Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn/Sagittarius ⋆ Dec. 2023 - Jan. 2024

On December 13, Mercury began a new retrograde cycle which will extend into the beginning of 2024. This is the fourth Mercury retrograde we have had in 2023, if you're keeping count. However, it is actually the start of a new Mercury retrograde cycle. 

Like all things in astrology, Mercury retrograde follows a cycle. Ordinarily, through a year, it will retrograde through each sign of a specific element. During 2023, all the Mercury retrogrades were in earth signs. Earth signs are focused on the material, physical aspects of life. They are grounded and practical, concerned with applying concepts in useful and tangible ways. 

This Mercury retrograde cycle will be transitional. Often, before moving fully to the next element, Mercury retrogrades will start in one element and finish in a different one. This serves as a type of bridge, allowing us to link the insights gained from the last cycle and begin to apply them to the themes of the next cycle. There are exceptions, but generally, this is the pattern. 

A few key points about Mercury and retrograde cycles might be helpful here: 

1) Mercury is the planet of communication and information processing. 

2) All planets (except the Sun and Moon) have periods of retrograde motion from the perspective of the earth. The further out a planet is from the Sun, the more time it spends in retrograde motion. 

3) When retrograde, the energy of that planet is turned inwards. It is time for review and reevaluation of how each of us expresses the energy of that planet. It allows us to recognize where we can modify how we extend this energy to better reflect our best self.  When the planet is Mercury, the challenge is to reevaluate and review how we express ourselves and interpret and use information. The signs involved show the areas of life that the communication and information is focused towards. 

This Mercury retrograde starts in Capricorn, the cardinal earth sign. Capricorn deals with the foundations upon which we build our lives. It is concerned with large institutions like healthcare, government, business and school. These are the arenas where we engage with the outside world. There are rules and expectations that are imposed upon us. Mercury in Capricorn is strategic. Information is a resource used to achieve our desired outcome, whatever that might be. Mercury retrograde in Capricorn asks us to consider if that desired outcome is still relevant. Are the external rules and expectations supporting you or do they require you to deny essential parts of yourself  to be acceptable? Are you able to effectively communicate in these arenas? Are you heard? Do you matter? 

On December 23, Mercury enters Sagittarius. Now we have the opportunity to take the insights from Capricorn and extend them to our beliefs. What does our experience in the "real world" (Capricorn) show us about ourselves and how we view the world? (Sagittarius). Capricorn offers structure, Sagittarius desires growth. What information is available that expands our perspective? Are you stuck in a mindset that tells you to dim down in order to succeed or disempowers you in other ways? Is there another way to see a situation that is more aligned with who you know yourself to be? Is your plan getting you where you want to go? More importantly, do you still want to go there? In other words, is your ambition aligned with your purpose? If so, what might you need to learn (Sagittarius) in order to support achieving your goals more efficiently (Capricorn)? 

It is important to remember that this is all from the perspective of the earth. In our solar system, nothing goes backwards. All planets are orbiting the Sun in forward motion. The retrograde cycles we experience are meant to offer a pause that allows us to reset aspects of our lives periodically.  We are not used to taking these pauses, which is why Mercury retrograde has become code for "inconvenient events that derail our momentum." When we complain or anticipate irritations, we miss the point and the gift of Mercury retrogrades. We are not meant to be constantly moving. Nothing in nature is. Mercury retrogrades are there to remind us to  make space, slow down, turn inwards. They offer the opportunity to check our internal compass and reorient to our true north. 

Often with Mercury retrograde, we need to go back and restart something initiated during the retrograde because of new information coming to light, or new understandings gained. Mercury will resume direct motion on New Years Day. It's an interesting way to start a year. Cheers!