Mercury initiates retrograde motion from an Aries conjunction with asteroid Vesta on Monday morning. The Mercury-Vesta conjunction will be at the mid-point of a sextile between Venus and Chiron; Mercury-Vesta is also opposing an asteroid auspiciously named Pandora. Together, Mercury, Vesta, Venus, Chiron and Pandora will compose an aspect called a yod. The shape of the composed aspect will be that of a peace symbol, but your experience is more likely to resemble opening a can. Right about now would be a good time to read the label.
The several days before Mercury reverses direction are called the storm and it’s a good time to read what is going on in your life. The Mercury storm is like the tidal surge before a hurricane. It’s an experience that gives you information about what the ingredients of the retrograde period are likely to be.
Every Mercury retrograde has different ingredients, but some themes are more likely than others. Among the most prevalent paradigms is the discovery of that which has been concealed or otherwise escaped notice. The revelation of information is one of the fringe benefits of going back over the same ground.
While real planets do not really reverse course, they do catch up and pass each other. When Mercury begins to catch up and pass us, we see it in the sky as going back towards the Sun. On the zodiac circle, that translates as going back over the same arc transited in the previous two weeks or so (not incidentally, in the direction of the advancing Pisces Sun), and taking extra time in the process (in this case, it will be 23 days). Because Mercury corresponds to the means of mind, retracing its steps symbolizes the positive potential of repetition and review as an alternative to the more negative reputation for reversals or delays. It’s analogous to reading the same book again, picking up on what you missed the first time, or practicing a piece of music over and over, becoming more proficient.