Mercury retrograde 2017 starts on August 12 at 11° Virgo and ends on September 5 at 28° Leo.
This Mercury retrograde cycle is a particularly powerful and significant one that could lead to changes in your love life or finances. Fear, insecurity, suspicion, lying, deception, fraud and adultery are some of the issues that may arise. Whether you are single or in a relationship, you can expect to be thinking or talking about matters of love and trust.
Even if you experience disappointment and sadness during Mercury retrograde August 2017, you can look forward to exciting opportunities to improve your love life or finances. Before I go into more detail about Mercury retrograde 2017 I will explain the meaning of Mercury retrograde in your birth chart and then Mercury retrograde in transit.
Mercury Retrograde Meaning
Natal Mercury retrograde means there was a problem with how you thought and communicated in an earlier life. Perhaps you gave someone bad advice that has critical repercussions, or were prone to making costly mistakes. Maybe you wrote slanderous material about someone in a book or newspaper, or verbally teased and abused people.
Whatever the circumstances of the previous significant incarnation, you come into this life with those bad memories etched in your soul. You probably don’t recognize them as memories but as déjà vu or unexplained guilt. Especially when young, there can be a repeating theme of challenging events related to your past.
The aim of Mercury retrograde in your birth chart is for you to perfect those areas of thought and communication which once let you down. As your communication skills improve with experience, your karmic debt will be repaid and you can get off the roundabout.
Mercury retrograde in your natal chart can show as learning difficulties, especially with reading, writing and comprehension. You may be a shy, quite person whose thoughts have turned inward. Hesitant to speak up for yourself, you may miss out on many opportunities in life. This difficulty in expressing yourself can make you feel awkward in company and lead to low self-esteem. You may experience teasing or verbal abuse, be nagged and criticized, or fall victim to slander and lies. Contracts may also cause problems and like so many things, lead to complications further down the track.
Mercury retrograde only last for about three weeks so Mercury is going to turn direct at some stage in your progressed chart (where one day equals one year). After a couple of years you will notice that your communication style improves and you can express yourself more freely. However, the opposite can also occur and someone with Mercury direct in their natal chart may experience progressed Mercury retrograde later in life. I experienced this from age 13 to 37 and it was very profound. I even stopped reading books.
If you have Mercury retrograde in your natal or progressed chart then you can expect to make more rapid progress during transits of Mercury retrograde.
Transiting Mercury retrograde is a regular cycle occurring three or four times a year for about 24 days. While this is more frequent than any other planet, Mercury is still only retrograde 19% of the time. This is far less than Jupiter outwards, but more than Venus and Mars.
The Mercury retrograde phase is just one part of the Mercury retrograde cycle. The whole cycle includes Mercury going direct, retrograde, and direct again over the same degrees, or the retrograde zone. The two direct phases are called the shadow periods.
Mercury retrograde is associated with communication and technology breakdowns, nervous anxiety, travel delays and lost items. There is a feel of a difficult Mercury–Saturn aspect about Mercury retrograde. You can also expect to dwell on things, reminisce about the past, or unexpectedly meet up with people from your past. While the Mercury retrograde period may be good for flicking through old photo albums, it is generally considered more of a nuisance than a benefit.
Mercury retrograde can play havoc with your thoughts, communications, travels and electronics. Take extra care with your words and try not to react too quickly in any arguments or if provoked. Take some time out if you start to feel overwhelmed by the hectic pace. Double-check all of your emails and posts on Facebook before hitting the send button.
Business negotiations will be in a state of flux during Mercury retrograde so avoid signing contracts. Some important details will not yet be available, and other parties may not be reliable or honest. If going on a road trip then make sure you get your car serviced beforehand.
The riskiest times for decision-making, negotiations, communication and transport are the few days either side of the exact retrograde and direct stations. However, care should still be taken during the retrograde period.
Mercury Retrograde August 2017
Mercury Enters Shadow Zone July 24 at 28°25′ Leo
From now until when Mercury stations retrograde is called the first shadow period. During this phase you will get an idea of the thinking, communication or transport issues that may be of concern during the retrograde phase. [see chart]
Venus opposite Saturn is extremely powerful because it is exact, occurring only 12 minutes before Mercury enters the shadow zone. Delays or sadness in relationships or a lack of money will be major issues for these two months.
Mercury trine Uranus brings new possibilities, exciting news and stimulating relationships. Flashes of insight and original ideas bring positive change. This will be opportunities for positive change in your love life.
Mercury Stations Retrograde August 12 at 11°38′ Virgo
Mercury retrograde starts on the fixed star Zosma (11°33′ Virgo) on the back of The Lion. This causes negative thinking, selfishness, nasty words and fear of poison. The strongest aspect is Mercury opposite Neptune which reinforces the depressing influence of Zosma with suspicion, distrust and more fear. Confused thinking and miscommunication increase the chance of relationship problems. This is a bad time for making important decisions and plans. Beware of lies, deception, spying, gossip and scandal.
