Sagittarius 2023: Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius-Capricorn.

Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius-Capricorn (Nov.25, 2023 to Jan.21, 2024.)
Mercury will be in Sagittarius from Dec.23 to Jan.14 – a lengthy three-week period for philosophical reflection! Sagittarius is a sign of orientation and reorientation, the Archer who “tweaks the compass” on the long journey back to Source, reflecting upon whether arrows recently fired have found their mark or if new targets must be considered.

Sagittarius is a sign where aspirations, ideals, intuitions and new orientations become manifest in the following sign of Capricorn, encoded and anchored. Hence the retrograde period of two months offers an opportunity to re-examine where Sagittarian impulsiveness and idealism may need to be tempered with some Capricorn pragmatism. This two-month period also embraces the Capricorn solstice on Dec.22, the full moon on Dec.27, New Year and the Epiphany of Jan.6.

Mercury goes retrograde four times each year and can be a frustrating time for those who are unprepared for its influence. In Esoteric Astrology, Mercury is known as the “principle of illusion” which in this case refers to the illusion of retrograde. Retrogradation of any planet is based upon our perception from Earth and is actually an optical illusion because the planets never move backwards. Planetary retrograde is therefore based upon appearance only, hence lends itself to illusion and confusion.

Esoteric students know that the outer form is always the mask of maya, hiding the true inner nature and no less so with the phenomenon of retrogradation. Yet despite this, even with awareness of these facts, we can all fall foul of Mercury retrograde because everyone is enmeshed in maya, glamour and illusion – to some degree.

Most typically Mercury retrograde manifests as transport delays, computer crashes, mobile phone glitches, badly timed purchases, mis-communications in writing and speaking etc. The Mercury-ruled signs Gemini and Virgo come into prominence, as their shadow expression plays out in communications and right relationships (Gemini) – or criticism-discrimination, attention to detail, being meticulous, fastidious (Virgo).

Likewise, the Gemini-Virgo polarities: Sagittarius – making assumptions, judgements, generalisations, superficial evaluations. Pisces – imagining things will be alright or work out, when it is only astral plane illusion creating an internal disconnect. On the theme of illusion, The Tibetan mysteriously hints,

“Mercury, the divine Messenger, the principle of illusion and the expression of the active higher mind, has performed his mission and “led humanity into the light” and the Christ-child out of the womb of time and of the flesh into the light of day and of manifestation, then the task of that great centre we call humanity will be accomplished.”1

When Mercury goes retrograde on a regular basis, it provides an opportunity to go inward, to go back over matters that may have been covered more superficially in the past, to question one’s motives, to achieve a greater thoroughness in our projects, plans and relationships. Hence, a retrograde period for any planet, if consciously embraced, can be a period of dynamic growth by working through obstacles, thereby transforming old habits.

Mercury retrograde allows for a greater awareness of the NOW, allowing a personal vigilance to step in and correct old thought or behaviour patterns when they arise. Mercury retrograde provides a window of recalibration and re-evaluation. From the esoteric perspective, Mercury retrograde is an opportune time to cultivate the intuition. Mercury rules the fourth plane of perception known as Buddhi or intuition, the stage of consciousness toward which all of Humanity is heading in its quest for perfection and liberation.

Mercury, known as “thrice greatest Hermes”, rules the lower mind, higher mind and the intuition; its action in any individual horoscope regarding responsiveness to these three levels depends upon the stage of consciousness unfoldment. Mercury retrograde is akin to “no man’s land” (now-here) – a place to gain a perspective of the conflicting pairs of opposites in one’s life. On that theme of conflict, Mercury is the co-ruler of the fourth ray of Harmony through Conflict – the harmonising part of that equation, whilst the Moon as the unconscious, rules over conflict.

Mercury retrograde periods have a two-week pre and post retrograde “shadow phase”, which for some can feel as strong as Mercury retrograde! The pre-retrograde phase is when the daily motion of Mercury starts to slow down, whilst the post-retrograde phase is when the daily motion is moving toward its normal speed – but both phases take almost two weeks each.

Hence, the Mercury pre-retrograde phase started on Nov.25 when life situations are set up for the retrograde phase that follows 18 days later on Dec.13 – which happens to coincide with the Sagittarius new moon. Then Mercury stays retrograde for 20 days until Jan.2 when it makes a “direct station” (the appearance of having stopped), as it moves from retrograde to direct motion – in Sagittarius. After that, the “post shadow” phase lasts until Jan.21, 2024.

When all of the Mercury retrograde periods are added up for the year (including pre and post), they amount to six months, or half of each year. Therefore, cultivating a greater awareness of this regular Mercurial rhythm in our lives, we will welcome each Mercury retrograde cycle as one of opportunity for refinement and perfection, instead of frustration and chaos!

Phillip Lindsay © 2023.
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1. Esoteric Astrology, Alice A. Bailey. p.273. [↩]