Hi Everyone and welcome back to Channeling the Heart, where together, we navigate everyday life through intuitive astrology and grounded spirituality. I am your host, intuitive astrologer Kristin Madding. In today’s episode, we will be exploring the Mercury retrograde period that is just wrapping up—it began on October 24 and will last through Nov 13. It is happening in your Scorpio house and your Scorpio house only. Often a Mercury retrograde will take place in two signs, but this retrograde is confined to your Scorpio.
First, I want to apologize if my voice sounds a little different today as I am just getting over a cold. In true Mercury retrograde fashion, I have run into delay after delay in getting this episode out…but better late than never, I say.
Also, I want to quickly remind everyone that I practice ancient hellenistic astrology using the Whole Sign House system, which gives one house to each sign, starting with your ascendant.
In this episode, I am going to break down what Mercury and its retrograde cycle represents in astrology. Then, I plan to describe this particular cycle in Scorpio. Last, based on each rising sign, I am going to offer some examples of what you may have experienced during this past month.
Ok, so first….Mercury itself. Mercury represents many things, as is true of most planets. Primarily, Mercury indicates communication and methods of communication. This is the words themselves, the delivery style, and the method of delivery. When I am first examining Mercury in someone’s chart, I ask, “How do they communicate? What do they like to learn about? What is their learning style?”
Mercury is “at home” or in domicile in Gemini and Virgo, meaning it shows up in its most natural state. There, it moves very quickly, enjoys applying order or system to information, and is committed to accuracy. Mercury enjoys clever wit and wordplay, communicates easily, and prizes intelligence. Those with Mercury in its out-of-domicile signs of Sagittarius and Pisces do not lack intelligence, but they are less committed to accuracy, focusing more on delivering a good story.
Also, related to Mercury, we’ll see themes of transportation; technology and social media; markets, marketing, and marketplaces; also siblings.
To see the full picture of your natal Mercury, you should examine 1) its ruling planet and their condition; 2) the house where Mercury is placed; 3) other planets in that same sign and house, especially within three degrees on either side; and 4) what planets are at 60, 90 and/or 180 degrees from Mercury. These will all tell the larger story about your natal Mercury and how it manifests in your life. Looking at those details of each planet, and distilling them into one explanation, is what an astrologer is for.
Moving on to Mercury in retrograde. This cycle takes place approximately three times a year and lasts about a month. It indicates a time when the basic meanings of Mercury appear abnormally.
Speaking of retrogrades generally, know that any planet appearing to move backward in the sky reflects a time to look back over your life, to review, reassess, redo, or refine activities related to that planet and the house it’s backtracking within. You’ll see delays, flareups, past challenges resurfacing, things you’ve procrastinated finally needing attention, and opportunities to break and reset bones, metaphorically hopefully.
Specific to Mercury retrograde, you’ll often see things like car trouble, travel delays, tech glitches and repairs, miscommunications, delayed communication, restructuring of contractual agreements, market fluctuations, a dormant medical issue resurfacing, old arguments coming forth, and re-budgeting projects.
This current retrograde cycle is solely within Scorpio. Mercury in Scorpio natally, indicates someone who goes far beyond surface-level knowledge of their passions. They have endurance for learning and gaining knowledge…often a perpetual student. They are often quiet and private, keeping their true thoughts and feelings deep underground. This is a person who thinks not just with their mind, but also with their heart and intuition. They notice and remember details others don’t or cannot. They often enjoy learning about martial topics, such as sports and athletics strategy, healing and transformation (emotional, spiritual or physical), behind-the-scenes systems and management, plumbing or internal hidden infrastructure, like wells and water deposits, or investigative work to uncover truths and facts. Whatever their interests, they will likely know more than anyone else—a true expert in their field.
Transiting Mercury rx going through this sign and house will show gaps in knowledge, areas that have sprung a metaphorical leak, needing repair. “Hidden” things will be brought to the surface to be learned, and/or dealt with properly and responsibly. By the time Mercury turns direct again, you should have repaired the leak or have a plan to do so.
To show what Mercury retrograde in Scorpio can indicate, I am going to share some examples from my own life. This mercury retrograde has been particularly active for me, especially compared to other, recent Mercury retrogrades. Not every Mercury retrograde will be experienced with the same intensity. Usually, I notice one or two minor hiccups, but this cycle…wow, there’s been a lot. Why?
Let me first explain the setup of my Scorpio house. I have Leo rising, which in Whole Signs, puts Scorpio ruling my 4th house of home and family. The 4th house is an angular house, which is more active than cadent or succeedent houses.
I have two natal planets in Scorpio…the moon and Jupiter. Mercury stationed or turned retrograde about five degrees off my moon. The moon in Scorpio is a difficult placement to begin with, so a Mercury retrograde on top can be quite activating, possibly in difficult ways.
Also, Mars rules Scorpio, and Mars is my “profected” planet, aka my planet of the year. (You also have a planet of the year, based on your age. There’s a 1 in 6 chance that planet is also Mars.) Activities related to your “planet of the year” are usually felt and seen more as compared to activities of other planets.
