Mercury turns retrograde @ 19° Virgo on August 20th with direct station occurring at 5° Virgo on September 13th. Mercury will exit the
shadow of retrograde on September 28th bringing conclusion to the retrograde period.
This is the 3rd Mercury retrograde occurring within an Earth sign, the previous 2 were within Capricorn and Taurus, and we are continuing to adjust our perceptions and communications to align with the physical and material world. Within Virgo the focus is upon health, everyday routines and effective communication. With Virgo recently being reworked by Saturn this retrograde will assist in tidying up loose ends and bringing clarity to what Saturn in Virgo initiated us to on an individual level.
With this retrograde taking place in Virgo (one of Mercury’s two home signs) and with no significant hard aspects occurring for the duration (except on occasion to the transiting Moon) this period should not be overly difficult or laden with misfires, yet as with all Mercury retrograde periods, there can be delays and mix-ups in all forms of communication and surrounding travel. As for launching new projects and continuing existing one’s, anything in motion before retrograde station occurred will continue forward though likely at at a slower pace and possibly requiring adjustments while if choosing to commit to new projects or situations requiring “signing on the dotted line” extra consideration should be applied due to a greater possibility of a change in heart after direct motion.
Working with Mercury in retrograde, by reflection and the sorting of information that comes forth by determining what is of relevance and what is not, tends to ease difficulties associated with these retrogrades for monkey wrenches are just the Universe’s way of bringing us to a halt so that we acknowledge something that is relevant to our situation before taking action. In this manner, Mercury retrogrades are fabulous for writers and teachers that need to separate the wheat from the chaff in their works before submitting for public consideration and also to revamp and update previous works.
Gemini and Virgo Rising signs as well as Suns usually notice the effects of Mercury retro more so than other placements due to Mercury ruling their chart and/or Sun sign. If you have a planet within the span of the degree’s that retrograde occurs, you too can expect to notice this period more personally, for your placement will be reviewed and information corresponding to the nature of said placement will be reviewed and subsequently integrated bringing the function of that placement up-to-date.
So from now until September 13th the review and weeding process is in play and then from September 13th- 28th we will proceed to integrating our new understandings in a functional manner.
I personally am looking forward to this retrograde and also have my Solar Return occurring during this time with Mercury rx conjunct my Sun so it seems I am going to be in for quite a review the coming year.
What house and/or planet is this retrograde affecting for you? Do you feel you have things to sort? Gemini or Virgo..any tips on making the most of Mercury retrogrades?
Blessings~ Kachina
Into the Mystic 
hello Kachina,
Thanks for another insightful link.
This mercury retrograde period will be transiting my natal virgo sun moon and mercury. i’ve been out of uni a year now and i kind of feel like i should be doing more with my life, i have a business designing and selling t-shirts that i’ve left in the link above and keep on telling myself that i’ll get back to designing as i havent for around 4 months now, neither do i have a secure job. part of me is saying ‘get out of England and go do something in Australia’ i cant seem to settle in any kind of work right now and its frustrating me. i have neptune rising in capricorn and pluto has just retrograded past it. i’ve been reading a lot about worlds outside of the physical, articles on the electromagnetic spectrum, and seem to be so interested in this kind of stuff at times that i have little interest in day to day objectives. do you have any advice?
chad
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You’re welcome. 🙂
With your placements(Cap rising/Neptune in Cap/Virgo Sun-Moon-Mercury) you are by nature very practical and now you have the T-square rocking your stability which is undoubtedly feeling uncomfortable. Are you frustrated that you can’t settle in any work due to an actual need of income or out of a sense of futility/failure? How much do you identify who you are by what you produce in solid form? With the Cardinal squares this year the focus repeatedly has been on “home” so your questioning if you should move to another location falls right into line here.
This Mercury RX over your Moon will help sort your thoughts on “home”. Saturn is transiting your 10th(career) and Saturn is now in separating aspect to tr. Uranus and Pluto so this is going to help lighten up your career sector over the next weeks and the gears will start moving again. Your interest in concepts ‘outside the physical’ such as electromagnetics is a very healthy expression for your Saturnian Neptune to be experiencing right now as you are finding the middle ground between the two planetary expressions. I don’t feel you need have any concern of ‘spinning off into the ozone’ nor ending up in la-la land{{smiles}} for your natal placements are an incredibly strong natural anchor. As for your lack of inspiration, since June we have had more of a practical nature in the energies..with Jupiter and Uranus back in Pisces this autumn and along with the T-squares breaking up there should be much more inspiration available for everyone.
You’ve been under some of the big guns Chad..it’s going to start getting much clearer and the road will be smoother very soon. Blessings!
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Mercury goes retro a degree past my natal Sun in the early part of my 2nd house. Nothing’s moving anywhere fast for me right now anyway as tNeptune is exactly square my natal Mars in 10th. Merc will be retro in my solar return chart, too, just about stationary (9/11). Maybe this is a good time to do some thinking about my life – and writing. Neptune’s giving me some very vivid dreams lately!
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les~
Those Neptune dreams can make for some intriguing writing material. 😉
My SR Sun is in the 4th this year..and am looking forward to it after this past years SR 8th with a reverse ASC. This past year was incredibly productive but I am worn thin and ready for a rejuvenation.
Best wishes for a fruitful SR and a Happy Birthday too!
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I am a Gemini Sun, with no planets in Virgo.
Mercury transiting in my 11th.
During its retro-direct motion mercury will square my Neptune in 1st. three times (Confusion).
Will trine my Natal mercury in 6th. three times.(Flow of thoughts)
may be confused thoughts.
Really I don’t know…
We will see.
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Sorry mercury is transiting my tenth house.
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I will start with I am new to astrology. How do I find out what house the retrograde will affect?
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Astro.com provides free generators. “Free Horoscopes” tab on home page to “Extended Chart Selection” at bottom of page..then plug in your birth info..and voila!, natal chart. 🙂
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Thanks, but how do I know what transits are affecting my natal chart? HOw do I knwo which house Mercury is transiting?
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Somehow I missed your response here..forgive please. 🙂
At Astro.com..once you have your natal chart generated under the heading “Methods” in Extended Chart Selections there is a pull down bar. Select “Natal Chart w/transits”. The transits will then show around your natal wheel as planet glyphs in blue. You’ll then be able to find Mercury’s glyph and see the house it is currently in.
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Thank you so much! Always appreciate that you respond! I knew you were taking time for you! 🙂
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You’re welcome!
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Ha! back through my ninth. Actually, it’s OK by me- it’ll keep it out of the Cardinal Jollies until Saturn is clear of opposing my Sun! Thankful for small mercies eh?
Hugs x
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[…] a refresher on what these two retrograde periods were focused upon revisit these previous posts: Mercury Retrograde Virgo 2010 and Pluto Retrograde Capricorn […]
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