Mercury enters Leo...

on July 2 at 3.38pm in Kilmore.

The move of Mercury from the emotional and family oriented sign of Cancer into the more fiery and stubborn sign of Leo suggests a change in the way we are thinking and perhaps dealing with the areas of life and people represented by this planet in our birth chart.

Mercury represents change, but also the way we connect and communicate with the world, and people around us.  Being in a fire sign now and for the next few weeks, Mercury suggests that we are more likely than usual to speak up and need to express ourselves... being in a fixed sign, it seems that we are more likely to stick to our guns, but also be more stubborn and less likely to compromise.  This can be a good thing, but also create difficulties if we take it too far!

By looking at where Mercury is in your birth chart, and which houses are ruled by it (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp), you can get a feel for where you or someone else, may need to speak up; and also where being determined or even stubborn may be a theme.

If you have personal points or planets in Leo then you can expect the next few weeks to be busier than usual, since Mercury tends to speed things up.

Mercury Square Saturn...

starts on June 21 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on June 22 at 4.42am, leaves on June 22. Mercury at 10 degrees and 30 minutes of Cancer, Saturn at 10 degrees and 30 minutes of Libra.

Mercury is the planet associated with communicating in whatever form gets your message across, and being in Capricorn it seems that communication in general will have more of a serious tone than usual. Saturn usually brings up serious matters that we have to work hard at, but also brings long-lasting rewards for our efforts, so in effect we have a double-whammy 'serious' note to this energy combination.

The connection of these two planets through the square suggests a bit of stress and/or struggle between the two energies, and then a turning point being reached.  It seems that there may be a serious decision or perhaps a communication blockage that needs attention now, as well a change in attitude or understanding (which is likely to be the key to successfully handling this matter).

As usual, look to see where this aspect is falling to get a feel for what or who may be at odds... as well as looking at the houses ruled by Mercury (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp), and Saturn (ones with Capricorn or Aquarius on the cusp).

If you have personal planets and/or points in Cancer and/or Libra, then you are likely to feel this energy more strongly than others.

Mercury Opposing Retrograde Pluto...

starts on June 19 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on June 20 at 5.18am in Kilmore, leaves on June 20.  Mercury at 6 degrees and 24 minutes of Cancer, retrograde Pluto at 6 degrees and 24 minutes of Capricorn.

Mercury is about how we communicate and how our minds process information, while Pluto tends to work at a deeply emotional level, which is mostly difficult to understand at a logical level.

The opposition presents the opportunity to view the people and situations represented by these two energies in your birth chart in an objective way... and to then understand them/it with as much clarity as you will ever reach.  By doing this, then you can reach a major turning point.

As usual, look to see where this aspect is falling in order to get a feel for what or who may be involved: also look to see which houses are ruled by Mercury (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp), and Pluto (one with Scorpio on the cusp).

If you have personal planets and/or points in Cancer or Capricorn then you may be especially sensitive to this transit.

Mercury Square Uranus...

starts on June 18 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on June 19 at 6.11am in Kilmore, leaves on June 19.  Mercury at 4 degrees and 23 minutes of Cancer, Uranus at 4 degrees and 23 minutes of Aries.

Electric shocks' is what comes to mind when I think of this combination!  It seems that the news and insights (Mercury) that comes to us now will challenge (square) and electrify (Uranus) us in some way - most probably through the people and situations represents by these planets in your birth chart.  Both of these planets tend to act and move quickly so whatever is going on is likely to finish just as quickly as it started.

As usual, look to see where this aspect is falling to get an idea of what or who may be involved, and also to which houses are ruled by Mercury (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp), and Uranus (one with Aquarius on the cusp).

If you have personal planets and/or points in Aries and/or Cancer then you may feel this energy more strongly than others.

Mercury enters Cancer...

on June 17 at 5.09am in Kilmore.

Mercury moving from Gemini (where it really likes being!), a changeable, witty and busy sign into the more emotional, driven and illogical sign of Cancer sees a strong shift in the way the people and situations represented by this planet in your birth chart, behave.

For example, if you have Gemini on your 7th house cusp - the house of others - it is likely that while Mercury travels through Cancer that they will be more emotional than usual and even moody!  They may also be more interested in issues around their family and/or security.

