Mercury The Magician and Guardian of Thresholds Goes Retrograde

Once again here we are in Mercury Retrograde period.  The planetary messenger stations and turns retrograde early today.  Often filled with inconveniences and misunderstandings from the banal and trite to the more aggravating, it is a time that even the most astrologically unaware have come to dread.  And believe me, I understand.  This particular one is dancing across a very sensitive part of my chart and every time I turn around something is breaking down or falling through the cracks.  
This Mercury Retrograde is in the sign of Cancer so the Cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are going to be particularly affected.  But even if you are not one of those signs you have all of them somewhere within your chart. For example, I have Jupiter and Saturn in Capricorn in the 10th house and Mars in Cancer in the 3rd house.   In short the areas of career and parents (10th), siblings, my neighborhood (daily environment) and communication (3rd) are all affected.  And because any chart could easily be compared to a beautiful spider’s web, those areas are link to many other places within my chart.
Below I will list the areas affected for each sign but I wanted to share a little about Mercury first because I have to admit, as much as the swirl of daily details not going as expected can drive me a bit crazy, part of me always looks forward to Mercury Retrograde because I have learned understand his secrets and listen to his signs.  
Also, I need to note that we have an eclipse at 0 degrees Cancer this Sunday the 21st and as Mercury is in Cancer the same part of your chart is affected by the eclipse.  
Mercury is a mischievous archetype and in the modern lexicon greatly underestimated and misunderstood.  He is the God of communication and travel but there is so much more depth to him.
In Greek mythology he was known as the way finder, the God who was always sent in to move the story forward when the hero or heroine had become mired in their circumstances.  

When you are at an impasse and don’t know which way to turn Mercury is your guy. 
Need something negotiated?   Again, Mercury is who you would send in to get the job done.
He rules over the crossroads and thresholds.  He rules magic and healing.  “As Above so Below” literally was his song given to mortals in the Emerald Tablet.  So revered as holding secrets tot the universe countless “scientists” translated it including the illustrious Issac Newton.    In alchemy he was represented by the Unicorn and the alchemists were intent on fixing the elusive Mercury Spirit so that they could understand birds, creatures and the secrets of the universe itself.  He rules birds and the ancient Roman practice of  Augury - divination from interpreting the flight patterns of the birds.  
He created language and the alphabet.  Looking for an omen? Mercury is your guy. 
The Caduceus now associated with medicine was the magical golden staff that he always carried.  And he alone among the Gods was the Psychopomp able to travel between the worlds, including to the underworld without paying a price. 
Mercury, the Magician,  helps point the way forward and moves us in the right direction but we have to slow down and take the time to pay attention and listen to what he is trying to communicate.  How is he trying to get your attention?   If we listen maybe he won’t reset to something like a flat tire or in my case a dishwasher refusing to drain.  Water rules emotions, thus I have actively taken a breath and asked what have I been avoiding feeling?   

So while I don’t recommend signing a contract, closing on a house or booking a plane ticket here are the things I recommend looking at between now and July 12:  At his core Mercury is all about remaining curious and open, about enjoying the journey and noticing the vista along the way rather than getting caught up in the destination.   When he is retrograde Mercury reminds us to slow down, pull over and enjoy the view.  While our goals are important it is each small step that gets us there and life is full, oh o full, of much beauty along the way.
 
