Mercury retrograde in sagittarius

This Mercury retrograde period starts November 13 (Nov 14 for EST and points east) and ends December 3 (Dec 4 in Europe and points east). This retrograde moves from 11 Sagittarius back to 25 Scorpio, with the inferior conjunction between Mercury and the Sun occurring November 24 (Nov 25 in east Asia and east) at 3 Sagittarius. The degree is "Two men playing chess," symbolizing a "recreation of a world of manifestation through symbols and intelligence," "the transcendent ritualization of conflict," and the need to focus on what's important and the ability to plan many moves ahead.

The inferior conjunction is when Mercury (mind) conjuncts the Sun (life) while retrograde, indicating that signals, messages, and ideas from either outer sources or subconscious sources will fuse with the life principle, setting the tone for the lessons involving how our minds are relating to our lives during the next four months.

We are also told that it symbolizes "the self confidence and authority which come...through the refinement of skills and discipline of understanding, and... mobilizing every potentiality of self at any point of challenge...." Dr. Jones' offers that "His gift of concentration is his genius of self-fulfillment," with the keyword ABILITY. He writes that "... the degree is high sensitiveness to every possibility of accomplishment or broadened self-discovery."

This retrograde beginning at 11 Sagittarius retraces ground we covered October 25-November 13, and is a degree of "The lamp of physical enlightenment at the left temple," showing us the influence of society upon individuals, the power of "primordial images of Unconsciousness," and "Activity dominated by fate." It will challenge us to recognize the wisdom of our body instincts, and decondition our mental reliance on quantitative values and linear thinking. Experiment in forms of self-expression, see the world as a "laboratory of the Soul," and reconcile past achievement with present necessities.

The entire retrograde Mercury is favorable to Saturn, Neptune, and Venus. This will stabilize our thinking and way of viewing our responsibilities and limitations, as well as give some unique intuitive flashes and productive magnetism in relationships. We will find a more easy self-expression, and find ways to organize our thinking, creativity, and self-expression along lines that open doors to a new autonomy. This will harmonize wherever we have Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, and our higher spiritual Sagittarius and Pisces qualities. We can find an instinctive wisdom in the Mercury-ruled areas, while productively reorganizing our social expression. Our creativity should become more sound, structured, and recent new beginnings will naturally stabilize in a new life order.

All in all, there are very few afflictions to Mercury during this retrograde period, indicating more of a favorable time than the usual frustrations and scattered energy of most Mercury retrograde periods. Most of the problems are due to the on-going T-squares, none of which involve Mercury. Mostly we just have to get free of unnecessary hassles, get oriented, and remember that things often don't turn out as we might suspect, so chill, defer, and prepare to begin new movement in early December when both Mercury and Mars go stationary direct.

The only real affliction is from Mercury squaring Uranus, showing us a challenge to bring our genius down to practical usefulness, move from wishing and hoping to actual accomplishment, and not get too theoretical. We can use this to best effect by keynoting what's important, communicating it to others, and being a spokesperson for something we feel is important. The challenge is to assert ourselves appropriately, find ways to use the down times productively, be stirred to a greater love, and have faith that if we do what is natural, we will find what we're looking for.

During the 11 days before the inferior conjunction (fusion) of mind and life, take a new look at how you can bring out your inner wisdom by adjusting to a future vision or broader perspective that's opening for you, and get a new point of view regarding what your imagination is willing to consider and how to coordinate your life to reorganize it productively. It's great for intuitive flashes, insights into the larger collective consciousness and unconsciousness, and you should find a new ease and sophistication among those you're with. As with the Mercury retrograde in August, be a peacemaker while Mars square Saturn from Taurus to Leo. You may find some interesting parallels from that period, or the return of some old business that can help you understand how to manage these volatile energies.

Just before Mercury goes retrograde it is part of a Grand Fire Trine with the Moon and Saturn, which should harmonize many parts of our life, helping us move into the retrograde period with less stress and tension than usual. Remembering that nothing turns out as expected during a Mercury retrograde, and that things take strange twists and turns and there are curious returns of people, ideas, and experiences in new forms that resemble old forms, open to useful but overlooked angles of viewing things, learn and teach through a sense of perspective of how past and present relate in unusual ways, and be alert to roundabout or indirect communications that show things going on below the surface.

