As you probably already know - like it or not, the dreaded Mercury entered retrograde motion in Libra on the 27th September to transit through it until the 18th October.
By now the famous effects of "Mercury Retrograde" are so recognised and entered into common language, that even those who are not fond of Astrology use it as an excuse when something goes wrong.
Precisely, in recent days, we have had evidence of the "harmful" influence of this astrological aspect: the servers of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp have been short-circuited for hours on a global scale. The most sceptical of you will ask: what does Mercury have to do with a technical problem in social media? We are here to explain it to you.
Mercury takes its name from the Roman God patron of commerce, travel, eloquence, transformation and speed (just to name a few). The planet, therefore, governs everything related to communication, the exchange of information and goods. In its direct motion, its energy propels us positively towards the expansion in our way of relating to those around us and solving problems.
In a retrograde way, the energies move in the opposite direction - that is towards the inside, thus making interactions with the outside world and, consequently, communication problematic.
Do you see the link now, between the technical problems on social media (the quintessential tool of modern communication) and the stars?
What little is talked about is that not only Mercury can be found in this particular motion but also the other planets of the Solar System, and - for every retrograde aspect - there is a lesson to be learned and not just a fatalistic justification for the own bad luck.
Like all the movements and cycles of this universe, we can channel their energies in the most suitable way. The fundamental rule is to study them, get to know them and get in tune with them - like all the laws of the cosmos.
First of all, what does “retrograde motion” mean?
According to Western Astrology, the observation of the planets in the celestial vault takes place in a geocentric way - we observe their movements from planet Earth; the celestial bodies in their diurnal motion seem to rotate from West to East.
This motion sometimes seems to stop and proceed in the opposite way along their elliptical, moving from East to West, (obviously this is an optical illusion, due to the rotation of the Earth around its axis and the movements of the planets around the Sun.)
When they proceed in reverse for a limited period of time, it is called "retrograde motion".
As well explained by this map, there are several phases in the apparent motion of a planet:
Directed Motion: the “natural” motion of the planet, according to which energies move according to their natural flow.
Cone of Shadow / Pre-Shadow: the point where the planet begins to slow down, thus also braking the flow of energy, up to the stationing point.
Retrograde Motion: the phase in which the celestial body seems to proceed in the opposite direction, making the energies connected to a particular planet flow in the contrary direction. In the case of Mercury, a planet linked to communication, it is a propitious period for introspection, for communication with one's self. On the other hand, it is not a suitable period for external communication.
Cone of Shadow / Post-Shadow: the phase in which the planet returns to move in direct motion, but with a still slowed speed. The influences of retrograde motion may still be felt.
Directed Motion: we return again to the natural mode of transit, with the consequent return of the energies towards their usual course.
All planets observable from Earth go through phases of retrograde motion - more or less long, depending on where they are located in the Solar System.
The farther the planet is from the Sun, the longer the period of apparent retrograde motion and the more frequently it occurs: Mars, for example, has a period of retrograde motion which lasts 72 days and occurs approximately every 25 months to coincide with its opposition; while Saturn enters it every 13 months in a retrograde motion lasting 138 days.
How do the planets behave in their motions and what to expect?
Here is a brief guide, for a quick reference:
Mercury ☿: As explained above, this planet governs the way we communicate, think and reason. In retrograde motion, it can create some confusion in traffic, communications or with technology. As mentioned, this is a propitious time to communicate inward and do introspection, rather than projecting outward.
Venus ♀: it regulates everything related to our way of loving, our concept of beauty and the value we give to ourselves. In retrograde motion, it forces us to evaluate people or situations that we thought were long superseded or our current relationships. It is a good time to ask yourself how much a relationship is worth, to try to remedy something, to clarify something that prevents us from expressing ourselves as we would like with our closest loved ones.
Mars ♂: it regulates our sexuality, our way of acting, fighting and confronting others. In retrograde motion, its action can be very abrupt and create conflicts, with outbursts of anger and nervousness; the energies of retrograde Mars are to be channelled by developing resilience, patience and activating healthy processes of competition to improve oneself.
Jupiter ♃: it regulates our luck, destiny and our spiritual and philosophical research; being sometimes considered a generational planet, its effects are experienced more collectively than personally. In retrograde motion it can question our values and encourage us to see things from a different point of view, it can bring us opportunities that, if caught, will bear fruit when it returns to direct motion.
Saturn ♄: the planet of reasoning, rules, structure and time. In direct motion it acts to eliminate what is wrong in our life; when it is retrograde it leads us to be even more reflective and makes us aware of the changes it is bringing in our existence. It is the ideal time to enhance, rework and develop our current situation and see reality clearly.
Uranus ♅: the planet of changes, always comes into our life in a very stormy way. When it is retrograde, the revolutionary forces of Uranus stand by, preparing to spring back into the world in the next direct motion. It is an opportunity to plan and develop a plan to be manifested once the natural order of things has been restored. Uranus will then be the celestial agent that will allow us to realise it at the right time.
Neptune ♆: the planet that rules the dream world, our subconscious, spirituality and every creative expression. Even in direct motion, it acts in a subtle and submerged way; in its retrograde motion these effects will be particularly exaggerated - making it difficult for us to recognise reality from deception, making us lose our bearings. If these are the effects on the material world, in the spiritual world we can connect with our intuition, dreams, creativity and psychic abilities with greater ease.
Pluto ♇ the planet that governs the process of "death and rebirth", eliminating what we do not need in our path and making us lift our heads with renewed energy. In retrograde motion, it creates space for reflection: we can use these energies to contemplate what brings inner dissatisfaction, and then gradually (but radically) eliminate old problems and old, harmful habits.
As mentioned above, this is really a very schematic guide, as there would be many things to say - but fear not! Like with every lunation and on the occasion of every important astrological event, we will give you the information you need to make the most of the energies in circulation. However, we invite you to do your research and, above all, to channel the energies and live them on your skin.
There are no bogeys in the Universe, if we know the laws that govern it in depth in order to safely navigate the dense waters of the Cosmos. I leave you with an illuminating quote, to remind you that - with the necessary knowledge - we are the masters of our destiny.
"Astra Inclinant, non necessitant." - St. Thomas Aquinas
(The stars incline us, they do not bind us)
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