Mercury began another retrograde process on December 29th which will last until January 18th/19th. This is when it appears to be moving backwards from our Earth based vantage point due to the positioning of the Earth and Mercury in each of their orbits around the Sun. This one is occurring completely in Capricorn.
In the weeks (and especially days) leading up to it, it can already start to feel like a retrograde and some of its themes can get seeded. This happens because Mercury slows down (again from our vantage point) and travels in the part of the sky it will be returning to after the retrograde begins. This is known as the ‘pre-shadow’ period which began on December 12th.
If you have read my previous Mercury Retrograde articles, the remainder of this section and the following one are nearly the same. You can skip to the third section and beyond if you don’t want to re-read all the general themes associated with these periods. Those other parts are more specific to this edition of it.
Mercury retrograde is known for the problematic effects it often has on communication technology, transactions, motor vehicles, anything with moving parts, and commuting in general. Some people even get headaches near the beginning of it. We could experience some challenges, misunderstandings, and errors around our communications, numbers/details, and commerce, as well as changes, cancellations, or delays in our schedules.
Sometimes these issues could occur when we are excessively analytical without tuning into our internal guidance. Depending on how we flow with it and other variables, we may not always experience these surface level inconveniences, or they could just be minor irritants.
Mercury Retrograde can also be a good time to revisit or redo tasks, projects, ideas, or anything else that was initiated in the past. It can give us a different perspective or shift in thinking that can help us to approach these things in ways we wouldn’t have done before. This may also be a period of reconnecting with old friends, family, lovers, or others we haven’t seen in a while. When we reconnect with people during a retrograde, it sometimes can help to facilitate a shift in the relationship. In some cases, issues from the past can come up which may need to be hashed out.
The Deeper Purpose of Mercury Retrograde
Ultimately, Mercury Retrograde is a time for us to recalibrate and adjust specific areas of our lives as well as how we apply our minds towards these issues. It is a period in which we may receive important insights and see things in a new light. In most cases, it can be mildly transformational, but in some cases it can facilitate more major transformations depending on how it corresponds to your personal astrological chart.
During and following the retrograde, certain areas of our lives can go through changes or shifts, or we can experience a re-orientation of some sort which influences how we proceed over the coming months or in some cases, it can have a more long-term significance. In the three weeks afterwards, known as the ‘post-shadow’ period, we move forward with some sort of new awareness, adjustment, as well as new ideas and thoughts that have been seeded which will develop and become more defined as time progresses.
Certain things that have come up specifically in the weeks leading up to the start of the retrograde could determine where this energy could play out. It is also possible that there could have been changes or developments at that time which may go through a sorting-out process or shift in dynamics during the actual retrograde and in the two weeks following. There could be unknown variables, either positive or negative, that were either unseen or hadn’t been conceived yet, which may become apparent over the coming month.
The sign(s) and element(s) in which Mercury retrograde travels in shows the energy we are re-orienting ourselves with. More importantly, if you are familiar with your natal astrology chart, then your house(s) or any planetary placements being affected will show more specifically which areas of life you will be experiencing its energy in. For the astrologically literate, it begins at 24’21 degrees of Capricorn and will retrograde back to 8’08 degrees of the same sign before turning forward again.
Occurring In Capricorn, The First of a Series In Earth Signs.
Mercury Retrograde always happens in primarily one element for 1-2 years. In this case, this one is the first of a series of four that is mainly occurring in Earth signs which will last until early 2024. The Earth element is about practicality, being grounded,and keeping it real. It is physically oriented, resourceful, and productive. This period is about re-aligning ourselves with these qualities if necessary and ultimately expressing them in new or revamped ways.
With this retrograde in Capricorn, we may also experience (or apply) re-orientations, adjustments, developments, circumstances, receiving insights, gaining awareness, or reflecting on themes connected to energies of this sign. Capricorn is the realm of responsibilities, ambition, career, goals, social status, structures, strategy, management, tradition, and control. The traditional symbol of this sign is the Mountain Goat that is pushing towards its goal of reaching the top of the mountain while overcoming obstacles and challenges along the way. For each of us individually, it also depends on how it is interacting with our natal astrology chart based on our specific birth details.
This Mercury retrograde occurs during the final third of Mars’ current retrograde which began in late October. It is occurring in Gemini which is a Mercury ruled sign and therefore they are directly connected to each other. You can read more about the current Mars retrograde here.
Mercury Retrograde Significant Dates
Below are some of the dates and information for some of the related astrological configurations during this retrograde.
*The earlier dates below are based on the Americas. The further East you are located, you may need to consider it as the next day within the timeframes listed.
December 29th – January 1st Mercury Retrograde begins 9:32am Universal Time on December 29th at 24’21 degrees of Capricorn. Mercury exactly conjunct Venus, with both close to Pluto.
The common Mercury retrograde themes, delays, and complications may come up strongly at this time and in recent days leading up to this as it has been nearly stopped in stationary position. You may get some sort of indication of how it will play out for you over the coming weeks based on how you feel or what transpires. It’s possible that certain things that happen at this time, which may seem insignificant, can somehow be connected to how this retrograde process will affect you. Also keep in mind that the pre-retrograde shadow began December 12th/13th and Mercury entered Capricorn three days prior to that, so certain things that have come up since then may also be a factor in how things play out over the upcoming month.
