Mercury transits the sign of Gemini from May 25th, 2020 until August 2nd, 2020.
Mercury is retrograde* from June 18th, 2020 until July 12th, 2020.
Please read below to find out what this transit means for your rising sign.
Mercury Retrograde is only a problem if Mercury is a functional malefic planet as is the case for those born under the rising signs of Aries, Libra and Aquarius and if it is afflicting any houses or planets and/or if Mercury is afflicted by another planet by aspect or conjunction. (Afflictions are only applicable when planets are within 5 degrees of another planet or the rising sign degree – in any house.)
The significations of Mercury (writing, business, communications, technology, skin, nervous system, decision making, and respiratory canal) can suffer when transiting the 6th, 8th, or 12th houses.
Cancer rising signs, Scorpio rising signs, and Capricorn rising signs do need to be careful during this time as well because Mercury will transit the 6th, 8th, or 12th houses for these signs causing losses and expenses (Cancer), setbacks and accidents (Scorpio), and health and financial issues (Capricorn).
*RETROGRADE PLANETS
“This is only a visionary phenomenon as it occurs due to different speeds of the planets in relation to the earth. The effects on a natal chart are due to the fixed angular position of planets with reference to a particular place on the earth for a particular time, natal or transit.”
Though the classical as well as some of the modern commentators have ascribed different views for the results of retrograde planets, my professor from India (Professor V.K. Choudhry) who developed the Systems’ Approach to Interpreting Horoscopes is of the firm view that retrograde planets are to be treated in a normal way as per their longitudes, so far as the natal influences are concerned. However, the transit influences of a planet appearing to be in retrograde motion and then direct motion are prolonged on a specified degree(s).
“To understand the impact of a transit retrograde planet it is necessary that one learns predictive techniques and methodology for reading the triple transit influences.”
Not everyone will benefit from the so called “Massive Energy Shifts” other astrologers claim happen during retrograde moments. At the same time, not everyone will suffer from the ever so present and widely accepted attitude that Mercury retrograde is always bad!
If you are a serious astrologer or serious about astrology you must look at the functional nature of Mercury in each specific chart. I cannot stress this enough!
For the Aries, Libra, and Aquarius rising signs Mercury becomes a functional malefic planet and can cause harm in their charts. The remedy for this is to:
- Help children on Wednesdays
- Don’t wear green
- Don’t wear Emeralds
- Listen to chants for Goddess Durga on Wednesdays
For the Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, and Pisces rising signs Mercury becomes a functional benefic planet and will not cause harm, but can become weak by transit or affliction. You can strengthen Mercury in your chart to protect against weakness by:
- Wearing lots of green clothing
- Using lots of green decorations in your home
- Put green cellophane over a window in your home and let the green light in
- You can buy green tinted sunglasses or a green tinted water pitcher and cups
- Emerald is a safe and favorable gemstone for your chart
The remedies are easy and effective!
Happy (or not so happy) Mercury Retrograde to you!
Aries: Try to not initiate conflicts and be aware that your entrepreneurial ventures and younger siblings may face conflicts, debts, disputes, or litigation when Mercury is close to your rising sign degree. Health and finances should be okay. Focus on connecting your entrepreneurial activities with writing, business and communications as well as with fields of health and finance.
Taurus: Your intellect and communication skills are on point! Focus on studying, writing, business, communications, and research. There can be wealth and status connected with your higher education, children, investments, and creative projects. Expect a lift with your children and investments.
Gemini: You may be feeling extra alert and witty. Enjoy good analytical skills, business skills, and communication skills as well as a realistic approach to life. Spend some time with your family. Expect a lift with leadership, home life, property, vehicles, and fixed assets. Work on your own writing, business, and communication projects.
Cancer: You may be feeling as if your initiative has escaped out a window. Watch out for losses relative to your entrepreneurial ventures, business, technology, and communications. This is also not ideal for younger siblings, your skin, respiratory system, nervous system, and decision making. Spend extra time when making decisions.
Leo: Expect gains connected with your wealth, status, and continuation of family life. It’s a good time to ask for a raise or promotion. Friendships and family ties should also be well supported during this time. There can be income and gains from writing, business and communications.
Virgo: You should enjoy good health and initiative during this time. There is support in your career and professional life. Focus on writing, business, and communications connected with your career and professional life. Utilize your analytical problem solving capabilities and connect your career with your own enterprises.
Libra: There may be setbacks for your parents and you may be vulnerable to losses in business ventures when Mercury is close to your rising sign degree. Focus on your dharma (work in life) and consider religion, spirituality or a long-distance journey, but be careful to avoid losses and expenses. Connect your dharma (work in life) with writing, business, and communications during this time).
Scorpio: Mercury, ruling your eleventh house will be transiting your eighth house of vulnerability, setbacks, obstacles and delays. Be careful with your communications and technology. Income and friendships are also vulnerable to wide fluctuation. There can be some issues with the respiratory canal, skin, nervous tension, confidence levels, and decision making as well. Spend extra time making decisions.
Sagittarius: Mercury, ruling your tenth house of career and professional life will be transiting your seventh house of partnerships, relationships, joint ventures and marriage. Connect your career and professional life with marriage, partnerships, joint ventures and foreign lands, writing, business, and communications.
Capricorn: Mercury, ruling your ninth house of good luck and divine grace will be transiting your sixth house of conflicts, debts and disputes. Manage tension with father figures, authority figures, and spiritual guides. There can be some issues with the respiratory canal, skin, nervous tension, confidence levels, and decision making as well. Spend extra time when making decisions to avoid arguments.
Aquarius: Mercury, ruling your eighth house of vulnerability, delays, obstacles and setbacks, will be transiting your fifth house of higher education, children, investments and creative projects. Focus on higher education and creative projects connected with writing, business and communications. Think big, but take care of your emotions, children, and investments. These are vulnerable to setbacks when Mercury is close to your rising sign degree.
Pisces: Mercury, ruling your seventh house of partnerships, relationships, joint ventures and marriage, will be transiting your fourth house of happiness at home, property, fixed assets and vehicles. You should have good support in relationships and marriage during this time. Work out of your home of writing, business and communications.
Sara Hawthorne is a Systems’ Approach Vedic Astrologer, Consultant, and Educator. She specializes in helping people with career, relationship, and health advice. Subscribe to Planetary Sara’s weekly newsletter HERE. Check out her Facebook Page HERE and Instagram Page HERE. All her services including life readings, yearly transit reports, and compatibility readings can be found HERE.