Today we take a look at important Sabian Symbols, aspects, and other factors in play the next three weeks as Mercury is retrograde in Gemini and Taurus.

This Mercury retrograde begins at 4:47 am PDT on May 10. The retrograde moves from 15 Gemini back to 27 Taurus, with the Inferior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurring at 1 Gemini on May 21. As this retrograde begins in the first decan of Gemini it deals with the actional-material levels of life, and has a sub-influence of Gemini with an added dose of Jupiter.

In Gemini, we’ll get a look back at our knowledge quest in play since the Spring of 2020, and in Taurus, we’ll get a preview of what will be awakened by Uranus from 2024-2026. The beginning of the RX period gives us a new look at “propaganda” and how it influences us and others, and offers a different view of something which needs reforming, or a different way to do it. The end of the RX period in late May and early June will put us at a different view or understanding of the “confirmation of individual spiritual worth” of something in our late Taurus sector.

Because of the signs involved, it could mark the return of old relationships, old ideas, old information or approaches “rediscovered” in new applications, or new perspectives about old values or a new look at old resources or ways of securing something. This period could mark the return of friends, spiritual Sisters and Brothers, or points of view we haven’t thought of for a while. This is a good time insights from a different angle of view in the life area(s) where we have the first decan of Gemini and the third decan of Taurus.

Mercury RX in any Air sign is extraordinarily associative, so there’s always the possibility that your renewed ideas or insights may come from another, or in some roundabout way. You may find a new way to view another’s insights or alternative view of things, or find a new inspiration in an old idea. Mercury RX in Air is harmonious with its Gemini nature, and Mercury RX in Earth is harmonious with its Virgo nature. You can bet we’ll all have a new understanding of our wisdom and how to offer it to others by the time Mercury is finally out of its shadow zone on June 19!

The Sabian Symbol for Mercury’s Stationary Retrograde Degree

The Sabian Symbol for the 5th degree of Gemini is “A radical magazine.” In the original Jones notes published in The Astrology of Personality, Rudhyar says this symbolizes “the compelling power of social propaganda,” “Exteriorization of emotional sympathy in organized reform,” and “efficiency.”

In The Astrological Mandala, he states this degree is about "the explosive tendency of repressed feelings and root emotions,” and offers this symbol is about things being bound tending to explode after a period of time. This is a degree of moving from form into formlessness.

He says this is “the experience of a world of being so far unperceived by the everyday consciousness which starts the process.” He concludes this could lead us “to reach beyond established forms.”

So this degree is about going beyond the known and familiar to reach a state of discovery not perceived before now. He states this degree falls in the Span of Zeal, Act of Differentiation, and Scene of Discovery on the Actional level.

Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of “the necessary element of change in human affairs,” and how the “remote” potential “will have its full and functioning part in any immediate reality.” Here we see our power “to give high exaltation and dramatic force to whatever succeeds in stirring (us) deeply within (ourselves.)”

He further states that “the supremacy of inner over outer compulsions” is emphasized here. He offers the keyword TANGENCY. He goes on to state that when operating positively, the degree is “personality in its highly effective capacity for putting its stamp on everything it touches.”

So the focus of this retrograde requires us to see whatever is “erupting” as having its basis in the past and some sort of “repression” which has contributed to the explosive quality of the information presenting itself. This is the fulfillment of the phase of discovery through action, and leads us to a search for information which can ensure “wealth and power.”

Of note is that this SRX degree is the same as Mercury’s SD degree in June 2015, so this retrograde could bring back facets of the Summer and Autumn of 2015. Also, because 5 Gemini was the Solar degree during the Christ/World Teacher Fest Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Full Moon of May 2013, by the time this retrograde is over we may realize a “through line” between the Wisdom received in 2013 and what we understand today. Alternately, we may remember some Wisdom from that era which we need at the present time.

So in some roundabout ways, the ideas, signs, signals, and messages related to that Lunar Eclipse Wisdom teaching will be front and center the next few weeks, perhaps in some form of renewal of view or understanding. Another possibility is that we shall be able to see what was happening then in ways that show us how we will be moved to act in the near future.

Behind the Scenes in this Aquarius and Capricorn Retrograde

While in Gemini, Mercury is ruled by itself and shares the stage with Saturn in Aquarius as a “final dispositor.” When Mercury retrogrades back into Taurus, it will be ruled by Venus, which is in Aries for a few days before it moves into Taurus, making it the final dispositor of Mercury while it’s in Taurus through June 13. That means the period through the Inferior Conjunction has the very powerful Mercury in Gemini energy, after which it quickly becomes more of an Aries flavor and then settles into a more comfortable Taurus groove.

Because this is the second Mercury retrograde which begins in Air and ends in Earth, this naturally trines the January-February 2022 Mercury retrograde span, and is the natural expression of those themes in the next stage of their unfoldment. The last retrograde Mercury went direct conjunct Pluto, making the period of February, March, April and early May under that Plutonic influence. This will stabilize that energy into more peaceful wisdom forms in late Taurus which will express in exceptional ways by October’s Mercury direct station at 25 Virgo.

Aspects and the Sun and Moon

In this retrograde station chart, the primary aspect is Mercury quintile Mars. Because of the retrograde it will also septile Venus and sextile Jupiter before it moves back into Taurus and trines Pluto and sextiles Mars. Besides this set of Mercury aspects, the other inner planet aspects in play in this chart are the Moon tredecile the Sun and quincunx Venus; Venus novile the Sun, semisquare Saturn and quintile Pluto; the Sun sextile Mars, septile Jupiter, square Saturn, sextile Neptune, and trine Pluto; and Mars conjunct Jupiter and Neptune, and septile Pluto.