As I said before, most of the tensions have nothing to do with Mercury, but do involve the on-going Fixed squares and crosses. These storm zones occur around November 14-15, followed by the Moon-Mercury-Uranus T-square November 16. The next Fixed T-square is November 21-22, followed by the Mutable T-square involving Mercury November 23. The volatility closes the end of the month with the Sun square Uranus and the Grand Fixed Cross on November 28-29, so get ready to ride the storm out, and if it's not a return of something you should have taken care of before then, remember that whatever happens, it probably won't turn out the way it seems at the time.

The New Moon of December 1 at 10 Sagittarius vitalizes the Mercury stationary retrograde degree, and shows Mercury repidly speeding up preparing to go stationary direct December 3-4. Favorable to almost every planet, it'll be a great time for cultivating a deeper "x-ray vision," allowing us to analyze what is sound or unsound in situations, and offers us a structural knowledge that can assist us to get clear about what works and what doesn't. The forced growth promised by that New Moon in Sagittarius will take clearer shape around the Winter Solstice on December 21, and in December if you're ambitious, you "win the prize."

Mercury going stationary direct at 25 Scorpio on December 3-4 shows that through early February 2006 we will come to understand how to spot strengths and weaknesses in situations we face through a "sharp and applied discrimination" by understanding basic structure and causes. We will see we need to keep ourselves fit for performing our part in some common function we share with others. The keyword is "Investigation," and we are told that when functioning at its best, this is "an exceptional power of analysis."

Mercury retrograde periods reveal their own unique rhythm in offering us a new look at things. Every period in some way echoes the messages of prior retrograde periods, and affects those to come. That's why it's important to observe what has been revealed during other periods in the recent months and years past, so that you can see how Mercury, or Hermes, the "Guide of Souls," is leading you to your authentic self. Regardless of appearances, or how difficult or easy, Mercury retrograde periods show us the path to our Soul.

Click to expand...

Mercury retrograde in the First house: You’ll take a new look at your self-image, and recent information about yourself, or who you think you are may need to be reconsidered. Old character traits and ideas may resurface in new forms. Re-think a new beginning you may have been offered recently, and/or finish up some old business so you can get on with a new way of perceiving, coordinating, or expressing something. You may find you know something about yourself that you want to communicate, but not know how. You can get flashes of insight into your subconsciousness. Great time for reworking your self-expression and the personality you are expressing.

Mercury retrograde in the Second house: You’ll take a new look at your values, what you have, or how you are using it. You may get an insight into your subconsciousness as to why you want what you want, why you hold on to things that you do, or why your self-image is supported by something. Money or goods thought lost may return, or your money supply may slow down because of peculiar circumstances. Great time for finding new and innovating ideas about how to make money or hold on to it. Also a great time to capture things in roundabout or indirect ways, and get insights into your partner's desires or ways they relate to joint resources.

Mercury retrograde in the Third house: You will think many thoughts, over and over, trying to figure out how to put them all together. Try to see how they are all connected. You may know what you want to say, but not how to say it. You can notice things in your environment you never saw before, or meet someone in a roundabout way that is like a brother or sister to you. You can get insights into thoughts you’ve had before, but in new applications or unusual ways to use them. Great time for learning non-verbal or indirect means of communicating, or renewing an old knowledge into a new skill or application. Great for seeing subconscious factors driving your partner's truth, philosophy, or morality.

Mercury retrograde in the Fourth house: There will be returns from your past, or you could get new information or a new perspective or way of viewing your home, family affairs, or an important impression from the past. You may get a new insight into some old need or something from your childhood that altered your perception. A parent could communicate in an unusual way, or someone could remind you of one of your parents. An old family issue could surface anew. Something you’ve been putting off around the house may become important during Mercury retrograde in this house. Great time for rearranging furniture, reconnecting with family, and doing research into your genealogy.

