Mercury direct, mutable grand cross: inner vision, having space

Note, here is today’s edition of Planet Waves FM. The full page is at this link.

Within a few hours of this post publishing, Mercury stations direct in Pisces. That’s exact at 6:11 am EDT. A Mercury station often comes with a sense of the truth coming out; this time the message may be subtle. The sky is giving clues what to listen for — and anything catching your attention is worth considering.

Chart showing selected points for the moment Mercury (green glyph with horns) stations direct today. There is a mutable grand cross, though Mercury is not technically part of it. Points in the cross are: Chiron (orange key-like glyph) and Neptune (blue trident) in Pisces; Venus (blue female symbol) and the South Node (orange horse shoe) in Gemini; Mars (red male symbol); and Juno (purple asterisk) with the North Node (horse shoe) in Sagittarius. Psyche is not shown, but is at 6+ Virgo. The Moon is just beginning to pass out of the grand cross.

The theme of the sky right now is that the past is being triggered. Usually, this means unresolved pain. We may not realize it, but it’s time to see and take the cue to deal with it. One cue today comes in the form of an early-mutable sign grand cross echoing a chorus about the space we have or have not allowed ourselves – and others – in our relationships.

Mercury moving backwards into Pisces has been asking us to look inward. It’s kind of like standing in front of a mirror, and letting your gaze travel further and further into the image to the things around and behind you. ‘Behind you’ can equal the past; around you, the present; and they intersect in you, now. It’s a dreamlike view, and dreams have been a vivid source of information for many during the Pisces portions of Mercury’s retrograde.

Neptune and Chiron, both in early Pisces, are longer-term influences in the realms of the past (a Pisces theme) and its emotional history. Those two planets form one corner of the grand cross that’s speaking to us right now.

In another corner, Juno (also retrograde) is conjunct the North Node in early Sagittarius, and has been for a while. This is the Queen of Heaven, the archetypal marriage partner, being drawn into the future (the North Node). Yet Juno retrograde is still snagged on the old story. While she’s there, she’s asking “Who’s the fairest of them all?”

Sagittarius at least offers your inner Queen a wider view. It’s a convex mirror, like the kind stores sometimes put up at the corner of an aisle, so you can see what’s around the bend coming toward you. With the North Node there, you’re being offered a look at a much wider context than what you have been aware of. This might even be a picture of seeing where your most authentic ideas about your role in relationships stand apart from those of your parents. But curved mirrors distort the view, only giving an impression of what’s around the corner.

What might you see coming in that mirror? Well, Juno and the North Node are making an exact square to the asteroid Psyche (again, retrograde!) — which itself is loosely conjunct retrograde Mars in early Virgo. Psyche often represents some kind of psychic wound we carry that feels un-healable: that is a perception, not the truth. Often that injury involves one’s faith, and the ability to trust the flow of life. With Mars retrograde there, we’re talking about a mental fixation on the past that is tying up an idea about what you might want.

The chart is brimming with questions. Do you feel adequate and lovable? Do you have clear boundaries between yourself and your partner? Can you see your role as partner beyond traditional ideas of how that has to work? The tension of this grand square wants us to take some sort of step in this area, to realize we have more options and an ability to re-conceive ourselves. The convex mirror is offering a view around the corner, but the image will feel disorienting and untrustworthy until we actually take some steps into the real, new space and look at it directly, as a part of it.

In the last corner of the grand cross is the South Node in early Gemini, with Venus just a few degrees away. Venus is square Neptune, straining for honesty. Venus is square a lot of things, and on the South Node grafted to comfortable-but-limiting habits (including conflict-promoting ones).

Venus represents the principle of attraction, and may make it difficult not to simply ‘want what you’ve always wanted’. But Venus in Gemini offers some emotional intelligence to sift through these impulses. Ultimately, Venus wants to feel good, and sticking with unresolved pain does not feel good. Neither does squeezing a relationship too tight.

Letting go — even a little — isn’t easy when you’re afraid it will equal loss and pain. Yet the retrogrades of Mercury and Mars, plus the Juno-North Node square to Psyche, suggest the place to start is within. Let go a little in your relationship to yourself, first. Give yourself just enough space around you in that mirror to see what is around you in your life, behind you and within you. Current events in your life are going to show you where your pain is rippling out so you can follow it backwards to its source, rather than inflicting more.

The on-the-ground ‘how-to’ instructions (or clues) may come with this morning’s Mercury station. There’s something about letting our minds flow a little, buoyed by the rising tide, rather than digging our heels in the sand. The shift offers a little momentum, building slowly, to take a first step around that corner — from mirror reflection to new reality. Mercury is our mind. We know this voice; we just have to listen.

Does giving yourself, and those in your relationships, space to be who you are weaken the bond or actually strengthen it? Despite any unresolved pain, you may yet be surprised by what the mirror shows you. Be ready to look deep.

