Stellar Insights: September 12 - 18
Retrograde Stars
Last week I wrote about Mercury Retrograde, which began on Friday. I spoke about how, rather than just being a time of possible tech troubles and communication glitches, that this three-week period could be a quite powerful period for further understanding since it gives us another vantage point through which to more deeply refine ideas and concepts. As we review past situations from a more receptive and intuitive orientation, we can learn things that may have otherwise passed by our attention radar.
Another way to understand that Mercury Retrograde periods are not “bad” (as many astro urban legends may have you believe) and that it can actually offer moments of genius is by remembering that there are skilled luminaries (including maybe you as well) who have this natal placement in their astrology chart, aka they were born when Mercury was retrograde.
This again became very apparent to me a few weeks back when I looked at the astrology chart of the poet Ocean Vuong whose access to the rich subtleties of language has stunned and awed me in the most exquisite ways. He was born with Mercury retrograde in Libra (where it actually is right now). Part of his access to such nuanced complexities of language may have arisen due to an early childhood challenging path with it: he’s noted in numerous interviews that many in his family were illiterate and that his mother couldn’t speak English nor read in her native Vietnamese.
That an indirect pathway filled with obstacles could deeply carve a unique relationship with and mastery of language, communication, and poetry feels very aligned with Mercury Retrograde. It reminds us that even during periods when communication is not “usual” or “easy” or “assumed” that there can be amazing experiences that etch deep wisdom.
Yet, Ocean Vuong is not alone when it comes to innovative messengers and talented superstars. For example, take Steve Jobs, the cofounder of Apple, with his Mercury retrograde in Aquarius, who helmed inventions—including the iPhone—that shifted the way society communicates. Or the chef Rene Redzepi who was born when Mercury was retrograde in Capricorn, whose pioneering approach to cooking and restauranteuring launched him and his Copenhagen restaurant Noma to the upper echelons of the culinary world. Then there’s Lady Gaga, the talented chanteuse and style icon, who has Mercury retrograde in Pisces. Additionally, there is someone who made incredible news this weekend: 19-year-old tennis player Carlos Alcaraz—who has Mercury retrograde in Taurus—who just won the U.S. Open and is now the youngest tennis player to have ever been ranked as #1 in the world.
While there are many more examples of brilliant people born when Mercury was retrograde, I will stop there as to not have us taken too far afield from speaking about the other alignments of the week. Notably because one of them—the Sun/Neptune Opposition—actually does have the potential to take us far afield from our pathway should we find ourselves in the overly spacey, head-in-the-clouds, exceptionally dreamy state of being that it can yield. Let yourself be open to its inspiration of feeling inspired and seeing the unity between things. Listen in for the soulfulness, let your intuition guide you, and open your heart to art. Yet, be conscientious about the heightened potential for blurred boundaries, consciously discerning whether they are gifting you with additional compassion or whether they are opening you to situations that may be depleting your energy and resources.
This alignment becomes exact on Friday, when the Venus/Mars Square does as well. And with this, we could find ourselves more prone to frustration if we’re not readily able to achieve an aim that reflects our values. Do what you can to try to discover ways to find accord between what you love and what you desire.
Also this week, we have the Mercury/Jupiter Opposition. If you are experiencing déjà vu in reading this, it’s because it also occurred on September 2. In Stellar Insights that week, I wrote about how there will be three of these connections this month and next, owing to Mercury’s retrograde cycle (the final one will be October 12). As such, as the weekend approaches, consider how you may be accessing a new way of viewing events and awareness that came to light two weeks ago. (For a reminder of what this three-chapter alignment may inspire, see here.)
Wishing you a stellar week,
xxStephanie
Astrological Highlights
September 16: Venus/Mars Square, Sun/Neptune Opposition
September 18: Mercury/Jupiter Opposition
All days reflect Eastern Daylight Time (- 4 hours GMT)
Photos: Tamanna Rumee, Hello I’m Nik, and Jen Theodore, all via Unsplash
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