Mercury retrograde in the Fifth house: This can give insights into children, your creative expression, or a look back on some way that used to connect you to life's joy, and was an expression of your enthusiasm and playfulness. You may see a different way to express something, be your natural self, or play. Find indirect ways to express your creative self, and value unique insights into your many forms of self-expression. Great time for exploring the youthful, natural, spontaneous parts of yourself. You may understand why a child is having trouble expressing themself, or coordinating their affairs. Non-verbal communications will work better than instruction. New insights into your partner's friends, goals, or ambitions.

Mercury retrograde in the Sixth house: This could bring a new insight into an old health concern, or bring confused or muddled information about a health complaint that isn’t really what it’s supposed to be. This is the time to do research into health matters, or return to an old understanding, or give an old way of working a new look so that other practical facets can be shown. Find a new approach to all health matters, work matters, or ways of relating to plants and animals. Great time for finding a new way to do a job, getting information about alternative health options, or finding new information important to your health not understood before. Insights into partner's motives, sorrow, and subconsciousness.

Mercury retrograde in the Seventh house: This is the time to explore new ways of communicating things to others without attachment to exact forms of what is being said. Great for getting new insights into old opportunities and finding new interpretations. Find a way to communicate insights you have about yourself within your relationships, without making too much or too little of those in your past. You may get interesting insights into what makes a present or past partner tick, or see a different facet to your partner, thus creating a new understanding. Great time for revealing deep parts of yourself or your partnering dynamic to others. Could also bring up old issues in new forms.

Mercury retrograde in the Eighth house: You need to review a past loss or death and take a different perspective on your experience of what was taken from you. Reclaim an old power in a new form, or reclaim some idea, feeling, or thing of value you once surrendered to someone in a defeat. Find a new way to see what you desire, or experiment with new approaches to getting it. You can get a flash on something of social value and a way to draw some opportunity to yourself. Great time for dropping something long overdue and shaking off the Soul sludge that is hindering you from flowering in some public way. Great time for new insights into your partner's money issues, or why they value what they do subconsciously.

Mercury retrograde in the Ninth house: You will take a new look at your future, path of Truth, life journey, or your quest. An old Truth may return in a new form, or you'll get a different take on some moral or ethical dilemma. You may see how another Truth or philosophy is related to your own, or get a new interpretation of the meaning of a higher truth. It's a time to notice the little things that will affect your future to come, and experiment with different applications of your Truths in a wide variety of situations. A great time to review something you learned in the past, or for going back to school. If you and your partner are having trouble communicating, look at possibilities without having to be too specific.

Mercury retrograde in the Tenth house: This can bring reversals in public position, or long overdue acknowledgment or recognition. You may need to do some things neglected up to now before you can move forward. This position may indicate miscommunications in the professional sector, or delays and misunderstandings in the workplace. Take extra care about any important decisions to be made, as they will probably be subject to change, and try to sign no important contracts during this period. A great time to take care of old business or use temporary experimental approaches to be finally evaluated later. Also a great time to see how your parents affected your self-image and what type of public standing you project.

Mercury retrograde in the Eleventh house: A time to get new insights into your friends, goals, and ambitions. You may reconnect with an old friend, or get a new insights into why you once wanted something and how this is related to some subconscious assumption. A good time for getting insights into why you have joined the groups you have been involved in, and what they taught you about your larger vision of world service. It’s a great time for forming some interesting public relationships, and harvesting something from the past in a new form. Find ways to recombine several old ambitions in a new package. New insights into why your partner plays the way they do, or if creative, you'll see their subconsciousness.

Mercury retrograde in the Twelfth house: This is a period for you to achieve closure on whatever ghosts and sorrows are still bugging you. Review and change your thinking, perception, affirmations, interpretations, meditations, or prayers to come to a more compassionate view of what is leaving and why things have happened the way they did. Unclear speech or recollection could cause trouble in unsuspected ways, so best to say little and forgive much. Get a new insight into an old sorrow or self-undoing behavior. A great time for taking one last look back before closing a chapter of the life that is already over. You'll get glimpses of the "movie of your life," and may need to re-edit your view of what happened and why.

Click to expand...

