What this July-August 2005 Mercury Retrograde Means for You, Pt.1

by Robert Wilkinson

This Mercury retrograde period starts July 22 (July 23 for points east of ADT) and ends August 15 (August 16 for EDT and points east). This retrograde moves from 21 Leo back to 9 Leo, with the inferior conjunction between Mercury and the Sun occurring August 4 (Aug 5 ADT and east) at 14 Leo. 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. It may be that we get to speak the truth of our Soul, freed from constrictions of age or social considerations. This degree is one of "the desire to be,... to grow which brings Spirit to Earth." We are also told it involves "Whole-souled self-giving" and "Yearning for experience." Let your Soul speak from August 4 on, embrace the "unconditioned potential" while entering into new activities, and basically, be whole-hearted in participating in "everyday adventures of personality."

This retrograde beginning at 21 Leo retraces ground we covered July 4-22, and is a degree of the "Intoxicated Chickens dizzily flap their wings trying to fly," urging us to beware of mistaking form for essence, or using physical means to try to stimulate spiritual experiences, or becoming dependent on this. It will challenge us to use our limitations wisely, not as a justification for some inadequacy. We may have to creatively mobilize to answer some need, while repudiating bondage to externals. Many inspirations that are ego-forced will collapse since they cannot be sustained in that way.

The entire retrograde Mercury is favorable to Jupiter, as well as Mars for the first part of the period. This will stabilize the contradictions wherever we have Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces planets and houses, and show us our creativity, joy of self-expression, and finer sensitivities. Look for the new rhythm, perspective, playfulness, and re-think what you understand of the new beginnings of July, since fast breaking events are indicated when Mercury squares Mars later in the retrograde period, as well as the period just after the retrograde. For some, crashes, impulsiveness, and argumentativeness. For others, quick assessments and corrections, major changes in direction for the better, and the joy and power of new beginnings.

During the 13 days before the inferior conjunction (fusion) of mind and life, take a new look at how you can bring out your unique gifts and qualities by adjusting to the need of your environment, and get a new point of view regarding what your imagination is willing to consider. Get a more refined or easy sense of humor, and be a peacemaker when Mercury retrogrades opposition to Neptune with Mars square Saturn from Taurus to Leo at the end of the month along with a Venus in Virgo opposition to Uranus in Pisces.

These multiple challenges indicate we should stay clear about what role or roles we are playing on the world stage, and not allow ourselves to be underestimated, taken for granted, or subject to put-downs. Learn how to give voice to what is subtle but others need to know, bring your affairs to sufficient definiteness so you can get a better grip on them, and try not to jump to conclusions. Be inventive without haste, avoid quarrels that divert or deflect you from a better effort and result, and ignore the lesser, immediate, or unimportant things when greater matters are at stake. Stay alert to consequences in regard to details, awaken others to what's really important, and be clever in responding to sudden, unusual, or unexpected developments.

The Mercury stationary retrograde point trine to Pluto will help us all get to the essence of things, and see things and people more clearly than usual. We will derive deeper meaning from what we read and our communications, and see manifestations of great power, initiative, and generative force even as we carry our symbolic "pregnancy" to completion. The tensions created by the on-going Mercury square Mars from August 7-29 will give us three weeks of finding an adequate motive for our initiatives while learning not to waste energies in wishful thinking or idle speculation. Drop involvement in superficial matters of no real importance to you without abrasiveness, and realistically analyze affairs so that you can develop that which is potential into actual opportunities.

The Moon will for a T-square with Mercury and Neptune on July 28-29, and a T-square with Venus and Uranus on July 30. The tensions thrown into Scorpio and then Sagittarius should help all to integrate in ways that concentrate power while purifying the self to embrace the next step of the adventure promised by Pluto in Sagittarius. This storm zone is followed by a productive period through August 12-13, when the Moon in Scorpio T-squares the Sun-Neptune opposition at the same time as the Mercury square Mars just before going stationary direct on August 15-16. This whole period may be tense due to the Mercury square Mars lasting for so long, so don't speed, avoid hasty speech and action, duck out of quarrelsome situations, and try to remember as you're driving around that others are losing it, so go slow and avoid confrontations. It'll help the developments of the last week of August go easier.

The New Moon of August 4-5 with the Moon at 13 Leo in sextile with Jupiter and opposition to Neptune throws very powerful and productive energies into mid-Aries through the opposition-sextile-trine configuration. It's a great time for resolving conflicting roles through retiring from some that are obsolete while quickly acting with love, creativity, play, and noble detached visionary direct action. That the lunation also is conjunct Mercury shows a fusing of the Gemini, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo parts of our lives, and many will find a new serenity through reflecting on storms overcome, and capture the rewards of "growth from outer to inner realms."

Mercury going stationary direct at 9 Leo on August 15-16 indicates that through mid-November 2005 we will come to understand how the Soul manifests in moments of emotional intensity, and hopefully find a form of disciplined self-expression that will make an art of our life and our life a work of art. As Rudhyar puts it, there is a "need to involve one's most spiritual and vital energies in the creative act if it is to produce significant and beautiful new forms." He writes that the symbol of the glass blower "is a fitting symbol of how deeply any creative individual has to involve his total being in his creation." This is about "transpersonal inspiration" and "the fire of deeply felt emotions." This is a transformational technique, a degree of creative intensity, a "genius of self-application," and effectiveness of "participation in everyday existence."

Perhaps Dr. Marc Edmund Jones' comment is the best inspiration for the period between mid-August and mid-November:

Here is his contribution of enduring form to things through a privatge manifestation of the divine breath, and a manipulation of the baser materials of life through a heat that represents his living enthusiasm.

© Copyright 2006 Robert Wilkinson. Last update: 8/27/2006; 10:54:05 AM.