We have just passed the halfway point of Mercury’s retrograde cycle, which started on Nov 17 in Sagittarius. He backed into Scorpio on Dec 1 and will turn direct on Dec 6 and will re-enter Sagittarius on Dec 12.
Mercury is the fleet-footed Roman god who corresponds to the Greek god, Hermes. Hermes is the friendliest God to men. Zeus made him a messenger of the gods because he could talk to those in the underground, the people on Earth and the gods on Olympus. He brings news, information and new viewpoints wherever he goes. But he is also a trickster, revealed by the fact that when he was one year old he put his sandals on backward so no one could follow him. He was also a liar and a thief when he was young. Later he made Zeus laugh and was rewarded by becoming the messenger of the gods.
You have some of the Hermes’ traits if you have the Sun, Ascendant or the Moon in Gemini in your Birth chart. Think of him as your ruling deity. You must honor him by writing, speaking, and giving messages of the gods to others.
When Mercury/Hermes moved into Sagittarius this year on Oct 31, he visited his brother Apollo. Apollo is a very straight guy. He governs academia, success in society and the ruling conscious mind. Hermes rules the unconscious.
Talkative Hermes in Sagittarius can exaggerate and promise more than he can deliver. We may hear some overblown claims during this time.
When Hermes enters Scorpio on Dec 1, he will be communicating with Pluto, the god of the underworld. Here he talks about the taboo subjects that no one wants to hear about--death, disease, rape and the sordid side of our society. You may hear and learn about our collective shadow and also the shadow side of our politicians and other well-known people.
Another way to look at how this retrograde will affect you personally is to find the houses in your birth chart that contain Scorpio and Sagittarius. These are the areas of life that you want to rethink. Some new ideas could come up in these areas.
For example, for Aquarius rising (ascendant) the Scorpio and Sagittarius houses are the 10th and 11th. New ideas and thinking around the vocation and your standing in the outer world (10th) and new information or rethinking about our allies and friends. For the meaning of the houses in your chart see Meaning of the Houses.
If your birthday falls between Feb 28 through March 6 or Dec 1 through Dec 7, you will have a very up and down/ good and bad month. I know this doesn’t help, so see below for the details.
Dates to Watch:
Note to my Astrology Clients. Use the Planetary Placement and ascendant sheet to find if the following aspects will have a major impact on you.
Dec 1 – Mercury backs up into Scorpio until Dec 12. You will return to thinking about the same things that you were thinking about from mid to the end of October. Maybe you were insulted back then and have been planning your revenge. Now is the time.
Dec 2 – Venus enters Scorpio until January 7, 2019. Don’t think Aphrodite s all powder puffs and flowers. Here she can get nasty, especially in relationships. We may all want relationships that are deeper and more intimate during this time.
Sun Square Mars at 10 degrees of Sagittarius and Pisces. Don’t be too impulsive, don’t rely on others. Go it alone. Especially if you have personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus or Mars) or the ascendant between 8 to 12 degrees Sagittarius or Pisces.
Dec 5 – Sun Square Neptune at 13 degrees of Sagittarius/Pisces. You may have inflated ideas and exaggerated hopes. Don’t deceive yourself and watch out for the “spiritual” types who would like to borrow money. Try to keep your feet on the ground if you have personal planets or the ascendant at 11 to 15 degrees of Sagittarius or Pisces.
Dec 6 – Mercury turns direct at 27 degrees of Scorpio. Mercury will only be in Scorpio for 6 days. Why don’t you wait until the 12th to get started on your mental projects? Now is the time to make the todo list.
Dec 7 – Mars conjunct Neptune at 13 Pisces. Strongest aspect is a conjunction. Here the gutsy fighter has run into the planet of peace who is sitting around meditating. Mars can get really frustrated with this non-action. Especially true with you if you have personal planets or the ascendant at 11 to 14 degrees of Pisces or Virgo.
New Moon at 15 Sagittarius. This New Moon squares Mars and Neptune. This new moon can bring in energy that makes emotional relationships.
