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MERCURY ENTERS SAGITTARIUSMercury rides into Sagittarius, goes OOB and retrograde….
Here we are again on the brink of another Mercury retrograde period, the third and final one of this year.
Mercury will enter the optimistic sign of Sagittarius on the 2nd November, stationing retrograde at 22°40’ (antiscion 07°20’) on the 25-26th November and will also be out-of-bounds (OOB)***from 6th to 30th November. The planet stations direct on 15th December at 06°23’ Sagittarius (antiscion 23°37’ Capricorn).
Mercury in Sagittarius is playful and best suits his prankster fame, I also see it as a “foot in the mouth” position, Sagittarius loves the truth and Mercury here often blurts it out in a very tactless fashion. Mercury is also prone to preaching here too but it’s also an excellent placement for travelling and intellectual discourse. The truth as we see it could also be distorted during this transit.
The retrograde and the OOB condition could give extra versatility to our thought processes as we use this period for re-thinking, re-doing and re-inventing our future plans. Mercury retrograde in a Fire sign could bring up questions such as “How can I use my inspiration to create my future?”
When Mercury stations retrograde it appears in the sky as an evening star, a week or so after it stations direct it appears as a morning star.
Astrologer Erin Sullivan, who has contributed majorly to our knowledge of the retrograde planets, cites David Peat and his book “Synchronicity” when describing the period during which Mercury is direct as a cycle of attention whilst retrograde Mercury imposes a cycle of awareness. According to Sullivan, Mercury retrograde is thus an excellent teaching device if we acknowledge that something significant is calling for awareness and that something important will emerge from the unconscious regarding the house placement of natal Mercury and the house where it is transiting as well as the houses the planets rules.
A Mercury retrograde period is also an excellent time for doing some research about any mechanical or technological devices we might need to purchase so that we will have gathered all the information we need when the planets starts its forward motion once again and we’ll be in a good position to find exactly what we’re looking for.
Many astrologers view a Mercury retrograde period as a time when communications of all types (telephone calls, emails, transport problems etc.) might go askew but it is also a good time to catch up on old correspondence or to go over previous plans to make sure they’re workable. However, it may not be a good idea to sign contracts or binding documents during a Mercury retrograde period or to book travel tickets because there could be some hindrance or complication in these tasks.
Mercury rules the signs of Gemini (opposite Sagittarius) and Virgo (square Sagittarius) so these will be particularly affected by the retrograde motion as will any planets you might have in your third house and your sixth house which are traditionally associated with Mercury as well.
A little bit of history:
Mercury in the Greek myth is associated with Hermes and he held an amazing number of roles here; thief, storyteller (aka liar), trickster, magician, craftsman, messenger of the gods, the god of boundaries, commerce, merchants, words and language among the many. He was the only god who had permission to travel freely between the Underworld and the heights of Olympus.
Mercury is so versatile that he can take on any of the archetypes represented by the other planets too and in this way he is also good at making deals or compromises and the house placement of Mercury in your chart will show where you’re good at this also.
During the transit through Sagittarius Mercury will make the following aspects:
12 November, 06-07 December, 27 December: square Saturn (the first with Saturn R, the second with Mercury R and the third time with both planets direct) respectively at 12°42’, 13°05’ and 14°11’ along the Sagittarius-Pisces axis: learn to be philosophically practical in your thought processes.
18 November, 04 December, 26 December: opposite Jupiter (all contacts have Jupiter R and only the second one has also Mercury R) respectively at 18°47’, 16°43’ and 13°46’ along the Sagittarius-Gemini axis: avoid cockiness and “knowing-it-all” because unfortunately for you…..you don’t!
12-13 December: sextile Venus (06°58’ Sagittarius-Aquarius): enjoy!
15 December: Mercury stations direct at 06°23’ Sagittarius (antiscion 23°37’ Capricorn)
06 January 2025: square Neptune (27°22’ Sagittarius-Pisces): keep a tight grip on those fantasies and…don’t invent gossip.
The Sabian symbol for Mercury’s Retrograde station at 23° Sagittarius: “A group of immigrants as they fulfil the requirements of entrance into the new country.” Indicating the conscious acceptance of way of a new stage of experience, in readiness for the opportunities it will present.
For the antiscion at 08° Capricorn: “In a sun-lit home domesticated birds sing joyously.” Indicating the wholesome happiness which subservience to the ideals and patterns of a well established culture brings to those who accept them unreservedly.
For the Direct station at 07° Sagittarius: “Cupid knocks at the door of a human heart.” Indicating a stirring-up of individual longings for romantic love.
For the antiscion at 24° Capricorn: “A woman entering a convent.” Indicating total commitment to a transcendent goal.
“There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out.” Russian proverb
Are you ready for this retrograde?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
McEvers J., (1989), Planets, ‘Mercury’ by Erin Sullivan, pp 80-119, Llewellyn Publications, St Paul, MN, USA, cited Peats D. F. (1987), “Synchronicity”, Chapter B, Bantam Books
**Rudhyar D. (1974) “An Astrological Mandala: the cycles of transformations and its 360 symbolic phases”. pp 213, 223, 234, 243 Vintage Books Edition, Random House Inc., New York, USA
*** What does it mean for a planet to be OOB? When we cast an astrological chart we use a precise locality (birth place) on the earth and from this observation point we take note of the position of the planets in the sky at the time of birth and this enables us to calculate the angles that the planets form to the given locality. Another point of reference however is the celestial equator (which is the terrestrial equator elongated into space). When planets travel beyond 23°27’ either side of the celestial equator, be it North or South, they are referred to as “out of bounds”.
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