Sneak peek of a new project! Mercury in your chart and Mercury Retrograde

Hello lovelies! I recently was inspired to write a non-fiction witchy book to compliment the Myrtlewood books, and i've been writing it very fast. It's just pouring out of me as though it's the book I've been waiting to write all my life.

This book will focus on intuitive witchy magic, starting from the basics and going right through to astrology and shadow work.

I will share more soon, but in the meantime, I thought I'd show you this section because it's so relevant to the current astrology!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Blessed be.

Iris xx

Mercury

Mercury may be small in stature, but it's got a big role to play in how we think, communicate, and get from A to B. Imagine Mercury as the ultimate celestial communicator who ensures the gods' messages are delivered promptly and with a bit of panache. It's like the messenger of the solar system, connecting the heavenly sphere with our earthly realm. Mercury is all about the way we process information, how we learn, and how we share our ideas with others.

When it comes to communication, Mercury governs the way we speak, write, and even gesture. It's the planet that helps us put our thoughts into words and our words into action. Mercury is also the ruler of our rational mind, the part of us that loves to categorise, analyse, and make sense of the world around us.

Mercury has two sides to its cosmic personality, like a celestial Gemini twin. On one hand, it's got the intellectual curiosity of Gemini, always keen to learn new things and make connections. On the other hand, it's got the analytical precision of Virgo, the sign that loves nothing more than diving into the details and finding the perfect solution to any problem.

So, when you're looking at your natal chart, pay close attention to where Mercury is residing. Its sign, house, and aspects will give you a cosmic clue into how your mind works, how you express yourself, and even what kind of jokes make you laugh. And when Mercury goes retrograde? Well, it's like the universe is hitting the cosmic "pause" button, giving us all a chance to slow down, reflect, and maybe even have a chuckle at the absurdity of it all.

Mercury Retrograde

There's a part of me that craves the fuzziness of Mercury retrograde. It's like a dozy morning, where you just want to pull the blankets over your head and bury yourself in the depths of consciousness or unconsciousness, as the case may be. In this sense, the energy of this time is similar to other low-ebb times, such as the season of winter or the darkness of the new moon. These inward times are incredibly important, just like the time that a butterfly needs to spend in a cocoon or the darkness in the earth that helps the seed to grow or the gestation period of one kind or another. Paradoxically, this means that those times when we feel like nothing is happening, when we feel confused and feel like pulling the blanket over our heads, when things don't necessarily seem sunshine and roses, fun and active, are actually some of our most fertile times. This is not the time to reap rewards; it's not the time to launch a new venture in the world. It's not a great time to publish a book usually either, as I found out the hard way. Mercury retrogrades are just a state of deep inner time for the mind and for consciousness. If we can go inwards during this time deliberately and even enjoy the befuddled nature of it all, we can get the most out of this time and make it really worthwhile.

It might be that you weed your garden and you discover some stroke of insight that comes to you. This happened to me once when I first started writing. It might be that you have a cryptic dream and you discover everything you dreamed about was strikingly similar to an image drawn by a great mystic philosopher 100 years ago. That happened to me during a Mercury retrograde once too. These strokes of insight can come through more easily, but through the fuzzy signal of the retrograde, precisely because the conscious mind is not so actively dominating the scene, leaving way for a deeper connection with the soul.

I do find journaling is helpful for many things, but particularly with Mercury retrogrades, things sometimes emerge that I wasn't previously aware of.

The truth is, as most mystics have said, something like this: Truth is absurdly simple. The deepest truths are often laughably simple and hilarious in a sense, and absurd. And yet, as we lean into truth, as we lean deeper and deeper into awareness, those simple things - the interconnectedness of all, the universality of paradoxes and the uncovering of the unknown, the shadow - as we lean further and further into these things, we allow ourselves to let go of all that we are not. We lean, hastening to release the identities that we've been taught by society to value, and go deeper and deeper into our sense of deep meaning and purpose that relies on no one and nothing else.