Mercury retrograde in the Twelfth house: This is a period for you to achieve closure on whatever ghosts and sorrows are still bugging you. Review and change your thinking, perception, affirmations, interpretations, meditations, or prayers to come to a more compassionate view of what is leaving and why things have happened the way they did. Unclear speech or recollection could cause trouble in unsuspected ways, so best to say little and forgive much. Get a new insight into an old sorrow or self-undoing behavior. A great time for taking one last look back before closing a chapter of the life that is already over. You'll get glimpses of the "movie of your life," and may need to re-edit your view of what happened and why.

Click to expand...

HOW DOES THIS MERCURY GOING DIRECT AFFECT ME?

WHO IS AFFECTED DIRECTLY ON December 3, 2005?

Mercury goes direct on December 3, 2005 at 24 degrees of Scorpio 45 (opposite sign is 25 Taurus 45) at 6:24 p.m., PDT. This means people with birthdays November 13 through 17th, with November 15th as the most affected day, are involved in this planetary movement. This includes not only Scorpio folks. By opposite sign, Taurus those most affected are born between May 12 through the 16th are involved with May 14th, being the most affected.

WHO ELSE CAN BE INVOLVED IN THIS DIRECT MOTION?

Anyone with planets between 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 degrees of any sign, are affected by this. Or if you have your ascendant or midheaven is at one of these degrees, you will be affected. The most affected degree is 24, and that is the degree that Mercury goes direct on.

WHAT MERCURY DIRECT MEANS TO US

Here's a list of some of the things you can expect from a Mercury going DIRECT. Keep in mind that they won't all happen to you! Just one or two, usually. However, if you have a natal Mercury in conjunction with the transiting (daily motion of a planet) Mercury, then your life is going to be strongly affected by that retrograde!!

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

First of all, any LIES, DECEPTION, FRAUD and trying to hide pertinent and lifesaving information to the public, is going to be EXPOSED. Particularly watch the 'shadow' week before Mercury goes direct. This would be November 26 through December 2, 2005. Lots of information will bubble up to the surface. Watch the government with the Plame case where Libby was shown to be involved. It could be the news reporter in prison will talk at this time and reveal who leaked an undercover CIA's agent good name, which is a federal offense. And perhaps the right person will be charged with this heinous, unpatriotic, traitors act.

Any type of transportation, which falls under Mercury, can be a target during the time it was retrograde; subways, busses, planes, trucks, and trains. We all need stay watchful during this time; especially the last five days before it goes direct. We are in the 'shadow' time (November 26 through December 2nd) right now, and that makes it more intense than usual.

FULL MOON ON NOVEMBER 15th AT 23 TAURUS WILL BE REACTIVATED NOW

There was a nasty, upsetting full moon on November 15, 2005 at 23 Taurus, so this position,energy-wise, will be 'hit' again by Mercury going direct on it. Any one with planets around the 23rd degree of Taurus (plus or minus 2 degrees either side of it) will find something that happened to them back it that time frame being struck and stirred up again. What that is depends upon where the full moon occurred in your natal chart, and which house it resided in. You will definitely see action, there is no question. It may stir up a lot of old emotions. Just be careful you aren't run over by them. In other words: don't do something out of emotional reaction. Take 10 deep breaths, slow down and let the emotions bubble up and leave before doing anything. Full moon energy is about our emotions being at high tide. While feelings are fine; they can get in the way of clarity that will be badly needed around this period to thread the eye of some needle you must go through.

MARS WENT RETROGRADE AT 23 TAURUS, TOO

Remember? Mars went retrograde at 23 Taurus on October 1, 2005? Look at this pattern with the 23, 24th degree and you will see that these people are going to have a lot of things to deal with, handle and make decisions upon here very shortly. This energy has a lot to do with action/inaction (Mars) and communication (letters/emails/verbal/written) with Mercury. This will be a busy week during the Shadow period for those affected. Hidden things may come to light, so don't knee-jerk and do your homework first. Think first, THEN act. Don't get caught up in your emotions or anger or proactive stance with a Mars still retrograde. Do things in a consistent, step-by-step style and keep your emotions out of it. Keep your eye on the ball and stay focused. Don't be pulled off course by others who are assaulting/attacking or pushing you to do something a certain way--it could end up being a debacle and you holding the bag. The best way to use this stirred up, muddied energy is to just be still, be calm, think, rationalize, be analytical and ask questions of those who you trust before making ANY decisions.

WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN MERCURY DIRECT DO?

1. Expect to be decisive on your part--or on the part of others. People have been muddling around, hesitate, or won't be sure of themselves under a retrograde. Making a decision during a Mercury. direct transit--whatever they decided to do will remain as such. It will not change. Men and women will no longer be miscommunication. One is speaking Chinese and the other, French!! Well, now they at least will be speaking the SAME language. Partners have had to really work at saying what they really mean because assumptions will no longer abound during this time and what you say is how how you meant it. Big-time communications snafus will no longer complicate your life on a personal and professional level. No more foot-in-mouth disease as Mercury turns direct!!!

2. Signing a contract, agree to something, buy a car/boat/house/animal or start up a new project under a Mercury Direct is fine. I would advise you to wait at least a WEEK until after Mercury is direct to do this. The contract will be honored. The car you bought will turn out to be fine (no lemon)!! The boat will not have problems, structural or otherwise. The house you bought will not be a "money pit" and the owner did not reveal all the problems the house had--but you inherited them!! The animal you bought (dog/cat/horse or whatever) will not have some real 'hidden' problems that you could not see upon first perusal or inspection.

Projects begun after Mercury turns direct will turn out as expected. No hidden surprises or changes.

3. You can buy mechanical things, appliances, computers, software or anything else like that during this period--they will work right!

I might add that this a time when mechanical failures finally stop happening. DISK CRASHES which were common place will stop. Thank goodness!

4. It's okay to travel long-distance during a Mercury direct because Mercury is the ruler of travel by any conveyance. There will not be delays, equipment (like a plane or car) will break down during this period. Travel won't try your patience during this period. Equipment failure is finally ebbing away. ANY type of equipment--not just computers.

5. Mercury rules our thinking processes. Believe me, folks, we are finally going to be able to think clearly or coherently. We become less forgetful. You won't get lost in traffic or lost in a shopping center, and you'll remember where you put something. Things that got LOST and MISPLACED big time, will suddenly and inexplicably--show up! Our orderly thinking returns. Our minds quiet down. Insomnia is no longer rampant.

6. Delays--on everything, are finally over! You're not late for an appointment. And no one is going to lose your appointment! The company promised it would be there on a certain day--and it will be there--on that day! Under a Mercury. D, it will be there, when promised. People will show up at the right time. The punctual schedule is back in vogue. You'll be on time--there won't be unexpected delay on the freeway/turnpike, or the other person arrives on time.

7. Your mind is returns from La La Land and else the nuts and bolts of everyday life/demands/things, returns. Your concentration returns and you don't have to struggle to focus, concentrate, retain or remember.

Gemini and Virgo sun sign people are ruled natally by Mercury, tend to get more upset over Mercury Retrograde periods because they're such picky perfectionists and they really do expect their lives to go like clockwork and God forbid they be late for an appointment--HORRORS!! For them, it's a major crisis if that occurs. For them, Mercury retrograde periods are discombobulating because they can't be perfect or strive for that near-perfection for three weeks, three or four times a year. If they can 'get over' this need to be perfect or always on-time, then it's not such a stressful period for them .

Now, Virgo's and Gemini's can rest, take a deep breath and stop feeling like someone stole half their brain. Even though they are not affected directly by this particular Mercury going direct, they still get influenced by it "just because" it is their natal planetary ruler.

WITH MERCURY GOING DIRECT YOU WANT TO...

1. Finish up on something--Mercury Direct is a wonderful time to wrap up projects, attend to details, and yes, clean up your messy desk, reorganize things, it will all fall into magical place now, shortly after the retrograde motion is over. Your telephone starts ringing, email flow increases, faxes are more numerous , and generally, a period of quiet is over and the frantic activity replaces it.

