Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio, October 21, to November 10, 2013 “Taking the Sting Out of Retrograde”

#13, Death or Transformation is
Scorpio's tarot card. From
"Wizard's Tarot" © by Corrine Kenner and
John J. Blumen

There’s been lots of online discussion about the ‘shadow periods’ for Mercury Retrograde (two weeks before and two weeks after the actual retrograde period) and some speculation that we’ve been feeling the effects of this Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio since October 1st.  Some experts say we’ll continue to feel these effects all the way through the end of November.  Is this a particularly strong retrograde cycle for Mercury?  Perhaps, but also a great deal of the buzz may come from the fact that both Mercury and the Sun will be in Scorpio for most of this timeframe.

People get a little jumpy around Scorpions. No doubt its that whole stinger thing.  Cross a Scorpion and prepare to be stung to death, or so the story goes. That’s not necessarily true, but if that’s what you perceive as truth, then definitely a retrograde in Scorpio is going to freak you out.  Here’s the reality. We have so much other stuff occurring this October (see blog: Astrological Trends for October 2013 ) that Mercury Retrograde is just a blip on the GPS. Shadow or no shadow, we’re in a major ramp up for the Uranus Pluto Square going direct on November 1st and in my opinion Mercury Retrograde has just become one of our best friends.

Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio (hereafter referred to as MR

#1, The Magician, is Mercury's tarot card.
He controls all the elements of his world.
From "Wizards Tarot"© by Corrine Kenner
and John J. Blumen

or MRS, because typing all those letters is getting annoying) offers us a chance to reexamine motivations – ours and everyone else’s.  Scorpions fly by the seat of their pants and MR is handled best with spontaneity.  Also the effects of MR are caused by a general slow down and reversal of Mercury’s energy.  Mercury controls communications, transportation, as well as intellectual pursuits.  With the energy from this lunar cycle ( see blog : Full Hunter's Moon in Aries  )  and the UP Square (can’t use UPS for obvious reasons) we need a breather and MRS fills the bill as long as we use this time to review, revise, revisit and restructure our plans, our strategies and our lives.

The 8th House of the Zodiac is ruled by Scorpio.  While many would say, ‘enter at your own risk,’ others would tell you that this is where the serious transformation energy is stored. Come on in – the water’s fine.  MRS is about rechecking the trajectory of your goals and retooling what doesn’t work.  You want to be a new and shinier you?  This is where it happens, folks.  You can use MRS to revise and retune the grand plan for your life and Scorpio can help.  Will it be a challenge? Sure.  Saturn is in Scorpio right now, but you can still use that great transformative energy from Scorpio and the downtime you get from Mercury to go over your internal notes and make revisions.  MRS says let go of grudges and projections now and 2014 will come in on a high note.   

Here are links to my past blogs that gives you good information on dealing with the effects of Mercury Retrograde.

Mercury Retrograde, Tarot and You

Mercury in Scorpio September to December 2013

LADY ORACLE  

"Wizard's Tarot"© is available for purchase through Lady Oracle Tarot.

Astrological Trends for October 2013 – “Avast Me Hearties”

When weather turns stormy at sea, a good sailor knows what to do:  Close up the vessel so that the waves breaking over the deck don't spilling water below.  He also lessens the ship's sail area so that strong winds don’t push it over.  “Hmmm,” you ask, “what is she trying to tell us with this sailing metaphor?”  Reef your mainsail and batten your hatches.  October has some powerful configurations in it and you need to stay mindful and focus on what’s truly important to you.

On October 2nd, Saturn is trine (the most favorable aspect of

Saturn's card, #21, The World
from Barbara Moore and Aly Fell's
"Steampunk Tarot"©

120 degrees) the asteroid, Chiron.  Chiron is the wounded healer of myth, who, in this case couples with Saturn to provide all of us with an opportunity to do self-healing work. Also, those of us with Saturn quincunx (an aspect of 150 degrees that requires serious adjustments) Uranus in our birth charts will have particular trouble reconciling the conflicting parts of ourselves. Saturn represents rules, discipline and self-respect.  Uranus is a wild child who questions authority and the status quo. We will all experience frustration trying to merge the parts of our lives that simply won’t merge.  That’s a quincunx for you. Don’t attach to outcomes, breath and let go.

The Fool, the card for Uranus
from Ciro Marchetti's
"Legacy of the Divine Tarot"©

The Moon, Saturn and Mercury are all hanging out in Scorpio during the first part of the month.  Again, we see Saturn’s need to challenge (provide growth opportunities) mixing it up with Mercury in Scorpio.  The result is a deep, intellectual process. There’s lot’s of soul searching during this period.  We gain true insights into our lives – not always pretty, but necessary.  Don’t get trapped inside your own head, though.  Get outside and take in some of that wonderful Fall air to help you maintain balance. Meditate.