Now, from this place of letting go of preconceptions, we can decide that, ultimately, it doesn't matter what other people think of us, how many degrees we have, how many people have heard of us, whether or not we've saved somebody's life, what we look like, or how we dress. Ultimately, these things are abstract. They are products of this world that we can choose to enjoy or not enjoy. We can choose how we dress, be it extravagant or plain, from this time or another time, rather than feeling pressure, a shackle, to do as we think other people will expect us to in order to try and hide from other people's judgment. Because we've looked into the shadow of our own harsh judgment, and we've seen it for what it is - ultimately an interesting experience, pleasant at times to wield, but insubstantial, like elements such as the element of fear that's often depicted as a sword.

Largely, I'm a lot less afraid of people's judgment than I used to be when I was younger. And the more I learn to sit with my own judgment and see that behind it generally lies fear, and the more I get comfortable with the sensations of that fear so that it no longer has the power to dictate and control my life, the freer I become in my mind. You see, Mercury rules the mind, wit and writing, and other modes of communication, which is why Mercury retrograde is often attributed to things like technology breaking down, the wrong emails being sent, or the wrong transactions going through, because Mercury rules all those things. And when I say "rule," what I really mean is "reflects." So when the planet Mercury goes retrograde, it is reflecting a reversal, a backwards motion in the sky, a bit like hitting rewind on a VCR, if you know what that means - that whirring noise as it goes back to where it was not so long ago. So it's a review period. You get a chance in your mind to go back over what you've learned, not just recently, because mercurial Mercury can be a bit of a time traveler. Mercury is sometimes associated with the magician in Tarot, and just like the element after which it is named, Mercury's quicksilver. So we can reflect on the past, now with more insight, and in that we can liberate ourselves from some of the shackles of our minds, of our judgments, allowing ourselves to become freer and more connected. Because it is often the mind that holds us apart.

Mercury in your Natal Chart

As I've already mentioned, Mercury's sign, house and the aspects it makes to other planets or points in your chart all provide signposts for how the mercurial function manifests in your life.

If you're newer to astrology it might be best to start with your Mercury sign. Aspects are a bit of an advanced trick, and houses require an accurate time of birth, which isn't always available.

If you don't know your Mercury sign, you can find out what it is by using this tool:

https://cafeastrology.com/whats-my-mercury-sign.html

(Or, cast your complete natal chart here: https://horoscopes.astro-seek.com/birth-chart-horoscope-online)

Here are some thoughts on Mercury in the signs. I'd love to hear how the descriptions resonate with your own experiences or if there's anything else you would like to share about your Mercury placement.

Mercury in Aries

Mercury in Aries endows individuals with a quick, agile mind that thrives on new ideas and direct communication. They are not afraid to speak their mind and often do so with enthusiasm and boldness. This placement suggests a pioneering spirit in thought and communication, but can also lead to impulsivity and speaking without considering the consequences.

* Strengths: Mental agility, direct communication, pioneering ideas

* Challenges: Impulsivity, speaking without thinking, impatience

* Lessons: Learn to balance enthusiasm with thoughtfulness, cultivate patience

Mercury in Taurus

With Mercury in Taurus, there is a grounded, practical approach to thinking and communicating. These individuals prefer to take their time, thinking things through methodically and communicating with deliberation. They value clarity and practicality in their mental pursuits, but can struggle with stubbornness and a resistance to new ideas.

* Strengths: Practical thinking, clear communication, mental stability

* Challenges: Stubbornness, resistance to change, mental rigidity

* Lessons: Remain open to new ideas, find balance between stability and flexibility

Mercury in Gemini

Mercury, the planet of communication, is at home in Gemini. This placement indicates a curious, versatile mind that adapts quickly and thrives on learning. Gemini Mercury individuals are typically excellent communicators, able to express complex ideas with ease, but they can struggle with superficiality and scattered focus.

* Strengths: Adaptability, quick learning, excellent communication skills

* Challenges: Superficiality, scattered focus, nervousness

* Lessons: Develop mental discipline, learn to focus deeply

Mercury in Cancer

In Cancer, Mercury takes on a more emotional, intuitive flavour. Thinking and communication are filtered through feelings, and there is often a strong memory associated with this placement. Cancer Mercury individuals communicate with sensitivity and care, but may struggle to maintain objectivity and to express themselves openly.