Mistrust, deception and confusion will continue for the three weeks of Mercury retrograde, being worst for a few days around the retrograde station on August 12. At the beginning of this story when Mercury entered the retrograde zone, there was good news and bad news. Bright ideas and positive change from Mercury trine Uranus, then love and money troubles caused by of Venus opposite Saturn.
A similar things happens in the Mercury retrograde chart shown above. Love and affection from Venus, then mistrust and fear caused by Mercury opposite Neptune. Sometimes no amount of love will save a relationship poisoned by cheating and lies. Continuing suspicion and mistrust can make reconciliation impossible.
Venus conjunct fixed star Sirius at 14°18′ Cancer does improve the outlook. The brightest star in the night sky gives comfort, faithfulness, devotion, passion and resentment. This super charged Venus can replace mistrust and deception with love and devotion.
Mercury sextile Venus brings loving words and compromise. This peaceful and harmonious influence will help reduce the stress and tension caused by Mercury retrograde opposite Neptune. Unconditional love and affection can prevail over secrecy and dishonesty. A good head for numbers and clever negotiating skills will help with strained finances.
Venus trine Neptune allows for compassion, empathy and forgiveness for minor indiscretions. A more idealized and spiritual view of love can make you feel sensual and dreamy but also leave you vulnerable. Don’t let your loving kindness be mistaken for weakness. Honest admissions may lead to forgiveness but over idealizing your partner is possible with these soft Venus aspects.
You can conquer Neptune deception with Venus honest and open communication of unconditional love. There is a lot to conquer with Mercury retrograde causing confusion and misconception. Mercury stations retrograde on a selfish and depressing star, and the opposition of Neptune add lies and deception.
Have faith that Sirius will bring faithfulness and loving devotion. Trust that the Venus aspects bring you honest, open communication and unconditional love.
Mercury Stations Direct 5 September 2017 at 28°25′ Leo
This second shadow period lasts for two weeks until Mercury leaves the retrograde zone on September 19. Solutions to your love and money problems can now be worked on. You can work very hard indeed with Mercury conjunct Mars giving focused and acute thinking. However, aggressive or defensive thinking can bring nasty words, arguments, outbursts of temper and impulsive actions. You will not have the patience for anymore excuses.
Mercury stations direct on the same degree as the August 21 solar eclipse. This gives more importance to Mercury retrograde 2017 as a whole, not only the direct station. The solar eclipse is already bringing bold, confident changes leading to long-term success. Determined and sustained effort will bring the growth and happiness you wish for.
Fixed star Regulus at 0°04′ Virgo gives ambition and adventure. This regal star makes Mercury honorable and just. However, this conjunction can also cause your generosity to be abused by others. Remember, don’t let your loving kindness be mistaken for weakness.
Mercury direct trine Uranus opens up your mind to new possibilities. There may be some exciting news and unexpected encounters with eccentric or stimulating people. Flashes of insight and original ideas bring new ideas and positive change.
During this two-week shadow period you will likely loose your patience with any continuing problems in your love life or finances. A sense of urgency will bring swift and positive changes. Mistrust and disappointment can be replaced with excitement and passion.
Mercury Leaves Shadow Zone 19 September 2017 at 11°38′ Virgo
This chart for the end of Mercury retrograde 2017 brings the possibility that not all problems involving mistrust and deceit will be solved. In fact, any lingering doubts are likely to be inflamed with Mercury and Mars still together. Mercury back on fixed star Zosma opposite Neptune retrograde may jog memories of earlier heartaches caused by lies, deceit and disloyalty.
Mercury Retrograde 2017 Summary
If you are single you may have to work on feelings of insecurity or unworthiness. Mercury retrograde August 2017 may bring situations which force you to deal with fears or poor self-image. If you are still hurting over a previous breakup you may feel resentful and jealous all over again.
If you are in a relationship there are three possible manifestations of Mercury retrograde August 2017 that I can think of:
- You may have cheated on your partner or are thinking about it. You will have to deal with guilt, shame or embarrassment. One relationship could end and another may start.
- You may discover your partner has been lying to you or worse still, has cheated on you. Mercury retrograde 2017 will be difficult for you and there are some big decisions to make.
- You may suspect your partner of dishonesty or adultery because of experience or your own insecurities. You have to learn to trust again, otherwise your relationship could become poisoned by suspicion and wrongful accusation.
For these possible scenarios and the ones I have missed, Mercury retrograde 2017 will likely arouse feeling of insecurity or mistrust involving relationships. You could experience very significant events that lead to changes in your thinking on relationship dynamics or your self-image.
Whatever your situation, there will be opportunities to improve your self-esteem and resolve stressful love and money troubles. Mercury retrograde August 2017 may bring disappointment but it does not have to. Faith, trust, honesty, open communication and unconditional love are the ingredients for a loving and lasting relationship.
If Mercury retrograde 2017 affects your decan it will be mentioned in your monthly horoscope. For more detail on how Mercury retrograde aspects your birth chart, see Mercury Transits.
Mercury Retrograde Dates
April 9 to May 3, 2017 – 24° Aries to 4° Taurus
August 12 to September 5, 2017 – 28° Leo to 11° Virgo
December 3 to 22, 2017 – 13° to 29° Sagittarius
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