A few hours from the time this piece publishes, we get the Virgo Full Moon (4:39 am EST). And while you may feel a sense of release as the tension that has been building dissipates, there are other factors that may add their own quirky mental or emotional reactivity for a few days.
For one, the Mercury ‘storm’ phase begins tomorrow into the weekend. The storm phase of the retrograde cycle is the last few days when the movement of Mercury (relative to the Earth) slows down right before the apparent reversal of direction. Mercury, currently in early Aries, will station retrograde on Monday at 2:49 am EST. The two or three days on either side of that change can feel a little funky.
Or we could call it ‘rethink/re-feel mode’. Feel through things again, think them through again, try not to be so conclusive — be circumspect. No need to nail anything down. Besides, you cannot attach an idea to anything but another idea. You might even appreciate this phase if you’re willing to hang loose, leave yourself extra time to get places, and confirm that you heard correctly if something sounds ‘off’.
Mercury stationing — whether direct or retrograde — brings out a layer of awareness or understanding that can feel like pulling back a curtain on the obvious. Truly useful information can come your way if you’re open to receiving it – and no, yelling at your computer, your car or your lover for ‘acting up’ doesn’t quite count. Along these lines, let your goals be flexible and portable. You may have a different goal every day, but notice if the same one comes up several of the 23 days Mercury is retrograde. Consider that it may be the underlying objective, and remember that Pisces (where Mercury will spend about half the retrograde) wants us to observe. There’s a lot about listening in this Mercury retrograde, too.
Keep your ears on and know what you don’t know.
Given that Mercury is in Aries for the first half of the retrograde, any information may come in the form of a self-discovery — information that benefits you directly, or reveals something about you that’s pivotal. This facet of the retrograde aligns with the positive, healing-oriented side of Mars retrograde in Virgo. Simply thinking of a retrograde as a series of SNAFUs is a cop-out. Handled with patience and curiosity, they’re valuable phases for learning about our inner workings – so that we can relate to others from increasingly solid ground.
Also, Mercury in Aries may represent something about our self-concept. This is the sometimes-flexible, sometimes-stuck claymation idea of who we are that we live with and mistakenly identify as our ‘self’. Cconsider your experience of ‘self’ an experiment. Mercury’s retrograde will take us backwards from Aries into Pisces. Pisces is a creative, fluid, experimental sign; we’ll get to take our self-concept back into those fertile waters, swim around a little, and then float with what we learn back out to Aries again.
But at present, we’re still awash in Full Moon energy — complete with its ability to bring some resolution to any situation that has been stuck in recent weeks. That requires that you see through any sense of impossibility or stalemate, and it also means playing fair. There’s another minor planet square the Full Moon: Ixion, which is conjunct Pholus (‘small cause, big effect’) in Sagittarius. Ixion comes with the theme that anyone is capable of anything, and a question of what someone does with a second chance.
Translation: Really think about what’s ethical. Avoid any negative scenes, or anything that might draw you into acting against your own good (or the highest good), that might compromise your integrity. Look instead for good examples of people who really understand how to work the ideas right and wrong gently and for a practical purpose. In shades of Virgo and Pisces, the sky is telling us to go deeper, and you can do so slowly, gently and with the sensation of integrity.
2003 and 2004… I was heavily involved in music, “managing” a band, scheduling concerts, working on recording a cd. It was generally a good time, a creative time. January of 2004 was when “zerocity / zerosity” (a sniglet/neologism/portmanteu word of original composition that has to do with zero gravity, syzygy, synergy, spirituality and synchronicity) was originally defined. That “era” of my life began its spiral downward by mid-2005, and the cycle ended in late 2006 with the band and that great music gone from my life. But, like all the lessons that make you stronger, the events that ended that relationship and chapter in my life, had its blessings. The main one was setting me firmly on the spiritual quest and the study of astrology and other esoterica. Tr Saturn square natal Venus, Jupiter and Saturn in my chart, and conjunct natal Uranus with Tr Mercury square Neptune opposite Uranus. Saturn heading for the second return. This seven year cycle is now winding tight, and with what is on the planetary horizon this year, I expect it to spring this spring, and “spring” me from what has been holding me back.
Thanks for the question, be.
JannKinz
And this too, Carrie “As this Merc Rx approaches, I feel like I am open to whatever happens. I have asked myself at every turn and during every difficult time (since then), “What is the universe trying to teach me?” That question has been a most productive one to ask”. Thank you.
Yes – thanks Be for your lovely post, and for asking that question – and thanks Sarah, Carrie and Amanda for your replies. 2003/2004 was a crisis period for me too. My boyfriend left me, ending a destuctive relationship – but I was desperate when he did it, and I lost my job. Now, years later I don’t have a miserable relationship to end, but am in danger of losing my job, am in heavy debt – and am generally feeling overwhelmed these days. But these words, dear Amanda, are also mine: “i’m definitely healthier than i was before in that regard, yet i seem to be shown how much further i still have to travel lately — and that i have more tools at my disposal”. it’s great to be in such good company.
funny, i was having a really hard time remembering what the end of 2003 and beginning of 2004 was all about for me. i went hunting through some old emails and found this i’d written to a good friend — which may explain why:
“i think i had a little crisis this winter… between the knee injury, no money, no health insurance, crappy job, no motivation or direction, and no idea what i really want to do or how to do it.”
