an overview…
As I posted earlier this month on Facebook, mercury is currently retrograde in Scorpio, which behooves us (that’s a strong way of asking) to slow down and process some deep information in the area of our charts ruled by Scorpio. This information may necessitate a change, a letting go–or better said, a transformation–in some area of our lives, before we can move forward again (slowly, slowly) on the 21st of November. By the 8th of December shifts will have occurred in your outer reality which in some way reflect the inner truths that are coming forth now for your (re)consideration.
For the next few days, the sun in Scorpio is very much engaged with mercury in the process of digging deep and then bringing to light the raw emotional materials which will eventually forge the golden chalice of our newly transformed beings. This is a time for deep, truthful, soul searching, so light your own personal lantern with humble curiosity and get spelunking in the caverns of your heart and mind. Do not be so blind to think you know the way before you enter (that’s the humble part) and do not expect to understand all that you discover during the journey…(not just yet, anyway). Better to work with your subconscious through dreams, stream of consciousness writing, music, art, and dream work than try to make sense of all your feelings. Your job right now is to feel your way.
Meanwhile, today we have a full moon in Taurus opposing the Sun and mercury in Scorpio. While sun and mercury are busy polishing the crystals they’re bringing up from the magical caves, moon holds up an emotional mirror as a checkpoint. She may reflect something the sun and scorpio have been learning today…trying a bit of the new you on for size. Ask yourself today…if I integrate all I’m feeling now and make a change, where will I be in six months? If you don’t like what you see in the moon’s magic mirror, you still have time to refocus your personal transformation so that your life in six month’s time reflects the highest and best possible version of you.
Hint…the deepest, most enduring treasure, and the agent of change that will help you shine the brightest is PERSONAL INTEGRITY. And the only person who knows if you are following your deepest path of integrity is you. So light your lamps and get spelunking people!
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio through the houses…
[Hint: to find out which of your houses is affected, you need to have a copy of your chart handy. Look for the house or houses where 11 – 27 degrees Scorpio are located. If you don’t have a copy of your chart yet, go to astro.com and create one for free.]
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the first house:
With Scorpio rising, you may be experiencing that uncomfortable feeling a snake gets just before she sheds her skin. Are you allowing yourself enough time and space to feel your way through this change? You might be extra sensitive socially and in personal relationships during this transformation, which is understandable! If you need to, go hide under a rock. While you’re there, ask yourself, “who have I been in the past and who do I want to become?” Let go of social and relationship commitments that no longer feel like you. Give yourself some alone time to get to know the person you are becoming. You can reintroduce that person to the world in due time.
Your own personal time = money = value equation may be squirming on the floor like a squashed scorpion right about now. As strange as it sounds, there’s a side to number crunching that is surprisingly squishy. Let the time, money, and value equations fall apart for a short while if they must. Look at it as a (messy, messy) investigation into what really turns your crank. And please, take a break from the daily grind, even if it’s just to sleep!
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the third house:
The ol’ beehive has been quite a hornet’s nest lately, yes? You’re being given the opportunity with this mercury retrograde to slow down your thinking. In the places where your thoughts or communications have become obsessive or where your thoughts and communications come with an emotional sting attached, try feeling into that place rather than attempting to sort out the problem with the rational mind. Goddess knows there is plenty of venom flying around outside your doorstep, but if you can be the Queen Bee and just sit on your golden behind visualizing the perfection of the hive, a grand insight may arrive wrapped in royal jelly. Stay grounded and centered, trust your instincts, and focus on thoughts that keep you evolving.
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the fourth house:
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio is transiting near your IC, also known as your fourth house cusp. That’s the point in your chart which represents your physical home, and what you need to feel at home, that is: grounded, nurtured, loved, and safe. Your home life has always been ruled by Scorpio, so you need a private, protected, and profoundly nurturing space in which to undergo your investigations and transformations. With Mercury retrograde currently passing over this point in your chart, the universe is giving you license to take time out for some deep renewal of your personal space. If you feel the need, now is the time to make adjustments in your home environment so that you have the space to unfurl your tail and just feel your feelings. Making art and music, cooking for the pleasure of it, taking long baths and long naps will help you take up some feeling space in a few dimensions at once. You need to expand your roots to the deepest darkest corners and then some, so you can renew your inner fount of inspiration. You may meet some creepy crawlies in your journey, but against the growing light of your own deepest sense of integrity, you will instinctively know what you need to keep and what you need to let go of to feel more relaxed and renewed. If you need help keeping your light burning, ground, pray, and keep the Ace of Cups tarot card by your bedside and see if any clues show up in your dreams.
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the fifth house:
You have been known to obsess over a creative project from time to time. Right now you have a golden opportunity to dig in and give some creative project that’s been on the back burner for months time and space to take shape. Maybe it’s a project that you need to finish, or it’s one that you’ve been thinking about but haven’t started yet. In either case, take advantage of the time between now and December 8th, because the stars are practically begging you to dig in and get creative. There may be some unexpected changes along the way, but trust your creative instincts. If you hit a roadblock, just slow down and go deeper into the process.