31 thoughts on “Mercury direct, mutable grand cross: inner vision, having space”

  1. mental fixation on the past…yeah, and the stuff about Psyche and Chiron led me to a little exploration of points in my chart, which are very interesting. On the physical plane, a swarm of bees invaded my garden shed (due to the warm weather in the Bay Area) and I had to call Bee Busters. The Bee Whisperer gently coaxed them into a cardboard box to take them to their new home at the Happy Bee Farm. I’ve been doing a lot of digging in the yard to try to stay grounded.

  2. mimi — loving thoughts and light heading your way. sounds like you’re doing beautiful things beautifully.

  3. “Minor electronic SNAFUs – the DVR player and the printers. Aaarrrgghhh!!!!”

    Me too. Printer died, coffeemaker heating element died, car needed four tires (because of the tread peeling off), digital camera died. Humph! Merc Rx costs money and creates aggrevation. Going inward? Maybe a little, but only a little.

  4. My Dad is dying. He’s had a degenerative disease for some time now but recently took a turn for the worst. He gave himself 13 days then stopped speaking. That puts it at Easter. He’s a Pisces so I don’t doubt the timing, not in this astrological weather anyway. I’ve been spending most of the interim tracking down relatives across the globe for Skype chats and doing my best to keep the conversation going in a language I now barely know. Trying to come off as non-plussed all at the same time.

    Today we had one with his sister, the one who, years ago, in an uncharacteristic moment took a piece of his land while she held power of attorney. Other family members told him almost right away but he refused to believe it. Years have gone by and the laws are now such that giving the property back isnt as easy as taking it was. So chances of it coming back to us are slim to none. Most family members are outraged.

    Today in the spirit of “people are more than the worst thing they’ve ever done” I told my Aunt as best I could that he always loved her over all his brothers and that it never changed. The look on her face and the look on my Dad’s face is something I’ll never forget all my life. Family healing? Shit yeah.

  5. Hey Starrynight3, I capisce..and might join you..
    Gemini is my descendent & the June 5 transit is on my natal Panacea..might be the cure i’m looking for! 🙂

  6. …With Mars retrograde there, we’re talking about a mental fixation on the past that is tying up an idea about what you might want.

    …Do you feel adequate and lovable? Do you have clear boundaries between yourself and your partner? Can you see your role as partner beyond traditional ideas of how that has to work? The tension of this grand square wants us to take some sort of step in this area, to realize we have more options and an ability to re-conceive ourselves.

    ——-

    My Gemini Moon exactly squares his in Virgo, his Pisces descendant exactly conjuncts my Ascendant, and my Virgo descendant conjuncts his moon. Did I feel it in my bones he was coming as a surprise to bring me the fresh hank of Manouri I was asking for last week? Absolutely. Did he absolutely exasperate me AND make me laugh at the same time? Yes, as always. Does he know how crazy it makes me? Yep, he does, and he enjoys it. Am I learning about freedom and openness as our friendship continues? Yes — grrrr…grrr. The only frustration comes from the tug of the “old model” trying to insinuate itself into the present-day situation, while being in the present provides some very fine moments. Thanks Mama Sky.

  7. All I can say is that the last three weeks have been exhausting. Stupid arguments with the bank over a client trust/escrow account that they screwed up. Meetings with the CPA. And physical malfunctions, joints and back pain. Minor electronic SNAFUs – the DVR player and the printers. Aaarrrgghhh!!!! Waiting for the Rx storm phase to pass, one that I felt before it started its lightning bolts and still feel today.

    A bumpy ride for sure, this Merc Rx. May I please drive a Lincoln next time? A “Navigator” with cruise control?

    JannKinz

  8. This is exactly the feeling….like looking in funhouse mirror and having something unexpected reveal itself. You’re right…it feels untrustworthy, but too compelling to ignore…

  9. Wow. What a trip. Revisiting knee injury from 1998 with Chiron et. Al going on…
    My chart is like a virtual crucible with ALL the major planets AND the minors. What next? I’m very interested to see where Venus in Gemini conjunct my sun on the 6th will lead. Especially since my birthday is June 5. I’m thinking I need to celebrate somewhere special, like Florence, Italy or Stonehenge or doing a headstand naked in my front yard or something. capisce?

  10. There’s a tangible sense of release and a feeling of lightness in the house today.

    ::::snark voice on:::: I wonder why?

    :::skipping away and laughing:::

  11. Mercury Retrograde certainly went out with a little bang. Just now able to read PW goodness, on account of miscommunications and misunderstandings with our translation team at work (with a deadline next Tuesday), and computer crashes, and fire drills, and lions and tigers and bears, oh my! *getting with the reading*

  12. thanks for sharing that HugS, i was just contemplating reaching out to someone that i had a similar situation with last year. last time he reached out i didn’t so much because i knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere even though i was really liking him. guess i was just feeling those echoes today, behind and within. ♥☮♫

  13. Wow…just…wow. Thanks for this. I mean, the daily astrology posts are always helpful but sometimes one just really makes me pause and breathe and, well, give myself some space.

  14. ok, did anyone else start this week thinking, “holy crap — another full moon? didn’t we *just* have one of those??!” everything seems so fast; so easy to forget that this polarizing moon energy is the undercurrent along with all this other complex inner stuff and how it comes out in relating to others. goodness.