Our New Moon in Libra arrives on October 4th and makes all of us ready for a fresh start.  We’ll lay aside old resentments and seek common ground in our partnerships and friendships (Somebody tell Congress) while enjoying a revitalized social scene.

Mid-month we get some help to lighten our moods when Mars enters Virgo on the 15th and Venus enters Sagittarius on the 17th.  Mars and Virgo join up to help us clean house, both physically and metaphorically.  This is problem solving energy – an energy that tidies bothersome corners and tucks away those repetitive thoughts that nag us.  Use Mars in Virgo to clear your decks.  Venus in Sagittarius is a young-at-heart style of energy that solidifies friendships even if it doesn’t offer us a lasting love. Venus will definite helps us regain our dance moves.

On October 18th we have a Full Moon in Aries and a lunar

The Magician is Mercury's card
from "Wizard's Tarot"© by Corinne Kenner and
John J. Blumen

eclipse.  Let’s hear it for planetary reboots.  Great energy here, but I’ll have more on that later this month.  Mercury goes retrograde from October 21st through November 10th.  I’ll re-post appropriate blog links as needed.  Remember: Smudging in an art form.  Lastly, the end of the month picks up momentum as we prepare for another direct Uranus/Pluto square on November 1st.

We have lots of energetic activity this month – lots of whitecaps in the waves as well.   Stay high-minded, meditate and above all, don’t lock yourself away to brood.  Change happens and the best part about change is that you get to be a part of it.

LADY ORACLE

Tarot decks available for sale through www.ladyoracle.net

Mercury in Scorpio, September 29th to December 4th - “Communication Via Steamroller”

The Magician is tarot's card for
Mercury. This depiction is from
"Wizard's Tarot"© by Corrine Kenner
and John J. Blumen. Great deck!

Today, at 4:38 PDT, Mercury entered the house of Scorpio.  Though we all feel the effects of this cosmic pair-up to a greater, or lesser degree, those of us with Mercury in Scorpio in our birth chart will feel these effects most strongly.  What can we expect?  For starters, Mercury in Scorpio is a relentless truth seeker.  It senses a lie underneath a ton of camouflage and shows no mercy when exposing that lie to clean air and sunlight.  There will be no word mincing, and no tolerance for frivolous promises with Mercury in Scorpio – just straight talk that drives right to the heart of the matter.  

Mercury in Scorpio turns all of us into students of human nature.  Mercury picks up on emotional subtext more easily in the 8th house of the Zodiac.  It loves to ferret out information, especially if that information leads to intrigue, or better yet, solves a mystery.  Mercury in Scorpio particularly likes to flirt with the supernatural and the psychic arts.  Think of Mercury in Scorpio as the Shaggy and Scooby Doo of the Zodiac. 

In the workplace, Mercury and Scorpio’s keen powers of

Scorpio's ruling tarot card, Transfiguration (Death)
from "Wizard's Tarot"©

observation, along with their characteristic bluntness, presents a two-edged sword.  Their straight-forward insights may sound judgmental, even pessimistic.  Their blunt speech can be perceived as micro-management. Think about the energy of the Knight of Swords here, but, also remember that Mercury in Scorpio loves a good strategy rather than simply charging into the fray with their sword waving. Mercury in Scorpio is blunt, but never random or reckless in their critique – which is why the stinger goes in so deeply.

The Knight of Sword who turns
bluntness into an art form
from "The Wizard's Tarot"©

The insights into the human condition that we receive while Mercury is in Scorpio can make us want to jump up on a soapbox and inspire the masses with a stirring speech, or, at the very least, compose an earthy torch song. There’s a surprising amount of romance packed in this Zodiac pairing – along with a love for a good argument.  Notice I didn’t say debate.  Debates have rules and tend to be more analytical.  Repeat, Mercury in Scorpio loves to argue.  They will not let us surrender until our opponent is on the mat.

Mercury in Scorpio is a powerful cosmic pairing and we can gain much ground by being insightful and by using our intellect to further our goals during this period.  Strive for diplomacy and keep in mind that Mercury goes retrograde October 21st through November 10th.  See blog: "Mercury Retrograde, Tarot and You"    to learn what this means and gain some techniques to help you through this sometimes tricky period.  Be brilliant.

LADY ORACLE

The exceptional "Wizard's Tarot"© is a great deck for those interested in the link between astrology and tarot.

It is available for purchase through Lady Oracle Tarot