MERCURY RETROGRADE: VISION & REFINEMENT

 


Mercury will (appear to) be moving backward in the sign of Sagittarius from December 3rd to December 22/23rd, 2017. Retrograde periods highlight the need to organize, revise and reenvison aspects of our lives. Sometimes this happens voluntarily and sometime it is imposed on us by unforeseen circumstances.

To understand how this might affect you, locate the house with Sagittarius on the cusp in your birth chart; the affairs of that house will be up for review.  If you have an Ascendant, Sun, Moon or Mercury in the sign of Sagittarius or Gemini, this retrograde will be more significant especially if your Ascendant or planet is between 13º and 29º of either signs.


WHAT TO DO DURING THIS UPCOMING RETROGRADE?

Sort out what matters and what doesn’t anymore.

Discard old ideas and beliefs that have become burdensome or obsolete.

Contemplate the passage of time and what it means to be growing older and wiser.

Acknowledge what you want in the grand scheme of things, versus what you do on a day-to-day basis to get there.

Honesty and moral courage will be highlighted during this time.

When the desire to find the truth becomes a rhetorical dead-end, what’s next?

At its worst, this retrograde could bring gloomy or depressive thinking, a loss of faith or a feeling of being blocked by something beyond your control.

There could be an urge to control your thoughts and a difficulty expressing yourself freely. In some circumstances, you might need to ”Let go and Let God”.

In other circumstances you might need to seriously consider rectifying something that has become out of control.

What happens when the sacrifice you are making are loosing their meaning?

What happens when the path you are on is NOT leading you where you want to go?

Taking a step back from something in order to gain perspective and looking at the big picture.

Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius could mean: A re-evaluation of your core beliefs, a shift of perspective, a change of direction and a quest for meaning.

What does ”control” means to you? Do you consider yourself a control-freak? If so, what step can you take to release the grip?

It’s a great time to reflect on social-media, the place it has in your life and how you utilize this tool to your advantage or disadvantage.

IDEAS, DISCIPLINE, AND VISION-SHAPING

If you have a BIG idea or if you are working towards a goal, this retrograde will help you refine your vision.

The awareness needed to gage the REAL amount of work needed to accomplish a goal will be available; don’t let this clarity become a burden and use it to your advantage.

From now until mid-January is your opportunity to write your plan or revise the existing one.

If you are contemplating a new path, a new venture, or a new way of doing things, this retrograde will help you delineate your course of action.

This retrograde is about setting realistic goals, the willingness to roll up your sleeves, and the willingness to invest the time and effort necessary.

Inspiration and creative ideas are available but will remain in the realm of possibilities as long as you don’t take concrete steps; thinking about something doesn’t make it happen.

If the time has come to realize an idea or a project, it is up to you to act on it before someone else does.

From now until mid-January is your opportunity to scheme; discipline is available.

Things may take longer than anticipated; be pragmatic and realistic when delineating your plan without becoming defeatist.

The reality is, things take time; don’t let this fact discourage you.

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. –Bertrand Russell

 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

Mercury retrograde begins on December 3rd and ends on December 22/23rd, 2017. Saturn is a big player in this upcoming retrograde. Whatever transpires of this cycle could play out until mid-January when Mercury meets up with Saturn for its 3rd and final conjunction in the sign of Capricorn.

Since the ruler of Mercury in Sagittarius is Jupiter in Scorpio, the themes of secrecy and revelations will continue to be strongly highlighted.

Mercury trine Uranus on November 25th before meeting up with Saturn on November 28th and turning retrograde on December 3rd. An emerging idea, a revelation, a new situation, a vision, or simply a new approach to an old conundrum could be a strong theme in December. The shape of things to come, an idea and the discipline required to materialize it, will be strong undercurrents.

On December 3rd, Jupiter in Scorpio (ruling over Mercury) trine Neptune in Pisces while Mercury stations retrograde. There is also a Full Moon in Gemini on the same day ruled by Mercury retrograde. There is an overwhelming amount of work and so much things to think about. You might be tempted to find the closest escape route. Don’t let anxiety or fear cripple your mind. A good day to practice breathing exercise and meditation. This Full Moon highlights the dichotomy between beliefs and facts, visions and ideas, and the realization that it will take a lot more work than originally thought to get where we want to be.

The New Moon in Sagittarius on December 17 will see its ruler Jupiter in Scorpio, square the Nodes of the Moon while Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius trine the Nodes. On December 21st, Saturn enters Capricorn and Mercury station direct the next day; destiny is calling.


 

 

 

 

The constancy of Saturn

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Things take time.

One does not become wise with the accumulation of diplomas but with the slow movement towards death that we like to call maturity. You cannot buy experience; you have to wait patiently at the threshold of time.

Observe with humility what unfolds
Take notes
Act accordingly

There is no better instruction manual for life than time. With the wisdom acquired one realizes that he knows nothing at all and this is when the true learning journey begins.

The adversity of reality builds strength of character and reveals its underlying truth one drop at a time. For the steep price of aging we discover the secrets that remain hidden to the hubris of youth. The finality of death can be a fantastic teacher for those who are eager to learn. Where one only sees restrictions the student of Saturn sees a learning opportunity.
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*Saturn is currently at 18º of Sagittarius in a conjunction with the Sun. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter which is expansive and generally joyful. A far cry from the restrictive nature of Saturn. Not only does this annual conjunction of the Sun and Saturn happening on Jupiter’s home turf the planet which is currently at 18º Libra is also sextile to the Sun/Saturn conjunction. This lightens Saturn’s load considerably and might bring interesting wisdom and an appreciation for time-tested ideas.

The conjunction of the Sun and Saturn in Sagittarius is exact Saturday morning the 10th of December.

Here are some of my interpretation for this conjunction.  Please keep in mind that those are general interpretations. To know more specifically how this conjunction will influence you, locate the house where Sagittarius falls in your chart. This conjunction will be more evident if you have planets in the middle degrees of either Sagittarius or other mutable signs.

➣Gratitude for recent struggles who brought you a genuine level of strength and wisdom.

➣A sense of accomplishments after a period of hard work.

➣Making long-term plans.

➣The realisation that people can’t live-up to your unrealistic expectations.

➣A desire for socializing which doesn’t find an easy outlet.

➣The awareness that things take time and that it is perfectly ok.

➣It is the journey that brings the teachings not the destination.

➣Being limited in some ways but being ok with that. Wisdom in limitations.

➣The desire to slow down and assimilate recent teachings.

➣Wisdom from the distant past coming to the surface.

➣Limitations and their potentials.

➣The presence of sickness and death and learning to enjoy the present moment.

➣The silver lining of something very difficult


Here is a great example of a Jupiterian person in very difficult circumstances making the best of it.

Click the picture for the link:

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Restore the faith

The Sun leaves the distrustful sign of Scorpio and enters Sagittarius for the next month. Can this help us see the bigger picture and restore our faith? Of course Saturn looms large on the horizon, and Pluto and Uranus.

When an eternal optimist meets with fanatics we can only hope that they somehow find the middle ground.

Goodbye Scorpio season. You were ”transformational” to say the least.

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The Archer

Today, the Sun enters the Fire sign of Sagittarius. Sagittarian are known for their gregarious dispositions and big smiles. They have a love for knowledge and are always searching for the ultimate truth. They need a lot of movement and space to be happy. Half human, half animal they try to reconcile their instinct with their higher principles.

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