Sometimes we get caught up in the power of the outer planets, but even a little trickster like Mercury -- planet of communication -- can cause havoc in one's love life, which is traditionally ruled by Venus.

In one's natal chart, the widest possible aspect these planets can make to each other is the sextile, or 60-degree angle, because they both travel so close to the Sun. So the only truly "stressful" aspects they can make are the semi-sextile (30 degrees) and semisquare (45 degrees). However, each planet makes all possible angles to the other via transit.

A flowing combination between Mercury and Venus can manifest as a certain grace or charm in the use of one's words. Language is sweet, or musical, or used in the service of cooperation. What you say can "go down easy." If you have the sextile, you may be more aware of their interplay than if you have the conjunction, because conjoined planets are so unified that you don't see them as separate.

If you have these planets at a 30- or 45-degree angle to each other (plus or minus 2 degrees), they don't work as well together. You may have difficulty communicating your values or desires, essentially making it a challenge to get what you want from others. The manner in which you think and talk conflicts with the the way you attract others. For example, a Scorpio Venus prefers to remain hidden and mysterious, while her Sagittarius Mercury is blunt and outspoken. Or an attention-loving Venus Leo may have trouble flirting once her Virgo Mercury is called to the task.

A transit from Mercury to natal Venus -- or from Venus to natal Mercury -- will be short-lived, only lasting a few days (depending on the orbs you use), unless the transiting planet is aspecting the other three times in the same cycle due to retrograde motion. The general theme of how you talk about what you desire may come up during these transits. During the opposition, a partner may "take on" the role of the transiting planet, voicing a point of view that challenges what you're used to. You may try to find a balance between opposing perspectives during this time, but unless the transit is long (once again, due to the transiting planet's retrograde movement), you may just have a quick argument that finds no immediate resolution.

Comment below: How difficult is it to speak about your desires?

Photo by kalandrakas, under Creative Commons license

Labels: mercury, venus

Mercury apparently moves backwards in the sky three times a year, for about 22 days at a time. During these retrograde phases, miscommunication and delays are par for the course, as this planet rules the transmission of messages, as well as local travel. (I've written about Mercury retrograde -- Valentine's Day style -- at AOL Horoscopes.) This particular retrograde is more relationship-oriented than others, because Mercury is traveling through the two signs of the zodiac that have the most to do with intimate partnership: Libra and Scorpio.

The retrograde started on October 11/12 (depending on your time zone) at 9 Scorpio. It enters Libra on October 23, stations direct (meaning that it apparently stops in the sky to move forward again) on November 1 at 23 Libra, and re-enters Scorpio on November 11.

The styles of Mercury's expression in these two signs could not be more different: gracious and charming versus secretive and probing. However, both Libra and Scorpio are relationship signs: Libra concerns equality in a partnership, and Scorpio governs sexual/emotional intimacy and shared financial resources.

How will this Mercury retrograde affect you?

There is much more to predictive astrology than Sun signs, but that's all I know about you. If you know your rising sign, look to that sign instead of your Sun sign, as these "horoscopes" are based on the solar chart, in which your Sun sign IS the First House. (By 8th, I mean "8th House" and so on.)

(My apologies to the early signs. I got more outrageous as the zodiac progressed, and I'm afraid you got shafted!)

Aries - You have Scorpio on your 8th and Libra on your 7th. In the 8th, expect communication difficulties regarding joint finances and sex. In the 7th, you may misread your partner's expression of their needs in the relationship.

Taurus - You have Scorpio on your 7th and Libra on your 6th. In the 7th, intense discussions about the relationship may dredge up the past. In the 6th, you may try to be gracious with a co-worker but end up inadvertently offending them anyway.

Gemini - You have Scorpio on your 6th and Libra on your 5th. In the 6th, a coworker may bring up past wrongs which lead to a power struggle. In the 5th, your attempts to meet your kids halfway backfires.

Cancer - You have Scorpio on your 5th and Libra on your 4th. In the 5th, all of your kids' resentments come up to the surface and past grievances are expressed. In the 4th, your attempts at peacekeeping on the home front fail miserably.

Leo - You have Scorpio on your 4th and Libra on your 3rd. In the 4th, you dig up child abuse memories and let your mom have it. In the 3rd, you try to make peace with your little sister, and end up only making matters worse.

Virgo - You have Scorpio on your 3rd and Libra on your 2nd. In the 3rd, you and your brother fight over the money your aunt left in her will. In the 2nd, you try to balance your checkbook, but lose all of your Quicken data.

Libra - You have Scorpio on your 2nd and Libra on your 1st. In the 2nd, your talent for intuiting people's secrets mysteriously disappears, and you lose your job as a psychic. In the 1st, your usual charming persona is shattered, as every word that comes out your mouth ends up offending someone.

