December 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017
This year began with retrograde Mercury and it seems only fitting to end with one as well. 2016 has been a challenging year in hundreds of ways and 2017 will bring new hurdles to deal with as well. (Watch for my 2017 Astrological Overview in a few weeks.) So this period of pause needs to be looked upon and used in the best possible way. The Universe is giving us some downtime in order to make sense of where we have been and where we are headed to next. Mercury Retrograde is actually a very powerful and transformative time when we can clear away the ashes and debris of what was 2016 and see the truth.
Before I get into the specifics of this upcoming period, here’s a reminder of what Mercury rules and what the retrograde period entails. Mercury is the planet that symbolizes communication, thinking, travel and electronics. So when it goes backwards there will be missed phone calls, mixed-up plans for appointments or travel, miscommunication and computer glitches. Starting something new is ill-advised, but “re”-working, “re”-visiting or “re”-arranging are the best ways of using this energy.
This time around Mercury is going retrograde in Capricorn. And I do find it curious that it is going retrograde the day the Electoral College votes. Capricorn can often be seen as the symbol of tradition. But… it is going to go backwards. At the same time, Mars is leaving Aquarius and entering Pisces. Mars, the planet of action and assertiveness, is entering a sign known for its compassion, sensitivity and empathy. Also on the day Mercury goes retrograde, it will be making a conjunction with Pluto. Pluto can often symbolize major shifts in society. And since it is in Capricorn, a symbol of practicality, it may have a tendency to assist in correcting mistakes. When Pluto first entered Capricorn back in 2008, it was during the banking crisis and many astrologers considered Pluto in Capricorn as the energy behind the corrective measures that were enacted. I am not making any predictions at all about the election but I do find it a curious shift at that time.
During a Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn, we are encouraged to take responsibility for what we choose to express and how we choose to express it. We are also encouraged to clear out and release things that we may have been clinging on to emotionally. Mercury in Capricorn is going to be clearing out our closets in a very practical and matter of fact way. This tones down any emotional reactions and allows us to see things from a more grounded point of view.
This past year has been a year of endings and this final retrograde for 2016 is really going to help cement everything that you have been working on this year. So embrace it and enter into the new chapter of 2017 with clarity, purpose and direction.