To get an idea of where this energy shift could affect you, look to see which house cusps are ruled by Gemini (ones with Gemini or Virgo on them).

If you have personal planets and/or points in Cancer, then you can expect the pace to pick up over the next few weeks.  Mercury tends to make things busier where it touches on.

Mercury Trine Retrograde Neptune...

starts on June 17 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on June 17 at 2.52pm in Kilmore, leaves on June 18.  Mercury at 00 degrees and 52 minutes of Cancer, retrograde Neptune at 00 degrees and 52 minutes of Pisces.

 Mercury represents communication and change, and Neptune represents beauty, escapism and fantasy (amongst other things!).  The combination of these two energies by the easygoing and flowing trine suggests that through using your imagination and a bit of creativity you are likley to achieve a lot.

By looking at what and who are represented by Mercury and Neptune (look to see where these planets are in terms of house position), and also by looking at which houses are ruled by Mercury (ones with Gemini and/or Virgo on the cusp) and Neptune (house cusp with Pisces on it), you can get an idea of where help is available!

If you have personal planets and/or points in Cancer and/or Pisces then you are likely to feel this energy more than others.

Sun Conjunct Mercury...

starts on June 12 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on June 13 at 9.44am in Kilmore, leaves on June 14.  Both at 21 degrees and 39 minutes of Gemini.

Whatever the Sun touches tends to come into prominence in our lives,and the conjunction is a powerful connection that suggests the end of something old, and the beginning of something new.

Mercury represents our thinking, attitude and ability to communicate in general with the world around us, and also to connect with it.  Personally, it represents the people and situations as shown by which houses are ruled by it (house cusps with Gemini or Virgo on them). 

Also look at the house that the conjunction is falling in, and the one with Gemini on the cusp in order to get a feel for where a new start is needed.

Mercury Trine Retrograde Saturn...

starts on June 7 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on June 8 in Kilmore at 6.40am, leaves on June 8.  Mercury at 10 degrees and 28 minutes of Gemini, retrograde Saturn at 10 degrees and 28 minutes of Libra.

The connection of Mercury and Saturn through the trine is usually a good one, in that it is a great opportunity for long-term planning, serious discussions and for attending to important paperwork.  Look to see where this trine is falling and which houses are ruled by Mercury (ones with Gemini and Virgo on them) and Saturn (ones with Capricorn and Aquarius on the cusp) in order to get a feel for what or who will respond well to this energy.

If you have personal planets and/or points in Gemini and/or Libra, then you are likely to feel this energy as being especially strong.

Mercury enters Gemini...

on June 3 at 6.02am in Kilmore.

Mercury LOVES being in Gemini, so this bodes well for the people and situations represented by this planet in your birth chart.  For example, my 2nd house is ruled by Gemini, so I am expecting financial affairs and other areas of life that I value highly to move along nicely now.

So, have a look at which houses are ruled by Mercury (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp), to get a feel where people and life in general will be happier than usual. Mercury also tends to make whatever it touches busier, so expect the pace to pick up in terms of the people and situations affected by this transit.

If you have personal planets and/or points in Gemini, then you are likely to be extra busy!

Mercury Square Neptune...

starts on June 3 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on June 3 at 5.05pm in Kilmore, leaves on June 4.  Mercury at 00 degrees and 55 minutes of Gemini, Neptune at 00 degrees and 55 minutes of Pisces.

It seems that the people and areas of life represented by Neptune in our birth charts will be the source of uncertainly, 'fogginess', confusion and/or even deception!

However, the square aspect suggests that a turning point will be reached, so look for this relationship or situation to clear up as this aspect passes.

As usual, look to see where this aspect is falling in your birth chart to get an idea of what or who may need careful handling (sticking to FACTS will help!), and also which houses are ruled by Mercury (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp) and Neptune (ones with Pisces on the cusp).

If you have personal planets and/or points in Gemini and/or Pisces then you are likely to be more sensitive than others to this transit.

Mercury Trine Retrograde Pluto...

starts on May 20 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on May 21 at 7.54am in Kilmore, leaves on May 21.  Mercury at 7 degrees and 5 minutes of Taurus, retrograde Pluto at 7 degrees and 5 minutes of Capricorn.

