Astrology can be helpful with so many aspects of life, and one of the biggest reasons why a lot of people start studying astrology is to help them with their lives. They've been through a difficult period, a traumatizing experience, they've got baggage and issues that they need to work through, and they're looking for some help. Astrology can be a powerful tool to help you get through this wonky thing we call life, and if you're looking to identify some of the biggest baggage you need to work on, zero in on the South Node. What does the South Node mean in astrology?
The South Node is a part of the Lunar Nodes, which are the points in the Moon's orbit where the Moon crosses the ecliptic. There are two Lunar Nodes, a North Node and a South Node. They exactly oppose one another in the Zodiac, and oppose one another in energy, though they are both karmic/spiritual in nature.
The North Node represents the future, your potential, what you have to work to grow into. It's unfamiliar and uncomfortable, so it can take time and effort to actually grow into it. We tend to shy away from the North Node. The South Node, on the other hand, is the past, what you know and have experienced (in early life or in past lives). It's familiar and comfortable, so we tend to hang out around the South Node for a while, and can revert to it in times of stress and emotional upset. But this causes the South Node to become bad habits we need to break, emotional crutches we need to let go of, and comes with a lot of baggage that has to be understood and released. South Node Astrology
The South Node, while comfortable, is a heavy position. It's that baggage that's weighing us down! But we often don't even realize that's what's happening with the South Node. We're so used to it that it doesn't feel unusual, or like it should be any different. When it's all you know, you don't realize that there's something better out there.
In our younger years, it's natural to stick to the South Node. We haven't learned anything yet, and we have to get learning before we can start moving away from the negative energy here. As we get older, we should start learning to quit the bad habits, drop the emotional crutches, and that the baggage actually is weighing us down and isn't so good for us. That's when we can move toward the North Node. Now, you don't have to abandon the South Node completely. Since this is energy we already know and have learned, the South Node can serve as a base to grow from, and these can be areas of strength or even talent that we possess that can come in handy as we move forward. Ultimately, you want to manifest your South Node in a positive way, and not ignore it completely. How to Identify Baggage With the South Node
Like any position in astrology, you'll look at the sign and house placement for your South Node first. You'll also want to look for any planets in your natal chart that are in the same sign as your South Node.
There are often issues associated with these positions that you need to work on. They may be relationship issues (7th house, Libra, Venus), they may be overwhelm from responsibility (Capricorn, 10th house, Saturn), they may be emotional or family related (Moon, 4th house, Cancer) - getting an idea of what the signs, houses, and planets rule can help in figuring it out. Some ideas: Aries/Mars/1st house: issues with being too independent, violence, anger, impulse Taurus/Venus [in an earth or water sign]/2nd house: issues with laziness, money, stubbornness, values Gemini/Mercury [in a fire or air sign]/3rd house: issues with the mind/communication/expression, in immediate environment Cancer/Moon/4th house: issues with emotions, the home/family, where you come from Leo/Sun/5th house: issues with identity, immaturity, creative expression Virgo/Mercury [in an earth or water sign]/6th house: issues with being overly critical, practical, or anxious Libra/Venus [in a fire or air sign]/7th house: issues with relationships, overly dependent on others, balance challenges Scorpio/Pluto/8th house: issues with violence/abuse, chaos, obsession, domination Sagittarius/Jupiter/9th house: issues with running from problems, pushing others away Capricorn/Saturn/10th house: issues with responsibilities, being judged, too externally focused Aquarius/Uranus/11th house: issues with emotional distance, erratic energy and instability Pisces/Neptune/12th house: issues with karmic baggage, too scattered and unfocused Suggested Link: Finding Potential With North Node Astrology 
The final month of 2019 comes with a full moon in air sign Gemini and the last eclipse of the year, a solar eclipse in Capricorn. Dive in! What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs with a new moon, which is when the transit (moving) Sun and Moon are in the exact same position in the Zodiac (called a conjunction). It's an eclipse when it occurs within 18 1/2 degrees of the lunar nodes. Solar eclipses are related to beginnings, have high energy, and are enthusiastic. They are big energy for the new.
What is a full moon?
A full moon occurs when the transit (moving) Sun and Moon are in the exact opposite positions in the Zodiac (called an opposition). Full moons are related to endings, culminations, and are emotional energy.
