July 10th ~ 18th
A great leap forward often requires first taking two steps back. ~ Obi-Wan Kenobi (The Clone Wars)
On Thursday, July 10th, the Full Moon fell at 18º Capricorn 50’. Full Moons are often times of culmination, but also stress. And this is especially significant now, as we seem to be standing between two worlds: an Old World that is not ready to let go of its domain, and the New one that is gradually taking hold.
On July 7th, Uranus was the last of the major planets to change signs. And with this comes this realization of a whole new paradigm unfolding. But even as Uranus entered Gemini, first Neptune, and now Saturn, the ruling planet of the recent Capricorn Full Moon, are stationing retrograde. So even as we are moving forward, it feels like we are first being compelled to take a few steps back, before we can finally proceed. We are needing to tie up some loose ends. Bring closure so that we can proceed.
On July 12th/13th Saturn, the ruling planet of the Capricorn Full Moon stations for its retrograde phase. And it does so just days after the Full Moon on July 10th. On the 15th of July, Saturn and Neptune will be pretty close to an exact conjunction, just mere minutes apart from one another in the early degrees of Aries. The actual conjunction itself will perfect on Feb. 20th, 2026, but in the mean time we are getting a glimpse of what this conjunction can and will be initiating in the very first degree of the first sign of the zodiac.
Whenever we have a Full Moon, the Sun in one sign opposes the Moon in its opposite sign. The Sun in Cancer therefore opposes the Moon in Capricorn for the Full Moon. The Moon in Capricorn can symbolize the things that we must do out of obligation: the promises we have made, what is necessary in order to achieve our goals. It is not always what we want to do. But it is often what we feel we have to do. The Sun in Cancer represents our responsibilities to home, family, and our community, and what we need to do to nourish and protect those in our care.
The Full Moon can show us where these have become imbalanced, and what we might need to do in order to restore that balance. With Saturn stationing retrograde and conjunct Neptune we may be feeling like we need to regroup, in order to get our priorities straight. This may require us to take some steps back before we can proceed. To slow down. To set better limits and boundaries, and to learn about the secret power of our No.
In the mean time, Mercury is also gradually slowing down for its retrograde station on July 17th/18th at 15º Leo 35’. And as it does so it will be sesquiquadrate (135º angle to) both Saturn and Neptune. So all of these events: the stations of Saturn and Neptune, the Full Moon on July 10th, and the station of Mercury are carefully entwined in this unfolding tapestry at the very cutting edge of change and transformation in the world as well as in our own lives.
Mercury often seems to be in its retrograde phases. There are about 3 times each year that Mercury appears to move backwards within the zodiac from where we stand here on the Earth. Earlier this year both Mercury and Venus stationed retrograde and direct in league with the 2 Eclipses in March. This month Mercury stations retrograde while aspecting Saturn and Neptune. The third retrograde in November occurs in the Jupiter sign of Sagittarius, just as Jupiter itself is stationing for its retrograde. Each of these carry a significant theme.
What we are most familiar with when we think of Mercury in its retrograde phase are all the inconveniences: the transportation glitches, the missed appointments, the mixups in communications, the gremlins in our technological hardware. But the most important significance of these retrograde periods is the need to assimilate and process all of the experiences, changes and events that have led us to where we are now. This in turn internally prepares us for the next leg of our journey.
In the few weeks of the shadow period preceding the retrograde, we find our perspectives changing along with our attention. We are moving into reflective mode and turning that attention within. And as Mercury stations for this next retrograde phase, and makes those semi-squares to Neptune and Saturn, we are also processing and trying to make sense of some of the uncertainties, voids, and perhaps even some actual or impending losses in our lives.
It could be for some that they feel the necessity to prepare for the inevitable. For others they feel compelled to explore unseen possibilities. With a ‘just in case’ perspective, we are all readying ourselves for something, without even knowing what lies around the next corner. Because it seems that we do not yet have all the facts that are needed in order to make informed decisions, we may want to wait until Mercury is direct again (after August 11th), before we do so.
Uncertainty and doubt can feel very uncomfortable. So we attempt to fill in the empty spaces and voids with our own imaginations and fears. Which is not always helpful. However if we are patient, like Saturn, and have faith, like Neptune, and we wait for the clarity that will come in its own time, and as it will, we can then make better life decisions.
This does not mean to do nothing in the mean time. Do reflect. Do learn. Do attempt to weave together the threads of your life. The retrograde phases of Mercury are excellent for:
Tying up the loose ends of our lives. Take care of any unfinished business. Go over old work. Clear up the clutter in your mind and your environment. Create hacks for organization, both externally and internally. Removing the clutter in our environments, also helps to create clarity in our minds.
Getting ourselves back on track with our lives. If you’ve been deflected, distracted, or just plain avoidant, the retrograde phases of Mercury are really good for getting us back on track again.
De-stress our lives. The sesquiquadrate to the Saturn/Neptune conjunction wreaks of worry and anxiety. One of the things Mercury retro is especially good for (through its rulership of Virgo) are mindfulness based stress reduction and other techniques, modalities and therapies that address anxiety. Mercury also has an association with the breath (through its rulership of Gemini), therefore merely remembering to take deep calming breaths can work wonders. By merely changing the way that we breathe can have a considerable impact on our mental and emotional well-being.
Reminiscing: Getting together with old friends. Remembrances. Gatherings. Reunions are part of the processing that is so important during these periodic retrograde phases.
Letting go of any unresolved issues. Practice patience, forgiveness and understanding. There is no need to bring any old resentments with us into the next Mercury phase.
Creative insights are the bailiwick of the sign of Leo, which is where Mercury will be for the entirety of this retrograde phase, and all the way until September 2nd. During the retrograde our minds and brains go into reflective right-brained mode. We require a bit more silence and quietude to do so, but when we slow down and go within, we can make that connection more easily within the creative centers of our own minds.
Remember what it feels like to Look at the world with the eyes of a child again, as if it is new, remarkable and filled with wonder. Remember what it feels like to play.
Be patient with the communications glitches, the crossed wires and the mishaps. Allow for changes in schedules and plans. These are merely the external inconveniences as we attempt to go about business as usual while retrograde. Just know that there is so much more happening beneath the surface that is far more important. That being said, it might be a good idea to avoid:
Making important decisions before you have all the facts and information.
Starting a new project, job or commitment if it can at all be helped. What often seems like a good idea while Mercury is in its retrograde phase will have its faults revealed later.
Signing important documents without checking them many times over, and re-checking them again.
Buying new computers, cars, phones or other technological devices. Sometimes it simply cannot be helped. Make sure you have a warranty.
Updating new operating systems or changing technology. Technology gremlins are lying in wait, for just this sort of opportunity to sneak their way in. Back up your information first.
Travel can be interesting during these periodic retrogrades. Double check reservations, dates and times. Make lists and check them twice. Bring a good book, and allow yourself plenty of time. Because you just never know.
A child who does not play is not a child, but the man who does not play has lost forever the child who lived in him. ~ Pablo Neruda
For Mercury’s station retrograde for your sign, check out this week’s horoscopes: