Tracking the Mercury Cycle: September-December 2022

Anyone reading this is likely familiar with the Moon cycles and the practice of setting intentions during a New Moon cycle.

But what most people don't realize is that you can do this with any planetary cycle. Mercury is a great cycle to work with since it's a bit longer than the Moon's cycle but still short. Mercury will go through about 3 cycles a year: long enough that you have time to work towards goals, but short enough to keep your attention and help you see progress.

In mythology, Mercury (Roman) or Hermes (Greek), is the God of Commerce, Trade, Communication, Travel, Trickery. He is a messenger and psychopomp who can travel between worlds. This flavors the Mercury cycle will these themes and makes for the perfect guide for whatever journey you have planned.

In my personal practice, I've used Mercury cycles to help guide me towards better opportunities in my career, new communities and better insights into how to adapt to and navigate unexpected situations.

I categorize the Mercury cycle into 5 parts:

• Retrograde & Retrograde Shadow: Retrograde: A time for reflection, revision, going inward, and listening to your inner voice. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rep because things can go wrong (tech issues, traffic, miscommunications) but when that happens, it's important to pay attention to the lesson - what is there for you to learn or pay attention to? Then shift accordingly. Retrograde Shadow: The retrograde shadow is the highway between the two Mercury cycles. It's a time of overlap and hints if you're paying attention. There are lessons to be learned. Much like the dark Moon, it's a time to go inward, reflect, and pay attention to any messages you get from Mercury.

• Cazimi: This is the "New Moon" of the cycle. This is the powerful moment you aks for Mercury's guidance and set your intentions for the cycle. I have an altar set up for Mercury in my home (pictured) and have a ceremony where I invite him into my space like a welcomed friend. Mercury is the closest he'll ever get to Earth during this part of the cycle, so he's likely to hear your prayers.
  

• Max Elongation (Eastern Sky): If we were comparing this to the lunar cycle, this would be the "opening square" aspect. Because Mercury never travels too far from the Sun, we don't ever get a Mercury-Sun square. This is the farthest Mercury gets from the Sun and is a time where you may meet some opposition or challenge to your intention. You should be taking action at this time in the cycle... the energy is waxing. You have planted the seeds, now what are you going to do about it? How badly do you want it? Look for Mercury in the Eastern horizon before sunrise.
  

• Superior Conjunction: This would be the "Full Moon" of the Mercury cycle. Mercury is traveling the fastest that it gets and things are moving! Your intentions may be blossoming (and perhaps not turning out exactly how you expected). You may be having realizations or seeing what needs to change in order for you to truly manifest your desires.
  

• Max Elongation (Western Sky): This is the waning square of the cycle, Mercury is slowing town and preparing for his next cycle and so are you. This is an "integration" phase and one that's often overlooked. The same way you wouldn't skip Shavasana in a Yoga practice, you shouldn't skip this either. During this time, you are psychologically integrating the lessons of this cycle so far. The work isn't over. You're almost there, but what needs to shift inside YOU in order for your Mercury quest to be fully realized? Look for Mercury in the Western horizon after sunset.

Practical Tips for working with Mercury Cycles:

• Create an altar to Mercury and invite him into your space. On my altar, I have a Mercury statue, a tortoise figurine (Hermes' sacred animal), candles, a caduceus pin, and some foreign coins. You could also put things that symbolize Gemini/Virgo (Mercury's signs) or the signs that this retrograde will pass through. Get creative! Research what Mercury is associated with.

• Make time for a journaling practice. Mercury rules communication and the mind - two things that work well with his energy!

• Advanced practitioners can bring in the astrological aspects Mercury makes to other planets/points during this cycle, as well as ingresses into new signs to notice how interactions with Mercury change.

• Look for signs and synchronicities. Mercury is speaking to you!

• Trust the re-direct. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that sometimes when things go wrong or not how you expected, Mercury is trying to get you to pay attention to something else. Go with the flow, be open to receive something new.

• While this is a powerful framework that taps into divine timing, this is not a magic trick. This is simply aligning to a cycle to help Mercury keep YOU accountable.

Below are the dates for this next cycle that starts in Libra. Mark these dates on your calendar and be sure to track your progress!

Want some help or advice for working with this Mercury cycle for your specific chart? Get in touch and we can do a personalized Mercury consultation.

Mercury in Virgo/Libra Dates 2022:

Enters retrograde shadow: August 21 8:25am EDT

Enters Libra: August 25th, 2022

Stations retrograde:

• September 9, 2022

• 11:38pm EDT

• 08º27’ Libra

Cazimi (reborn as morning star) “New Moon” of the cycle

• September 23, 2022

• 2:49am EDT

• 0º14' Libra

Re-enters Virgo (rx): September 23

Stations Direct:

• October 2, 2022

• 5:07am EDT

• 24º58 Virgo

Max Elongation in the Eastern Sky; “Opening square” of the cycle

• October 8th - morning star, seen in the Eastern Sky

Enters Libra: October 10, 2022

Exits shadow:

• October 16, 5:29pm EDT

• 8º27’ Libra

Enters Scorpio: October 29, 2022

Superior Conjunction (becomes evening star) “Full Moon” of the cycle

• November 8, 2022

• 11:42am EDT

• 16º15’ Scorpio

Enters Sagittarius: November 17, 2022

Enters Capricorn: December 6, 2022

Max Elongation in the Western Sky “closing square”

• December 21 (evening star, seen in the western sky)

Enters the next retrograde shadow: December 18th

Next Retrograde:

• December 29th

• 4:31am EST

• 21º24’ Capricorn