Full Moon in Gemini: December 12th 2019 (12:12AM ET)
December's full moon comes to us in airy Gemini, the sign of the mind. Since full moons tend to be emotional energy, this can mean we're more expressive with what we feel, and want to connect our hearts and minds. We can get things off of our chest, speak what's on our minds, and we can be more open and honest. Gemini full moons are great times to speak truth, to be authentic, and to share what we've been holding in. We may not feel the need to hold it back anymore - it's time for the truth, and it may set us free or it may create disaster, but it's gotta come out! (funnily enough, the full moon is sextile - positive aspect - asteroid Fides, one of the asteroids of truth!)
A Gemini full moon is a good time to sit down with ideas and plans and get them sorted out. Some ideas, we're not passionate about and won't work hard at and aren't realistic, so we can put those aside. Some plans, we need more information to pursue or they're not practical. We can get them sorted, and figure out which are the ideas and plans we're passionate about, invested in, and want to pursue, and which we put aside. You may do this with the ideas and plans related to the areas of life ruled by the house the full moon occurs in for you. Ideas and plans we've already taken action with, we can start to see the culmination now. We can focus on completion, and see the results of these ideas and plans. We can take final action, get final opinions and advice, and make final negotiations. Put on the finishing touches, then get it done. Gemini rules our immediate environment, young people, and learning, so we may finish plans for work in our communities or complete projects we've already started; we may help out the young people in our lives, and see young people taking a stand and speaking truth; or we may finish learning something or become more passionate about learning something. The full moon occurs at 19 degrees 51 minutes Gemini. The major aspects this full moon makes are: Conjunction: 17 degrees 51 minutes - 21 degrees 51 minutes Gemini Sextile: 17 degrees 51 minutes - 21 degrees 51 minutes Aries or Leo Square: 17 degrees 51 minutes - 21 degrees 51 minutes Virgo or Pisces Trine: 17 degrees 51 minutes - 21 degrees 51 minutes Libra or Aquarius Opposition: 17 degrees 51 minutes - 21 degrees 51 minutes Sagittarius Solar Eclipse in Capricorn: December 25th 2019 (12:12AM ET)
And December comes with the last eclipse of 2019, a solar eclipse in Capricorn! And this eclipse comes as Capricorn energy has gotten a huge boost thanks to Jupiter entering Capricorn, joining Saturn and Pluto. Venus will also be in Capricorn to start December, though not for this eclipse; but the Sun obviously is, and Mercury enters Capricorn December 28th. Big Capricorn energy!
This is an excellent time for focusing on Capricorn stuff, namely goals, long-term plans, and your life direction. Goals can be anything you set your mind to that you want to achieve with, whether personal or professional. You can get disciplined and make major progress with them. Move forward! Long-term plans have to be thought through, researched, detailed, and practical. This ensures that when you take action with them, you'll make progress and stick with it. Wacky plans get you nowhere, at least with Capricorn! And you want to make sure you're going in the right direction to achieve what you ultimately want in your life. If you're not, you can quickly change paths to get on the right one. If you are on the right path, you can become more focused and disciplined. With Capricorn, you can accomplish in a big way, but you have to do things the right way (no cutting corners) and for the right reasons (not because you should-could-have to). Behave responsibly, ethically, and passionately (but productively!). I highly recommend you read through the Jupiter in Capricorn article so you can be ready for all of the energy that's coming! This eclipse is conjunct (aligned with) Jupiter, adding to the big Capricorn energy and helping us to explore, find new opportunities, expand in new ways, and go bigger with everything. Go big, go bright! The eclipse is also trine (positive aspect, four signs away) Uranus in Taurus, so we can do things differently, embrace the unconventional, and not feel so locked in. This helps us move through the traditional, disciplined Capricorn energy and make some changes that need to be made. The solar eclipse occurs at 4 degrees 6 minutes Capricorn. The aspects this eclipse makes are: Conjunction: 0 degrees 0 minutes - 9 degrees 6 minutes Capricorn Semisextile: 2 degrees 6 minutes - 6 degrees 6 minutes Sagittarius or Aquarius Sextile: 0 degrees 0 minutes - 9 degrees 6 minutes Scorpio or Pisces Square: 0 degrees 0 minutes - 9 degrees 6 minutes Aries or Libra Trine: 0 degrees 0 minutes - 9 degrees 6 minutes Taurus or Virgo Quincunx: 2 degrees 6 minutes - 6 degrees 6 minutes Gemini or Leo Opposition: 0 degrees 0 minutes - 9 degrees 6 minutes Cancer Note that since this eclipse is early in Capricorn, you may feel some aspects made out-of-sign (as if it were in previous sign Sagittarius). This will ONLY be at points at 29 degrees though, and only the major aspects: Conjunction: Sagittarius Sextile: Libra or Aquarius Square: Virgo or Pisces Trine: Aries or Leo Opposition: Gemini Suggested Reading: New & Full Moons page for general interpretations 
Jupiter, my Jupiter! The planet of expansion is moving into a new sign, leaving its home sign of Sagittarius on December 2nd 2019 (1:19PM ET) and entering sober Capricorn, to stay until December 19th 2020 (8:07AM ET). We start a new Jupiter journey in a new Jupiter sign. Make sure you're signed up for the monthly worksheet if you want to keep track of the transit planets every month! How Jupiter in Capricorn 2019-2020 Impacts You
Jupiter in Capricorn focuses on expanding on the Capricorn energy. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, and expands on anything its touching. So, the focus is on Capricorn now. What does Capricorn rule?