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the sixth house:
Mercury retrograde is transiting through your 6th house of vocation, daily routine, and work. This is the house of the artisan. When you dig in to your daily work, you can become obsessive and lose track of all time. But something has been running less-than-perfectly in your daily routine over the past few months. The universe wants you to slow down now and allow a deeper wisdom to inform your actions. Maybe you need to take a break from something that’s been taking your time but draining your energy. Make space for the spiritual and transcendent in your daily life, and you will find a new fount of energy and inspiration. The flip side of your perfectionism is a transcendence which you can access via those moments of focus you are so good at achieving. Listen closely in the quiet moments now…your true vocation is calling you.
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the seventh house:
Mercury retrograde is transiting through your 7th house of personal relationships. You are being called now to slow down and give time and space to your relationship with your partner. Energy is available now which will renew and rejuvenate your relationship, but to access that energy, you must set aside power struggles and face your fears. The balance between independence and interdependence must be investigated, but not with the imperfectly attuned mind…the proper tools for the job are the intuition, and the heart. Now is the time to let go of resentments from the past and feel your way to a transformed partnership. Your relationship may be tested now, but it will be even more resilient once you reach the other shore.
And if you aren’t in a relationship right now, this is the perfect time to investigate your own feelings about intimate relationships in general. An intense past relationship may come up for review. Something needs to shift, maybe a power struggle you’ve been having with yourself, or an old debate or obsession that’s been running through your head. Just flow with your feelings and allow yourself to be inundated by emotion for awhile. Work through the feelings without judgement…making music or art, or journaling might help. Who knows what treasures you may bring up from the depths?
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the eighth house:
You probably don’t need me to tell you that you are in the midst of a profound season of transformation. Make friends with the spirit of nature now, she who takes comfort in the constant of change. A tree neither optimistically waits for spring each year nor pessimistically worries about losing her leaves in the autumn. Without judgement she roots down further into the earth while she spreads her branches further toward the heavens. Surrender to your own season of change. Ground and stretch, and then make friends with stillness, for in absolute stillness there is a deeper rhythm and a gentle and ongoing transformation.
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the ninth house:
Here you are, living your grand adventure! It might have looked good on paper, but now that you’re actually living it, it’s a bit more gritty, emotional and complicated than you thought it might be. If you find that you are running low on resources (money, time, energy, patience, faith, or all of the above) it’s a sign to slow down and recharge. Give yourself a break, celebrate how far you’ve already come, and take your time. Nobody said you had to climb Mt. Everest by 3pm Tuesday.
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the tenth house:
You’ve always been a daredevil when it comes to career moves. Once you decide you want something you go for it, no matter the cost, life-work balance be damned. You always seem to have reserves coming from somewhere, but right now you may be questioning if you have the resources to keep climbing the particular flaming career ladder you’re dangling from at the moment. The circus tent is full and all eyes are on you…will she pull off this death defying feat, ladies and gentlemen? My bet is HELL YES. You just might need to spend the next couple of weeks securing your footing before you climb to the next rung. Slow down, take a breath, and do what you must to maintain your balance and shore up your strength. You’ve got this!
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the eleventh house:
Some collective project is coming up for review now. Have you been super gung-ho about a group while neglecting your personal creative projects back home? There may be revelations during this time which cause you to review your relationship to the tribe. Or maybe a group of friends from long ago is drawn together again during this time. You may find yourselves collectively reviewing your past. Whatever comes up now, it will be of a deep emotional nature. These revelations will touch each of you in some way, and transform your understanding of both self and group. Slow down and allow this transformation to take place. Feel your feelings, and hold space for others to feel theirs. Once the process is complete a deeper understanding will reside in the heart of the group as a whole.
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio transiting the twelvth house:
This is the house of the unconscious mind. Scorpio knows her way through the dark, so as Mercury in Scorpio transits this house you may feel as if your emotions are trying to tell you something, but you’re not sure what. Slow down, relax, and let those feelings flow, without explanations or rationalizations. Your task now is “let go and let God.” If you can find solitary ways of releasing those feelings without causing further karmic entanglements (music, art, reiki, meditation, yoga, long walks, healing baths, massage…all of the above) you will feel deeply renewed by the time Mercury comes out of his shadow phase on the 8th of December.
Now is your chance to let go of emotional baggage that has been holding you back. Resist the urge to do too much detail work cataloguing old pains and resentments. If you find your mind going there, practice blessing and thanking each memory (no matter how painful) before you let it go. In this view, life is a teacher, and in her wisdom, she brings you exactly the lessons you need to become the best possible version of yourself. With Mercury moving from the 12th house into the first, you are about to re-present yourself to the world as a renewed version of yourself. The more letting go you can do now, the more wisdom you will carry into the next phase.
Illustration Credit: Ace of Cups | Cosmic Tarot by Norbert Lösche