Mercury's Meandering Journey Through Pisces

The planet Mercury, Messenger of the Gods, ruler of the signs of Gemini and Virgo, represents the mind; our connection between spirit and matter. Mercury symbolizes the power of communication and our ability to interpret and make sense of what we perceive and experience.

This year Mercury is in the sign of Pisces from February 8th-April 16th. Since Mercury usually moves through an entire thirty degree sign in about three weeks this extended journey through Pisces is notable. You may already have seen or felt the effects in your life.

Mercury, has just completed the first of three retrograde phases of its cycle for this year. Mercury “goes retrograde” three times a year for approximately three weeks before resuming forward motion. During the retrograde cycles we revisit the ground covered in the recent and distant past. Anything with the prefix re- is favored, return, reconsider, refinance, retreat, realize, restore, recapitulate, remind, remember, respond, reply, responsibility, reward, etc. People and things return to us under Mercury retrograde cycles, lost ideas or incomplete projects are up for reconsideration. It is time to pick up the dropped threads and either weave them into the tapestry of our lives or decide to cut them and be done with them.

Mercury has been floating through the spiritual, imaginative, twelfth and final sign of the zodiac, Pisces, since February 8th dissolving old, outdated thought processes, and ways of communication. While in Pisces, Mercury’s natural logic and analysis give way to more nebulous right-brain activities. You may find you are more prone to daydreaming and flights of fancy, now. Imagination is stimulated and fantasy reigns supreme as cold hard facts are hard to pin down in this spacey atmosphere of the ideal and the surreal.

During Mercury’s recent three week retrograde cycle in Pisces (March 3rd-25th) you may have gained insight into some of the things that once were true and valuable for you but no longer offer the same benefits because either you have changed, the situation has changed or your life is calling you in new directions today.

While Mercury is in Pisces, we are more apt to consider having a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives a priority and are more inclined to release old concepts and ways of communicating that no longer work. It is easier now to see that which we value and can embrace with compassion. Looking at where we've been in order to integrate past experiences, clean up loose ends, and catch up with the activity of the recent or even distant past is indicated. Now that Mercury has resumed direct motion, we are ready to move forward with greater clarity, present in the moment.