The Moon is at 7 Virgo, showing this period is somewhat of a waiting game, or possibly the arrival of something after a period of waiting. As the Moon is ruled by Mercury, it shows a backward looking “reflective” period where practicality and divine discernment are front and center in the social or emotional realms.

The Sun is at 20 Taurus, a degree of “exalted state of consciousness,” “lightness and breadth of being and understanding,” and “mystical and ecstatic self-expansion.” As it’s conjunct the North Node, this is an extraordinarily developmental retrograde period where many elements of our worth will be confirmed. As the Sun is ruled by Venus on a degree of learning to concentrate to “see whole,” let your likes and affections lead you to higher and broader states of awareness.

Short Term Past and Future Triggers

During this Mercury retrograde period, pay attention to the roundabout signs and signals you’re receiving about past and present times you need(ed) to turn your focus to other angles of understanding. These lessons will be illuminated when the Sun crosses this degree around May 25-26. The themes of 27 Taurus-5 Gemini will be triggered in a big way when Venus transits this span between June 19-27 followed by Mars transiting that span between August 13-28. That implies many of the retrograde themes and lessons will produce “instant karma” in the weeks to come!

Looking Forward

A retrograde is always a great time to see things we didn’t understand before, or perhaps reclaim something from the past. Here we take a look back and reconsider or renew how inspiration and focusing spiritual power could take a different shape, or remember a time in the past when we did this in order to find a new application of that power. This is about taking a new look at our ideas to use them to reform something, or inspire/be inspired to a new view of what to do and how to do it in the future.

This is about finding a new understanding of how to reach beyond what has been seen or said within the context of the recent New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse at 11 Taurus. This period falls entirely in the span of time ruled by that Lunation. Remember Mercury retrogrades are great times for moving things forward which were stalled or delayed up to that point, so some things will no doubt make progress, given the numerous favorable aspects between planets in Earth and Water.

This retrograde allows us to take a different view of things while the generally productive period works over time. Because of so many planets still in Pisces, accept the ebb and flow of the metaphoric tides rolling in, out, and sideways during this period. While things may begin in a slow way, the explosive power of the SRX degree almost guarantees explosive developments which (hopefully) will allow some things to become more calm and steady. Because Jupiter is on the “visualization of the archetype” degree, there is still the power to shape the future which can come forth after the confusion and contention of this coming Autumn and election season.

As with all Mercury retrogrades, some projects may have to be postponed, or a new way found to make something be more relevant to our current life. This can give us insights into why we need to get a new angle of seeing things, going inward rather than keep going in unfulfilling directions. All of us will get glimpses of how our past experiences and choices since the last Mercury retrograde have led us to a new view of the greater Capricorn and Aquarian work going on since 2020.

This period gives us yet another look at or understanding of how to shape our world view as an active participant in co-creating some part of the vision we pursue. See different ways of communicating ideas, with an eye to the “ecstatic states of awareness” which will open as we realize the old ideas cannot confirm the new conditions we’re in. Just remember that because of the RX quality, it may a) take a roundabout way to get there, b) require a delay before we understand what these things are about, or c) we’ll see how our Gemini and Taurus sectors need reconsideration in the context of the larger Aquarius and Capricorn training. If necessary, connect the dots or renew how you express your Wisdom in a peaceful way.

In general, these are excellent periods to find a new angle of perspective on what we need to coordinate our lives to express our Soul, and revise and/or renew some things from the past. I gave you a lot about the themes of this retrograde period in prior articles in this series, so please check them out when you’re done here. Links at the bottom of this post.

In the next article in the series, I’ll give you how this retrograde will impact every sign and birthday. For now, please review what I’ve written so far, since it’s rich with material which can help you navigate the next three weeks and come out more aware of how you can contribute to a greater good in the world.

A New Look At Mercury Retrograde

If you want to know what we can expect from Mercury retrograde in Gemini and Taurus, as well as all the other signs and houses, if you haven't already gotten your copy, please consider getting my award-winning 2nd edition of A New Look At Mercury Retrograde.

The first major work on Mercury retrograde ever written, it offers in-depth information about Mercury retrograde people, Mercury retrograde in the various signs and houses, and what the entire Mercury Retrograde phenomenon is about. If you want to know what we can expect from Mercury retrograde in any sign or house position, it’s all in there.

Here's the Amazon link to the page where you can purchase a paperback edition of A New Look at Mercury Retrograde. You can also get a Kindle ebook at that site, or go to Barnes and Noble for a copy on Nook. NOTE: make sure you’re buying the second edition with the award sticker on the cover, and not the first edition originally published by Weiser. The edition you want is published by Fifth Ray Publishing.

Previous articles in this series:

Mercury Retrograde in Gemini and Taurus in May-June 2022 - An Overview

It’s Mercury Retrograde in May-June 2022 – A New Look at the Guide of Souls

The Guide of Souls in May 2022 - Mercury Slowing Down, Preparing to go Retrograde at 5 Gemini

Mercury Is Entering its Shadow Zone at 27 Taurus - Looking Back in Taurus and Gemini Via Signs and Signals Anticipating 2024

Reprinted on crystalwind.ca with written permission from Robert Wilkinson. Copying this article to other blogs is strictly prohibited. It is copyright protected. 

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