2. If you have a project that has lain around a long time and you just never got around to it--now is the time to look at it more closely and decide if its worth your investment in time and energy--if it isn't, during this time, you'll more than likely drop it permanently--or get serious about resurrecting it or completing it--successfully!

3. Lies, deceit, cheating and sneaky actions by others or yourself, will come to light during a Mercury Retrograde period. It's the the long arm of Karma unveiling such negative things. If you think you duped someone--wait--during this period is when it will come to light and boy, will you be caught 'red handed'!!! Or, if someone said something behind your back--it will get back to you during this time frame. Or, if you were in some way cheated, duped or lied to, you will find out about it now. All these possibilities came to light; now with Mercury going direct you have a clean slate, so to speak. Anything hidden, has come to light and now it's time to get on with the forward motion of your life once more.

4. Your daily routine is back-so, "go with the flow". You'll be less day-dreamy, less spacy, more....of 'something'--so just go 'there.' This is a great time for outer/external experiences. It's wonderful for doing external work. You're a lot less inclined to want quiet, to be alone, or do meditational types of things (which are internal work and energy)..

5. This is a great time to start new projects of any kind--big or small. Wash the windows! Paint that cabinet! Start that brainchild project that has been there silently asking for completion. Dust that room! Take down the spider webs!

Best of all, life gets back on a more or less "normal" routine or "rut" that many of us cherish. When Mercury is retrograde, it all goes in the toilet and gets flushed. Now the Cosmic Toilet of Life is back on line and we can breath a deep sigh of relief at least in that quadrant of our lives! Routine is back. Constancy will return. So will our sanity for those of us who feel like our rut got ripped out from under us. Let's hear it for the humdrum of life. We get it back on December 3rd!

Click to expand...

When interpreting Mercury retrograde cycles in the horoscope, keep in mind that the process being defined is multifaceted. We are analysing not only the ability to receive information but also what is done with that information once it is assimilated. Mercury, then, represents the human mind's capacity to symbolize reality and, conversely, to translate symbols into reality. The regularity of sunrise and sunset, apparent seasonal changes and the measurement of time and space are all a result of our observation of the Sun. In the same manner, the direct and retrograde phases of Mercury are our geocentric references for both conscious and unconscious perceptions, and for the mind as it faces inner questions about outer challenges.

Natally, Mercury symbolizes the ability to formulate and articulate ideas that originate in an abstract pattern. It is the ability to use words as symbols of what is seen, touched, smelled, heard or tasted; in other words to translate sensory perceptions into concepts. As the planet of communication, Mercury functionsas the 'teller of the tale', and relates the inner perceptions to another individual's Mercury, which then becomes the "hearer of the tale'. John Lilly says communication is 'the creation of information in one mind by the means of signals from another mind. The second mind acknowledges the reception of the signals and the formation of the information by feeding back other signals to the first mind, which then creates new information'. As you may well imagine, much can be lost in the translation!

When Mercury is direct, as it is 80 percent of the time, the mind works on a very functional level. There is little time for retrospection, and energy is expended in productive action. Our contemplative side is virtually on hold. This is a natural rhythm. The period of time that Mercury is retrograde will give rise to issues that have lain dormant for the three months prior. This is the time when much of the unconscious information that has been absorbed and stored will begin to surface in a fashion specific to the needs of the person and his or her own timing.

The retrogression of Mercury is the instinctive mental 'downtime'. It is associated with much re-doing, re-thinking, re-organizing, re-associating; anything that can be prefaced with re- will define this rest period. It is very much like the lateral shift that needs to take place for the emergence of a seed idea into a formulated concept. This process is as natural as sleep is to waking. Imagine the state your mind would be in if it did not recognize the need for unconsciousness and dreamtime. If we ignore signals for sleep, then within a matter of days the unconscious and the conscious mind begin to fraternize and cause no end of confusion and difficulty in discerning real from imagined.

Mercury is the guide during the journeys we make between 'awake' and 'sleep' and between consciousness and unconsciousness. The Mercury retrograde cycle is the natural rhythm of the space between here and there, the liminal space of the journeyer on his way to discovery.

Click to expand...