Mercury Retrograde in Aries
Eclipse Window: Mindset Resetting.
What Are Eclipses?
Eclipses are rare and auspicious times that can bring surprises—unexpected things can happen, like synchronicities. Whatever happens, even if it is uncomfortable, is meant to help you progress on your path. The Sun, Moon, and Earth must all line up to form an Eclipse.
The effects of Eclipses can last from a few months to a full year. With any Eclipse Portal, the intention is to transform your life and push you forward in the most progressive and healthy ways. It’s like a door to a new dimension, and often, that means ending one thing and beginning something new, where certain truths have to be revealed. These might include your gut feelings, emotions, or beliefs that you aren’t aware of - the truths you know about deep down but avoid looking at.
On March 15 at 2:46 AM EST, Mercury begins its retrograde phase at 9º35’ in Aries, prompting us to start fresh, rethink our perspectives, and revisit unresolved issues. Just a few hours following the powerful Lunar Eclipse in Virgo, the planet governing Virgo comes to a halt, preparing to move backward and re-enter Pisces. Mercury will exit Aries on March 29 and remain retrograde until April 7.
The stationing of Mercury in retrograde is especially significant for individuals with personal placements in Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) and those with Gemini and Virgo placements, given that Mercury rules these signs. Those most affected by Mercury’s change in direction are encouraged to explore new ways of understanding reality and to reshape their thought processes, self-assertion, communication styles, and actions in alignment with their desires.
Mercury Retrograde: A Chance for Reassessment
Mercury’s retrograde period is a time for introspection, re-direction, and reassessment. When the planet associated with communication, reasoning, and information gathering appears to move backward in the sky, we are invited to slow our pace, rethink our mental frameworks, and revisit unfinished business.
This phase allows one to reevaluate previous choices and gain new insights on lingering matters.
While Mercury retrograde is often linked to delays, misunderstandings, and technological issues, there is a deeper purpose in this cycle. It urges us toward self-reflection and awareness. Instead of rushing ahead, we are encouraged to pause, contemplate, and refine our approach before moving forward with renewed clarity.
That’s why retrograde planets are seen as catalysts that accelerate our personal development and collective evolution. This effect is particularly amplified during the Eclipse window, which spans the two weeks between two eclipses, especially since Mercury is the ruler of the South Node in Virgo and the recent Lunar Eclipse that occurred earlier.
Mercury plays a crucial role while the South Node is in Virgo, as it reveals deeply rooted, unconscious patterns of seeking security and stability through logic, analysis, and problem-solving. During this retrograde, we are invited to identify habits of relying too heavily on intellectualization and rationalization as coping mechanisms and instead foster greater trust in our intuition.
Mercury Retrograde in Aries: Resetting Our Mindset
In the Cardinal Fire sign of Aries, Mercury’s retrograde invites us to pause before expressing our thoughts and to be particularly aware of any impulses to act or speak without thought. This transit urges us to examine what provokes strong emotional responses and to be more conscious of how we assert ourselves and share our ideas.
It’s a time to reflect on the distinction between aggression and assertion, refine how we express our truths, and explore more intentional methods of thinking and communicating. Rather than instinctively reacting, we are invited to deepen our awareness of our triggers and ensure that our expressions align with our genuine intentions and desires.
Mercury's retrograde in Aries challenges us to find a balance between honesty and consideration, directness and compassion. It leads us to act from a grounded sense of clarity instead of impulsiveness. During this time, we are encouraged to explore different approaches to any conflicts or disagreements we might face while enhancing our ability to communicate authentically and deliberately.
Mercury Retrograde: A Fresh Start
Mercury’s retrograde during the Eclipse window highlights the need for a significant change in our perceptions, thoughts, interactions, and communication of ideas, desires, and opinions.
In the weeks ahead, while Mercury appears to move backward, we are called to form a new connection with our thoughts, reset our mindset, and view the world and ourselves through a different lens. As we navigate the changes within and around us, Mercury retrograde in Aries encourages us to start anew, release outdated mental patterns, let go of reactive communication styles, and detach from rigid beliefs and expectations that no longer serve us.
Mercury is retrograde while also in conjunction with Venus, which is likewise retrograde in Aries. Both planets will retrograde from Aries to Pisces, providing a significant opportunity to reevaluate our values, revisit our perspectives, and redefine our relationships with ourselves and others.
This simultaneous retrograde of Mercury and Venus, following Mars’ recent retrograde, invites us to shed conditioned responses and old habits that continue to affect our lives, relationships, and thought processes. As both retrograde Mercury and Venus prepare to move past Neptune at 29º of Pisces, we are prompted to reconnect with the deeper wisdom that surfaces when we relinquish control and choose to surrender.
-Angelo Michael