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 he'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 Scorpio 2019 Dates:
Mercury Retrograde Effects:
Mercury madness! We have the last Mercury retrograde for 2019 starting on Halloween, and fittingly in dark Scorpio. Scorpio is an intense, emotional sign, and Mercury retrograde in Scorpio can bring out extra rage, hostility, pent up aggression, and hatred. Anything that we've been holding back on can explode out now. Watch where you blow!
Scorpio is ruler of transformations, and that can be a positive effect of Mercury retrograde in Scorpio. Focus on something you've been avoiding for a long time, and work to transform it for the better. Dig deep below the surface so it's something that lasts, and you can gain greater understanding about it. Scorpio rules power and control, so we can take the opportunity to have more power and control in our lives. But we have to be careful we don't become controlling and fight others too much, wanting to dominate. That can become destructive! Scorpio is ruler of "other people's money" - taxes, debts, loans, inheritances, joint finances, business finances, etc., so there can be extra focus on issues revolving around money that impacts others. Mercury retrograde in Scorpio is notoriously challenging for the stock market - so maybe invest very conservatively! With erratic Uranus now in opposing sign Taurus, ruler of our own money, this retrograde period is one I've had my eye on for potential financial trouble, so watch it! Intimacy is governed by Scorpio, so old lovers can come back around, and issues around intimacy or sex may arise. It's a good time to work on blocks and improve the way in which you connect on a deeper level with those you care about. The Start of the Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio:
The retrograde begins with Mercury conjunct (aligned with) Venus in Scorpio (and this actually goes exact the day before, on October 30th at 6:05PM ET). This can help us come together and try to find some common ground, BUT it may also make us more frustrated with one another, more maddened by the way others behave, especially if it's tactless. Moderation may also be difficult to find, and we may become obsessed with something. Like chocolate!
The trouble spot: Full Moon in Taurus
A big trouble spot during this retrograde is going to be the full moon on November 12th, which occurs in Taurus and opposes Mercury retrograde. Whenever a full moon opposes Mercury retrograde, this is usually bad news! A time for something big to pop. Could be those financial troubles I'm worried about, but it could also be something related to values, morality, ethics, legacy.
I also find these two signs, Taurus and Scorpio, can be linked to issues of discrimination. Why can't we all just get along, eh? On a personal level, I would definitely avoid big purchases of technology, electronics, gadgets, if at all possible! Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio 2019 aspects:
During the retrograde, Mercury will make 4 major aspects:
- sextile (positive aspect, two signs away) Pluto in Capricorn November 9th (Pluto is natural ruler of Scorpio so we may feel a little more at ease around this aspect with the Scorpio energy and try to use it better) - conjunct the Sun on November 11th (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 18 degrees 55 minutes Scorpio falls in your chart, and that may be where you can start something) - on November 13th, sextiles Saturn in Capricorn and trines Neptune in Pisces (helping us balance reality with fantasy and make practical use of creativity and imagination). So these aspects are all very positive - they're trying to help! Moons of Mercury Retrograde:
The Moon won't be in the same sign as this retrograde, Scorpio, so there won't be a new moon during the retrograde (just the full moon). Just before this retrograde starts, on October 27th, there is a new moon in Scorpio, so that may try to kick us off with some positive energy. But it also may just bring out attention squarely on something Scorpio-related - a big secret coming out, a big transformation needing to be made, something in the dark underbelly being revealed. Sooo . . .
The Moon will be in the signs that Mercury naturally rules, first in Gemini November 13th (3:46AM ET) to November 15th (11:15AM ET) and kicking up mental energy big-time, then in Virgo November 19th (8:54PM ET) to November 21st (11:20PM ET). This is as the retrograde ends, so it ends with the Moon in Virgo. Trying to make us more practical and focused, but also likely pretty stressed out! Final notes:
Mercury will be at a critical degree November 8th - 9th, 21-22 degrees Scorpio. Critical degrees are special degrees of critical energy, so we may be a little extra jazzed up these days. For good reasons, or bad reasons?
The retrograde begins at 27 degrees Scorpio, so those of you Scorpions born November 18th and later can feel the start of this retrograde most. The retrograde ends at 11 degrees Scorpio, so those of your Scorpions born November 1st - 6th can feel the end of the retrograde most. For the rest of you, check the house(s) Mercury will be retrograding in of 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. Make sure to check out the retrogrades page for interpretations for Mercury retrograde in the houses and aspects! 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. Comments are closed.
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