Mercury represents the style in which we connect and communicate with the world around us, whilst Pluto is associated with depth and emotions, as well as uncovering the 'truth'.  The trine aspect is an easygoing one that generally helps the energies work together productively and removes barriers to progress that were a problem in the past.

By looking at where this aspect is falling in your birth chart you can get a feel for what and/or who may be flowing more smoothly than usual and where you can expect progress.  You can also get a feel for where you can gain a deeper rapport and understanding that goes beyond simple logic.

Also look to which houses are ruled by Mercury (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp) and Pluto (one with Scorpio on the cusp) to get a feel for where you can expect progress.

If you have personal planets and/or points in Taurus and/or Capricorn you may be more sensitive than others to this transit.

Mercury Conjunct Mars...

starts on May 20 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on May 21 at 11.20am in Kilmore, leaves on May 22.  Both at 7 degrees and 18 minutes of Taurus.

The first thing that comes to mind with this combination is that we all have to make sure we don't become too quick to open our mouths before thinking!  Perhaps we will be feeling a bit smug or have become too fixed or attached (Taurus) to our way of thinking. 

Mercury represents our thinking and the way we communicate with the people and world around us... while Mars is a pretty fiery and impulsive character.  Although irritating or upsetting, however, sometimes things need to be said!  The conjunction offers the opportunity for a fresh start in the areas affected by these planets and to make this fresh start we may all need to clear the air and make sure matters are clear to everyone involved.

As usual look at which house this conjunction is falling in and which houses are ruled by the planets involved (Mercury = house cusps with Gemini or Virgo on them, Mars = house cusps with Aries or Scorpio on them).

If you have personal planets and/or points in Taurus then you may feel this aspect more strongly than others.

Mercury enters Taurus...

on May 16 at 9.18am in Kilmore.

With Mercury, the planet of communication and connection moving from the fiery and impulsive sign of Aries into the slow moving and stubborn sign of Taurus you can expect the pace to change considerably... especially in the areas of life represented by your birth chart.  That is, which house Mercury is travelling through and the ones ruled by it (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp).

For example, I have Mercury travelling through my 12th House, and ruling my 2nd, 4th and 5th Houses... I expect that there will be a lot of internal 'self-talk' (12th House Mercury), about my values, children and private life.

If you have personal planets or points in Taurus then you are likely to find the visit of Mercury into this sign a much busier period of time than usual.

Mercury Conjunct Jupiter...

starts on May 11 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on May 12 at 12.42am in Kilmore, leaves on May 13.  Both at 24 degrees and 49 minutes of Aries.

This aspect was around on March 16, and April 12.  The original post can be found here.  The rejoining of Mercury and Jupiter represents a third and final chance for taking hold of the opportunities that the joining of these forces represent, so look back to the previous conjunctions to get a feel for what you may have a second chance at now.

Mercury Conjunct Venus...

starts on May 6 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on May 10 at 1.44am in Kilmore (both at 22 degrees and 23 minutes of Aries), is exact again on on May 16 at 7.25pm in Kilmore (both at 0 degrees and 34 minutes of Taurus), leaves on May 21.

Smooth talker!  That's the first thing that comes to mind when I think about Mercury and Venus together like this.  Mercury, the planet of communication and connection and also our thinking and attitudes in general connecting with Venus, the planet associated with pleasure, ease and enjoyment bodes well for good news and and positive developments.

The connection through a conjunction suggests something or someone new coming into our lives, depending on which house the conjunction is falling in and which houses are ruled by the two planets involved (Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, Venus rules Taurus and Libra).


An unusual twist to this double conjunction means that it will first occur in the late degrees of Aries, then the early degrees of Taurus.... giving us all an opportunity to benefit in at least two areas (houses) of our lives. 
So, if you have personal planets and/or points in Aries (for the first conjunction) or Taurus (for the second conjunction), then you are likely to feel this energy more strongly than others.

Mercury goes Direct...

on April 23 at 8.04pm in Kilmore.  Mercury at 12 degrees and 53 minutes of Aries.

Even though Mercury is going direct now, it may take a few days for things to settle down into some type of normality while Mercury picks up a bit of speed and momentum, however it may take a few weeks for things to return totally to normal (we have to wait until Mercury goes forward again to the point where it started it's backwards journey).

