[16th century
engraving by Hans Sebald Beham, with Mercury and the two
zodiac signs Virgo and
Gemini]
MERCURY RETROGRADE
(July 14-15, 2012 – August 7-8, 2012)
(July 14-15, 2012 – August 7-8, 2012)
The dates for this Mercury
retrograde depend on your timezone. It turns retrograde on July 15th
GMT but July 14th for EST (Eastern) and PDT (Pacific). It
turns direct on August 8th GMT and EST (Eastern) but
August 7th for PDT (Pacific).
What happens when a
planet goes retrograde?
Retrograde comes from the
Latin retrogradus, “to move or step backwards”. A
retrograde planet slows to a stop, moves backwards, and then slows to
a stop again, to correct its motion. These changes are actually an
optical illusion created by differences in the relative orbital
speeds of Earth and the other planet involved. Mercury goes
retrograde three or four times a year, for approximately three and a
half weeks.
Why do we experience
retrograde themes beyond these dates?
A retrograde planet not only
goes in reverse, it slows to a stop twice, called a station, and
remains slower moving. These standing periods, and the extremely
slow motion that precede and follow them, are often the strongest
part of the retrograde cycle. The dates above are unintentionally
deceptive because they only represent the backwards portion. Slow
and motionless planets are potent, because they stay at a degree
longer than normal, making their aspects stronger.
[Mercury's changing speed
in minutes (') for its July 2012 retrograde.
Its speed is a relative
indicator of its strength.]
Mercury's average daily
speed is 59' 8”, just under 1º.
Almost two weeks before it turns backward, it begins to fall below
that. The dates around the motionless stations are exceptionally
slow. By the middle of the retrograde, the planet has picked up some
speed, but is still about 3/5 its average.
How long can we actually
experience this retrograde then?
[The triple pass of
Mercury through the same part of space.]
June 27th, 2012:
Mercury crosses the degree where it will eventually turn direct, 1º
Leo 26'. Mercurial themes can already begin, especially when closer
to the retrograde station. The planet slows to a stop, before
changing direction.
July 14th – July 15th,
2012: Retrograde Station at 12º
Leo 33', 2:16 GMT, 7:16 PM EST. Mercury appears to stop, then
moves backwards. It stations approximately three days, July 13th
– July 15th or July 14th – July 16th.
July 29th, 2012: Mercury's Inferior
Conjunction with the Sun. The middle of Mercury retrograde and its
fastest speed.
August 7th –
August 8th, 2012: Direct Station at 1º
Leo 26'. Mercury appears to stop, then corrects its motion. It
stations approximately three days, August 6th – August
8th or August 7th – August 9th.
August 22nd,
2012: Mercury crosses the degree where it turned retrograde, 12º
Leo 33'. Mercury themes can continue, especially when closer to the
direct station. The planet remains slow, after changing direction.
THE TRICKSTER
"She [Maia]
bare a son [Hermes],
of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle rustler, a
bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates."
~Homeric Hymn to Hermes~
Isn't retrograde bad?
Retrograde is a buzz word
with lots of fear unnecessarily projected on it. When a planet turns
retrograde, it gets close, bright, and makes a loop in the sky. The
retrograde planet highlights certain areas of life, just like it
appears to circle parts of the sky. A backwards planet is extremely
strong, things ruled by it become prominent but experience delay,
disorder, or repetition. Ultimately, retrograde motion is
corrective, giving us a second chance to look at the affairs of the
planet.
What can be expected
during Mercury retrograde?
A: THE TRICKSTER: Mercurial
spiritual figures like Hermes are associated with knowledge,
including the crazy wisdom of the trickster. Tricksters break the
rules, usually through theft, playing pranks, or violating
boundaries. Their actions can be a form of radical compassion,
revealing dysfunction by highlighting, inverting, or amplifying
imbalance.
(-) Situations are brought
to an extreme to reveal a truth, unresolved business resurfaces, the
past returns to be addressed.
(+) Breakthroughs in
difficult situations, insight into repeated behavior, a new
perspective finally reveals a solution. Humor, play, and encounters
with the absurd restore fluidity.