Capricorn is the sign of goals and ambitions. This is often the sign of career, but know that goals and ambitions don't have to automatically be professional, and can be personal. It's whatever we're striving for in our lives, whatever we're trying to succeed in some way with. This may be trying to get a promotion at work and get some career recognition, but it also can be trying to get pregnant, trying to get married, trying to start a charity, etc. Whatever your ultimate goals are! Jupiter in Capricorn can make us more ambitious, striving to achieve and succeed, to make more progress on our path, and to feel like we're getting somewhere. Capricorn rules our direction, the path our lives take, and we can focus on trying to get on the right path and stay on the right path. If we're already on the right path, we can become more committed to it; if we're not on the right path, we have to make hard choices and get disciplined. We may see a lot of people embark on some new career paths. Discipline is a Capricorn thing as this sign wants us to achieve as much as possible and set up our lives not just for now and the present, but for the rest of our lives. This sign thinks long-term, so we're not just focused on instant gratification. Instead, we want to make sure that we're doing things in a way that will sustain us for years to come. Capricorn is naturally ruled by Saturn, and Saturn is the teacher. Saturn wants us to learn lessons and do things the right way and for the right reason. When we go with that, we can get rewarded in the biggest ways, so those who have been doing that can see the biggest rewards with Jupiter in Capricorn. When we don't go with that, we can experience major setbacks, delays, failures, and frustrations, so those who haven't been doing things right can feel pushed down, held back, and have to look in the mirror and re-evaluate. Capricorn is a responsible sign, so we can take responsibilities more seriously, and focus more on how to manage them. We may feel like we have a lot more of them, and we may not actually have more of them, but we feel like we do because we're taking things more seriously. On a personal level, you can experience any or all of this over the next year in the areas of life ruled by the house(s) transit Jupiter will move through in your natal chart while in Capricorn. How Jupiter in Capricorn Differs From Jupiter in Sagittarius
Jupiter is the natural ruler of Sagittarius, so the planet is very at home in Sagittarius. Jupiter in Capricorn is a lot more buttoned-up! Sagittarius is free, wanting to wander, to explore, to have new experiences, and to open up to opportunities. Capricorn is practical, focused, committed, and takes a steady approach. Sagittarius thinks big and bright while Capricorn think realistically.
These things aren't really opposed to one another though! Sagittarius is the sign before Capricorn, which means that Sagittarius energy is what leads to Capricorn energy and makes Capricorn energy possible in the first place. We go from the big ideas of Sagittarius to creating realistic plans to achieve them with Capricorn; we go from opening up to opportunities in Sagittarius to making progress and achieving success in Capricorn; we go from wandering and exploring in Sagittarius to growing wiser from our experiences in Capricorn. The Capricorn Stellium of 2019-2020
Jupiter in Capricorn isn't a typical transit. Not even close! Why? Because Jupiter won't be the only planet in Capricorn. Jupiter joins Saturn and Pluto already in this sign!
