Gemini is the sign of networking. Its task is to connect together realities that would remain isolated otherwise. Crossroads, streets, trade routes, the neighborhood, public transportation, newspapers. Information, goods and people are restlessly exchanged by the Master of Words—Mercury. And from its sphere the Spirits of Language emanate their influence down to the earth, guiding and uniting entire nations under the same tongue.
Mercury in Gemini is very powerful. Intelligence has wings, and all the significations related to communication and movement thrive in here. But what happens when Mercury gets retrograde? Is this accidental debility enough to break the spell?
We’ve already discussed about the general effect of Mercury Retrograde introducing the Elemental Triangle of Air. This year, through its retrograde stations across the Air signs, Mercury is going to draw that shape in the sky. In late January Mercury in Aquarius started this process, activating a stellium (cumulus of planets) in the first Air sign of the sequence. With his transit through Gemini, Mercury is now going to make the second step of the Triangle of Air.
Let’s now take a look at the aspects that Mercury is going to make during his stay in Gemini, to better understand what to expect from it.
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Entangled in a Web of Dreams and Illusions
A dignified planet—such as Mercury in his diurnal domicile—is rarely problematic. For this reason we can interpret its retrograde motion more as “things that are coming back” rather than “things that are not going to work”. In the very beginning of the transit, the same day Mercury is going to turn retrograde, it is also going to perform a conjunction with Venus.
Venus in Gemini is love and pleasure for everything we just said. It is about enjoying social interaction, laughter, news. As well as uncommitted or not too demanding forms of love, and intellectual interests and passions. In countries where restrictions are being eased, the combined effect of Venus and Mercury will bring further momentum to the reopening.
- May 29, 2021 : Mercury at 24° 41′ Gemini in Conjunction with Venus just before turning Retrograde
- June 5, 2021 : Mercury at 23° 05 Gemini Square Neptune at 23° 05′ Pisces
- June 11, 2021 : Mercury at 20° 21′ Gemini in Conjunction with the Sun
- June 22, 2021 : Mercury turning direct at 16° 07′ Gemini
But we must be careful not to get entangled in this process. A renewed web of interactions could bring confusion and dispersion of energies, as the Mercury Neptune square suggests. This is the only bad aspect noteworthy of the transit, taking place during the first 10 days of June, with its peak on June 5, 2021.
Blunders, deceptive communication, chameleonic escapes, elusive people, dreamy state of mind, disappointing fantasies. These are just some of the shimmering but confusing scenarios, taking place when the God of Communication meets the mysterious abysses of the Sea God.
Mercury Retrograde in Your Natal Chart
Please remember that Mercury retrograde is always an opportunity to work on yourself. During these three weeks, happening three times a year, we are invited to turn the attention within us. This because the retrograde motion of the planet is attuned with the mind focusing inwardly rather than outwardly. So if we accompany this process we can definitely be present and aware when our mind will try to trick us. This way we might even be able to recognize our projections, illusions and subtle expectations leading us astray.
As always, in order to understand how the transit is going to affect you, you need to check your Natal Chart. Specifically, you want to look at 16° and 24° Gemini: in which house do they fall? Knowing the astrological house affected is extremely important to understand where this transit is going to manifest.
It is not enough to say that we are going to have communication issues, caused by the excess of social interactions (this is what Mercury in Gemini does). We want to know the area of life where this is going to show up. The Fourth House for example would involve our family life. The Eleventh House instead would affect our friendships, and the Seventh our relationships.
from a Geocentric Perspective
You also want to pay special attention to any Natal Planet in aspect with Mercury retrograde. Especially if the planet is sitting on a degree in aspect with 16° and 24° Gemini. The stationing points (ST1 and ST2) are very sensitive spots since Mercury is going to prolong his stay, stopping on them.
Mercury Retrograde in Gemini 2021 dates
- Direct [Pre-Shadow] : May 15, 2021 reaching 16° 07′ Gemini
- Retrograde : May 29, 2021 first station at 24° 43′ Gemini
- Direct [Post-Shadow] : Jun 22, 2021 second station at 16° 07′ Gemini
- Direct : Jul 8, 2021 leaving behind 24° 43′ Gemini
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I consider myself a free researcher in western spiritual disciplines, in particular Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophy and the Neoplatonic Hermetic tradition. I have a three-year training in Astrology at the CIDA delegation of Trieste, the Italian Center for Astrological Disciplines. I graduated in Computer Engineering from the University of Trieste.
