Mercury turns retrograde today (February 23) and it’s time to go over the things we’ve done in the past in order to help perfect our future. Mercury is in Pisces now where it tends to be more adaptable and flexible and doesn’t mind reversing itself in order to improve the flow of our lives so this retrograde period may not be as difficult as some others.
Mercury turns retrograde for three weeks four times a year, so it is not a rare event. I like to think of retrograde periods as being similar to ocean waves on a beach. The ocean comes towards the shore, and then it retreats so that it can come once more – the ebb and flow of life. We progress forwards in our life, marching towards the end of time, and then periodically we retreat, take a break, and re-evaluate that progress. We correct the things that aren’t working, and improve the things that are.
While it’s true that Mercury retrograde periods are not great times to plan a vacation or make a major purchase, I confess I do these things all the time. In my real estate business I can’t take off three weeks four times a year when Mercury turns retrograde, but if I have to sign a contract during that time I know to be prepared for renegotiations and reversals.
But Mercury retrograde is not the only news – we also have a Full Moon on February 25th in Virgo, the sign of practical reality and the body/mind/spirit system. I personally believe that Chiron is the modern ruler of Virgo because both share an attention to the balance between mental and spiritual health to the physical body. This emphasis on balance and healing is embedded in the chart of the Full Moon since the Sun and Moon are tightly linked to Chiron (the Sun conjoins Chiron and the Moon opposes it).
The Sun/Chiron combination is squared by Jupiter, planet of expansion and ideology which suggests that the concepts that underpin our reality are likely to be stretched at this time in order to accommodate the necessary healing process. With five planets in Pisces and Mercury retrograde, much of this will be operating through the subconscious and imaginal realms.
Venus enters Pisces just after the Full Moon, at which time there will be SIX PLANETS in Pisces. This is a very big lineup of planets in one sign, and several of them are trined by Saturn which helps to anchor the dreamy hopes and fantasies of Pisces. And of course the Virgo Moon desires order and grounding through ritual and established patterns of action. Mars is approaching a harmonious trine to the North Node now which helps to motivate us towards our highest good, despite the pull of the past.
In the Full Moon the lunar influence opposes the solar, and in this lunation Virgo opposes Pisces: the practical left-brain Virgo opposite the right-brain transcendence of Pisces. But Pisces is very heavily weighted here which could create some anxiety if an attempt is not made to ground the entire experience into something practical. Bring a pen and paper, or go for a walk in the woods and try if you can to stay away from technology during this Full Moon. This time is about going within and finding the rich experience of the inner landscape and that requires re-treat and re-juvenation, perfect for Mercury retrograde.
