Mercury retrograde in Aries marks a significant moment in a season packed with astrological events. When The messenger god went into reverse gear at 22:14 (UT) on April 1st, it was no joke: this Mercury retrograde falls in the middle of a pair of important eclipses across the Aries – Libra axis, and it appears in the heavens in the centre of a planetary configuration that sees the planets bundled together in one sector of the sky. There is a lot of planetary activity taking place in a relatively small space – and Mercury retrograde in Aries is going to focus our attention on that.
When I wrote abut the recent lunar eclipse in Libra I mentioned how it emphasised the ‘lop-sided’ nature of the astrology of this particular moment; the focus is one sided, as if there is just a single issue that is demanding your attention. I had another thought as I wrote this – and it was the image of a snake that’s swallowed a pig (or an astrologer who ate too many chocolate eggs…) there is this huge ‘bulge’ of stuff that needs to work its way through the system before it regains its original shape. So, I’m going to look at Mercury retrograde in Aries in detail – and place it in the wider context of what’s happening elsewhere in the heavens.
Mercury Retrograde in Aries: The Basics
Let’s remind ourselves of a couple of things before we start: Mercury turned retrograde on 1st April 2024 at 27˚13′ Aries and will resume direct motion on April 25th at 15˚ 59′ Aries.. Mercury in retrograde motion makes us re-examine something we may have previously overlooked. That simple dynamic is how Mercury retrograde works. In the fabled instances of you losing your wallet, keys or mobile phone, the universe is simply telling you to pay more attention to what you’re doing in terms of your personal organisation and how you go about your daily life.
In that context, Mercury retrograde takes on the internalised characteristics we associate with Virgo and the sixth house – ‘earth’ Mercury – rather that the externalised ‘mercurial’ traits more associated with Mercury and it’s rulership of Gemini and the third house – let’s call that ‘air’ Mercury. Of course, those things are connected: when you receive a little Mercury retrograde induced ‘bad news’ (‘air’ Mercury), you often have to reconsider, re-think or re-evaluate the relationship, course of action, planned event – whatever it may be – and reframe it into some more manageable form – and that’s ‘earth’ Mercury in action.
Mercury retrogrades are the moments when the universe likes us to take stock of where we are at any given moment, by giving us something that we need to get our head around – and that’s true both at a personal and collective level. If this retrograde touches a sensitive place in your own natal chart – such as a personal planet or one of the angles – you will notice it with some immediacy. Mercury retrograde will, however affect all of us to a greater or lesser degree, because it will take place in a house in your natal chart, thus bringing the affairs of the house up for a re-think.
If the retrograde motion crosses a house cusp it will be especially noticeable: be prepared to revisit something you thought you had left behind. And that may be annoying – especially as Mercury retrograde is in Aries – the rapid fire sign. It’s important to recall the meanings we associate with Aries: among other things, it symbolises, new beginnings, things that happen at speed, taking the initiative, pursuing your goals, being independent, putting yourself first, asserting your authority – and getting things moving. It’s active – and action at the mental level is always associated with Mercury in this sign.
When you have Mercury retrograde in Aries, however, you need to be aware of rash decisions, impulsive ideas and harsh words. In fact, you may spend the retrograde period not only trying to avoid those pitfalls, but you may have to extricate yourself from any ‘pits’ you have already fallen into. Mercury retrograde in Aries tends to make you aware of the consequences of your actions – and that may be what you have to think about over the coming weeks. Mentally, you are going to be challenged to get your head around moving forwards – and that really accords with the particular symbolism of the Mercury retrograde chart.
Mercury Retrograde in Aries: The Chart
Mercury Retrograde in Aries: The Aspects
Before I get into the aspects, a word about the chart: there it is – everything bundled together between Pisces and Taurus, with only the Moon and Pluto standing apart from the crowd. Though it sits in a crowded field, Mercury retrograde in Aries makes only two aspects: it makes a square aspect to Pluto in Aquarius, and it makes a semi-sextile aspect to the Venus – Neptune conjunction in Pisces, a pairing that also makes a wide disassociate sextile with Pluto.
Mercury Retrograde semi-sextile Venus conjunct Neptune
This minor aspect plugs Mercury retrograde into something that’s been close by, but it may only now start to make you feel a sense of discomfort. It’s like your relationship with your neighbours: most of the time you get along and don’t cause a problem for each other – until the moment you do. The thing that will catch your attention may be vague at best or deceitful at worst and with Venus in the mix it may be concerned with money or values, or relationships, aesthetics or pleasure.
