Tuning into the Magic of Mercury
A powerful Mercury retrograde period is upon us – embrace the psychopomp!
In modern astrology, Mercury is often referred to as representing communication, mind, and intellect. While this is certainly true, it’s only a fraction of the richness to be found in the multiple meanings ancient Hellenistic astrologers gave him.
As the messenger of the gods, Mercury has the ability to traverse both heaven and hell, an intermediary (psychopomp) and messenger between the worlds and the conscious/unconscious. He can be called upon to assist with our shadow work, connection to the divine, and prayers and devotions. This is also reflected in his rulership of divining (foresee, foretell, predict, prophesy), Augury (the practice of observing the behaviour of birds to receive omens), and dream interpretation, as well as astrology and astrologers (a divinatory art). According to second-century astrologer Vettius Valens, he is also the ruler of law, friendship, and trust, so wherever he is in your birth chart, he has something to say about these subjects in your life.
Mercury carries a kibisis - a small leather pouch or purse in the image above. I like to imagine this as his little bag of magic tricks! With his association with folklore remedies and mercantile exchange, his kibisis could just as easily be a bag of medicinal herbs or gold coins. As ever with Mercury, there are always at least a couple of ways of looking at something. With his association with divining, we could imagine his purse as a pouch of runes or similar esoteric tools.
Mercury Retrograde – Embrace the psychopomp!
We have all heard the reactions to a Mercury retrograde period – “don’t sign anything, go anywhere, or, god forbid, make plans!” Although there is some truth about communication becoming glitchy during Mercury’s retrograde, particularly at the beginning, it’s not as bad as some make-out. And it’s generally okay to proceed with anything new if the process was started before the retrograde. Life must and should go on!
A Mercury retrograde does provide the perfect opportunity, excuse and sometimes, the necessity for slowing down, catching your breath, and getting in touch (communicating) with yourself and your inner world. Pause. Ask yourself: “How am I? How am I feeling? What’s going right, what’s going wrong, and what do I need to do about that if anything?”. Don’t forget, you can actively ask Mercury for his help and support with your deep diving – and if you ask nicely, he might even throw in a bit of his magic to assist you in your desired outcome. A dedicated altar space to Mercury can help you connect and work with his energy more effectively. Don’t worry too much about what you put on your altar in Mercury’s honour; your intention and emotional engagement make the real difference in working in this way. I tend to use a drawing of his astrological glyph, the Magician tarot card, and a painted image. Don’t forget that Mercury is the messenger of the gods. Presumably, that communication is two-way, so go right ahead and ask him to carry your hopes, dreams, and desires to the ears of your particular go-to deity.
The Healing Balm of this Mercury Retrograde
This April—from the 1st through to the 25th—we have a rather special Mercury retrograde as the winged messenger joins Chiron, the wounded healer, in a series of conjunctions in the sign of Aries.
April's 8th Solar eclipse is exactly (to the minute) conjunct Chiron at 19°Aries, sharply focusing Chiron's healing abilities within this powerful and rare aspect. Mercury's retrograde traverses the conjunction point on 15th April (exactly conjunct Chiron, who moves more slowly) and again on 4th May after Mercury’s move forward on the 25th of April. Finally, Chiron and Mercury conjunct again on May 7th at 21° Aries before Mercury, gathering speed, heads off towards the sign of Taurus. We can expect that Mercury will have much to do (or say) regarding the healing opportunities Chiron’s involvement with this solar eclipse presents. And with the eclipse taking place in the home of Mars, this healing may well relate to our Mars nature – our will and assertive or initiatory energies.
To work with these powerful energies, act on the “Re” words: reflect, revisit, revise, review, reconnect, and, more especially, with these two powerful energies combining, resolve and redeem. What in your life requires resolution and/or redemption? What healing conversations and/or explorations would serve you? These powerful energy combinations would suggest that some form of shadow work would be highly fruitful at this time. Retrograde Mercury is there to help in his role as the psychopomp, diving deep into the subconscious and bringing the wounds for Chiron’s healing balm to the surface.
I would love to hear in the comments below about your experiences with this exceptional Mercury retrograde period or your take on the energies at play.
My response to a reader's question about this post and what the transits mean for the world.
Im not a mundane astrologer (expert on worldly events). I can, though, give you my personal take on what is going on as follows:
Humanity is going through the birth canal (and associated pains) of our next evolutionary leap (upgrade in our consciousness). The veil is being lifted from our eyes as to how our world is being governed, waking us up to the reality of our situation and, more importantly, what really matters and sustains.
Shock and chaos are the signature of these times as we are being brought back into harmony as a species. While the USA is the epicentre of these signatures, the ripple effect is global.
The Jupiter/Uranus conjunction on April 21st will give us insights into our individual part in this great turning. Meanwhile, it's important that we stay grounded, present and connected with what sustains us during these turbulent times and the uncertainty they bring. Nourish your relationship with yourself, your loved ones, your community and Mother Nature; go forth as love in action, and all will be well.💜