This is a big deal! It creates what is called a stellium in astrology, which is when 3+ planets are together in one sign. In your natal chart, a stellium is a source of tremendous power and ability (once you learn how to use it). When there is a stellium in transit of the slower-moving planets (as Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto are), this is a huge deal for the entire world, every one of us. It means there is a highly concentrated energy out there, and we're suuuuper focused on something. Like, the whole world may literally be crazy focused on some very specific events, causes, subjects. In mundane astrology, Capricorn rules our governments and politics. It has not escaped me in the slightest that we in the U.S. are going to have a pretty pivotal election in 2020 while this stellium is happening! All of that rhetoric about it being one of the most important elections in our history? Not a joke! (especially since the U.S. also has Pluto in Capricorn in the national chart, and is going to experience its first Pluto Return as a country in 2021) Brace for impact, folks . . . I doubt this will just be a U.S. thing though (albeit I do understand the rest of the world is quite concerned about our politics!). The last time we had a Capricorn stellium was late 1980's-start 1990's with Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and during that time, we saw the fall of the Soviet Union. That makes sense considering Uranus the rebel and change-maker and Neptune the dissolver were involved; this time, we've got expansive Jupiter and transformer Pluto in the mix. So it seems to spell major transformations, potentially of entire countries/governments. Capricorn is also ruler of institutions, so we may see some big institutions get even bigger, and others completely collapse. Some important people may get more respect and success, while others may suffer huge falls and blows. Capricorn, being ruled by Saturn, is also a restrictive sign, confining and limiting, so we may in general feel like some things become more confined, more restricted in some way. We may feel overwhelmed by some of the big things we're dealing with as companies, societies, and countries (heck, even as a species fighting for survival!). Responsibilities just weigh on us more. Heavy is the head that wears the crown . . . You might want to check out the article about Saturn in Capricorn HERE after this one! Special Periods During Jupiter in Capricorn
When Jupiter enters Capricorn, Saturn and Pluto will already be in Capricorn, as will Venus (until December 20th), so we'll have 4 planets in this sign. Hopefully Venus makes the transition a little smoother! The Sun enters Capricorn the day after Venus leaves on December 21st, so we'll be right back to 4 planets in Capricorn, and we'll have a solar eclipse in Capricorn December 25th that is conjunct Jupiter (and Jupiter triggers right around the eclipse on December 20th). So we're REALLY feeling the energy pretty much at the start! But it should be in a more positive way where we're working on managing it and sticking to those plans!
Mercury enters Capricorn December 28th, and we'll have 5 planets in Capricorn for almost 3 weeks! (the Mercury leaves Capricorn January 16th 2020 and the Sun leaves Capricorn January 20th 2020) Kicking up the Capricorn energy even more, we'll be super focused on plans and realistic ideas with Mercury, and take on responsibilities and act like adults with the Sun. Saturn and Pluto will conjunct on January 12th at 22 degrees Capricorn, to add some icing to the cake. Supreme responsibilities, supreme goals, supreme transformations - we can handle it, we just have to keep with it! Mars is in Capricorn February 16th 2020, and the planet of energy and drive brings more focus to the Capricorn energy. More goals, more plans, more progress, more limitations! But Saturn starts moving toward Aquarius, leaving Capricorn March 21st and not coming back until July 1st (until December 17th). So there is a slight break of over 3 months where it's only Jupiter and Pluto in Capricorn and Saturn gives us a break. But just as Saturn comes back in July, we'll have a lunar eclipse in Capricorn July 5th; thankfully it's not conjunct Jupiter, Saturn, or Pluto, but Mercury will be retrograde in Cancer, so emotional energy is sure to be high, and we can feel pretty off. Not a huge fan of July! Jupiter turns retrograde May 14th at 27 degrees 14 minutes Capricorn. It's in orb conjunct transit Pluto and trine the Sun. But Venus turns retrograde the day before on May 13th! At 21 degrees Gemini, so not aspecting Jupiter, but with Saturn turning retrograde May 11th to boot, we're likely going to feel like things are swirling quite a bit mid-May 2020. Jupiter retrograde ends September 12th at 17 degrees 24 minutes Capricorn. It's in orb sextile transit Neptune and trine the Sun again, but on September 9th, Mars turns retrograde. Aye! So we may feel like we're moving forward again in some ways, but may be frustrated by the lack of progress or the way things have been going and have to keep in control of energy. Jupiter leaves Capricorn and enters Aquarius December 19th 2020, two days after Saturn does! In fact, Jupiter and Saturn won't conjunct in Capricorn. They'll conjunct in Aquarius right after on December 21st at 0 degrees, perhaps signaling a fresh new focus for the future after we've survived the Capricorn stellium. Crossing fingers! Aspects transit Jupiter makes to the slower planets while in Capricorn: - trine Uranus December 15th 2019 (2 degrees) - both are early in sign, and Uranus is trine the solar eclipse too, so this is helpful energy as we're kicking off, and we can focus on making changes in responsible ways and putting together plans for dreams - sextile Neptune February 20th (17 degrees), July 27th (20 degrees), October 12th 2020 (18 degrees) - this helps us use imagination and exercise compassion, and we can be more intuitive and spiritual - conjunct Pluto April 4th (24 degrees Capricorn), June 29th (24 degrees Capricorn), November 12th (22 degrees Capricorn) - extra passion and intensity to be used, digging deeper and trying to find all that's there to find, major transformations Jupiter in Capricorn Conjunct the Outer Planets in Your Natal Chart