Mercury also begins its retrograde while in a tight conjunction with Venus which will both be close to Pluto. Issues, developments, or realizations pertaining to social matters, love, friends, values, money, pleasures, art, or aesthetics, are part of the kickstarting of this retrograde which can ultimately play a role towards adjustments or re-orientations over the following month. During the period between December 29th until January 1st, as Venus separates from Mercury and moves towards Pluto, it can be a time in which hidden matters may come to the surface. For some people there can also be a significant change around relationships or finances. Our relations with others may have intense, magnetic, passionate, sexual, obsessive, controlling, dark, or manipulating qualities at this time.
January 1st/2nd Mercury Retrograde sextile Neptune
Although this energy is more subtle, it’s possible that things that come up now may have a theme of compassion, empathy, and/or selflessness. It can also be a time of being inspired and/or applying ourselves creatively, spiritually, imaginatively, or involving visual media. These themes and period may also be connected to certain things that came up on December 24th/25th when this aspect last occurred before the retrograde began.
January 6th-8th Mercury Inferior Conjunction opposing Full Moon In Cancer sextile/trine Uranus, square Chiron, and trine/sextile Neptune
This is the halfway point of this retrograde, which is when Mercury joins the Sun in what is known as its ‘inferior conjunction’. This is the culmination of the retrograde and is a significant period in Mercury’s cycle with the Sun. Certain things that happen at this time are part of a process of ridding yourself of certain thoughts, ideas, perceptions, old interests, expectations, or other things that are not serving you while the potential for new ones may be seeded. For some people, retrograde related complications and frustrations can also be stronger during this conjunction depending on your circumstances or how you are applying yourself.
Interestingly, this occurs during the Full Moon in Cancer and therefore this inferior conjunction will be opposing the Moon and tied into its energies. This Full Moon will have a push-pull effect when it comes to the Cancer-Capricorn opposition. Cancerian matters pertaining to emotional needs, comforts, self-care, family, domestic life, home, or subjective perception may be at odds with Capricornian matters such as ambitions, goals, career, responsibilties, duties, productivity, authorities, tradition, structure, or status.
Chiron in a hard aspect with this can reflect dealing with dilemmas, and/or issues pertaining to our wounds, blockages, or negative patterns. However, considering the easy aspects with Uranus and Neptune, there is a possibility of breakthrough, liberation, or some sort of transcendence. The inferior conjunction brings with it an opportunity to clear or let go of perceptions, a mindset, a mental focus, expectations, or perhaps even an approach to communicating that isn’t working for us. The need to attend to Cancerian matters (mentioned in the above paragragh) will probably play a role in this. Some of this energy may even start to be felt up to a week prior and will be a part of the backdrop over the following weeks.
January 10th/11th Mercury Retrograde square Chiron
This period will activate Chiron themes that were also part of the Full Moon mentioned above. Personal issues or wounds can be triggered at this time, or perhaps other dilemmas may occur that are somehow connected to our blockages or negative patterns. However, at best this is also an opportunity for realizations, insights, or to see things in a different way that could be helpful in dealing with our challenges.
January 18th/19th Mercury goes Stationary Direct at 8’08 degrees of Capricorn January 18th 1:12pm Universal Time. Mars also starting to move forward with Uranus Stationary Direct coming up. Sun conjunct Pluto.
Mercury will end its retrograde as it goes stationary direct on January 18th/19th, six days after Mars ends its retrograde. It will slowly begin to move forward and gradually pick up speed in the following days and weeks. As this happens, the areas of our lives that have been affected by this retrograde (and Mars’ retrograde) will start to become more increasingly clear, things will fall into place more easily, and may experience resolutions depending on how it affected you. We can feel that we are in a better place to move forward in the areas of life that have been impacted.
However, usually the first few days after it ends can still feel like it is retrograde as complications may occur due to Mercury’s stationary position. It’s usually best to wait until at least 3 days afterwards before finalizing decisions, agreements, etc.
The Sun will be conjunct Pluto at the same time Mercury stations on January 18th/19th. This energy can be probing, revealing, controlling, deep, or even intense. It can trigger fears and in some cases can also be destructive. However it can also be transformational and empowering, Combined with Mars newly going direct, we may even feel more strong-willed and determined under this influence.
With Mars also beginning to move forward along with Mercury, it can feel more like an extra boost in comparison to other times when Mercury stations direct. Interestingly, Uranus also stations direct four days after Mercury. General Uranian energies will be really strong throughout the second half of January. We may experience breakthroughs, sudden changes, separations, rebellion, disruptions, surprises or apply ourselves in ways that involve seeking freedom and getting out of limiting or restricting situations.
About six weeks later around March 16th-18th, or in the days following, there can be even more clarity around certain things that have been seeded or occurred during this specific Mercury retrograde. From there, we can experience developments which can give us a better perception of where things are headed. In some cases, the circumstances at that point may also indicate lack of sufficiency or not what was anticipated. If so, the perception acquired at that time can help us to make necessary decisions on how to proceed with the aspects of our lives that have been impacted by this Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn.
Written by astrologer Carmen Di Luccio
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