-Be A Diplomat and Master Soft and Hard Power-

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

This Mercury retrograde begins at 6:05 pm PDT Oct 13, 2:05 am BST Oct 14. The retrograde moves from 12 Scorpio back to 26 Libra, with the Inferior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun occurring at 3 Scorpio on October 25. As this retrograde begins in the second decan of Scorpio, it deals with the emotional and social levels of life, and has a sub-influence of Pisces with an added dose of the Sun.

In Scorpio, we’ll get a look back at how we dealt with loss and defeat in the past, or how magnetism got us to where we are. Many will get a new understanding of how to conduct themselves at a higher level in relationships, or get insights into how they’ve been doing this over the past year. This is a great time to purify our mind and speech, eliminating all that is unworthy or undesirable.

When Mercury retrogrades back into Libra on October 27/28, we’ll take a new look at old relationships, or past efforts at repair or reconstructing something related to our individuality. Many will get new insights into how “paying karmic dues” is needed for us to become better people in our relationships, or how past relationships helped us “repair our karma” through reconstructing what happened and why.

Mercury retrograde in Scorpio is very aware of deep vibes “in the air,” so be as clear as you can about the emotional signals you’re receiving or sending. Be alert to intense desires or reactions arising from old imbalances or past desires lurking in the subconscious mind. Also remember that Mercury RX in any Water sign is extraordinarily receptive, so you may be picking up on others’ emotional states rather than your own.

The Sabian Symbol for Mercury’s Stationary Retrograde Degree

The Sabian Symbol for the 12th degree of Scorpio is “An embassy ball.” In the original notes from the Marc Jones class on the symbols Dane Rudhyar published in The Astrology of Personality, he states this degree is about “social recognition of accomplishment as the substance of a ritual of human association,” “certification of rank,” and “ambition.”

In The Astrological Mandala he states this degree is one of “Group-consciousness, as it flowers at the highest level in cultural interchanges between representatives of the elite of the ruling class.” He says this degree requires that we meet other people “at the highest possible level of cultural interplay… rather than with an everyday type of consciousness and behavior.”

Dr. Jones says this degree is about imagination as a great “effective corrective” to get ourselves on track, where we can examine our loyalties to see if they are bringing us “the self-fulfillment to which (we) aspire.” He says this deals with the “practical values of life,” and involves “the political organization of society as either a consummation or exploitation of personal potentialities.”

He offers the keyword of DISPLAY. He states that when this degree works positively, it is “an absolute stability of self as a contribution to group integrity.” This degree involves faith, magnetism, deeper connectedness, spiritual sensitivity, universality, and sustaining ideals.

So the focus of this retrograde requires us to take a new look at whether our loyalties need adjusting or not based in practical necessities while following through on practical plans that enable us to strip away whatever is veiling our understanding and/or ability to get things accomplished. On a related note, this degree was extraordinarily important in three different long term events, two from 2013.

First, Saturn went stationary retrograde on this degree in early 2013, marking a threshold of “wisdom training” involving the themes of this degree. Second, this is the degree of the Solar Eclipse in November 2013 which had effects lasting for 40 months after that time. We had to grow into a higher level of interacting with others, and all that would hinder that was eliminated or ended. So this Mercury retrograde brings information, insights, memories and/or echoes on the losses and/or regenerations we went through between late 2013 and early 2017.

And finally, this is the degree where Mercury went SD in November 2019, creating the “bookend” theme around this degree for the past year. That retrograde left us on the platform of themes related to this degree, so take a look back to see how you’ve “raised your game” in the world of interactions, claiming the dignity, authority, and “ambassadorship” related to this degree. You can find out more about this year-long theme in all our lives by taking a new look at Mercury Stationary Direct Affecting November, December, and January 2020 – Imagination, Concentration, and Extreme Good Fortune in Elevated Relationships and Mercury Stationary Direct Affecting November-December 2019 and January 2020 Pt. 2 - Having Reviewed and Renewed What We Care About, Scorpio is on Display!

This retrograde will slow things down so we can take a new look at recent developments. This can help us find new approaches to recent issues related to Scorpio and Libra experiences. 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 Cancerian things in our past and present.

Short Term 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 concentration and focus inward. These lessons will be illuminated when the Sun crosses this degree around November 2/3. The themes of 12 Scorpio will remain in focus through the time Mercury re-crosses this degree on November 19/20, when it finishes its 2nd forward motion shadow transit. These themes will be valued or seen to be of worth when Venus transits this degree on November 30/December 1.

