What: Mercury Direct in Aries
When: April 25, 2024
Who it Impacts: Everyone, but especially Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Gemini, and Virgo.
Takeaway: A welcomed end to the glitches, guffaws, typos, and foot-in-mouth moments oh-so characteristic of Mercury Retrograde.
That’s right, after a three-week-long reverse traverse through fiery Aries, Mercury is finally stationing direct. This welcomed planetary motion will soon help your thoughts, writing projects, and day-to-day plans once again run smoothly. Well, OK. They might not exactly run smoothly, since Mercury in Aries is anything but a silky smooth, easy-going, yacht rock of a transit. (It’s more of a blasting-Metallica type of transit.) That’s because Mercury is fast—like, quicksilver fast—and Aries is, well, loud. Noisy, even. But it’s also action-oriented, courageous, and confident. So, that’s something.
Understanding Mercury Direct and Mercury Shadow
Mercury, the messenger of the gods in astrology, holds the keys to your communication, intellect, and mental processes. Positioned as the ruler of both Gemini and Virgo, Mercury influences how we express ourselves, process information, and interact with the world around us. When retrograde, Mercury can cause all sorts of hi-jinx and mishaps in and to these areas of life—communication, data analysis, technology, etc. But when Mercury stations direct, its energy becomes more assertive and forward-moving, empowering us to communicate with clarity and precision. (Plus, there are fewer tech / internet / app glitches.)
In astrology, Mercury direct refers to the period when Mercury appears to move forward in its orbit from our perspective here on Earth. During this time, Mercury's energy is at its most potent, facilitating clear thinking, effective communication, and smooth flow of information. On the other hand, Mercury shadow refers to the period immediately before and after Mercury retrograde, when Mercury appears to slow down and prepare to change direction. This is a time when miscommunications, technical glitches, and delays may still occur, but not as frequently. Learn more about Mercury Direct and Mercury’s shadow cycles here.
Yeah, I know: we’re not completely out of the woodwork of Mercury Retrograde, but at least we’re getting close! Mercury stationed direct on April 1, at 27° Aries. THAT MEANS Mercury doesn’t leave its retrograde shadow until May 13, when it finally re-enters 27° Aries. Nevertheless, this weird shadow period is still a cause for celebration because it means we’re moving forward. It means ideas, communications, projects, plans—be they your doctor appointments, flights, event launches—are all moving forward.
They might also occasionally see some minor setbacks or glitches here and there. But don’t hate or blame me! I’m just the messenger. (I also have a helpful list of ways to work with the remaining tricks up Mercury Retrograde’s sleeve. So there.) Speaking of messages…What downloads, messages, or loud calls to action have you noticed blaring through your brain these past few weeks? What ideas, revisions, or changes in plans have you gotten excited about?
What to Expect from Mercury Direct in Aries
With Mercury (the fast-moving planet of thinking) now moving forward through Aries (a feisty, spontaneous, and *ahem* headstrong sign), it’s a dynamic and fiery combination of planetary energies that reignite creativity, boldness, and initiative. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac ruled by Mars, is known for its pioneering spirit, courage, and enthusiasm. No longer slowed by the reflective, stop-and-go vibes of retrograde, this transit infuses your thoughts and ideas with a sense of urgency and vitality.
Rekindled boldness, courage, certainty, and mental bravado are all perks of this direct motion. As are a rekindled authenticity. Because hopefully you’ve done some self-examination during Mercury Rx, combing through, reflecting on, and/or reviewing whatever idea, exchange, goal or project that was too loud to ignore. And hopefully you can now act on or implement those lessons.
Mercury in Aries is known for being somewhat squirrel-brained and occasionally argumentative. The fire sign’s love of action may see you chasing ideas—and picking heat—just for the sake of it. Aries is a fire sign and—as mentioned—it’s ruled by Mars; fire and Mars = LOTS of heat, or a desire for heat, for action, for passion. Because this energetic combo is being channeled through the planet of the mind (Mercury), there’s a tendency to prioritize the pursuit of ideas that get the heart racing and the blood pumping. In the absence of such ideas, Mercury in Aries can make the mind more hyper-active (as it searches for a new, exciting, and inspiring idea or goal).
Tips for Writers during Mercury Direct in Aries
For writers and creatives, Mercury direct in Aries is a particularly potent transit. That’s because Mercury is THE planet of writing (ruling over all forms of communication), and Aries is THE sign of raw self-expression. Mercury direct in Aries thus offers an opportunity to channel raw inspiration and express yourself with passion and conviction. This transit encourages spontaneity, originality, and fearlessness in communication, making it an ideal time to embark on new projects, share bold ideas, and assertively advocate for your beliefs. (It’s also a fantastic time to jumpstart on any ideas you’ve had percolating for your novel or poems.) Here are a few tips to help you work with Mercury direct in Aries:
Embrace Your Inner Fire: Tap into the fiery energy of Aries to infuse your writing with passion and enthusiasm. Don't be afraid to take risks and explore new topics or writing styles. Again, this is a great time TO ACT on the revision ideas that may have popped up during the past three weeks.
Trust Your Instincts: During the rest of Mercury’s forward motion through Aries, trust your intuition and instinctual impulses. Allow your ideas to flow freely without overthinking or second-guessing yourself. Mercury direct is ALL about trusting yourself enough, and having enough courage and confidence in YOURSELF to go for it.
Take Action: Aries is a sign of action and initiative, so don't hesitate to take bold steps towards your writing goals. Whether it's submitting your work for publication or starting that novel you've been dreaming about, now is the time to seize the moment.
Stay Authentic: Mercury direct in Aries encourages authenticity and self-expression. Be true to yourself and your unique voice in your writing, and don't be afraid to speak your truth boldly.
For all you writers here on Substack: Mercury Retrograde, and its shadow periods, are actually fantastic times for reviewing and refining your creative projects. This is what I teach in my Mercury Retrograde Magic workshop, an astrology class designed especially for writers and creatives. This workshop talks about the benefits Mercury (and its pre- and post-retrograde shadow) has on your creative practice, and how to work with the cycles of Mercury to refine your manuscript, poems, or artistic work. Best part? You don’t have to be an astrology buff to benefit from the tips, tricks, and exercises! (There’s also an action plan to help you stay accountable for your creative goals.)
The workshop is currently FREE for members of The Cosmic Collective, but as a subscriber, you can get it—and the Mercury Retrograde workbook—for 40% off until May 1. After that, it goes away for good!
YOUR Mercury Direct in Aries HOROSCOPE
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