Scorpio - You have Scorpio on your 1st and Libra on your 12th. In the 1st, your attempt to appear deep and mysterious fails, as you can't even coherently express a negative sentiment. In the 12th, you wake up after a dream of having written the perfect symphony -- and you know it was brilliant! -- but after much scrambling you cannot find a pen, and by the time you do, all is forgotten.

Sagittarius - You have Scorpio on the 12th and Libra on the 11th. 12th: We all know about that secret love affair, but I'm afraid the word is out. You better start packing your bags before you spouse packs them for you. In the 11th, your every attempt to moderate a discussion at the PTA meeting backfires, and all the parents now think you're the bad guy.

Capricorn - You have Scorpio on your 11th and Libra on your 10th. In the 11th, your attempts to become the #1 Mean Girl in your high school clique backfires, thus leaving you eating lunch with the dorks. In the 10th, your kiss-ass behavior at work does not endear you to the boss. In fact, she only loses respect for you.

Aquarius - You have Scorpio on your 10th and Libra on your 9th. In the 10th, your killing spree to become CEO of your company has hit a few snags -- back to the drawing board! In the 9th, you graciously host a foreign exchange student, but end up offending him when you inadvertently insult his mother.

Pisces - You have Scorpio on your 9th and Libra on your 8th. In the 9th, your affair with your dissertation advisor is exposed, and you realize that you can't screw your way to a PhD, after all. 8th: You state you want to share money equally with your spouse, but then he finds an old credit card statement showing you bought $500 shoes. Ouch!

Labels: astrology, mercury, retrograde

Mercury in Scorpio went retrograde today, and I've noticed -- looking back at recent advice questions -- that it's really hard for people to just trust one another at face value. I'm not naive -- I know humans lie and deceive, cheat and manipulate -- but does it serve us to be so self-protective? Nobody wants to be burned, but the fear of being hurt keeps us so isolated!

The planet of communication has been in the sign of secretiveness and power plays since September 27. Mistrust is in the air, and we are all looking at each other with suspicion, wondering about ulterior motives. The danger in this approach is that we overlook the essential goodness and kindness in human beings. We are not only base creatures focused on survival, employing a kill-or-be-killed strategy in finding the perfect mate. There is love in the world.

As Mercury apparently moves backwards in the sky, we can use this opportunity to reflect on past betrayals, and see how the armor we've adorned to shield ourselves also keeps us at arm's length from others. And be sure to remember the positive aspects of Mercury in Scorpio: deep, probing conversations that facilitate a strong emotional bond; the revelation of personal information to help transform ourselves and others.

Sometimes when someone says, "I love you," it means just that.

Labels: astrology, mercury, retrograde, scorpio

Scorp submitted a birth time for the empty Seventh House case study (click chart to view).

You have no planets anywhere near your Seventh House of partnership. All we have to go with is Gemini on your Descendant, or Seventh House cusp. This means that, at the time of your birth, the sign of Gemini was setting on the Western horizon. The sign on the Descendant is always opposite the Rising Sign, which in your case is Sagittarius. Your Rising sign relates to your persona, your physical appearance, how you relate to the world. The sign on the Descendant signifies what you look for in a partner or a partnership. This sign balances out the qualities of your Rising sign.

As a Sag Rising, you are perceived as optimistic, inspiring, a seeker of meaning. Whereas Sagittarius is interested in the Big Ideas, Gemini is attracted to small bits of information. As Sag seeks experiences abroad, Gemini explores the neighborhood. If Sag studies Plato, Gemini reads Page Six.

Gemini is the sign of the Twins. With this sign on the cusp of the Seventh House, you may have two partners, or you may be frequently split in your attentions between two people. As Gemini is a sign known for being superficial or fickle, you may quickly lose interest in a partner, constantly seeking out someone new to stimulate your curiosity. You may also be drawn to Gemini types: writers, journalists, teachers, dexterous people who work with their hands.

For more information on type of person to whom you are attracted, we look at the planet that rules Gemini, Mercury. Your Mercury is in Scorpio at the end of your Tenth House of Career, about 4 degrees shy of the cusp of your Eleventh House of Friends and Groups. You may be drawn to Scorpios like yourself, especially someone involved in associations to which you belong.

Your Mercury is sextile (a 60-degree angle) Jupiter in Virgo in your Ninth House of Travel, Philosophy and Higher Education. This sextile offers a beneficial bridge between these planets of Large (Jupiter) and Small (Mercury), and these planets also happen to be the rulers of your Ascendant (you) and Descendant (your partner). This means there's a good connection based on curiosity and intellectual rapport.

Labels: ascendant, astrology, gemini, jupiter, mercury, sagittarius, seventh house