First Mercury retrograde 2024:
An essay by Mike Zizis — March 22, 2024
April 1 ( Mercury RX 27° Aries) to April 25 (Mercury D 15° Aries)
“Look what you made me do.” — Taylor Swift.
Or as the Bee Gees sang; “I started a joke and it started the whole world crying.”
The trickster will be doing his sidestep / back step / sachet / backflips and everything else but direct in the marshal sign of Aries. Symbolically this means that Mercury is a guest in the house of the god of war — the fun never ends.
Mars symbolizes being drunk, throwing things, rude at the dinner party, war, breakage, impulsive anger, being courageous, and not backing down, except when he backs down; fight or flight. Mercury is communication in all forms. Mercury is logical — not rational, hates being excluded, and ‘oh one more thing’ that blossoms into 500 more things. He is forever young and loves, loves, loves gossip. He’s about media, the Internet, and what was Kate wearing, the weird shape of the Kardassian’s doctor’s dog’s nose. He is juvenile. He is Peter Pan. He will always remind you what you said seven years ago as well as what came out of your body, but only if it’s embarrassing to you.
Mercury will be backtracking through the Mars sign of Aries. During this brief 25 days, tempers will flare both in politics and personally on all levels. Do you just have to be affected by bad behavior? No. Emotional entitlement is the feast du jour just now. No one is entitled to hurt anyone else anytime they want. And no one is above the law.
“An eye for an eye, and soon everyone is blind.” — Margaret Atwood.
If you are one of those folks who take things personally — and who doesn’t — then this Mercury retrograde in the sometimes angry hotheaded sign of Aries will be difficult. When Mercury goes retrograde people withdraw into themselves. If you expect support, praise, commendation, accolades, acknowledgment, and community right now, then this retrograde might feel like it’s hitting you hard. Feelings are not facts. Listen carefully — the stronger the emotion, the shorter the sight. Did Alexander the Great grieve murdering his close friend Kleitos in a drunken rage? (Kleitos had previously saved Alexander’s life in battle) Yes.
I have noticed during many years of studying astrology that the Israelis offer formal peace terms to the Palestinians during a retrograde Mercury, knowing that it will fail. The surprising thing about history and human nature, is how little human nature surprises us. Shock yes — surprise no.
I like options, and there are always options. My father was a physically violent rageaholic. There are times in my life when I do better than he did. I’m here to do better this time and next time. I decide to create more love than I was given. But enough about me.
Supercharging this mercury retrograde will be a new Moon solar eclipse on April 8, at 19° Aries. Eclipses are a massive release of energy, often for about 18 months. Between Ukraine/ Russia and Palestine/ Israel, expect things to heat up and hate up quite a lot. Is this the end of the world? No. The world is always and forever ending and beginning again. All wars end up at the negotiating table. Imagine not caring enough to slaughter — actively or passively — others.
“Forgive me partisans, I no longer care which side wins the war.” — Leonard Cohen
During this new global extinction event, the Holocene (where we are now — since the ice age) one of the most endangered species is Personal Responsibility. We also may be in the anthropocene, but that’s for another essay some other time.
FOR FURTHER (OPTIONAL) READING for those of you who are interested in the do’s and dont’s of this retrograde Mercury, as well as Mercury RX in the houses;