B: THE UNEXPECTED AND THE
HIDDEN: Since Mercury is closer to the Sun than Earth, it stays near
it in the sky and retrogrades frequently. These traits make seeing
the planet difficult, it is usually lost in the glare of the Sun.
Many things now associated with Uranus were once qualities of
Mercury, because of its unseen and changing nature: the unexpected,
hidden, and reversal.
(-) Oddly repeated events,
things move in unforeseen ways, complications for new projects,
especially if Mercury ruled (related to communication,
transportation, the mind, etc.). Things feel fated, inevitably
moving towards a specific goal, or need to be repeated to come to a
conclusion.
(+) Experiences of
synchronicity, research yields previously hidden information,
inspiration from esoteric subjects, fields of specialty knowledge,
like astrology. Bargains, unusual finds, and the discovery of lost
objects.
C: THE EVERYDAY AND SHORT DISTANCE TRAVEL: One reason we experience Mercury retrograde so personally is because the planet rules the everyday, from our neighborhood to our daily routine.
(-) Delay, disorder, or
reversal in our daily routine, schedule, and short distance travel.
Complications with technology, especially if related to
transportation, communication, or machinery with moving parts,
including cars.
(+) Random but beneficial
encounters with friends, extended family, and business contacts.
Shaking things up causes us to focus on life, not on the routine.
D: THE IN-BETWEEN: Mercury
begins each retrograde as an evening star, disappears in the glare of
the Sun, and reappears as a morning star. Because of this motion,
many Mercurial spiritual beings like Hermes are associated with the
in-between: travel (between your home and your destination), business
(the exchange of goods between people), and communication (the
exchange of information between people).
(-) Miscommunication, from
spelling errors, missing information, and failed delivery, to
misunderstanding. Delay, difficulty, or reversal in agreements,
contracts, and purchases, especially if Mercury ruled (related to
communication, transportation, the mind, etc.). Many people refrain
from signing paperwork, purchasing mechanical things like cars,
electronics, appliances, or anything related to communication like
computers and telephones.
(+) An adjustment of our
personal interactions with others, especially our siblings, extended
family, and neighbors. Because many Mercurial spiritual beings are
psychopomps in myth, guides to the recently lost, an end to grief,
coming to terms with the dead, and remembrance.
D: THE MENTAL REALM:
Mercury represents the mind, our thoughts, perception, and ability to
process the world around us.
(-) Indecision,
forgetfulness, absent mindedness. Confusion, reversal of decisions,
and misperception, especially if the subject is Mercury ruled
(related to communication, transportation, the mind, etc.).
(+) An adjustment of our
thoughts, perceptions, and understanding. While outer communication
may be complicated, creativity is high, meditation is deep, and
profound ideas can surface, especially insights into the past,
complex problems, and the inner workings of our minds.
THE TOUCH OF MERCURY
“Learning is like
mercury [the liquid metal],
one of the most powerful and excellent things in the world in
skillful hands; in unskillful, the most mischievous.”
~Alexander Pope~
Where am I most likely to
experience Mercury's energy?
Since Mercury is turning
retrograde in Leo, we may experience its themes around creativity and
the arts, love affairs and sex, children, and sources of pleasure
like gifts, hobbies, and games of chance. Those with planets or
points in Leo, or the zodiac signs geometrically related to it, are
the most likely to be influenced.
What if I must do
something Mercury related now?
We are often given advice
like “Don’t sign that contract during Mercury retrograde!” Life
is rarely that accommodating. If you must do something Mercury
related now, honor its repetitive movement by examining it
thoroughly. Things may move in an unexpected way in the future, not
necessarily badly, when Mercury turns direct.
For those mostly likely
influenced by this Mercury retrograde, see:
For traditional and
modern planetary gemstones used to harmonize its influence, see:
For an introduction to
retrograde motion, see:
©
2012, C. L. Matthews
[Image Source: Public Domain, Wikipedia Commons. Graphs by C. L. Matthews, 2012.]
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