yup — now i remember. i’d had my saturn return just before the summer solstice in 2003 (i’d been warned about it, but didn’t know exactly when it was, and was terrified of the ‘change; it might ask of me). that was a couple months after visiting an old flame abroad and getting a reality check about what was missing from my long-term relationship. but i didn’t really do anything about it. apparently my hiding my head in the sand was not to mr. saturn’s liking, and in late feb. 2004, i fell skiing and injured my knee.
just figured out, just now, that transiting chiron in capricorn made an exact square to my natal chiron a couple weeks before that knee injury… and my understanding is that cap rules the knees…. and of course, saturn rules cap — but was in early cancer at the time. goodness.
i kind of got the message then — the universe seemed to be telling me to stop & take a hard look at what was going on with me — but i still felt paralyzed about doing anything about it… and totally lost… and still attached to the relationship (he ended that in march 2006, which i have a feeling was his saturn return warming up).
yup, that era was marked by a kind of consistent, though not wholly debilitating, depression and general feeling of being lost. thank god that boyfriend had the guts to end the relationship — we got along great, but i don’t think anything would have begun shifting for me had i not been jolted out of that comfy spot.
i’m definitely healthier than i was before in that regard, yet i seem to be shown how much further i still have to travel lately — and that i have more tools at my disposal.
By the end of 2003 and start of 2004, my husband had been hounded by his female boss so badly (which was a change from her earlier happiness with him and the rest of the employees) that he searched and got a different job in a city about 90 miles away. We moved with high hopes only to see a series of jobs come and go; seven in all, in four years. We moved four times and were close to homelessness twice. That period of late 2003 was the beginning and the horror didn’t stop until 2008 when Dave chose to switch majors and get his Master’s degree in elementary education. Now things are not out of the woods but they are far better than they were.
Before that period of time, I had been having very real feelings of being totally adrift, alone, much like an orphan. This is because I couldn’t seem to have faith in a personal deity. I struggled with that lack of faith for many years. After the final and seventh firing of my husband I called a crisis line; not because I was going to hurt myself but because I needed someone to tell me how to handle the grief, fear, and hopelessness I was experiencing. The person on the other end of the phone made some suggestions which I had already tried. After finding that they had not helped, he suggested I go to bed, lay there and just give it up to a supreme deity. I said I didn’t know if there was one. He said try it anyway; don’t worry if there is one or not, just do it.
I did what he suggested. In the darkness, on my warm waterbed, with Dave asleep beside me, I cried silent tears as I gave it all up to an unseen and unknown (as well as uncertain) deity. I felt so much calmer and slept like only a carefree baby can. The next day I felt so different.
My rational mind still questions that belief I now have but I tell it that even if it is a delusion, it WORKED because when I calmed down, the whole family did so as well and everyone felt so much better.
That huge milestone and turnaround happened as a result of the craziness that started back in late 2003. Despite the fear and pain it caused I gained so much from it that I do not feel angry that it happened. That is another big change for me.
As this Merc Rx approaches, I feel like I am open to whatever happens. I have asked myself at every turn and during every difficult time (since then), “What is the universe trying to teach me?” That question has been a most productive one to ask.
Thank you for asking that question, be. I was in a terrible place at the end of 2003, start of 2004. My first marriage was on the rocks, my husband and I were being hounded out of our very conservative, very racist neighbourhood, I was months away from a breakdown. The following period was magical in many senses, but it took a lot to get there, and I’m not sure I navigated the numinosity very well. There are parallels today for sure. For sure.
Poor Moon seems awfully alone there in Virgo at 18 degrees. Lots of squares and opposition but no one to keep her company. It recalls for me a time in 2004 when Jupiter was in that degree. I’d just retired to move cross country to care for my dying mom. On New Years Eve (2003) I accompanied Momma to the long term care section of the nursing home. Uranus had just moved into Pisces (and out of her sun and my moon sign of Aquarius) and Jupiter was at 18 degrees of Virgo preparing to station there.
By the time Jupiter returned to that degree my mom had passed on and I had returned home. Venus had already made the 1st in her series of two occultations of the Sun in Gemini and was now forming an opposition to Pluto in Sagittarius. Jupiter, on reaching 18 Virgo again formed a T-square with Venus and Pluto, but also formed a sextile to Saturn in Cancer. It was time to starting putting a life together.
Now, 8 years later I remember who I was then and think about who I am now as the Moon briefly occupied that 18+ degree of Virgo today. Today has been a full-moon time for me but this time Jupiter and Venus are trine to Pluto. What Pluto takes away from you can’t be replaced but it can make you stronger and healthier than you were before. Now Venus prepares for her 2nd in the series of occultations to the Sun, much like a closing of a chapter while at the same time promising a new one. Wounds heal if given time and proper care. The Moon may be alone for a brief moment, but she reflects the fullness of the past and moves on. What was going on in your life at the end of 2003 and the start of 2004?
be
oy, mercury storms & super solar storms, stay in the eYe eh! ♥☮♫
The times they are a changin’
This is truly so clear and well defined -calming, and such good advice. Yesterday very restless, but today almost as if a veil has lifted, and looking at situations in a much broader and rational way.Thank you so much Eric and the team 🙂
Yes – Huffy by name, huffy by nature!
The penny really has dropped with this full moon. I keep harping on about wounded male energy, but what has come and hit me one is the real issue, smouldering and unacknowledged resentment/victimhood- that’s the real energy block. Painful but necessary to see, and I feel so grateful to be able to ‘confess’ it here.
THANK YOU my dears! xoxoxo