When Mercurys' apparent motion sends it on a backwards trot from January 11th it follows a retrograde passage that conveys a message that has the potential of changing the course of modern affairs or maybe even change our 'World'. Mercury's retrogradation, that includes a re-entry into the sign of Capricorn, does this time round indicate a time of discovery, invention, re-thinking and of new ideas. Mercury does not have to complete its conjunction to the Moon's North Node, whether true or mean, to benefit from this association. Their mutual placement by sign is sufficient for Mercury to benefit from the protection and benevolance of the Head of the Dragon. The Head of the Dragon represents the breast of our Spiritual, Karmic or Collective Dragonship that gives rize to new opportunities and discovery in the ascendant of the horizon of our journey and quest. The North Node offers food for thought, just like proteins offer nourishment to the brain.

I recall a prophecy once conveyed to me by a previous AA member and still dear friend, Grace Tongue, from Birmingham in the UK; "At the beginning of the Age of Aquarius there will be a blinding light and we will all be changed." This may sound rather far fetched for some forum readers, as I believe we consider ourselves as a rational group. Personally I have had this prophecy on hold for several decades, but in view of the sudden turn of events over the recent years the prophecy may not be far off line. Mankind could at this very stage of development be on the brink of a discovery or invention that opens for a whole new school of technology and thinking. This is the point I think we have reached. I do not have the opportunity of entirely explaining my case at this point, but I invite the forum to keep an open eye for those new winnings in technology and problem solving that may appear throughout the year of 2009. My opinion is that the current retrograde passage of Mercury will pave the way for the conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus that occurs in the first degree of Aries in the middle of 2010.

There are several important astrological configurations in our current time that I want to tie into this review. Mercury's station on January 11th occurs at 7 degress and 45 minutes in the sign of Aquarius. Aquarius is ruled by Saturn and its modern co-ruler, Uranus. This brings us to the oppositions of Saturn and Uranus that occur between 2008-2010, and theses planets do not oppose each other only once or thrice (tripple opposition), but no less than 5 times before the aspect is completed. The opposition of Saturn and Uranus turns things upside down, re-organizes old ways of thinking and opens up for new possibilities. The initial opposition between Saturn and Uranus occured on Nov 4.2009, on the Eve of the US election, across the degrees of 19 Virgo and 19 Pisces, which should be compared with the second allignment in the tripple conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn that occured in September 6 BC in the 19th degree of Virgo. Virgo is the sign of work, service and purification. With the fear getting slightly complex, Venus represents the angel of Mankind, once buddied up in the sign of her exaltation, Pisces, with her best pal, Jupiter, but then abandoned from this Garden of Peace to a state of Fall in the opposite abode, the humane sign Virgo. It is here we must work things out, in the world of detail - but in this order it is the signs of Taurus and Libra that are given to us as our domains, as we must incarnate, attract and attatch (Taurus) and then relate, balance and be judged (Libra).

Let?s get back on track. The stationary Mercury on January 11th is disposed by Saturn in the 22nd degree of Virgo. The two planets enjoy a mutual reception. Some authorities once suggested that Aquarius was the exaltation of Mercury. While this opinion is inaccurate, Mercury?s exaltation being in his own sign, Virgo, there is little doubt that Aquarius is a sign that offers beneficial attributes of both brotherhood and powers of thought and communication. Mercury and Saturn are closely related to eachother by their natural powers, since both planets are cold and dry. Saturn performs well in the sign of Virgo, which shares the same powers, ie cold and dry. The mutual reception conveys a mutual appreciation and sharing of resources ? and it is not difficult to see how the combining of Virgo and Aquarius is beneficial for science and technology. Both Virgo and Aquarius are humane signs.

As Mercury makes his first station, he is disposed by his ruler, Saturn, whom he is in mutual reception with - Saturn being in a perfect trine to the Sun in the 22nd degree of Capricorn. Notice how the Sun is in Capricorn, the other head or domicile of Saturn, and the Sun is in trine to his dispositor. This trine desribes a resourceful management and will to cooperation that adds to the virtue of the stationary Mercury.

