Mercury in Gatorade: Symbols of Retrograde
Astrological Symbolism
People love to get where they’re going, and they despise being set back. The Planets move along the wheel of the zodiac, but they regularly go retrograde, moving backwards. There is a common pop astrology anxiety for the three Mercury retrogrades that occur yearly. Let’s look at the planets in retrograde, the symbols that arise.
Mercury in Retrograde
Mercury in Retrograde is Hermes καταιβάτης, or Hermes who Descends and Hermes ψῡχοπομπός, or Hermes the Soul Guide. These are the titles of Mercury as he brings the souls of the Dead down to Hades.
The messages of the dead are communicated in a great manner of strange ways, through Mediums, Ouija boards, and automatic writing. The messages that come through are, as a rule, never clear.
A natal Mercury Retrograde can feel like this, your voice is ghostly and indistinct, it takes a great deal of effort to be heard, and even more to be understood.
Venus in Retrograde
Venus goes Retrograde every 18 months. As Venus’ symbol is a mirror, here we see the negative forms of reflection. This is Aphrodite Ποθων Μητηρ, the Mother of Desires. As a good Buddhist or Psychoanalyst knows, desires are impossible to satisfy. The desires of Venus Retrograde are impossible, they yearn for an ex, for a Prince Charming that cannot exist, and for a long dead lover.
We can see Venus Retrograde in Narcissus as well, love turned in on itself, falling into the reflection, into the fantasy. This is a love and creativity that is extremely difficult to express, the real thing is never as good as the perfect vision.