Mercury Goes Retrograde and Replays an Old Myth
The month of June has many twists and turns as waves of energy demonstrate how the tools of the magician (Mercury) are used to support a spiritual principal. On June 1st, the Sun will be in the sign of Gemini, an air sign of communication with a ruling planet of Mercury (also known in mythology as Hermes), which will go retrograde until the end of the month. To add to this drama, Neptune, Saturn, and Pluto will also be retrograde as well. When planets become retrograde, this means they are further away from the solar energy, which can give us time to look within and re-examine our choices. The Summer Solstice arrives just in time to bring in the long lasting bright lights to assist us. Hermes (Mercury), the infant son of Zeus (Saturn) the father, and Apollo (Sun) as the legitimate son and half brother of Hermes are able to use intellect, intuition, and love that produces a powerful result.
The stirring of this myth starts with Mercury going retrograde June 7th in the emotional and watery sign of Cancer. Here we have Mercury, the planet of intellect and communication, floating backwards on a raft of emotions, looking to Cancer’s energy of the moon to shine intuitive light on this journey. Neptune, the deep and watery planet, dives under the radar in its retrograde on June 9th for five long months, along with Pluto, a dark water sign, and Saturn, an earth sign, for support.
The Summer Solstice arrives as scheduled on June 21st, as the Sun goes from Gemini into Cancer. Cancer is the sign in astrology that occupies the fourth house, which represents family and our roots. Mercury is joined by the Sun in the sign of Cancer, only to make a u-turn back into its own sign of Gemini. The planet Venus moves into Gemini as well, and our stage is now set for us to play out our own myth. So, this is quite a busy month for Mercury, the magician, the communicator, or better known as Hermes, the messenger of the gods.
Hermes as an infant was hidden away in a cave and not known to his half brother Apollo. They both would soon meet as Hermes crawled out of the cave and discovered he had come from a wealthy family. His brother Apollo had a herd of cattle and Hermes soon devised a brilliant plan to steal them. He reversed the hooves on the feet of the cattle, and one by one led them to his cave. He was fast moving, and used clever reasoning. Apollo followed the footprints that lead him to the cave of his infant brother, and uncovered two truths: the mystery of the missing cattle, but also that he had a brother. Apollo took Hermes to their father Zeus, and after Hermes admitted what he had done, he was acknowledged as being Zeus’ son while also impressing the god with his tenacious intelligence. Hermes was then made messenger of the gods by his father. In addition, Hermes had made a beautiful lute that his brother Apollo admired so much that he traded it for the fifty cattle.
Along with the spiritual principle that can be found in this myth, when the planet Mercury goes retrograde it is an opportunity to use the tools shown on the Magician card of the Tarot deck. Here you see the magician’s tools on his table that if used together, they can ensure the best of results. The tools are known as observation, attention, concentration and intuition. Both Apollo and Hermes used observation, attention, and concentration to work towards a pleasant conclusion and Zeus used intuition to bring it all together. Intuition gives us something that attention, observation and concentration need for the finest of outcomes.
We are experiencing our own myth this month as Mercury retrogrades in an area of intense emotions and must go deep within for four weeks to help keep us on a good foundation. We are assisted with the energy of Venus (love and creativity) when the Evening Star enters Gemini on June 18. Saturn will be retrograde on Father’s Day to continue to give us support and keep us honest. Let’s draw upon the love and wisdom of Venus, the strength of Saturn, and Pluto’s truth seeking ability. The Sun’s light on the Summer Solstice as it moves from Gemini into Cancer on June 21st will either shine through with clarity, or catch things on fire. Saturn will concentrate on both the family and the individual and their ability to communicate. Therefore this summer can expect the astrological transits shedding light on those issues to be resolved in our lives.
Sharyn Norwood
Classes, lectures, and readings at:
The Royal Cup Cafe in LongBeach, Ca.