Some readers must be thinking: "-Hey, wait a minute! Don't retrograde planets represent periods of error, turmoil and weakness? We search our ephemerides for these intervals and have be taught to instruct our clients to stay off and do not act while the retrograde passage passes?" While this aphorism does have some merit it should be realized that it is nothing but a half-truth. Somebody has to act. In practice retrograde passages do offer gifts of advancement, but it is necessary to examine the retrograde motion to understand and make sure that the planets are flowing in the right direction. We all know that a retrograde planet may promptly promote and advance the application of a forthcoming aspect by the fact that the two planets are running in direction of eachother. The common aspect between two planets occurs when planets contract in forward and direct motion and may be compared to the runners of a relay team that exchange the staff in a forward speed in direction of the contest. However, when one planet retrogrades to meet the application of another, this shows that matters will move with sudden haste, it is like an eager runner who can wait no more and goes back to meet his team mate and pick up the staff to get the most out of the race. Mercury retrogrades to join with Jupiter.

The conjunction between Mercury and Jupiter in 3 degrees Aquarius is the gem of this retrograde passage. A joining of planetary opposites, or planets that rule opposite signs is what Al Birumi refers to as an 'Opening of Gates'. Significant changes may occur at this time. The conjunction occurs in a sinister square cast through signs of short ascension to the exaltation degree of the Moon. This is a degree of dignity. The sinister aspect is willing to take a chance and make bold advancements in a forward direction. The square shows a situation of difficulty and stirr, but because the aspect is cast through signs of short ascension, initiative is likely to bring things safe and home, and will maybe demonstrate an act of heroism. Mercury and Jupiter do mutually apply to one another. The conjunction should be taken careful note of. Jupiter is in the waning phase of is cycle. On January 18, when the two planets conjunct, Mercury and Jupiter are only 5 degrees separate the Sun and are commonly combust. In a general sense Mercury and Jupiter are deprived of power by being overwhelmed by the Sun, but the ancients tell us that the state of combustion has no power when the planets involved are located in a different sign and separated from the Sun. It is like the planets were in a different location than the blinding Sun or in a different room with a protective wall in between.

In view of the financial crises and environmental problems that face the World in our present time, it appears that this agrees with the retrograde passage of Mercury through the sign of Aquarius, but in our moment of anxiety and dispair the conjunction with the non-combust Jupiter shows that the weakness, collapse and deteriation of old age will be abated by new solutions, politics, technology and science.

Coincidently, this Mercury retrograde passage occurs in conjunction with the inaguration of Barack Obama, which occurs on January 20th, at which time Mercury is cazimi, in the Heart of Sun, and in a state of highest elevation. Up to this point Barack Obama has managed to create enthusiasm in a World looking for a new type of leader, but he still has to prove that his administration is capable of making changes and moving the World in a new direction. However, my prediction is that the conjunction between Mercury and Jupiter in the sign of the Water Bearer will bring about a scientific discovery and school of new thinking and I do believe there will be advancements to both technology, politics and medicine.

As an astrologer you may disagree, but take the time to figure out the meaning of the constellations in the Sky and carefully observe whatever may follow.

A few questions

When did Mercury switch from exalted in Aquarius to virgo (if you know, or if you know where I might find that bit of info)

Why would Mercury be exalted in its own sign when no other planet is? that seems odd to me, Aquarius would certainly make sense for exaltation.

thanks for any info on that subject.

also for scietific you may have to wait, if it happens at that time you may not hear of it for a year or two, if its released at that time, then it is information that has been in the scientific community for a year or so...

I am interested to see what happens after the inaugeration.

Granny

When did Mercury switch from exalted in Aquarius to virgo (if you know, or if you know where I might find that bit of info)

Mercury was never exalted in Aquarius, although some modern text did suggest so for the reasons you mention - namely, why should a planet be exalted in its own sign. The reason in the case of Mercury is that Mercury is changable, common to all and so easily colored - that it is only in his own sign Virgo that he his own virtue is purified. He is therefore exalted in this sign.

I once wrote an article on this subject that is available on my website:
http://www.astronor.com/exaltations.htm
The commentary of Porphyry was found in the back of Maternus' Ancient Astrology', Ballentrae edition, translated by Jean Rhys Bram.