There is a group of Millennials who have a Capricorn stellium in their natal charts! Most of those born between 1989-1991 have Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in Capricorn (and perhaps some other planets too!). Jupiter touring Capricorn will conjunct your natal Capricorn stellium and trigger whatever they're doing in your natal chart. Pay attention to the house location of this planets in your chart, and the houses that they rule (the houses with Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces on the cusps, they should be consecutive). Won't be surprised at all to see some big new, big progress, big shakeups from those born during that time!
Uranus and Neptune were in Capricorn for some years though, and Uranus and Neptune are completely opposite to Capricorn (whose ruler is Saturn). Uranus is unconventional while Saturn is traditional, and Neptune is fantasies while Capricorn is reality. So if Jupiter in Capricorn will conjunct your natal Uranus in Capricorn, this may set off a desire to break free, to make changes, to be independent, to be a little rebellious, or to shake up the status quo. This is a time to work on creating new traditions, or finding different ways of being responsible and ambitious. If Jupiter in Capricorn will conjunct your natal Neptune in Capricorn, this may increase imagination, compassion, intuition, or spiritual energy. This is a time to work on making your dreams and fantasies into tangible reality. Final Note on Jupiter in Capricorn
So Jupiter in Capricorn is going to be quite interesting! And perhaps painful, or meaningful, or wonderful, or confusing, or suffocating, or the best ever - or all of the above!
Also, a quick note for *before* this transit starts - transit Jupiter will conjunct asteroid Truth (literally one of the truth asteroids) just before Jupiter enters Capricorn on November 29th 2019. This occurs at 29 degrees Sagittarius, which is the anaretic degree (the last degree of any sign and a point of crisis energy). So watch for some big, potentially game-changing truths to come out around then! Suggested Reading: Transit Jupiter page for interpretations for Jupiter in the houses and aspects 
Mercury retrograde is upon us again! Lots of the focus of Mercury retrograde is usually on relationships, but Mercury is also the natural ruler of work. Many of us will wonder about how Mercury retrograde can impact your job, career, the professional impact. So let's dive into that! What is Mercury retrograde in astrology?
A planet is called retrograde when it appears to be moving backward from our view here on Earth; it isn't actually moving backward, and just looks that way. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto move backward in retrograde motion for months at a time, and Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are retrograde almost as much as they're not. This means their retrograde periods aren't quite so formidable.
Mercury, Venus, and Mars retrograde, on the other hand, are pretty formidable! This is for two reasons, one being that they are personal planets (along with the Sun and Moon, but they don't retrograde), and personal planets have a very close tie to our personalities. We feel them in a personal way (fitting for the name!). The other reason is because they don't retrograde as much. Mars retrogrades once every 2 - 2 1/2 years for about 2 months, and Venus retrogrades about every 1 1/2 years for 1 1/2 months. Mercury retrogrades the most often, 3-4 times each year, but only for about 3 weeks at a time. It's a short burst of energy that can really throw us off, and only grows in strength as we become more and more dependent on technology. Mercury is one of the tech rulers! (along with Uranus) Mercury naturally rules the signs of Gemini and Virgo, and the 3rd and 9th houses. It's the lower octave of Uranus, and governs our communication style, our way of expressing ourselves, and our connections to our environment (3rd house/Gemini), as well as our work, daily lives, health, and pets (Virgo/6th house). Mercury is the planet of the mind. Mercury is a busy planet, always wanting to be active, on the go, doing something, anything! Mercury is the second-fastest moving planet (Moon is fastest), and loathes moving slowly, which happens during Mercury retrograde (when Mercury is moving slowest, this is the Mercury storm period, and is when Mercury is most ornery). This haphazard energy can make us a little all over the place during Mercury retrograde! Mercury Retrograde and your Career & Work & Money
Mercury is natural ruler of work, so in general, Mercury retrograde has an overall impact on our work lives. This is one of many reasons why we can get thrown off so much during Mercury retrograde (these do's and don't on Tarot.com can be pretty helpful).