Dec 12 – Mercury enters Sagittarius until Jan 4, 2019. A lot of bombastic people are around you during this time or maybe it’s you!
Dec 20 – Sun Trine Uranus at 28 Sagittarius/Aries. A beautiful aspect. Uranus is the most fun planet in the zodiac if you are a bit quirky that is. Today can be very sociable with unexpected visitors dropping in. Expect the unexpected and do something unusual. Have fun if you have the personal planets or the ascendant at 26 to 29 Sagittarius or Aries.
Dec 21 – Venus Trine Neptune 13 degrees of Scorpio/Pisces. Another great aspect for meeting with friends, redecorating your home or rearrange the furniture. Inspirational thinking. An aspect that can bring together your philosophical ideas. Get the old paint brushes out and get creative if you have personal planets or the ascendant at 11 to 15 degrees of Scorpio or Pisces.
Mercury Conjunct Jupiter at 9 Sagittarius. I said earlier that Mercury in Sagittarius is bombastic. Well when he hits Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius, he starts bragging and exaggerating more than ever. Watch the news for public buffoonery.
Sun enters Capricorn until January 20, 2019. Astrologers ignore the Sun sometimes because we get so distracted by the other planets in the birth chart. But, the Sun is of major importance. It spends a month in each of your houses. Look at your Capricorn house. You will shine here or areas of life ruled by this house will have importance for you.
Dec 22 – Full Moon at 0 Cancer. Cancer is very good at expressing their emotions. A Full Moon heightens the feelings of the sign it is in. Go ahead, have a good cry.
Dec 24 – Mercury Square Neptune at 13 Sagittarius/Pisces. Your thinking is a tad fuzzy today. Wait before you make any decisions. This aspect last only a few days. Do nothing except daydream if you have personal planets or the ascendant at 11 to 15 Sagittarius/Pisces.
OUTER PLANET TRANSITS:
JUPITER is now in SAGITTARIUS. This month Jupiter moves from 5 to 11 degrees of Sagittarius. Jupiter is about growth and expansion especially in travel and education and also in the area of your life ruled by the house in your natal chart that holds Sagittarius. Jupiter is happy is Sagittarius, it is his home but don’t forget about his excessive qualities. In Sagittarius, you could take on too much, too many projects, too many engagements, too many appointments, too much socializes. Watch it.
SATURN is in Capricorn until 2020. This month he will move from 7 to 11 degrees of Capricorn. If you have the ascendant or any personal planets at 7 to 11 degrees of Capricorn or Cancer, you may be in store for some hard lessons around the issues ruled by the planet and the house the planet is in or rules. While Saturn is in Capricorn he is asking about your ambitions, your career, and your work ethic. In Capricorn he is right at home and wants to build something, make plans and be successful in the outer world.
URANUS is in Taurus until Apr 2026. He is now moving retrograde and has back up into Aries. This month he will cover 29 to 28 degrees of Aries. If you have personal planets or the ascendant at 28 or 29 degrees of Aries or Libra, you will feel a need for freedom and for making some radical changes in your life. I believe in “cooperating with the inevitable”. If you have Uranus in a challenging aspect to your ascendant or personal planets, go on a long vacation, move or make some major changes in your life.
NEPTUNE (creativity, sensitivity, escapism, dreams) is in Pisces until 2026. This month he travels from 13 to 14 degrees of Pisces. A lack of focus, a sense of drifting or an inability to see a betrayal or disappointment until it's too late can be experienced by those of you with the Sun or Personal Planets at 11 to 16 degrees of Pisces or Virgo. For the enlightened out there, Neptune can also bring artistic, musical, creative expression, increased dreams and spiritual insights. Watch for some really inspired films to come out during the time Neptune is in Pisces.
PLUTO is in Capricorn until 2023. This month Pluto moves from 19 to 20 degrees. Profound changes will be felt especially by those with the ascendant or personal planets at 17 to 21 degrees of Capricorn or Cancer. What needs to die in order to be reborn?
Have a good month.
Janet Kane
www.mythiczodiac.com