* Strengths: Emotional intelligence, strong memory, nurturing communication

* Challenges: Overly subjective thinking, moodiness, difficulty with open expression

* Lessons: Balance emotions with logic, practice open and direct communication

Mercury in Leo

Mercury in Leo suggests a flair for the dramatic in thought and speech. These individuals have a confident, creative mind and enjoy expressing themselves boldly. They are often persuasive communicators and enjoy the spotlight, but can struggle with listening and with considering viewpoints other than their own.

* Strengths: Confidence in expression, persuasiveness, creative thinking

* Challenges: Arrogance, poor listening skills, dogmatism

* Lessons: Learn humility, develop listening skills, consider others' perspectives

Mercury in Virgo

In Virgo, Mercury is detail-oriented, analytical, and precise. Virgo Mercury individuals have a practical, efficient approach to thinking and communicating. They are often skilled at critical thinking and problem-solving, but can become overly critical and caught up in minutiae.

* Strengths: Analytical thinking, attention to detail, practical communication

* Challenges: Overly critical thinking, perfectionism, overthinking

* Lessons: See the big picture, embrace imperfection, practice decisiveness

Mercury in Libra

Mercury in Libra suggests a diplomatic, balanced approach to thinking and communicating. These individuals strive for harmony and fairness in their mental pursuits and often have a gift for seeing all sides of an issue. However, they can struggle with indecisiveness and may suppress their own opinions for the sake of maintaining peace.

* Strengths: Diplomacy, fairness, ability to see multiple perspectives

* Challenges: Indecisiveness, avoidance of conflict, suppressing own opinions

* Lessons: Learn to make decisions, stand up for personal beliefs

Mercury in Scorpio

With Mercury in Scorpio, there is a probing, investigative quality to the mind. These individuals are deep thinkers, unafraid of exploring taboo or hidden subjects. They communicate with intensity and insight, but can become obsessive in their thinking and manipulative in their communication.

* Strengths: Depth of thought, insightfulness, powerful communication

* Challenges: Obsessive thinking, manipulative tendencies, secrecy

* Lessons: Use insights for positive transformation, practice open and honest communication

Mercury in Sagittarius

Mercury in Sagittarius indicates a philosophical, optimistic mind that's always seeking to expand its horizons. Sagittarius Mercury individuals are often gifted storytellers with a great sense of humour. They enjoy exploring ideas and communicating their visions, but can become preachy and may overlook important details.

* Strengths: Optimistic thinking, philosophical outlook, great sense of humour

* Challenges: Preachiness, lack of attention to detail, exaggeration

* Lessons: Balance vision with practicality, consider the details, respect others' beliefs

Mercury in Capricorn

In Capricorn, Mercury is serious, structured, and goal-oriented in its thinking and communication. Capricorn Mercury individuals are practical thinkers who value tradition and authority. They communicate with purpose and discipline, but can be rigid in their thinking and pessimistic in their outlook.

* Strengths: Disciplined thinking, practical communication, respect for structure

* Challenges: Rigidity, pessimism, difficulty with creative thinking

* Lessons: Be open to new ideas, find a balance between tradition and innovation

Mercury in Aquarius

Mercury in Aquarius suggests an inventive, unconventional mind. These individuals are often original thinkers, unafraid of exploring radical ideas. They communicate in a unique, often surprising way, but can come across as detached and may struggle to connect with others on an emotional level.

* Strengths: Original thinking, openness to new ideas, unique communication style

* Challenges: Detachment, eccentricity, rebelliousness

* Lessons: Develop empathy, consider others' feelings, find a balance between originality and practicality

Mercury in Pisces

In Pisces, Mercury takes on an intuitive, imaginative quality. Pisces Mercury individuals are often creative thinkers and communicators, with a poetic, sometimes mystical way of expressing themselves. They are highly empathetic, but can struggle with mental boundaries and with clearly articulating their thoughts.

* Strengths: Intuitive understanding, creative expression, empathetic communication

* Challenges: Mental boundaries, clear articulation, escapism

* Lessons: Learn to ground ideas in reality, develop mental discipline, trust in own voice.