Mercury entered Libra Tuesday at 1:38 am EDT (05:38 UTC), the ultimate image of a diplomatic approach to a question or issue. Mercury will be retracing the steps where Mars tacked back and forth between December 2013 and July 2014.
This suggests a new perspective on many of the seeming conflicts that emerged during the Mars retrograde, and presents an opportunity to gain some clarity on what may have transpired during those months. It’s possible, even likely, that there remain some lingering issues from those days, and as Mercury makes its way across Libra between now and Sept. 27, you will get access to them in a way that has not been possible so far.
Mercury calls for clarity of mind, and of words. For clarity (and simplicity) it’s best to stick to what is true — there is such a thing. Mercury in Libra calls for a balanced point of view, taking many factors into account. This necessity is emphasized by the aspects that Mercury will make over the next four weeks, for example to Juno, Pluto and Uranus. You will need to choose your words carefully, and approach the questions of your life consciously, weighing the various sides of any issue — especially when you reach a point of urgency or what seems like a communication crisis.
As Mercury approaches the eminent asteroid Pallas Athene, you may decide that the thing to do is to wiggle, please and white-lie your way to a convenient place. You can get caught in people-pleasing (especially with men) or competition (especially with women). However, given the whole setup, this strategy is unlikely to work for long.
One bit of good news — these aspects will make truth-telling not only more compelling but also, in some cases, inevitable. Because Juno is in the picture, truth-telling to one’s significant other, so necessary and so often avoided, is essential to the cosmic plan.
As this happens, the Moon is approaching its opposition to the Sun, which is the Pisces Full Moon on Sept. 8. This is a magnificent Full Moon, and directly involves Chiron — The Moon will be conjunct Chiron and the Sun will be opposite Chiron. Juno is harmonized with the aspect pattern, suggesting that getting your ‘withholds’ out of the way early will be fruitful. Although Chiron is a well-established entity in astrology, we have what I call a proving moment — a moment when we may see some new properties of Chiron emerge. I will have more to say about that in Thursday’s edition for our subscribers.
I would point out one other feature of the sky right now — there is a grand fire trine in full force. The pattern consists of a cluster in Aries (Uranus, the South Node and Eris), Jupiter in Leo and Pholus (plus many other points) in Sagittarius. We have some sustained fire energy that will get a huge boost from Mars ingressing Sagittarius on Sept. 13, where it will remain until Oct. 26, making many aspects along the way.
Subscribers will be receiving your Tuesday letter at about 11 am EDT (15:00 UTC), which will include the September Inner Space horoscope.
ok, so by “getting them out of the way early,” you mean acknowledge what they are… and presumably that also includes “fess up to the person you are ‘withholding’ from?”
*** I meant to say, ‘A General Theory of Love’ – damn these sausage fingers….
@Eric: That Brad Blanton book is outstanding.
In fact, 3 brilliant books I discovered through this site – Radical Honesty, A General Theory of Life and Stiffed.
Withholds are things that are left unsaid in a relationship dialog, usually intentionally. An example is you have a crush on someone at work, but don’t tell your partner because you think it will threaten him, even though you don’t plan to ‘act on it’. Or you resent your mother for how she tries to control you, but don’t say so.
Withholds are a kind of lie, not an overt statement of falsehood but rather a lie of omission. The excuse usually is, “Well, I’m not going to tell him/her everything.” They matter when they have an emotional charge, a judgment or fear of one, when it’s a policy, or when one makes a decision not to say something based on a presumption of how someone will respond — that they would be hurt, for example. After a while they start to add up and become totally smothering in that way is so familiar. Brad Blanton covers this in his book Radical Honesty, as does William Pennell Rock in Jealousy and the Abyss, to wit, WPR writes:
“Here is a simple test to see where you are in this matter of relating. Write down all the things you have not shared with your partner. Contemplate this list, and there you will see the limits you place on the relationship, the degree of your commitment to the way of the lover.”
http://planetwaves.net/jealousy.html
Very interesting. I think Mercury will do well in Libra, communicating peace and harmony in the world. We could use a bit of that everywhere. When you mentioned conflicts starting when Mars is in retrograde, I immediately thought of the Ukraine mess. Maybe through diplomatic means, both sides walk away with something tangible?
eric — can you explain a little more about what you mean by “getting your ‘withholds’ out of the way early”?
As in, “stop withholding?” or more like, “understand what you are withholding?”
thanks!
expecting a personal proving moment with moon/chiron conjunct natal moon/orius in 8th and nessus knocking at the pisces door.
thanks and cheers!
I find it so interesting to follow your choice of words. They seem to be speaking directly to me and what had happened during that darn Mars retrograde. I will look forward to receiving/hearing clarity regarding those conflicts. Although I am concerned with the truth telling, as one can always believe their own truths even though they may not be someone else’s.