This is the fourth day into the latest Merc Rx shadow period, and I’ve already lost a credit card and had to drive home from the supermarket to get another (a bit embarrassing trying to explain at the till), so I am taking it as a cue to start blogging again.
From 10 February, Mercury will begin to retrograde in Pisces. However, on 27 February, it will enter the Air sign of Aquarius in retrograde motion. I have blogged a little about Mercury in Pisces last year, so I will concentrate on Mercury in Aquarius here.
Mercury is more comfortable in Aquarius than in Pisces. As an air sign, Saturn- and Uranus-ruled Aquarius exudes qualities of the intellect and communication, especially to do with invention, new ideas and the pursuit of a higher truth; as a fixed sign, it is also reliable and resolute. Aquarius can also appear contradictory, in that they may be both social and individualistic at the same time; its intellectuality can appear detached and come from a standpoint of distant objectivity, and at the same time, its need for communication drives it to relate to others.
Mercury’s communicative energies in Aquarius therefore can be expressed thus:
- Communicates openly, intelligently, idealistically, in a detached manner
- Needs to establish unique connections with others, relating individualistically with each person, while having strong awareness of group communication processes
- Urge to express one’s perceptions and intelligence is colored by individualistic freedom and often by extremism
- Thinks experimentally and innovatively, testing theories on others; future-oriented, likes to explore possibilities for change
- Independent, inventive, detached intellectual qualities contribute to the learning process
- Expression of ideas can be erratic — fragmented by unpredictable connections between unrelated concepts
In a sense, compared to Mercury in Pisces, Mercury in Aquarius may communicate ‘better’ and more clearly, but not necessarily sympathetically. As a fixed sign, Aquarius is less adaptable than the mutable Pisces, so while Mercury’s energies can be more stable and concentrated in Aquarius, it can also be more dogmatic, even insistent on its apparent objectivity and originality. Mercury retrograding in Aquarius suggests that communication might be even more erratic and unpredictable, but I will have more on that soon.
Reference
Arroyo, Stephen. Chart Interpretation Handbook. Sebastapol, Ca.: CRCS, 1989.
January 22, 2008 at 4:40 am
what do you think/feel about getting married in Mercury RX?
we have a spiritual wedding planned in bali for feb 7th.
would it be best to wait, we chose this day because we thought that the annular solar eclipse and chinese new year seemed to have more auspicious qualities that would mitigate the effects of Merc RX. does that sound plausible?
January 22, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Hi Sola’ Radiance,
Thanks for your comment. Bearing in mind that I am a novice, and that you should probably consult an electional astrologer for the best date, please temper what I say with your own instincts and discretion.
In general, a Mercury Rx wedding can enhance the nuisance factor – lost items, delays, etc., and I’m thinking you don’t need the additional stress! I do not think that its effects can be mitigated by an eclipse, if anything, the eclipse can serve to funnel emotions even more intensely.
The Prince of Wales’ wedding to Camilla Parker-Bowles was scheduled very close to an eclipse was in the end postponed (and eclipsed) by the death of Pope John Paul II.
My feeling without looking at any specific charts, is that if it is possible to wait a couple of weeks, why not? If plans have been made, then perhaps extra precautions should be taken as with any mercury retrograde – check all the lists, re-confirm details, and so on. And most importantly, in the event of any delays, be flexible and calm!
You might want to post your question to Elsa P of elsaelsa.com (link on the sidebar). She is much more experienced and is very quick with her replies (though not all questions get picked).
Good luck!
February 19, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I disagree with the mundane assessement of mercury in aqauarius above. I have personally been with a woman whose sun is aqaua and mercury is aqaua also for 8yrs. I can confidently dismiss the mundane astrological conclusions and say this for a fact:
This placement predisposes these individuals from reasoning soundly through a matter before them. They display an uncanny lack for objective logically integrated reasoning pattern. They will absolutely find it difficult to grasp the beauty of Eucludian Geometry for instance, it will drive them crazy, cos they reason in facets of unconnected hiccupy train of thought. They can not make inventors at all they do love strife however and will play the “victims” in 2 seconds. they are also accident prone!
Thants my 3 cents on it!