Saturday & Sunday 1/30-31/2021: Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius Survival Guide; Catching Up on the News

Happy Saturday!

Moon entered Virgo at 3:02 AM ET, seeking to put everything in order. Hopefully you backed up your computers before 10:51 AM ET, which is when Mercury turned retrograde…not to turn direct until February 20th. Here is what you need to know about survival the Messenger Planet’s apparent backward motion through the sky:

So many people who know nothing else about astrology have heard of Mercury retrograde.  Often it elicits curses and groans, and that’s a shame. Yes, all of the flights on American Airlines may be grounded because of a computer glitch, and the entire country of Finland may be offline because of a transportation strike. These things actually happened on the first day of Mercury retrogrades past. But there’s much good that can be accomplished when the Messenger Planet appears to be retracing its steps.

Mercury—which in the language of astrology refers to mindset, travel and communication—will appear to move backward through the sky until February 20th. It’s not really moving backward, but that is how it looks from our perspective here on Spaceship Earth. Mercury goes retrograde 3-4 times each year, for a period of 22 days.

Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrogrades are no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. You know what that gets you? BURN OUT. We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down. And as you slow down, it is vitally important that you FOCUS.

When Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said. Use your FOCUS and double check important details, like email addresses, instructions for assembling IKEA furniture.  Read the instructions more than once — and don’t hesitate to ask for help.  FOCUS!!!!!!!!!

If you are looking for a job, Mercury retrogrades are a perfect time to reach out to people from your past. Mine your address book and trust that your contacts will be happy to hear from you. However, do not be frustrated if your target is away on vacation or keeps rescheduling meetings. Also, triple check your emails and resumes before you hit “send,” as there is a higher probability of typos and other sloppy snafus.

In your business, you’ll need to make sure all communications have been received and are clearly understood. Be mindful of the higher potential for communications equipment to go on the fritz. MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE BACKED UP. Also be aware of a higher than average probability for delays in shipping and travel arrangements. For this you will need an extra dose of patience.

You may also find it profitable to REview a project from the past. Maybe you shelved it then, but now is the time to REconsider. However, be advised that a spontaneous, “out-of-the-blue” idea for advancement may not be so sound when Mercury turns direct. This is why the conventional wisdom advises against finalizing and/or signing contracts on deals during Mercury retrograde. An exception might be supported if you are REnegotiating or RElocating. If you absolutely must close a deal, triple check everything.

This is a good time to schedule a corporate REtreat. Any activity that affords the opportunity to REview past performance is encouraged. REsearch on a new strategy is also favored.

Mercury retrogrades are not favored for launching a new website or a new communications systems. There is a higher than average probability of technical glitches and confusion. I can tell you horror stories about a certain prestigious college’s lackluster launch of a website/communications portal which occurred a few years ago, on a day when Mercury was stationary retrograde. The portal was completely redone last year. No surprise there.

Adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter. Avoid making major purchases (especially electronic ones). Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the papers. Rumors have a higher probability of spreading during Mercury retrogrades. Avoid losing patience — that’s a big one.

When in doubt, be silent!

Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating…and REviewing your life with your astrologer.

Mercury turns retrograde at 26 degrees of Aquarius…and retraces its steps all the way back to 11 degrees of Aquarius. It turns direct on February 20th, and arrives at 26 Aquarius again on the New Moon of March 13th.

Astrologer Robert Wilkinson (who wrote the book on Mercury retrograde) sees Mercury Rx in Aquarius as an opportunity to review old ideals with a mind to fresh application, “furthering the work that was done before by another,” especially in social service. It’s an apt time to review friendships and groups of like-minded souls.  Wherever 26 Aquarius – 11 Aquarius falls in your horoscope is where you may be re-evaluating old ideals and associations.

The Sabian Symbol for this Mercury retrograde is “an ancient pottery bowl filled with violets.” Sabian Sage Blain Bovee shares thoughts on this lovely image here. It’s fascinating that his book on the Sabian Symbols makes a connection between these violets and the “pocket full of posies,” mentioned in the rhyme many Brits and Americans learned to sing in their youth.  The “posies” are a protection against the plague– and getting the world vaccinated against Covid will certainly be in the news during this retrograde!!!

Anyhoo…this week, Mercury Rx activates seeds that were planted on the New Moon of August 2020 — a hot time for President Biden and P45. When Mercury turns direct on February 20th, it will activate happenings around October 12 and November 19. 2020 — the latter of which was significant in President Biden’s horoscope.