Last, and this true for us all, Venus turned retrograde and moved backward over this same stretch of Scorpio in early October adding additional influence and activity to that area of life.
So, what has appeared in my life this past month? I had to bring my laptop into the Apple store to address an outstanding issue I had put off for years. Classic mercury retrograde. I’ve been working on our household budget to identify unnecessary, “leaky” spending. We also had a toilet break…a little thing, but so Scorpio Mercury retrograde in the 4th house. This cold, with its leaky sinuses, is lingering longer than usual.
There’s quite a bit more, believe it or not, but hopefully you get the idea. Tech glitches, digging in to uncover leaks, home repairs…your Mercury might be bringing up similar things, but related to the house topics where Scorpio lives in your chart.
To understand how this Mercury Retrograde might be operating in your life, you’ll want to start by looking up which house Scorpio occupies in your chart. You can download the House Topics & Meanings chart I have posted online at CTHastrology.com/resources. You also want to quickly take note of where natal Mars lives in your chart, as it will connect the topics of that house as well.
Next, I am going to go through each rising sign and I will give a few examples of what you might have experienced over this past month. (Of course, keep in mind, I cannot factor in any natal planets in your Scorpio house, where your natal Mars is located, or other planets at 60, 90, or 180 degrees from Scorpio…all of which would further personalize my predictions for you.) The idea is to take the following examples–just three ways Mercury retrograde could show up in your life–and think about how it could apply to your life situation. So, grab your rising sign, and let's dive in:
For Aries Rising: Scorpio is in your 8th house of shared resources, contractual relationships, taxes and transformation.
You might see a letter from the IRS saying you missed something on a tax return.
Your partner might have a change in income or go back to working an old job.
Something you and your spouse owns together—a car, an appliance, a computer–breaks and needs fixing.
For Taurus Rising, Scorpio is in your 7th house of marriage, partnership and open enemies.
You discover something about a marital or business partner that changes how you want to operate moving forward.
You might hear from an ex and need to clear up a past miscommunication.
You might entertain getting back together with an ex or former business partner.
For Gemini Rising, Scorpio is in your 6th house of hard labor, health and illness, and pets.
You may have to dig into the financials or details of a business to better understand an issue.
You may have a physical ailment flare up, causing you to go back to the doctor for reevaluation.
You may have a pet return to a bad habit you thought you had broken.
For Cancer Rising, Scorpio is in your 5th house of children, creative projects, hobbies and pleasure.
You may return to a hobby you once abandoned.
You may have to readdress an issue related to your kids, getting them back on the right track.
Technology or transportation related to your kids may have had a glitch or issue.
For Leo Rising, Scorpio is in your 4th house of home, family and foundations.
You may have had a leak or home repair come up.
A parent may be dealing with an old injury or issue in their lives.
You may have to deal with at-home technology issues, like internet or computers.
For Virgo Rising, Scorpio is in your 3rd house of siblings, transportation, early education, neighbors and community.
You may have a leak or water issue in your backyard.
You or a family member may have car trouble.
You may have to make amends for a miscommunication that took place over social media.
For Libra Rising, Scorpio is in your 2nd house of personal income, finances, or resources.
You may feel particularly affected by the recent fluctuations in the stock market.
You may be digging into your budget or trying to find where money may have been misspent.
You may be considering what you value…what is important to keep…perhaps a closet clean out project.
For Scorpio Rising, Scorpio is in your 1st house of the self, body and life.
An old injury may be showing up to be readdressed.
You might be going back to an old hairstyle or trying to fix a new appearance-related issue gone wrong.
You may be reconsidering a lifestyle change…anything from a new job to a new diet.
For Sagittarius Rising, Scorpio is in your 12th house of hidden forces, health and illness, and the subconscious.
A long-held, hidden belief might be coming to the surface to be seen and let go of.
An old illness may be resurfacing.
You may not consciously experience this transit at all, as it is “hiding” in your 12th house and operating in the subconscious layers.
For Capricorn Rising, Scorpio is in your 11th house of friends, teams, alliances and social groups.
You and a friend finally address a long-standing, unspoken issue.
You decide to leave or rejoin a group of some sort.
You have to deal with a technology issue related to a team or association.
For Aquarius Rising, Scorpio is in your 10th house of career and public reputation.
An old transgression becomes known…something for which you have to prepare a public statement.
A work computer, cell phone or other technology may need repairing.
You decide to change something about how you show up professionally or out in the world.
For Pisces Rising, Scorpio is in your 9th house of higher education, beliefs and belief systems, new paradigms and long-distance travel.
You may be reconsidering an old belief and its relevance to your current life.
You may realize a gap in your knowledge and sign up for a refresher course or seminar.
You may have a travel delay or issue.
Alright, that’s going to wrap up this episode on Mercury Retrograde through Scorpio. Please find me online at CTHastrology.com or on social media @channeling.the.heart. Follow or subscribe wherever you get podcasts. Thanks and catch you next time.