda feels like a Six of Wands moment, you know? Like we can celebrate the victory of making it this far, take a rest, and enjoy ourselves, but we know we’re gonna have to go back on that horse and ride. I believe that our hearts will find the fruits of their labor as winter moves in. 

In conclusion, I think this whole thing is pretty dicey as far as some of our love relationships go, so do be mindful. However, this is such an amazing opportunity for us to practice clear, kind communication with the people that we are in close contact with, to go over decisions that were made, plans that were set in motion, and desires that were formed to make sure that we really are getting what is for our highest and greatest good out of them. There will be surprises and let downs, set backs, and slip ups. Grieve your losses, feel your feelings, but try not to lose the awareness or even just the possibility that even though it may seem fucked right now, it will turn out for the better. 

And if you need me, you know where to find me. Always here for you.