Integrating the Archetypes of Mercury, Sagittarius and Capricorn
Today’s retrograding Mercury in Capricorn and a New Moon in Sagittarius is a rare category of new beginnings. Their occurrence during Hanukah and their proximity to Winter Solstice, Christmas and Kwanzaa bring numerous opportunities for insights into your paradigms, your processes, and where you are with them. And, most importantly, what is now possible.
Astrological transits are so helpful in objectively planning, monitoring, and evaluating the manifestation process, and with the healing that often is such a key piece of successful manifestation. The astrological transits - the signs and planets, the degrees and directions - show us where to go, when, how, and why. Especially when the wind gets weird, the road gets rocky, or the waves get choppy.
The realm of astrological-based healing is best described in terms of bracketing, the higher octaves and the lower octaves that bookend evolved behavior. On a good day you can expect one thing, on a less good day you can expect another, and on a bad day you can expect something altogether different. Because there is so much going on right now, I am just going to focus on the archetypes of the three major energies involved: Mercury, Sagittarius and Capricorn.
The Planet we now know as Mercury was first observed by the Sumerians in around 3000 BCE. As time progressed, the Greeks renamed the planet and the god, Hermes. The messenger of the gods, Hermes was required to carry information back-and-forth between the gods on Mount Olympus and the humans that inhabited mortal world. Like the rest of us, Hermes was never entirely comfortable with certain aspects of his job. Part of what made it so difficult was that his time was divided between the Gods on high and the mortals down below. Because of that, he never felt like he actually belonged to or was at home in either realm. And because of that, he ended up becoming an alchemist, a magician, and a wizard in order to be successful in the face of all that was being asked of him.
One of the best things about the different signs of the zodiac is that each one rules an archetype, sometimes a couple of them. Archetypes are widely considered to be a behavior, a pattern of behaviors, a historical psychology, and/or a stereotypical literary character from oral, written, and now photographic and cinematic forms of storytelling. Unsurprisingly, Gemini has three. The archetypes of Gemini have evolved over time to be the messenger, the inquisitive youth, and the wizard/alchemist/magician.
When Mercury is retrograde, you are being shown the places in your life where you really, really, really need to activate and integrate one or more of these ideals. You are being given opportunities to better understand them as they exist in your life. You are being asked to become more comfortable with the reality of them as they exist in your life. And you are absolutely required to become more sophisticated at and with them.
Because this retrograde begins in Capricorn and ends in Sagittarius (the sign of the Sun-Moon conjunction at the New Moon), you are going to want to look at two things. The first is the placement of both Capricorn and Sagittarius in your natal chart. Everything always comes back to your natal chart. The second is the archetypes of these signs. Let’s start with Capricorn.
Like Mercury, Capricorn has three archetypes: the Wise Master, the Teacher, and the Steward. Because of this, where Capricorn lives in your natal chart is where you are undeniably those things and more: the wise elder of your tribe, you are the lawgiver, the way-finder, the grown-up in the room, and the shepherd of your flock. Your Capricorn placement is where you are Moses: your righteous devotion to your faith, your karma, and your process helps you lead your people out of some vestige of the bondage you all share. The role of Capricorn is to organize and steer culture and civilization away from the violence of this world and from the catastrophe of the human condition. Your Capricorn placement determines where you are uniquely qualified to do that. And your Sagittarius placement tells you how.
The Archetypes of Sagittarius are the Visionary and the Explorer. Ruler of territorial expansion and exploration, psychological and spiritual concepts, ministry, philosophy, shamanism – and journeys towards them - Sagittarians are the ones voted most likely to be able to trust that the proverbial slings and arrows of outrageous fortune are getting them somewhere. Somewhere fun. So, when the Sun and the New Moon are in Sagittarius, that is your signal to get clear – or clearer on your priorities - and keep your focus on this archetype and the aid it provides. Where are you a Visionary Explorer? Remember, even if you do not have your Sun, Moon or Ascendant in Sagittarius, you do have Sagittarius somewhere. Find out where.
These Sagittarian archetypes can be so helpful in actually seeing (clearly) the reality of the current moment, and so that Capricorn can then determine the best response. For that very reason, these two signs work quite well together. So often, the characteristics and attributes of a sign are the perfect antidote to the challenges of season. And now is one of those times. Historically, faith and hope, abundance and generosity, trust and truth, love and light, ideals and integrity have been component parts of the winter celebrations of virtually every culture. This time of year, we are called upon to take those values – those archetypical principles of Mercury, Sagittarius and Capricorn – to the next level.