Back to the weekend forecast:

  • SUNDAY: another full day of Moon in Virgo supports your reorganizing and reconnecting projects. Communication around noon ET may be a bit off-track, as Moon opposes Neptune. Physical energy is running high, as the Sun prepares to square Mars on…
  • MONDAY: at 5:33 AM ET. Find a pleasant and productive channel, perhaps utilizing the good graces of a harmony between the Moon and Venus at 6:09 AM ET.  After a 16-minute void, Moon enters Libra, seeking fairness and balance in relationship. At 9:05 AM ET, Venus leaves Capricorn for Aquarius, where values, money, social expression and art need to be less concerned about climbing ladders of success and more concerned with being accessible to all.

And now, the news.

Mercury turning retrograde just two days before a potentially combative square between Mars (cars, head) and the Sun is seen here:

Last week’s big patterns included:

  • Sun in Aquarius square Uranus (in Taurus); Sun conjunct Jupiter, suggesting themes of big tech, big gains (for the masses, not necessarily the usual Powers That Be), big wack-a-doodles (Uranus refers to eccentrics and fringe elements); big rewards that are socially significant
  • Venus conjunct Pluto in Capricorn: themes of empowerment/transformation re: women, values, money, social expression, art. Also: emotional overkill.

And here are a few stories:

Fun fact: if you were born around the 30th of January, April, July or October OR have a significant placement in your horoscope around 7 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio or Taurus, you’re likely experiencing a few shake-ups in your own personal world, as in:

  • Exhibit A: Leon Black, the chairman of MoMA and former hedge fund bigshot who resigned from the latter after more information came out re: the tens of millions of dollars he paid Jeffrey Epstein. We’ll see how long he can hang on to his post at MoMA.
  • Exhibit B: George W. Bush did not choose sides in the November election (save for endorsing Maine’s senator, Susan Collins). But this week, he was motivated to voice support for Exhibit C and sent 80th birthday greetings to Exhibit D (Liz and Dick Cheney, respectively). Rep Liz Cheney is under fire from seditionists in the Republican Party, who want to punish her for voting to impeach P45.
  • Exhibit E: Jen Psaki is the new White House Press Secretary. The shake-ups in her horoscope suggest a windfall opportunity (“Congratulations, you’re hired!”), and an innovative platform for social expression. She’s a Sagittarius with Moon in late Sagittarius or Capricorn, with three other planets in Sagittarius. Every horoscope has contradictory patterns, and Psaki’s is no exception. On the one hand, her Mercury and Mars in Sagittarius are conjunct Neptune. This suggests words and actions that need to be optimistic, opinionated and boundary-pushing, and also charismatic and visionary. On the other hand, these planets in high-flying Sagittarius are grounded by a square to Saturn in detail-oriented Virgo. Enthusiasm is balanced by caution. In a recent NPR interview, Psaki gets props for being “professional and generous — not what we’re used to.” That generosity is reflected in her horoscope by a Venus-Jupiter square, and this is the pattern that’s been activated in recent weeks by transiting Uranus (windfall opportunities; innovative creative outlets).

Meanwhile, there is GameStop, whose meteoric and shocking performance perfectly reflected planetary patterns. You know what happened, right?  The stock soared because a group of small-time investors in the Reddit forum Wall Street Bets (power to the little people/Jupiter-Saturn in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus) started buying it — not because of its intrinsic value, mind you — but simply as a way to push the value up. In doing so, they blindsided the Pluto in (corporate) Capricorn hedge funds, who’d placed bets that GameStop’s value would tank, as Stephen Colbert explains. The hedge funds lost millions; the masses made money, like this 10-year-old in San Antonio, TX.  And then “the masses” started playing with the value of other companies, e.g. American Airlines and AMC.

I’ve noted the potential of 2021’s series of squares between Saturn and Uranus a number of times in this forecast over the years. The exact dates are February 17, June 15 and December 24. The last challenging pattern between these two planets was a series of five oppositions between November 4, 2008 and July 26, 2010.

I leave you with the latest from the Good News Network.

What’s going on in your horoscope? Here’s the 411 on personal consultations — and here’s the 411 on the Empowered Astrology Conference happening online March 11 – 14. This is an annual gathering with a stellar faculty — check it out!

Thank you for reading this forecast — and sharing it with your friends.