We can expect the people and situations represented by Mercury to begin stabilising and become more reliable.   As usual look to see where Mercury is travelling and which houses are ruled by it (ones with Gemini or Virgo on the cusp) in order to get a feel for what or who these may be.

If you have personal planets and/or points in Aries, then you may be especially sensitive to this energy.  Gemini people may also feel this way.

Retrograde Mercury Conjunct Mars...

starts on April 19 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on April 20 at 12.58am in Kilmore, leaves on April 20.  Both at 13 degrees and 29 minutes of Aries.

The first thing that comes to mind with this combination is that we all have to make sure we don't become too quick to open our mouths before thinking!  This is especially true since the conjunction happens in the fiery and impulsive Aries.

Mercury represents our thinking and the way we communicate with the people and world around us... while Mars is a pretty fiery and impulsive character.  Although irritating or upsetting, however, sometimes things need to be said!  The conjunction offers the opportunity for a fresh start in the areas affected by these planets and to make this fresh start we may all need to clear the air and make sure matters are clear to everyone involved.

As usual look at which house this conjunction is falling in and which houses are ruled by the planets involved (Mercury = house cusps with Gemini or Virgo on them, Mars = house cusps with Aries or Scorpio on them).

If you have personal planets and/or points in Aries then you may feel this aspect more strongly than others.

Retrograde Mercury Conjunct Jupiter...

starts on April 11 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on April 12 at 1.59pm in Kilmore, leaves on April 13.  Both at 17 degrees and 47 minutes of Aries.

This aspect was around on March 16, and happened before Mercury went retrograde.  The original post can be found here.  The rejoining of Mercury and Jupiter represents a second chance for taking hold of the opportunities that the joining of these forces represent, so look back to what or who came into you life in mid-March to get a feel for what you may have a second chance at now.

Also remember that when Mercury starts to go forward again, that there will be a third and final opportunity coming around again.

Sun Conjunct Retrograde Mercury...

starts on April 9 (using a 1 degree orb), is exact on April 10 at 5.36am in Kilmore, leaves on April 10.  Both at 19 degrees and 36 minutes of Aries.

Whatever the Sun touches tends to come into prominence in our lives,and the conjunction is a powerful connection that suggests the end of something old, and the beginning of something new.

Mercury represents our thinking, attitude and ability to communicate in general with the world around us, and also to connect with it.  Personally, it represents the people and situations as shown by which houses are ruled by it (house cusps with Gemini or Virgo on them).  Since Mercury is currently retrograde, it seems that the themes represented by it will have gone back to a previous state, or you will need to review them.

Also look at the house that the conjunction is falling in, and the one with Aries on the cusp in order to get a feel for where a new start is needed.

Mercury goes Retrograde...

on March 31 at 7.48am in Kilmore at 24 degrees and 21 minutes of Aries.

Timing is everything!  Mercury going retrograde is a little warning bell to double check all your purchases, keep your receipts, etc because it is more likely than usual that we will make those impulse buys that are regretted later, or perhaps that we buy the wrong model, or buy faulty electrical goods that don't perform like they should.  Mercury will go back to normal at around April 22, but won't be fully operational for another week or so after then.

It is especially important to note that Mercury will be retrograde in Aries, the same sign as Uranus, Sun and Jupiter - and soon to enter Aries, Mars.  It just seems to me that this is a pretty powerful and potentially explosive combination that is likely to be easily ignited by people jumping to conclusions or simple misunderstandings.  Biding time and biting tongues may be important techniques for us all while Mercury sorts itself out!

Mercury retrograde is generally a period of time to double check communications in general, and to watch and wait in regards to the areas of your own life being affected by this transit.  Look at which house this planet is travelling through and which one has Aries... also the houses with Gemini and Virgo on the cusps in order to get a feel for what or who may be particularly sensitive to this retrograde period.

If you have personal planets and/or points in Aries then you are likely to be especially sensitive or prone to mix-ups or a feeling of confusion/uncertainty.

The good new is that the retrograde period of time is excellent for reviewing and going over the past, in terms of the themes represented by the symbolism of your own birth chart.