It should be 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 what it would look like if we could become the representative of something better between people, helping all to a greater sense of who they are and what they bring to the common table. We can look at our mental magnetism, past or present, in a new light, seeing how past desires and power struggles crafted our personal magnetism when we were younger.

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. I’ll be doing a post on how it affects all signs and birthdays on Monday.

As with all Mercury retrogrades, we can use this time to take a look back at whatever in the past has recently begun. This one in Scorpio helps us re-shape our way of expressing Scorpio energies in the house(s) where those signs are active in our chart. When it enters Libra on October 27, then we’ll get a new look at how we express those energies.

Behind the Scenes in this Scorpio Retrograde

While in Scorpio, Mercury is ruled by the Mars retrograde! That means this Mercury RX will go through a “double retrograde” effect! That means a look back at battles, strategies, tactics, and every other breakthrough into pioneering new activities in the past. Some will have intense explorations about how to do or not do things based in past experience, or get new ideas about how to prepare for the period after Mars goes direct.

When it retrogrades back into Libra, Mercury will be ruled by Venus, which will be in the early degrees of its home sign of Libra. So while the first part of the retrograde will be Scorpio with an Aries backdrop, the last part of the retrograde will be Libra with a Libra backdrop! Sounds like after a period of backward looking intensity at exploring backward moving initiatives, we’ll come to a sense of perspective about different ways to use power in precise and appropriate ways.

As we go deeper into our review of ancient personal experiences which shaped our emotional responses to what we did and didn’t want and what we did and didn’t receive, allow yourself to be fearless in your scrutiny so you may know the truth and become clear in your focus. You may see how some energies need to be redirected in major ways during the Scorpio part of the retrograde, and then do the refined calibration at the end of the month. That implies the coming three months will be a deep dive within so we can finish fulfilling some karmic pattern.

Aspects and the Sun and Moon

As this retrograde station occurs a very short time after the Sun opposes Mars, this will be an extraordinary time of polarization and awareness! Mars is just past the square to Pluto while the Sun is exactly forming its square. This is an incredibly intense configuration and tests our expectancies. The nature of the T-square favors playing defense rather than offense, slowing things down, taking time to consider possibilities and perspectives, and protect and secure what you need to.

Helping the harmony of the retrograde is the Moon at 13 Virgo conjunct Venus at 14 Virgo, with both trine Jupiter at 19 Capricorn. This is very grounding and harmonizing, favoring practical mobilization for some sort of gain which will demonstrate our character and lead us to a new spontaneity once we’ve purified our minds. These favorable Earth trines will assist the productivity promised by Moon in Virgo sextile Mercury, as Mercury rules the Moon and Venus.

The Sun square Pluto and Saturn indicates the culmination point of the Capricorn year cycle set into motion in January. This can help us see who needs our care and how we can best give it to them in abundant ways, with the Moon promising some the power to calm others. Find the right “camouflage” so you can do your work of destiny in relative security. There will be massive tensions in the air during the first part of this retrograde, so be careful, keep a purified mental focus, do not allow negative emotions to take hold, and see what is approaching in the near future.

As Mars is still retrograde and squaring the Capricorn stellium, those who have enlisted in some group work which will outlive them need to stay focused on the larger plan, and be willing to “join together with the band” as one of a group of inspired Spirits bringing magnetism and style to the work. This retrograde can awaken a sense of a deeper loyalty and commitment in relationships to those who are doing spiritual work in the world, as well as deep and profound insights due to Mercury quintile Jupiter conjunct Pluto.

This period gives us yet another look at or understanding of the World Soul, as well as our need to adjust our views from time to time, purifying our minds of its preconceptions and prejudices. This period should be able to help us get a more precise focus. 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 we’ve begun parts of our Scorpio training and preparation, and now have to connect the dots or renew something we neglected.

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 integrated in your own magnetic power.

A New Look At Mercury Retrograde

If you want to know what we can expect from Mercury retrograde in Cancer, 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.

Previous articles in this series:

Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio and Libra in October 2020 - An Overview

The Guide of Souls in October 2020 - Mercury Slowing Down, Preparing to go Retrograde at 12 Scorpio

Mercury Is Entering its Shadow Zone at 26 Libra – Signs and Signals About How Our Past Will Soon Be Feeding our Future