    H.S. — yes, indeed. and even tougher to accept the truth once you’ve gotten truly intertwined and invested and attached. so, so hard…

  15. Thanks for your kind words dear Hugging. Yes – I agree, there is definitely method to madness, and through the ups and downs and fears over the years, I have also developed deep faith in it all. I’m so pleased you’ve had this relationship that has ‘cracked the ice for you’. Sounds like it did so much good for both of you, and that you were able to finish it when the time was right.

  16. Dear Huffy, I really hope this resolves itself for you! I know it’s hard. Keep your chin up, there is method to madness.

    Thanks PW writers too for another amazing article. Between this and Sarah’s last Tarot reading, well, I know my work. I was hearing a lot of subtle messages already. I recently was involved in an intimate friendship. I had some challenges throughout it, but it was still a great experience and “cracked the ice” for me in so many ways. But there was def something off. As I explored what that was, psychologically and physically, I slowly realized that we both responded differently sexually. It’s hard to understand that when both people care about one another and are interested in giving the other pleasure. On Sunday night, we agreed to leave things. We left on friendly caring terms and I’m sad about it a bit. But it also wasn’t a surprise. Further, I’d hate to push things or “make things happen” simply because there was an experience we both were after. I think that leads down a path of hidden words and resentment. Our honesty that night seemed to allow a gentler release. But damn….I was just starting to really like her. But also, if I step back a bit from my emotions, I see that it wasn’t going to get better. I’m still grateful I met her though.
    Onwards…
    HS

  17. Dear Genevieve, I’m dipping in and out of work so I only saw your ps at first! You’ve made my day too! Thanks for all the extra info. You say “drag you up a mountain with crevasses and ice walls and the works. “Class 4″ fun while you’re in it (kind of fun that sucks until it’s over and then it’s great to look back on), but once you reach the summit the journey was worth it for the sense of accomplishment and what you experienced and saw along the way”. That kind of sums up my life! And yes – I agree with you – I have such gratitude towards Eric. Lots of love xx

  18. Thanks Huffy!! You totally made my day. Think I’ll be glowing all evening! 🙂 I’m so glad you have enjoyed and found useful the Moon horoscopes I write for PW.

    And thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on Eric’s FM today!

    Do you know the degree of your natal Mars? If need to look up the degree, you can generate a natal chart for free at astro.com. Astro.com also has a free ephemeris you can us to look up and see when Mars crosses that point. It would be a big, and I’m sure, intense time for you.

    With all those retrograde personal planets and your Chiron return occurring or near it seems to evoke an image of the kind of friends who kick your butt then give you a hug. Friends who promise you a hike, but really drag you up a mountain with crevasses and ice walls and the works. “Class 4” fun while you’re in it (kind of fun that sucks until it’s over and then it’s great to look back on), but once you reach the summit the journey was worth it for the sense of accomplishment and what you experienced and saw along the way.

    Glad PW has been such a great tool for you along this journey. Don’t know what any of us would do without Eric giving us such a badass tool belt to rock this crazy thing called life. 😉

  19. Thanks so much, dearest Genevieve, for getting back to me on my question, and for such positive and uplifting words! I don’t know exactly when Mars is retrograde over my natal Mars in Virgo – but during these last months I’ve been faced with a lifetime of deep negative thought patterns to be brought to consciousness and (ultimately, I hope) cleared. And thank you for your stunning moon sign horoscopes!

  20. Huffy –

    Wow, this is your year between Chiron being in Pisces, Venus going retrograde and conjuncting the Sun in Gemini and Mars retrograde in Virgo. A lot of powerful “Friends” in your corner. 🙂

    Has Mars, or will Mars, while it’s retrograde go over your natal Mars in Virgo? If it has, how was that for you?

    Warmest, Genevieve

  21. “The theme of the sky right now is that the past is being triggered. Usually, this means unresolved pain. We may not realize it, but it’s time to see and take the cue to deal with it.”

    No shit, right?

    It’s good, it hurts, it will be laid to rest. There’s too much going on for that business to be clung to. Everything you (PW) is offering her is leading to let it the fuck go. (OK, yeah, bit of anger.)
    That mirror shit is pretty dense and freaky, though…. But let’s go. With the “easy does it.”

    Best wishes to all for the days and years to come!

  22. Ps I have my natal Venus in Gemini, Chiron in Pisces and Mars in Virgo. I imagine that makes these transits more intense?

  23. I really can’t thank you enough for this my dears. Yesterday I was thrown another curve ball at work – and I went right back down the slippery slope again – and panicked about never being able to get out of an impossible situation because I am being overwhelmed with work in a job that I might lose any moment- so too busy to look elsewhere or start on something else. The proustian sentence to say that the past has reared that ugly head agian. Have tried to stay aware and get some distance – but it’s hard to do. However, this magnificent blog has helped me do just that.”The tension of this grand square wants us to take some sort of step in this area, to realize we have more options and an ability to re-conceive ourselves”.Thank you so very much. xxx

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