Of course, this is unlikely to be concerned with your real life neighbours (unless Mercury retrograde falls in your third house), but the underlying principle holds true: issues that undermine you financially or do not sit well with your personal values will become issues that you can no longer ignore – even if you try. In fact, the problem may be that you’ve been ignoring something for too long – and it’s now having a material impact on you or causing you some material loss, or a loss of value or amenity. You may have to ask, “is this situation worth it?’ Sometimes, things improve if you let go. Think about that.
Mercury Retrograde square Pluto
The major aspect Mercury retrograde makes is a square to Pluto. And that’s a real mental powerhouse. It’s mentally intense. It asks the right questions. It digs deep – and it won’t stop until it finds what it’s looking for. Things that are long buried will emerge – including (and especially) the stuff you don’t want anyone to see. This is a moment for secrets to be exposed, and the connection with the Venus – Neptune conjunction implies those secrets may be concerned with love and money. Deception or a cover-up concerning either one of those things – and maybe both of them – may be the issue here.
That may affect some of you at a personal level – or (as usual) that scenario may be played out in public, as these things so often are. A Venus, Neptune and Pluto connection is often seen in instances of fraud or other financial crime so that will be one to watch – particularly as Mercury continues on its retrograde motion. In the coming days and weeks, Mercury’s retreat will take it into the orb of the forthcoming total solar eclipse in Aries on April 8th, and in the days after the eclipse, it will make contact with the degree of the eclipse – which will be a highly sensitive point.
So, the week following the solar eclipse should be newsworthy to say the least – and if you find yourself affected by this Mercury retrograde and the solar eclipse, you may want to prepare yourself for some serious revelations or difficult questions around that time. And the revelations and questions may be internal or external in nature. However, let’s talk a little more about Pluto. For most of this year (until November), Pluto is parked at 0˚ – 2˚ degrees of Aquarius, until dropping back into Capricorn late this year.
If you read my posts on a regular basis, you will know that Pluto is currently activating ‘The Great Conjunction” of 2020 – 2021 which occurred when Jupiter and Saturn met at 0˚27″ Aquarius. Briefly, the Great Conjunction marked a major new beginning for all of us – and Pluto’s presence on – or close to – that degree marks a moment from which there is no going back. We will never return to what was in force before December 2020. This time around, the snake is not going to regain its original shape.
Mercury Retrograde in Aries: The Background Noise
I think its important to contextualise this Mercury retrograde in Aries because – as I mentioned at the outset – it’s coming at a time of enormous significance – astrological and otherwise. As I have said many times (so repeat after me…) all things are connected, and the background noise to this Mercury retrograde is as important as the retrograde itself. I’ve already mentioned the significance of the forthcoming solar eclipse, but it’s not the only influence in the skies at present. For your information, we have the following:
- Total Solar Eclipse on April 8th, at 19˚ 22′ Aries. It’s second Great American Eclipse in 7 years, the first occurred in August 2017 at 29˚ Leo.
- As noted, Mercury retrograde passes over the 2024 solar eclipse point in Aries on April 16th. Something will be worth a closer look – or be revealed – at that point
- Venus transits over the eclipse degree on April 21st.
- Mercury Direct contacts the eclipse degree on May 5th. This is the moment with the potential for you to begin to put your plans into action. And that applies in the outer world too.
- Mars – the trigger planet – crosses the solar eclipse degree.
- Jupiter Conjunct Uranus in Taurus: this approaching conjunction signifies the beginning of a new Jupiter – Uranus cycle, and that brings far reaching and radical change.
- Mars conjunct Saturn brings up the rear of ‘the bundle: this shows that frustration may be overcome with determination. The minor trine connection with Jupiter – Uranus and the Moon shows a deep need for radical reform of stagnant conditions. And fast.
- And finally, the bundle itself: the eventual movement of all of the planets over the 0˚ Aries point, will signify a major new cycle and a new beginning. The past is being left behind. – on bot a public and personal level. There is only one direction of travel – and with Aries such a significant sign at the moment, the journey may take less time than you think.
I will be posting on some of the above items on this list soon. Meanwhile, get your head around your own Mercury retrograde – and remember, this time around it is going to have your head in a spin with the pace of things that are going to demand your attention. Mental burn-out may be a problem, so try and take it one thing at a time until Mercury turns direct. And even then, be prepared for things to heat up…
Further Reading
Lunations 2024 | Lunar Eclipse in Libra
March 2024 Lunar Eclipse in Libra: The Fallout
Transits | Pluto in Aquarius: The Trailer
Jupiter Conjunct Saturn: The Great Conjunction
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© Sara Shipman 2024
Picture Credit:Image by yeison bueno from Pixabay
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