Retrogrades are times when we're brought back. This can be a good thing, and we reconnect and reflect. Or this can be a bad thing, and we have to redo and reconsider. Retrogrades are times for the re-'s: revisit, revise, rethink, review, etc. Mercury retrograde is excellent for the re-'s, perhaps the best of the retrograde periods for them. Mercury retrograde is great for routine maintenance, and any routine kind of work. It's a good time to redo or pick back up old work projects, reconnect with old bosses or employees, do research on your work or the work you want to do, revise resumes, have second interviews, renegotiate, and perform followup work. Many will say it's NOT a good time to start a new job or business, sign new contracts, have first interviews, and more - but you can't get around some of this. Let's go into various scenarios: Is it okay to interview for a new job during Mercury retrograde?
If it's a second or third (or more) interview, you should be okay. What's a challenge is when it's a first interview! Now, if you set it up *before* the Mercury retrograde started, you may feel that the interview goes differently that you thought it would, or something about the job or expectations ends up being different (not necessarily bad, but different). So definitely keep an open mind and be really flexible. Also listen very carefully to what the person interviewing you say and make sure you fully understand what they want from you.
If it's set up during Mercury retrograde, it may go fine, and where it may be different is after the retrograde ends, particularly if you don't start until after it ends. New ventures can go alright if you start and end during Mercury retrograde (they'll just have a different kind of spin to them), but if you start the job after Mercury retrograde ends, there may be something about it that is different than you thought it would be. There can be extra challenges with co-workers or bosses or employees, and you have to be flexible and go with the flow of it. For you personally, it can help if you choose a day for the interview when you'll have positive aspects (sextiles and trines) to your natal Sun or 1st house ruler or cusp (rulers of the self, to help you shine), or to your natal Venus or 7th house ruler or cusp (rulers of others, to help you get along with others). One thing to note - just make sure that the interview doesn't occur while the Moon is void-of-course - that actually matters more because it means nothing will come of it! Is it okay to accept a new job during Mercury retrograde?
Similarly to interviewing, if you started the process and had the interview and got the offer and accepted all during Mercury retrograde, you can be alright (again, there will likely be something different about it though). If it started during Mercury retrograde and you'll start the job after Mercury retrograde, you may be alright as well, however watch for terms of the job changing, a delay in starting, or some confusion that has to be worked out.
If you started the process and interviewed and all *before* Mercury retrograde and you accept and start during, then watch for changes with the job after the retrograde ends. Note that you should try to choose a day to accept the job when you'll personally have a positive aspect (sextile or trine) to your natal Mercury, 3rd house ruler or cusp (for good news), or to your natal 6th or 10th house rulers or cusps (6th = work, 10th = career). This can help you negate the Mercury retrograde energy. And don't accept when the Moon is void-of-course! Is it okay to start a new job during Mercury retrograde?
If you started the process and did the interview and accepted and started the job during Mercury retrograde, you should be alright, just like interviewing and accepting (and again, there may be something different about this job).
If you interviewed and accepted *before* Mercury retrograde began and you start the job during Mercury retrograde, watch for potential delays, initial hurdles to jump over with the work, and have extra patience with yourself and others. This article by Crystal B. outlines some of the things you can expect and ways the job may change. Is it okay to ask for a raise or promotion during Mercury retrograde?
If you've asked for one before, then it can be alright; if you haven't, then it might be dicey. If you're a Mercury retrograde native, it can be the perfect time! Or if maybe your boss is a Mercury retrograde native, they may be more receptive too.
