Mercury Retrograde September and October 2015

While many people dread the period when Mercury is retrograde, Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, offers a somewhat varying perspective than Western astrology.  In Vedic astrology, retrogression is seen as a sign of strength. The final Mercury retrograde of 2015 began September 17 and lasts until October 9.  This Mercury retrograde September and October 2015 is different from past ones due to Mercury’s placement in Virgo.

Mercury owns the sign of Virgo and is also considered to be exalted there. A planet’s presence in its sign of exaltation is very powerful. Thus, Mercury retrograde and exalted makes it doubly strong.  When a planet is retrograde, it is closer to the earth than usual. People feel its presence more powerfully than normal, for better or worse.  Retrogression connotes the notion of repetition, renewal, and revisiting of situations.

Being dual-minded, Mercury creates a desire to pursue at least two varying paths simultaneously. Mercury’s innate ability to multi-task is hampered by its slow motion. There can be bouts of frustration which impact the nervous system (or majja dhatu in Ayurveda) due to the slow moving impediment.   As the indicator for commerce, Mercury is powerfully able to use its versatility and intellect to create opportunities for itself.  There is emphasis on the thinking mind in communication, but the thoughts may be repetitive.

During Mercury retrograde September and October 2015, Mercury is with the Sun and North Node Rahu. Rahu’s influence can give Mercury’s intellectual prowess an unusual penchant  for inquiry and investigation.  The Sun will help illumine Mercury’s intellect (buddhi) in its daily activities.  Mercury is very close to the Sun from September 28 to October 1. This is when Mercury is not as powerful as it is lost in the Sun’s rays.

Virgo represents the sixth house of the natural zodiac, which corresponds to health, herbs, routines, strategies, employees, lawsuits, accidents, debt, pets, maternal aunts and uncles, and the middle part of the abdomen.  Pay attention to how these subjects come to the forefront in your life during this Mercury retrograde September and October 2015.

Mercury retrograde September and October 2015 begins with Mercury in the constellation or nakshatra of Hasta.  Hasta is “the star of dexterity and skill”. It translates as “the hand or the forearm” and is represented by a fist.  The fist symbolizes both the capacity of Hasta dominant individuals to grasp multiple tangible and intangible ideas and objects. Hasta can also mean “handwriting, holding by the hand, or taking by the hand.”  The root “has” means laugh or merriment.  Hasta people are very good at mimicking others, at word play, and have a skill with language. They make powerful speakers.  The deity of Hasta nakshatra is Savitri, a Sun god.  Savitri is know for having a strong sense of purpose and the ability to prevail on someone else to do something that the asker wants done.

On October 3, Mercury enters Uttara Phalguni nakshatra.  Uttara Phalguni is “the star of patronage”.  The deity of Uttara Phalguni is Aryaman. He is the God whom others approach for kindness, favors, patronage, and boons. Mercury’s verbal acuity can elicit moving requests for assistance.

Here are some tips for making the most of this Mercury retrograde September and October 2015:

1. Do not sign any legal contracts or enter into new agreements or partnerships, as there is the likelihood that the contracts may have to be revised or that they will not go through.
   2. Consult health care practitioners on methods to support your nervous system and digestion.
   3. Write down health promoting routines for yourself and create strategies to implement them
   4. Pay close attention to your nervous system health and do not overtax it
   5. Use herbal supplements to support mentally taxing activities
   6. Use the time when Mercury retrograde is in Hasta for writing or authorship with a humorous bent.  This involves preparing lectures.
   7. When Mercury retrograde is in Hasta, create legal documents which support charitable endeavors
   8. Chant the Gayatri mantra
   9. Worship the Sun (Surya)

In retrogression, what is most problematic is when a planet goes from being direct (forward motion) to retrograde or from being retrograde to being direct.  For any planet to change direction, it first has to slow down considerably.  A planet stops moving for a period of time and then gradually gains momentum. Pay particular attention to the precision of your thoughts, words and actions from October 7 to 11.

Mercury turns direct on October 9 and is back to its quick daily movement on October 15.  Mercury will remain exalted in Virgo until the end of October.   More about Mercury retrograde will be posted on my Facebook page.

The specific influence of Mercury retrograde in Virgo for you will depend on the placement of planets in your personal chart.  Planetary cycles also have to be factored in to determine how you can utilize this time to your advantage, and what cautions may be warranted. A personalized Vedic astrology reading will take all these details into consideration.