Mars Square Neptune & Mercury Retrograde : Not so Fast
Mars in Sagittarius Square Neptune in Pisces : January 11, 2022 @ 2:34pm MST (20° 53’)
Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius : January 14, 2022 @ 4:42am MST (10° 20’)
We are in the midst of changes in the sky. Mostly we are amongst shifts within familiar storylines, revisiting familiar territory. While we may be intrigued to move headfirst into the openings that we sense will be eventually presenting themselves. The sky is reminding us that we may be skipping steps and creating loopholes in order to avoid elements of the work that we just don’t want to do.
Here is an outline of the astrology I will be covering in this Newsletter :
Saturn Square Uranus Separating (release!)
Uranus Stations Direct (January 18, 2022)
Mercury Stations Retrograde (January 14, 2022)
Mars Square Neptune (January 11, 2022)
Yea, it is chronologically backwards… but it will all make sense, I promise!
Saturn Square Uranus - Uranus Stationing Direct
We might be feeling a bit freed from the grip of the Saturn-Uranus Square. We might even be finding a moment to breathe more calmly. The two planets are quickly separating from one another and will not be in close contact within this configuration again until September/October 2023. Saturn has picked up forward pace after recently Stationing Direct and Uranus is really slowing down before Stationing Direct on January 18th 2022.
While this is a relief, be aware that as planets slow to a stop (from our perspective) to station either direct or retrograde, their energetics are especially potent. From now until about January 23, 2022 you may feel a reeling and maybe even grinding Uranian presence in your life - the irrepressible need for independence, change, forward movement, etc. Take a look at your chart, if you have any planet at 10° you could feel this even more imminently. But the good news is that Saturn isn’t as big of an influence with Uranus at this time - enjoy the break!
And once the stationing grind eases up, you may find new ground to actually manifest Uranus’ brilliant earth-shattering manifestations!
Mercury Stations Retrograde
And, speaking of Saturn, Mercury (10° Aquarius) is currently within a couple of degrees of Saturn (13° Aquarius). Normally this would be a very quick transit, maybe not even worth focusing too deeply upon. However, Mercury is currently nearly stopped, as the planet prepares to Station Retrograde on January 14, 2022. So, like Uranus, Mercury is potent because of the station but also Mercury is soaking up Saturns influence. But Mercury never actually reaches an exact Conjunction with Saturn until after the Retrograde.
Because of the presence of Saturn as Mercury stations Retrograde and also because Mercury will be in Saturn Ruled signs for the entirety of the Retrograde (Aquarius and Capricorn), Saturn has a lot to say about this Mercury cycle. Likely, the overall message of this Mercury Retrograde will have a “buck stops here” theme. Hence, a Saturnian “business” overtone, not a curious, experimental tone, that is more purely Mercurial. This will be a “busy bee” Mercury with a job and a purpose, which could be very helpful if you have pressing work that hasn’t been completed yet, or needs to be readdressed.
Just be aware of not getting duped into old ways of questioning our doubting yourself. If you find yourself in self-depreciating mind spaces, take a moment to understand that this is Saturn’s way of encouraging a better and more successful version of yourself. But its powers are likely being used against you - bit by bit turn it around. Here are some tips :
Separate yourself from your thoughts, move into your heart space.
Ask yourself what these thoughts may actually be trying to be improve?
Understand that the thoughts are like cranky parents (aka, inherited self-doubt) who actually love you and are trying to help you - find humor in their rusty attempts to help, if you can.
Move back into your heart space again and again, this is where it is all clear.
Utilize any wisdom from the cranky, rusty thoughts that you can, and implement what is useful.
Positive ways to utilize this Mercury Retrograde :
Back up important documents ASAP - like now!
Signing documents (like a mortgage, business document, etc) could result in having to go back and redo it once the retrograde cycle is over
If you must sign documents, etc. understand that you must look over the document several more times than usual - because mistakes are bound to happen.
Take time to complete past projects, pay bills, clear out the email clutter.
Journal reflectively.
Compile photos from the past for a photo book or collage (physical or digital).
Understand that Retrogrades aren’t about charging forward, they are about addressing things from the past.
