MERCURY IN SAGITTARIUS
Mercury entered Sagittarius yesterday, Saturday November 2nd 2024. The messenger planet will be moving through the sign of the archer until January 8th 2025.
If you know anything about Mercury’s speedy pace, you’ll notice that over 2 months is an unusually long time for this planet to spend in any one zodiac sign. That’s because it will be retrograde from November 25th until December 15th this year. So Mercury will be retracing its steps and extending its stay in Sagittarius (welcoming the Sun, as Sagittarius season begins on November 21st this year).
Mercury retrogrades are one of the most infamous events in astrology. The hype is usually blown out of proportion; I’ll write more about the pros and cons when the time comes in a few weeks. But I’ll briefly state that I believe swift Mercury really benefits from retrogrades, especially in our fast-paced modern culture. It needs regular opportunities to slow down and reflect. Mercury often doesn’t see the forest for the trees - but Sagittarius is all about pulling back and seeing the big picture, like the archer’s arrow flying high above the landscape.
This sign infuses any planet in its domain with faith, enthusiasm, and a sense of risk and adventure. After the deep introspection of Scorpio, which harnesses power from locked-up pain and inner potential, the energy of Sagittarius explores outward in all directions. Its main goal is to constantly broaden its horizons, which is why Sagittarius is associated with long-distance travel. Of course, not all of us will be journeying to foreign lands anytime soon. But thanks to the internet, it’s easy to honor the spirit of Sagittarius these days. We can learn new languages, explore other cultures, and gain wisdom from around the world. We can break out of our narrow cultural conditioning and gain wisdom from understanding radically different perspectives. With Mercury, this is especially likely to happen through conversation and dialogue. (And during the inevitable fractures of an election season, that feels sorely needed!)
Similarly, Sagittarius is the sign of higher education - whether through university study, varied life experience, or both. This is the sign of philosophy, religion and beliefs. It wants to constantly ask big questions and learn new things, as does the curious mental planet Mercury. Sagittarius can help us to put together the puzzle pieces of information that our mercurial minds are constantly gathering, to understand the patterns that inform the world and ourselves. This sign exists to help us break out of deadening ruts and routines, to remember how much there is to explore in this vast universe. So follow your curiosity now, even if it doesn’t seem to be leading you to a practical place. Fire sign Sagittarius is all about that spark of vitality and interest that keeps us feeling truly alive.
I’ve noticed that Sagittarians can be incredibly blunt and even brutally honest. They’re not necessarily vicious, like a Scorpio on a bad day; they’re just radically committed to the truth, and prioritize it plainly over everything else. If you’re sensitive, I’d wager you’ve had your toes stepped on in the past by a Sagittarian comment or two. With Mercury spending 9 weeks in this sign, we should all keep an eye on our tongues, and pause to consider how we’re delivering difficult truths before we simply blurt them out. This consideration also helps the fact that Mercury in Sagittarius is often long-winded and chaotic. It can be difficult to plan, organize, and communicate concisely during this season, especially with the retrograde coming up - so practice patience with yourself, others, and unforeseen logistical circumstances.
To glean how this Mercury transit will affect you specifically, check what house(s) of your birth chart fall into Sagittarius. This is the area of your life that Mercury will journey through over the next couple months, and reflect on deeply during its retrograde. Here’s a refresher on the houses:
1st house: self, personality, identity, appearance
2nd house: income, resources, values, confidence
3rd house: perception, thought, communication, local environment
4th house: home, family, roots, inner world
5th house: play, pleasure, creative expression, dating
6th house: health, service, routine, mentorsip
7th house: one-on-one relationships & partnerships
8th house: sex, death, magick, surrender
9th house: beliefs, philosophy/religion, higher education, long journeys
10th house: career, reputation, calling, mission
11th house: goals, allies, organizations, society
12th house: subconscious, spirituality, solitude, mental health
With a little more astrological knowledge and skill, you can figure out what aspects Mercury will be making to your natal planets during this time. If you’d like help unpacking your chart, you can book a reading or contact me with questions.
I hope we can all learn something new, expand our perspectives, and reinvigorate our mental sparks while Mercury transits through Sagittarius!
