Mercury in Aries ☿ Apr 16 – May 6

Apr 16 – May 6, 2019

Mercury: patron of travel, communication and the human mind; orator, poet, soothsayer, healer, lucky star and underworld guide. With magical caduceus in hand, Mercury led freshly discorporated souls from the lower to the upper worlds. Mercurial energy is androgynous. Think of Gemini (ruled by Mercury) and identity plurality.

When Mercury joins the sun in the same constellation, the mind (Mercury) aligns with outward manifestation (sun). Taking this into account, the first 3 days of this transit will be some of the best while the Sun is still in Aries.

Like a child, Mercury erupts with giggles and joy in Aries. Also like a child, this transit tests our calm. Remember the power of speaking less and doing more. And listening more. This does not come naturally to Aries. The ram is pointed, staccato. With so much inside him, constantly imploding, not everything gets communicated properly. But then all is forgiven and the moment rolls on. Aries individuals embody this emotional rhythm, moving quickly and unpredictably.

The ease of forgiveness found in childhood is still possible. Through it we discover real self-love and self-empowerment. This is not poetic love. Mercury in Aries reminds us that we must simultaneously appreciate and challenge ourselves. Our work now is to understand how we move through the world, as well as just how inextricably linked our actions are to our identities. We’re emerging from Mercury Retrograde in Pisces. This is one of the most hazy, confusing transits for the mind. Afterward, after we have been heaved back onto the beach, gasping for air like the earthbound terrestrials we are, all the voices come flooding back in. Narratives, old and new thoughts, identities. And some of the most attractive at this time will be the prideful, egotistical voices, soothing us, telling us we don’t have to actually work on anything. There will be other voices to disempower for different reasons, negative inner voices which try to undermine our work. Turn toward them all.

Venus will actually move in to Aries on the same day the sun leaves (Apr 20). Saturn Retrograde in Capricorn begins on Apr 29 – Mercury will then square this planet two days later on May 1. If you’re trying to hurry through something on this day, this will not work out well. Any “plans” you have are subject to change. Hard angles to Saturn challenge our preconceived notions (Mercury) about how we want things to unfold. Best course of action: be as clear as possible in communication.

The following day (May 2), Mercury squares Pluto, also freshly retrograde in Capricorn as of Apr 24. In this case we get to test our relationship between our ability to remain calm and cool (Mercury in Aries) in the face of deep, continual change on a macro level (Pluto Rx in Capricorn).

Later that same day, Mercury trines Jupiter Retrograde in Sagittarius. Imagine boarding an international flight to a place you’ve always dreamed of going. That is the spirit of this harmonious celestial conjunction: adventuresome, free-flying. I highly recommend going for a hike or taking a short trip. Something fun and spontaneous.

What we learn from Aries is the power of starting over. The power of looking in the mirror and saying, you know what? I did my best, or I didn’t, and now I’m moving forward, and opportunities will keep arriving. Opportunities to be a better person and get closer to ourselves. Part of what it means to reclaim the inner child is to reclaim our role as students of life – fully humble. So let’s meet there, in the commonality of this human experience. The commonality of exhaustion in the face of inward and outward demands.

Aries provides an influx of physical and sexual energy, and a loosening of the tongue, a freeing of the mind, an awakening. Burnish yourself anew, crisp as a blood red crocus. The magic of Aries is unlocked by moving and sweating, and thereby getting in touch with our most authentic selves. Build heat with Aries Yoga. In meditation, focus on the solar plexus. If you were born with Mercury in Aries, these couple weeks are your Mercury Return. To find your personal Mercury sign, click here.

Mantra:  fearless