Our third Mercury retrograde in 2022 hits mid-September to early October, and travels through both Libra and Virgo. What will this do for us? The Basics - What is Mercury retrograde?
A retrograde occurs when a planet appears to be moving backwards from our vantage point here on Earth. It isn't actually moving backwards, it just appears that way. Mercury turns retrograde most often, about 3-4 times per year, and lasts for several weeks. When a planet retrogrades, what that planet rules tends to be thrown off, along with what the sign it's retrograding in rules.
With Mercury retrograde, we experience a shadow and a storm. The shadow period starts when Mercury first hits the point in the Zodiac it will turn direct at, and ends when it last hits the point in the Zodiac it will turn retrograde at. Most people don't feel the effects of Mercury retrograde until it enters the storm period though. The storm period of Mercury retrograde is when Mercury is moving at its slowest, less than 40 minutes per day. Mercury is a fast-moving planet and hates it when it's moving slowly. There's usually two storm periods, one around the time Mercury turns retrograde, and one around when it turns direct. Mercury Retrograde in Libra & Virgo 2022 Key Dates:
Mercury Retrograde Effects:
The third Mercury retrograde for 2022 begins in air sign Libra, and this is the last to impact Libra for a few years, and the last to impact an air sign for a while. Mercury retrograde in Libra can target relationships, and we can struggle to get along, to see eye-to-eye, and to come together. We may focus intensely on other people's flaws, and issues in relationships may seem so much worse because we're more aware of them. This is an opportunity to make improvements and make the relationships more solid, if we choose to. Otherwise, the relationships may become more strained, or end.
There can be difficulty with finding balance, and we may become aware of how out of balance things have been. This can be good for trying to focus on what we've been missing, and restore balance in areas that need it. If we let it fester, we can become more indecisive and out of sorts. We may also be more focused on what is just and fair, and if we feel things haven't been very just or fair, we may want to fight that. This can be good, but we need to make sure we're going about it the right way and have a plan, not flying by the seat of our pants. With this being the last Mercury retrograde in Libra for some time, we may see some of the issues that have come up in relationships and our dealings with others over the last 2-3 years reach a culmination or come to an end. Mercury goes backward into Virgo on September 23rd, and this can bring out stress to the nth degree. We can become super stressed out about the things we were already worried about, already stressing about, and already concerned about. That stress can be amplified, and we likely need to get some perspective, get away from it, distract, or just get a break. Virgo is the sign of work and productivity, so we may demand a lot from ourselves, more than is really possible. We may keep taking on projects, adding to the things that need to be done, and it can weigh us down and overwhelm us. We need to be realistic about what we can do, and not demand perfection. This can be a period of productivity, but only if we don't burn out in the process. Mercury is the natural ruler of Virgo, so the energy is amplified in this sign. We're extra anxious and at our wit's end, and we need to be gentle with ourselves and others, and have better patience. The retrograde ends opposite Neptune in Pisces, and this can greatly drain our energy and focus. It can be easy to become exhausted at the end of this retrograde, and we can break down. It's super important to take breaks to avoid that. This can also show issues with boundaries being broken, people being taken advantage of, and victims being made. There may be problems with water or toxicity coming out of the retrograde too. Mercury Retrograde in Libra & Virgo 2022 Aspects:
During the retrograde, Mercury will make 4 major aspects to the other transit (moving) planets. They are:
- Opposite Jupiter on September 18th 2022 @ 4 degree Libra/Aries: Jupiter is the planet of expansion, and oppositions are out of control, so this aspect may show that issues and problems are expanded on in an out of control way. We can be prone to major excess and have difficulty moderating. Balance and middle ground is super important. - Conjunct the Sun on September 23rd 2022 @ 0 degrees Libra: This is the Inferior Conjunction, a positive point in the retrograde for starting something that can be a focus for the next 6-8 weeks; find where it falls in your chart, and that may be where you can start something. - Conjunct Venus on September 26th @ 26 degrees Virgo: This can help bring beneficial energy, and we can focus on our connections in a more positive way. We may find new, different ways of communicating with those in our lives, and we can reconnect. - Trine Pluto on September 27th 2022 @ 26 degrees Taurus/Capricorn: This helps give us some power and control, and is in effect pretty much the whole time Mercury is in Virgo. We can find solutions, do research, and transform, and find renewed energy. The Moons of Mercury Retrograde:
The Moon travels through both signs Mercury naturally rules during this retrograde. The Moon is in Gemini (ruled by Mercury) September 15th (4:16PM ET/1:16PM PT) to 18th (4AM ET/1AM PT), which can increase scattered, unfocused energy and a need for a mental outlet.
The Moon is in Virgo (ruled by Mercury) September 23rd (3:54AM ET/12:54AM PT) to 25th (12:42PM ET/9:42AM PT), and this normally increases anxiety and stress. This is even more the case since Mercury retrogrades back to Virgo also on September 23rd (8:04AM ET/5:04AM PT), and this can bring more emotional focus to the retrograde too, especially when they conjunct on September 25th (8:49AM ET/5:49AM PT). Final Notes:
This retrograde will be at the anaretic degree when it goes back to Virgo, September 23rd to 24th. The anaretic degree is crisis energy in transit, so this may trigger some important events and developments, and energy may run high. With Virgo, we're extra overwhelmed, axious, and need to give ourselves a break. There may also be health issues.
The retrograde starts at 8 degrees Libra, so those of you Libras born September 29th to October 4th may feel the start of the retrograde most. The retrograde ends at 24 degrees Virgo, so those of you Virgos born September 14th to 19th may feel the end of the retrograde most. For the rest of you, check the house(s) Mercury will be retrograding in your own natal chart, and any aspects Mercury will make during its retrograde to your natal planets, to fully understand how it will impact you personally. If you have Mercury retrograde in your natal or progressed chart, you may not feel the worst of this. Those individuals generally don't experience the difficulties of the retrograde because it feels more natural to them. Of course, chances are everyone else around them doesn't have the same aspect, so they can still experience difficulties brought on by others. If it's in your natal chart, check out this article about Mercury retrograde in the natal chart. Suggested Reading: The Mercury, Venus, & Mars Retrogrades page for interpretations Comments are closed.
|
|
RSS Feed
