Mercury retrograde
Mercury Rx in Libra on 10th September 2022 at 1:39 pm AEST
This is the third Mercury retrograde cycle in an air sign for 2022.
The concept of a planet turning Retrograde (reversing) in orbital motion is not an actual occurrence but rather something that appears to occur as viewed from the Earth.
Before a planet changes course into Retrograde motion it will enter a shadow phase (whilst still travelling directly) and begin to slow down until it Stations (appears to stop and maintain its position by degree) for a couple of days before changing direction, seemingly backwards through the zodiac.
During this shadow phase we can begin to feel the imminent change in planetary energy and it’s not necessarily comfortable. Similar to waiting for something you know is inevitably going to happen, feelings of anticipation, impatience and a little anxiety may arise.
Mercury entered its shadow phase around 21st August, quite comfortably in Virgo before transitioning into Libra almost a week later and turning retrograde today at 8 degrees Libra. This retrograde cycle will last about 23 days.
Mercury Rx in Libra can see a tendency for diplomacy to go awry. Trying to maintain a balanced perspective within communicative exchanges will require patience, maybe taking a breath before responding, to ensure that intention doesn’t get lost in translation. The opinions of others may take a little more time to process and can challenge us to reassess our own subjectivity and bias when faced with the sentiment of another.
What area of your life may require a little re-evaluation, reassessment or reflection when dealing with others of different opinions, reactions and life experience? Is compromise a possibility or a trigger?
Mercury retrograde is a perfect time for a little introspection. Within this cycle Mercury will be transiting between 24 degrees Virgo and 8 degrees Libra, so take note of which area of your chart is relevant by degree and if you have any natal planets or points that will be impacted. This will give you a clue as to how personal this Mercury retrograde cycle may be.
If you have a Gemini or Virgo Ascendant, with Mercury being the ruler of your chart, this is already personal for you.
In a few hours we will also experience the Moon full in Pisces (refer Full Moon in Pisces-Starlog).
The next and final Mercury Rx for this year will be at the end of December, beginning a new retrograde cycle in Earth signs for 2023