Yes Mercury's 3-Week Retrograde is here, through the end of the year and into New Year's Day.
A call for rest and retreat not hiding, albeit retreat may include withdrawing to varying degrees from outward life. It's definitely not a time to push (backups, delays, even a change of plans can occur especially when we choose to ignore the invitation to slow down, and when we are expecting normalcy, rather than aligning with Mercury's call to tune-in).
Better to go with the flow, and allow extra time as needed.
What is the flow of Mercury? It can be a rich inward journey, mentally and psychically.
Mercury is the psychopomp, the quicksilver traveller able to take us into the upper, middle and lower realms, unscathed by the deep themes or the high highs.
When retrograde, Mercury hangs-out in any of those realms, to contemplate and reconsider the very themes of the sign and house it is moving in. How it plays out for you personally is reflected in several ways--the house Gemini rules in your chart, where your natal Mercury is, and of course the sign Mercury is transiting in.
Mercury is currently in Capricorn.
Capricorn rules housing, banking, real estate, business, structures, the bones of things, i.e., foundations. Capricorn is the elder Earth sign and represents stewardship, responsibility, management, time, elders, authorities, society. Ultimately Capricorn seeks the quest of inner authorship, to reach sovereignty through honoring the elder-feminine yin within.
If in integrity--the highest expression of Capricorn cares about the management (doing the right thing, being in right-relationship) of its social sphere and the community, world, business, people, family…it has built.
Interesting the Global summit for curbing fossil fuels just occurred, with Pluto in the last degrees of Capricorn (big business run amok).
There is a weightiness to our thoughts, even grave ones as the more serious themes of life present (parents, paternal and matriarchal lines, money, wills, inheritance, governance, taxes and so on) in the general jubilation of December and/or the somberness the holidays can bring.
This December is extra highlighted by the fiery energy of Mars traveling with the Sun in Sagittarius, brings us a sense of great optimism and a force to charge ahead. With Mercury's retrograde today though, the energy gets dialed back.
Mars was squaring mid-degrees Virgo/Pisces, right on the heels (heals) of Mercury turning, so the 1960's folks with Uranus-Pluto conjunction, and Saturn for some souls received a square from Mars within the last week or two. The build up of Mars aspecting those planets along with the transiting Moon passing over was explosive for many, presenting as a severing (Mars cuts through) of something that was hidden, toxic, or unspoken, presenting through a shocking rupture in a longtime friendship, relationship that needed to occur. The truth (Sagittarius) needed to come out.
I put heals in parentheses because healing is included in this turning time, if we allow it.
Personally this Mercury retrograde initiates in my 7th house, the home of Libra, ruling partnerships and open enemies. I had a sudden surprise with a longtime friend (right when transiting Mars was squaring my natal Uranus=friends). With Mercury’s turning, and the fact the friend has early Sun in Capricorn and I have the Moon in Capricorn, significant opportunities for clearing old patterns relating to mother has presenting in important and insightful ways. And I dare say also for my friend. . .a matriarchal lineage invitation of healing for both of us.
But Capricorn is not the end of the story, as Mercury continues its backward motion into the sign of Sagittarius. Sagittarius is my Descendant and is most of my 6th house, the house of health. I can already foresee, a desire and need to add juicing back into my daily routine (6th house), for good. Both the liver and the hips are associated with Sagittarius, and juicing is ideal for the liver.
The liver is the Master organ and can guide on a significant level if we allow it. Meaning if you want to increase your intuition-Sagittarius, be in direct relationship with your liver.
My favorite juice combos are carrot, ginger, apple with a little lemon and parsley, kale, cucumber, lemon and a few slices of apple.
Happy Mercury season everyone.