Explore what thresholds are beckoning you to enter or are you already standing at one in your life?    What new curious horizon is calling you forward? What urge might be hovering just below the level of conscious awareness?  This is a great time to do some inner work via meditation or journaling to listen deeply to the voice within.  
​Go for a walk and notice what appears in your path.  A dove? That’s a bird sacred to Venus the Goddess of love, beauty and the arts.  A dog or coyote (sacred to Mercury in his role as trickster)?  Dogs were sacred to Artemis who can be seen in part as symbolizing our connection with the wild within.  Maybe your life has felt a little too tame lately and Mercury is urging you to re-connect with your playful side. 
Activate the psychopomp and get rid of what is metaphorically dead in your life by clearing some clutter to make space for something new to arrive.   
It is a time to look back, reassess, re-organize and reflect.  You will be richly rewarded with inner revelation that sets the stage for the time to follow.  
Aries and Aries Rising:  Roots, home and family will be affected.  You might feel a great push and pull between who you are at home and who you are out in the world. More of you will be pushed to make sure the two are in closer alignment. Authenticity is the word of the day.  Letting out your deeper expressions of feeling to another can make things especially intimate right now, but make sure you express yourself clearly and are not misunderstood. The perfect time to feel “at home” with someone, either literally or figuratively. Where you stand is sacred ground, now is the perfect time to reclaim it. 
Taurus and Taurus Rising:  The area of your chart associated communication and social activity is highlighted.  It may seem as thought the phone is ringing off the hook, or that you are bursting to the brim with new ideas. Lots of opportunities might be coming your way.   And it may just be that you are bursting at the seems and eager to get out into the world again.  
Gemini and Gemini Rising:  This Retrograde is highlighting your 2nd house of money and values.   It may feel like unexpected expenses pop up or, on the bright side, it may also be that money that has been owed to you unexpected returns. Either way keep an eye on your bank account and more importantly ( money issues pass) use this time to explore what’s really meaning fun and matters to you that yo can move forward on after July 12th. 
Cancer and Cancer Rising:  This Mercury Retrograde ( and eclipse) heralds a time to prepare for a personal beginning.   This is the moment to prepare to launch what you’re going to do next from the small to the more significant rather than pulling back into your shell.  Ask yourself what new horizon to I want to take a step towards?  Gather your forces and move forward with Mercury at your side in mid-July.
Leo and Leo Rising: This retrograde is moving through your 12th house which rules our unconscious mind, and intuitive abilities.  Keeping a dream journal during this period could be particularly rewarding. Meditation also will be especially gratifying.   This is a gestation period, pay attention to signals from your unconscious mind.  Or it might be that  there is a lot going on behind the scenes and you have plans to launch.  It ’s not time to make your plans public yet, if you can, wait until after the new Moon in Leo on July 20th.  
Virgo and Virgo Rising:  Your 11th house of tribe is being highlighted.  It’s time to reach out and connect or reconnect to close friends.  Shake the dust off of your dreams  during this retrograde and select one small doable goal that you could take a step towards after Mercury goes direct. New opportunities might be coming up or something on the back burner suddenly makes a new appearance.  If you can try to put off doing anything concrete until after Mercury goes direct on July 12th.  If you can’t wait just double check all of the information and make sure that the details are clear to all involved parties.
Libra and Libra Rising:  There are new developments your professional life that  may have you quite wound, particularly around the eclipse on the 21st and the pressure to produce can be intense. Remember to slow down where you can and reorient yourself.  It is as important to listen at this time as to act. What people are saying to you and about you very much reflects your personal and professional status and you will want to make sure that you are being represented authentically.  
Scorpio and Scorpio Rising:  As much as you may be itching to get out in the world, it’s a great time for planning, cooking up new schemes, or rearranging the way you look at things. What beliefs do you have that are in the way of you moving forward?  What new vistas would it be fun to explore?  Work to get a sense of the big picture because if you try to establish the pattern now it will need to be reworked after Mercury goes direct on July 12. This is the planning period that will take flight  after things begin to move forward again.
Sagittarius and Sagittarius Rising:  With Mercury Retrograde in the 8th house this is a profound time of letting go of what is no longer serving you or your life.  Where have you put off moving forward? What are you trying to make work that really has outlived it’s time? The 8th house reminds us that everything in our lives has a cycle. The 8th also also rules inheritance and other people’s money, including debts and taxes. Keep an eye on your spending, double check your taxes if you haven’t sent them in already.
Capricorn and Capricorn Rising:  Mercury is retrograde in your 7th house of partnerships.  Old flames may come back into you life, or perhaps old business opportunities.  The 7th house is the house of contractual relationships. There are a particularly ripe couple of days around the eclipse on the 21st for finding a new partner or turning over a new leaf with an old partner. Just take your time with Mercury Retrograde, slow down and really listen.  You may find a flood of emotional intensity coming your way and how you utilize it could largely shape the direction of the relationship. It is a time to be particularly understanding and realize that though feelings may be overstated at this time and emotions run hot, the message underneath is sincere and needs to be taken seriously. Communication is key.  
Aquarius and Aquarius Rising:  Now is the time to get your head out of the clouds and deal with the nitty gritty details of everyday life. As an Aquarian myself, I know details aren’t necessarily your thing. You like the big picture but Mercury is retrograde in your 6th house which rules your health, job and the daily grind. Take care of yourself, eat healthily, go for a walk, take a deep breath. Take this time to plan and focus on the next small step in front of you.  Something may be calling to you but choose your new path well before you embark or it will be a flash in the pan.
Pisces and Pisces Rising:  Mercury is retrograde in your 5th house of play.  This is a time to let loose and have some fun.  Make love, dance, anything you do for enjoyment will seem twice as good right now. Reclaim your creativity and break the inner child out of jail.  If you call on the muse for a creative project, she will definitely show up and you’ll find that your juices flow faster and easier than usual. Throw a spontaneous dance party.  Put on some music and do some automatic writing asking Mercury to divine messages from your angels.  Pay attention to your creative urges right now and you will be richly rewarded.