Since Mercury is a communication ruler, you do have to be careful of what you say and how you say it. You'll want to make sure you're very. very clear about what you're asking for and what you're expectations are. If Mercury retrograde will sextile or trine (positive aspects) your natal 2nd house ruler or cusp (house of money), this can be a good time for it, or if you'll experience sextiles/trines by transit Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto to your 2nd house ruler/cusp during Mercury retrograde (but without any hard aspects by Mercury retrograde to the 2nd, 6th, or 10th house rulers or cusps - then it might be rough!). Is it okay to quit a job during Mercury retrograde?
Mercury retrograde is notorious for making you absolutely loathe the work you're doing if you're not passionate about it! So that desire can be there easily if the work you're doing is not something you're really connected to. But actually doing it during Mercury retrograde?
If it's impulsive and without thought or a plan, then it's not really the best idea (unless it's a really hostile work environment). In that case, you may regret it when the retrograde is over. If you've thought about it and have a plan, then you can be alright. But do know your employer may either a, try to get you back, or b, not be a good reference! Is it okay to start a business or career during Mercury retrograde?
I totally did this! LOL! I started giving astrology readings during Mercury retrograde in December 2004. So it is totally possible to start a new business or career during Mercury retrograde (still at it 15 years later!). Though I did make sure to avoid Mercury retrograde when I started The Dark Pixie Astrology. But that Mercury retrograde in 2004 conjuncted my natal Uranus - natural planetary ruler of astrology! (Jupiter was sextile as well and in my Sun sign, and Mars was in my 1st house, great for a new beginning)
So you see, I had some supportive aspects at the same time, and that made it alright to start this career. If you have positive aspects going on to your 2nd, 6th, or 10th house rulers/cusps (the professional houses), to the 1st house ruler/cusp or Sun (great for new beginnings), or to the natural planetary or house rulers of whatever business/career you want to start, then you can be a-okay. Again, know that things will be different. I started out giving readings for years, eventually got into freelance astrology writing, and had 2 blogs before landing on The Dark Pixie Astrology. So it was roundabout to get to this place - be flexible! What does it mean if I'm fired during Mercury retrograde?
Bummer! This can happen when Mercury is retrograde in your 2nd house of money (giving money problems), 6th house of work (giving work problems), or 10th house of career (giving career problems), or making a hard aspect (conjunct, square, opposition) your 2nd, 6th, or 10th house ruler or cusp. But there usually is something else going on at the same time (Mercury retrograde alone doesn't do it, there's going to be other hard aspects at the same time).
Once the retrograde ends, it's possible your employer may want to hire you back. But it's probably best to say adios! Mercury Retrograde Protection
The best Mercury retrograde protection is to be born with Mercury retrograde! LOL! That means this energy is natural to you, and you can sail right through and not have to worry about any of this (unless Mercury is really strong in your natal chart - then you may never escape it!).
Second best is when Mercury is retrograde in your progressed chart; this makes the energy more natural to you now as you've gotten older, and you can get through it almost like a native. When neither of those is the case for you, it helps to have a Mercury retrograde native in your life to review things for you to make sure you're not missing anything - so when you find one, hold on to them tight, and make sure they understand legalese! All joking aside, there are a few good things you can look for during Mercury retrograde that can help you. One is if Mercury retrograde is making positive aspects (sextiles and trines) to your natal chart. These can be supportive of what you do, and times when you experience a Mercury retrograde with positive aspects but little-to-no hard aspects can actually be a very positive experience for you. Less potent but still positive can be when Mercury retrograde is sextile or trine a transit planet (one of the other moving planets) instead of a natal planet. It's also helpful around the Superior Conjunction. This occurs when the Sun conjuncts (aligns with) the Mercury retrograde. This is a time that is good for starting anything new, and can lead to a culmination the next time they conjunct when Mercury isn't retrograde (usually 6-8 weeks later). Note that for any of the work scenarios, you'll want to avoid when you're experiencing hard aspects (conjunctions, squares, oppositions) by Mercury retrograde to any part of your chart, or by the Sun, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto to your 2nd (money), 6th (work), or 10th (career) house rulers or cusps (this doesn't just apply to Mercury retrograde!). The hard aspects = hard energy, so you'll want to try and avoid that (though they can be present when you're fired or you quit, so don't be surprised to see them in those situations). So now you can hopefully get through Mercury retrograde with your work and career unscathed - mostly! Suggested Reading: The Bright Spots During Mercury Retrograde |
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