By Amanda Painter

Mercury stations retrograde in Leo this Sunday, July 7, at 7:14 pm EDT (23:14:20 UTC). This means that we’re now in the ‘storm’ phase: the two to three days on either side of Mercury stationing retrograde or direct. Given the astrological location and cultural timing of this event, you’ll want to approach the next several days with increased awareness.

LED hula hoop in lieu of fireworks; photo by Amanda Painter

Eric has dubbed this the “Anger Management” retrograde, thanks to Mercury stationing in a conjunction to Mars: a fiery planet in a fiery sign.

With Mars relating to such things as desire, ambition and aggression, and Leo often shining through as pride or drama (though it can also manifest as more heart-based leadership), you can probably start connecting the dots. Add in the mental level represented by Mercury — and the ways that our attempts to communicate and be understood often fall short — and frustration levels can spike quite easily in such an astrological environment. Our increasingly digital landscape adds another layer of disconnect — subtleties get lost; buttons get pushed; egos flare up.

Mercury-Mars conjunctions, when working at their best, can describe great mental and physical energy, especially in a fire sign. You can tap this to accomplish much if you have a goal in sight, or an obstacle you need to overcome.

Yet it would appear that the trick — especially in a fixed sign like Leo — is to let your heart lead, not stubborn pride. Wounded egos make famously bad leaders, suffering from an over-identification with their ideas and beliefs that leaves little room to be wrong, to be curious, to learn from others, to be humble when humility would win hearts and minds. Mercury-Mars conjunctions can get very competitive and love a good debate. Those qualities have their place. Many, if not most, personal and professional interactions qualify only to a degree — though you would not guess that if you were from another planet and encountered social media as your first introduction to human communication. Everyone seems to want the last word, all the time.

With the Independence Day holiday in the U.S. marked by things such as fireworks, cookouts, alcohol and heightened patriotism, there’s ample reason to keep a finger on the pulse of your frustration, and that of those around you. It seems harder and harder these days to claim the kind of pride in one’s country that allows for seeing the need to improve, to redress wrongs, and to care for the world and all inhabiting it in a dharmic — rather than parental — way. ‘Simple’ patriotism has been giving way to nationalism for decades now (‘nationalism’ defined as identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations).

If you find yourself in a debate about this kind of thing today and through the weekend, it might be helpful to track how intensely you feel the need to ‘win’ the argument or convince the other person of your position. Notice if the thought of giving up and walking away feels like a threat to your very existence. That could be a clue that you’re investing too much of your identity with the ideas you’re espousing. Your thoughts may shape your perception and your reality, but you are not your thoughts.

True, there is a connection between collective thinking, governmental policies and cultural behavior, and the treatment (or mistreatment) of entire groups of people. It’s important to be aware of that. It’s also important to recognize that the interconnectedness I just described is not wholly at stake as you argue with a relative or neighbor next to the potato salad. What might be at stake, however, is the peace of mind and centeredness necessary to handle flammable items, vehicles (on land or water) and alcohol safely. You can always continue the conversation another time, under quieter circumstances.

It’s worth noting here that Mercury not only stations retrograde in a conjunction with Mars, but that they are in a loose grand fire trine with Chiron in Aries and retrograde Ceres in Sagittarius. Is your energy or spirit feeling enlivened, like it’s in a creatively self-perpetuating cycle? Or do you feel caught in an ego/anger-based thought loop?

Both the Sun and Venus are currently moving into aspects from Cancer that could offer some leverage if you need to shift how your currents are running — though that leverage may come in the form of inner tension, and the need to push toward or against something. (Today’s Written in the Planets offers some thoughts on a couple other aspects the Sun and Venus are making.)

In Sunday’s chart for Mercury stationing, the Sun is square the asteroid Pallas in Libra. If emotions have been a little overwhelming lately, can you lean into a more strategic approach? Sometimes all it takes is a plan with clear steps to make a situation (and our feelings) more manageable.

Venus is moving into a square with Chiron in Aries, and a sextile to Uranus in Taurus. Chiron could indicate a push that’s more in the style of urging focus. Kind of like the way a pebble in your shoe brings your attention to the need to do something: there’s irritation and sensitivity, but also a clear way to address it if you’re willing to stop what you’re doing, take off your shoe, and shake out the pebble, instead of just getting all upset about the pain and continuing to walk. Just like compassion for others, compassion for yourself works best as an action, not just as a sentiment.

Venus in aspect to Uranus appears to offer an unexpected opportunity, particularly in social or intimate relationships. Not all of our habits create a sense of security; sometimes they foster insecurity as we convince ourselves that without them, we’ll be lost. It can be exciting when a disruption offers a new way to translate into the wider world what you’ve learned about yourself. Social situations that are outside of your norm — along with unusual or particularly stimulating friends and lovers — offer that opportunity.

It might not show up as the rockets’ red glare with a loud boom, or even as a firecracker. That might be just as well, given Mercury’s current state of agitation. Not everything has to blow up to get our attention, though in the din of the internet and smartphones and the nightly news, it can seem like that’s what it takes. It requires a quiet night to notice crickets and fireflies; likewise, it takes a quiet mind to notice the subtle messages of existence. I’ll be curious to hear what style Mercury speaks in for you on Sunday.

Partial Lunar Eclipse: Dec. 31, 2009. Photo by Anthony Ayiomamitis.

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