This Mercury Retrograde will last from January 14, 2022 - February 3, 2022. When it Stations Direct, it will be within 3° of Pluto (after making its 2nd conjunction with it on January 28, 2022, the 3rd will be February 11, 2022). What this means is to expect this Mercury Retrograde to reflect the same Plutonic themes that Venus Retrograde has been bringing to the surface. This Mercury Retrograde is likely to drudge up the darkness in our minds, means of communication, interests, etc. And we may then be prompted to restructure ourselves in accordance to the information that is presented to us.
Venus and Mercury are active in the same (or close) degrees to where Saturn and Pluto were Conjunct in January 2020 - a chief transit that contributed to the entrance of COVID into the world. The point where everything changed. The degrees who’s activation has charged the current Saturn Uranus Square with big subjects of negotiation over the past year - what is normal, what must be reconstructed?
I propose that the combination of Venus’ Retrograde and Mercury’s Retrograde, is echoing the relationship between Saturn and Pluto and the Conjunction that they made in January 2020 - a time that will forever go down in history. Maybe the cosmic conversation that we are participating is something like this :
Us : “So we’re not going back to where we were before?”
Cosmos : “Nope, it’s time to move on.”
Us :”Are you sure?”
Cosmos : “Yes, it is time to grow.”
Us : “Well can we still do things like this?”
Cosmos : “No.”
Us : “How about like this?”
Cosmos : “Nope! The world that you are in the midst of creating must be totally different. The more that you try to do the same as before, the more you are missing the point and will struggle with no progress. You must look deep into painful parts of your past and see the truth in the pain, sit with it and heal before you can create new structures from which to live upon. The hard way is the right way. If it is uncomfortable but also learning and growing than you are on the right path.”
Us : ”Ok. We have always known that this was possible but the existing structures (that are losing relevance) prevented it. Maybe we can continue along that path?”
Cosmos :”Yes, keep going.”
Mars Square Neptune
And finally Mars in Sagittarius Squares Neptune in Pisces (20° 53’), taking place on January 11, 2022 @ 2:34pm MST. In the context of everything that I have addressed above, I interpret this transit as a bit of a free fall into the liminal, because we are currently in the liminal (not here nor there). Mars is exalted in the sign of Capricorn (an Earth sign) for a reason, it is the most substantive sign of the Zodiac, solid and trustworthy. Mars’ action can be held and sustained through Capricorns earthy predictability. They are great partners.
I give you the example of Mars’ exaltation because Mars Square Neptune is the opposite. Mars in the sign of Sagittarius is great : motivation through purpose, passion and faith in the big picture. But when it is in challenging aspect to Neptune it has no substance to work with. There is no worse challenger than the invisible one. Neptune, unlike Capricorn/Saturn, does not believe in the material world. Neptune is the foggy disillusion of the illusion (materiality).
Mars and Neptune can be invisible health ailments that cannot be diagnosed, the desire and motivation to merge with the universal womb - but can never really reach it (Neptune is unattainable), or an addiction to escape because of the unattainability of the ideal. Positive expressions can be immersing oneself into deeper spiritual waters and submitting to the uncontrollable to find greater autonomy within our deeper selves. Or maybe just getting lost in a great story, movie, music, etc. If you are finding the need to escape today - do so mindfully and completely.
Maybe this transit can help to soften our dependency upon the same-old-material-world with new big-idea perspectives. Neptune can dissolve everything that we depend upon in a functional sense, allow it to do so just a bit at this time. We need room for new ideas to drive this next era. Every little bit of blank space with potential counts. Trust, and let Neptune work its magic for this purpose.
Conclusion
The notable-impact has likely happened over the past couple of weeks, months and years. This is a time to really feel into the life-changing events that we have experienced and make real reflections to better integrate all that has happened. Take advantage of the Universe’s intelligence :
What values and relationships are being re-worked in response to the new world that we now live? (Venus RX)
What ideas, messages and thought patterns could use some re-working to better serve the new vision? (Mercury RX)
What structures are no longer relevant for you due to the shifting that is happening? Do you keep trying to go back to the world before? Notice when you do. (Saturn Square Uranus)
Can you let a piece of your world dissolve (a thought, pattern, expectation, etc) to create space for new inspiration and potential? What action can you take within the liminal space that we are in? (Mars Square Neptune)
Be kind with yourself. Don’t hurry into the Future. Take it one step at a time. Trust the process like the butterfly trusts the cocoon.
In Love, Lisa (The Dynamic Self Astrology)
