Overview of the Mercury Cycle Including Its Retrograde
by Cayelin K Castell
Plus Data for Oct/Nov 2006 Mercury in Scorpio Retrograde Cycle
The planet Mercury symbolizes the alchemical magic of the mind, how we process information, how we perceive our reality and how we communicate. Mercury is also noted for its quickness and speed as it goes around the Sun every 88 days. Thus, Mercury’s speed is linked to the quickness of the mind. Our minds, our thoughts, our perceptions are not limited by time and space. Our thoughts can take us anywhere past, present, future and beyond this galaxy in an instant.
Mercury is also the trickster, the magician, the alchemist. Mercury knows how to work with the hidden forces of nature while also exploring the realms of magic and mystery while keeping us alert through its trickster antics and crazy wisdom. Napolean Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich summed up a version of Mercury wisdom when he said, “I am not who you think I am. I am not who I think I am. I am who I think You think I am.”
It turns out from the Earth’s perspective Mercury is the fastest moving visible planet (the Moon is not a planet) completing its orbit around the Sun every 88 days. That means for every one of Earth’s solar years (365 days) Mercury has experienced 4.15 of its solar years. This also means that from the Earth’s perspective Mercury is the planet that joins with the Sun at least six times a year appearing and disappearing more often than any other visible planet.
We might ask when Mercury is not visible, where is it? With modern technology we know the details of Mercury’s orbit around the Sun so from that perspective we do know where Mercury is in its orbital cycle. Yet there is also a sense that when a planet is not visible it is in a place of mystery or some kind of initiation in the underworld or some otherworld. From our inherited myths about Mercury (also known as Hermes) we know that he was the only God able to come and go at will from the underworld, the celestial world, this world or any of the worlds. He was not from any one particular place, but able to go to all realms and dimensions easily as the messenger of the Gods.
Earth experiences a complete Mercury cycle in about 115 to 120 days or about three times a year. During the Mercury cycle it conjuncts the Sun (on the interior track or closest to the Earth) in its retrograde phase, then Mercury rises as a Morning Star almost two weeks later and is still retrograde. Mercury completes its entire retrograde cycle in about three weeks.
Mercury technically spends about 40 days as a morning star before disappearing on the other side of the Sun farthest away from the Earth for about 20 days. When Mercury conjuncts the Sun in this phase in addition to be farthest from the Earth it is also not retrograde. When Mercury reappears this time it is an evening star for approximately another 40 days before going retrograde. While in its retrograde phase Mercury disappears from the evening sky, joins with the Sun on the interior track and a new Mercury cycles begins. Each phase of the Mercury cycle has different qualities or energies associated with it.
From the perspective of the Earth-based observer Mercury retrograde appears to reverse directions in the sky. Now from an astronomical perspective no planet actually reverses its direction however from the Earth it appears that the planet is retracing over the same star patterns that it just crossed. What we know is that when we observe a planet going retrograde it effects our experience. This is similar to what it feels like when we pass a car slower moving car and we have the sensation that the car is moving backward. Our So Below experience when Mercury goes retrograde is a reflection of the As Above phenomenon occurring in the sky. Mercury slows down, reverses direction, slows down again, and returns to a direct motion, much like a pendulum.
Robert Wilkinson says in his book A New Look At Mercury Retrograde, that this timing is an opportunity for us to witness magic revealing itself gaining an understanding of how it works. If the magician slows down we get a chance to see how the magic works. The invisible becomes visible, the unknown becomes known. It is a time for fully exploring the magic and mystery of life in a way that is not always available to us.
Mercury goes retrograde on October 28, 2006 at 25 Scorpio, conjuncts the Sun on November at 17 degrees Scorpio and goes direct on Nov 17 at 9 degrees Scorpio.
Mercury retrograde in Scorpio is a maximum right brained erotic passionate expression of the mind. We live in a left brained consensus reality so communication may feel more challenging for those whose mental process is based in logic and reason. Mercury Retrograde is a notorious timing when left brain rational reality experiences glitches and miscommunication especially when we are attached to things turning out a certain way. However, if we can relax, roll with the flow and release our attachments to outcome, then this timing carries wonderfully magical and creative energy, inspiring insights, understanding and wisdom.