Mercury in Capricorn ☿ Jan 4-23

art by Eli Halpin

Jan 4 – 23, 2019

Mercury is patron of economics, travel, communication, perception and the human mind. He is also an orator, poet, soothsayer, healer, lucky star and underworld guide. With magical caduceus in hand, Mercury leads freshly discorporated souls from the lower to the upper worlds. Though I use the male pronoun to describe Mercury (and he is classically depicted as male), I think of mercurial energy as androgynous, genderless. Remember Gemini (ruled by Mercury) and twinship/duality.

Mercury transits are not necessarily high impact on their own. When Mercury joins the sun and/or Venus in the same constellation, the mind (Mercury) aligns with outward manifestation (sun) and the heart (Venus). Fortunately for us, this transit falls almost entirely while the Sun is in Capricorn. Also in Capricorn this round: Saturn (since Dec 2017) and Pluto (2008-2023).

What happens when Mercury shakes hands with Capricorn? Mercury and Capricorn have excellent synergy as they both embody the earth element. How you would like to structure your life? List all of your long-term goals and plans. Mercury in Capricorn takes the analytical and service-oriented aspects of Mercury and transforms them into full-blown systems. The goat rules aspects of life such as governing bodies - that which oversees everything else. Mercury in Capricorn encourages us to follow lines of thought which are practical and economical. Capricorn wants not only to know, but to know how. This transit helps clarify our relationship to things like work, money and, more broadly, the planet as a whole. The goat doles out constant reality checks on the state of the world.

Capricorn greatly admires those in positions of authority. His curt delivery and stoic comportment reflect this admiration. Natives with this placement may seem cold or aloof at first. Pay attention and you will see the deeply emotional nature of Mercury in Capricorn.

When I visualize this sign, I feel strain in my body. The Capricorn psyche is a rigid one, drowning in unattainable standards. One of the greatest challenges for Capricorn is lightening up, brushing it off, opening the heart. Ruled by Saturn, Uncle Businessman of the zodiac, the goat struggles to feel real freedom. This restriction emanates directly from his own soul, but fortunately he is well aware of this. Capricorn knows that his need for maximum efficiency is borderline compulsive.

Capricorn is a creature of great wisdom and deliberation. So deliberate that we may be afraid to communicate, tottering on an invisible edge - but there is nothing to fear. To speak is to be free. In particular, tackle communication issues related to your financial or professional life. If you feel like a block of ice, physically warm your body and throat chakra. Take a deep breath and speak. If conversations need to happen, they won’t be warm and fuzzy, but there will be no beating around the bush, no time wasted.

Every constellation is a preparation for the next. The goat’s lessons prepare us for the water bearer, Aquarius. Mercury in Capricorn draws out all of our plans and ambitions to create empty space for the electric winds of Aquarius. Get everything in writing, or better yet, make a visual representation of what you would like to accomplish this winter. This transit is meant to be highly productive in a professional and financial sense.

On the evening before Mercury enters Capricorn (Jan 3), he forms a trine to Uranus. This means (loud) social events are highly likely - prepare for an exciting evening. Jan 5 is a new moon solar eclipse! On Jan 8, Mercury squares Mars - prepare for turbulence and avoid travel if possible. Though Mercury will meet up with Saturn in Capricorn on Jan 13, some unsavory shit is going down between Jupiter and Neptune, plus a quarter moon. On Jan 18, Mercury again makes another conjunction to Pluto, but this too will be foiled by an unpredictable square between the Sun and Uranus. Lastly, Mercury himself squares Uranus just hours before moving into Aquarius. Not a good day for travel or important conversations, at least not in the morning.

Align your bones with Capricorn Yoga. Give special attention to your knees and teeth. In meditation, focus on the root chakra. If you were born with Mercury in Capricorn, these couple weeks are your Mercury Return. To find your personal Mercury sign, click here.

Mantra: I mean what I say