Mercury Retrograde – Words are Sacred

The 15th degree of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are spiritually significant because they represent the midway points between the Solstices and Equinoxes and fall on or close to the Cross Quarter Celtic/Pagan festivals.

Mercury goes Retrograde on April 22 at 15 degrees Taurus. It resonates with the festival of Beltane (usually observed in early May), celebrating the upcoming return of Summer. Fires are lit to represent the end of darkness and the onset of the long days of light and fertility.

Did you know that the 15 degrees of the fixed signs are also known as the Avatar Degrees in spiritual astrology? These degrees are said to open spiritual gateways. They are said to bring in synchronicities and can help us overcome difficult odds. They also invite us to move forward, for better or worse. This creates an interesting dynamic, a dilemma even, because Mercury Retrograde’s invitation is to proceed with caution, and even to go backwards to rest, review and renew.

What can we take from this? Perhaps the Moon gives us a clue. Mercury Stations Retrograde Conjunct the Moon in Taurus, the sign where the Moon arguably feels most relaxed and comfortable. Perhaps that’s the answer. Relax, get comfortable, enjoy the ride, celebrate the season and in your comfort, all the better to see the way forward when the Retrograde is over. This view is supported by the Moon because even though it might be growing in light at the start of the Retrograde, it’s coming off the back of an Eclipsed New Moon so is still dark. Everything is still unseen and unknown.

This Station is also Conjunct unpredictable Uranus. There might be an urge to get your point across and to stubbornly double down if challenged. Words may shock and have unexpected consequences, so be careful of saying what can’t be taken back because this is a Retrograde where words are sacred. But there is the potential, certainly after this Retrograde period is over (it turns direct on May 16), to communicate powerfully with messages that truly resonate with compassionate honesty.

If you'd like some insight into how Mercury Retrograde and other upcoming planetary events affect you most personally, consider booking a private consultation - click here for further details or get in touch via the contact form to the top right of this page.

For the Geeks:

Mercury Stations Retrograde on April 21 (just over a day after the Aries Solar Eclipse).

Mercury goes Retrograde (starts moving backwards (from our perspective on Earth) on April 22 at 15 degrees & 37 Minutes of Taurus.

Mercury Stations Direct on May 14 at 5 degrees and 53 minutes of Taurus.

It starts moving forward again on May 16 at 5 degrees and 53 minutes of Taurus.

The Retrograde Shadow period ends on May 31 (a planet’s Retrograde Shadow lasts until it returns to the degree it went retrograde at). Whilst things start to move forward once the actual Retrograde is over, the end of the Shadow period is the final ‘all clear’.