With that in mind, the upcoming Winter Solstice is the official marker for the middle of the year. The solstices are the axis that the Wheel of the Year rotates on. The axels that it revolves around. The solstices are the hinges that hold the doors between the planting season and the harvest season. That is where all the energies of the archetypes of come into play. So, let’s give you permission to find them. Let’s find those parts of your psyche and your soul and activate them Always, but especially now, listen up, read the room, lean in, call on your ancestors, and rise to the occasion—or at least find some way to start heading in that general direction. And if you get stuck, call me.
We’ll figure it out.
Calendar
Here are the significant astrological dates in the coming month. Put them on your calendar to keep them at the top of your mind. I write about them - and how best to work with them - in detail on Social Media:
December 12 – New Moon in Sagittarius
December 13 – Mercury retrogrades at 8° Capricorn
December 15 – Hanukkah ends
December 21 – Sun Moves into Capricorn; Winter Solstice; Yule
December 22 – Mercury moves into Sagittarius
December 24 – Christmas Eve
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Kwanzaa begins; Boxing Day; Full Moon in Cancer: also known as the Cold Moon, the Long Night(s) Moon, and the Moon of Yule; Chiron goes direct at 15° Aries.
December 29 – Venus moves into Sagittarius
December 31 – New Year’s Eve; Jupiter goes direct at 5° Taurus
January 1 – New Year’s Day; Kwanzaa ends; Mercury goes direct at 22° Sagittarius; the 20-day Mercury retrograde shadow period begins
January 4 – Mars moves into Capricorn
January 6 – Three Kings Day/Feast of the Epiphany
January 7 – Orthodox Christmas
January 11 – New Moon in Capricorn
January 13 – Mercury moves into Capricorn
January 14 – Orthodox New Year
January 15 – Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
January 20 – Pluto moves into Aquarius; Sun Moves into Aquarius
Working with Personal Energy and Karma
Everybody’s natal (birth) chart is different. These differences reflect our individual souls—their journeys and evolution, their triumphs, and their tragic flaws. As such, the specific impact of each of the following dates will hit each person differently. But there are some general themes.
Holy days, holidays, and astrological transits are opportunities for us to experience grace. But remember how grace happens: sometimes it comes through discomfort. The gifts aren’t always immediately apparent. All of the days on this list ask you to be more compassionate with yourself and others, to try and be more awake, and to be more open to synchronicity and messages from Spirit. On days when more than one astrological event, holiday or holy day occurs, know that the power of that day will be even more profound. The more events in a day, the more powerful that day is, and the more intentional you should be.
Again, in general, Full Moons are a good time for ending things, wrapping things up, conclusions, and closure. New Moons are opportune times for new beginnings: starting a new chapter of some aspect of your life, tackling a new project, or launching something new. Retrogrades are always about slowing down and paying more attention to aspects of your creative, spiritual, and social lives. The eclipses always reveal; sometimes it is something others have hidden from you, sometimes it is things you have hidden from yourself. Usually, it is a little bit of both. To go deeper, look to the planetary signs and the houses they fall in, and, of course, to your natal chart. Or give me a call. I can help you with that.
Retreats, Rituals, Services, Ceremonies, Journeys, and Deep Healing Work
Choosing the best days for your events is a very personal thing. You have to feel your way into it. But there are some generic rules that can help you in your decision-making process. In work pioneered by Carl Jung and then furthered by Stanislav Grof and Richard Tarnas, a number of things have been determined to be immensely helpful in creating the more healing outcomes you are looking for.
The most crucial factor is to utilize the archetypal energy of the astrological transits to influence the focus of your work. Additionally, full moons and new moons are considered the best. Holidays and holy days are as well. Full moons and new moons that occur during or over a period of holidays and holy days are extraordinarily powerful.
Factor in a retrograde or two and you pretty much cannot avoid leveling up and becoming a much more masterful magician. Especially around anything that has to do with your faith, your trust in it, your ability to serve your faith and serve with it. Seriously.
With that in mind, your best days in the next month for deep, transformational experiences are the following: December 12, 15, 21-22, 24-26, 29-31; Jan 1, 4, 6 -7, 13-15, 20.