April 9/10: Mercury in retrograde station in parallel with binary pulsar PSR 1913 + 16 indicates intense, influential relationships and a great boost for our creativity

     Mercury stops for the second time during the year, starting today its movement backwards along the zodiac for a little more than three weeks, until May 4. The retrograde phase of Mercury, although an optical illusion caused by a difference of speed with the Earth, has a strong effect from the astrological point of view, coinciding with difficulties and delays in  communication and daily life. At this point in the age of communication, the general public is well aware of the Mercury retrograde phenomenon, almost as well as the solar sign columns in newspapers and magazines. And while this might be a period of difficulties and alterations in our regular routine, the celestial objects to which it is associated can give us an idea of ​​how to handle it properly, in order to minimize possible conflicts and even take advantage of it.

     At the start of its retrograde phase of April 2017, Mercury is stationed in parallel (at the same distance from the Celestial Equator) as PSR 1913 + 16, a very interesting and relatively little known object. It is the first binary pulsar, discovered in 1974 (it earned the Nobel prize in 1993 to its discoverers). What is a pulsar? It is a neutron star, one of the densest objects in the universe, which is the result of the explosion of a star or supernova. The explosion puts the neutron star rotating at extremely high speed, which in turn generates a giant magnetic field around it: neutron stars have very dominant personalities. Often, these stars emit electromagnetic radiation, mainly in the frequency of radio and gamma rays, and they do so in pulsations (hence the name of pulsar) at very regular intervals. Pulsars are the most accurate clocks in the universe.

     A pulsar, by itself, suggests from the astrological point of view a strong, imposing personality and a great capacity of communication (radio) that in turn can produce strong insights and activate the higher mind (gamma rays). And well, the universe is so immense and so full of possibilities that on many occasions, on their way through the galaxy in which they roam, pulsars meet with other pulsars, and if the encounter is close enough, tehy get trapped in a mutual orbit, hopelessly mixing the power of their magnetic fields. A large number of stars in the universe form binary systems, but individual pulsars are less likely to meet other similar stars and share a mutual orbit.

     These binary pulsars symbolize influential encounters, magnetic and profound interaction, attractions by similarity of character, in which there is deep communication that leaves permanent traces in both members of the relationship. In the case of binary pulsar PSR 1913 + 16, which is in the constellation Aquila, the Eagle, the fate of the relationship is a permanent union: in about 300 million years, the two stars will collide and merge into a single one. Such a meeting is highly influential, and may seem very romantic in a symbolic (and also very real) sense, indicating events and relationships that alter forever the course of our individual existence.

     In this way, the Mercurian station points to this type of relationships and encounters. While not all will end in a literal or symbolic marriage, it does involve significant exchanges, which may alter for better or for worse our personal development - the result will vary on each individual case. If the encounters are too intense, they may last a short time and cause great disturbances. However, meeting people whose ideas or personalities are similar to oneself can result in great self-assertion and creativity. Seeing your personal values reflected in the mirror of another significant person is a certification of your assets, since you feel strengthened in your way of being.

     At its best, this intense identification is a great creative opportunity, and bringing together the good ideas of two people or a the whole team has a greater weight than that of a single person. Cooperation can make circumstances move on, make projects advance and break difficult obstacles, achieving things that one wouldn´t do normally alone. However, n the case of inadequate relationships or unfortunate cases, the effect can be quite destructive, so we must apply some selectivity and maintain common sense. On the collective level, given the destructive tendency of our civilization, this trend points of threatening and devastating associations, but also to the possibility of joining forces to put a stop to the devastating elements of our reality. Union means strength!

     On the other hand, the united effect of Mercury and PSR 1913 + 16 may point not so much to relations, but to different resources that mobilize one another. For example, a good idea that finds the adequate funding to be put into practice, boosting development. Also individually, the motivation of Mercury and PSR 1913 + 16 is very effective if we put to work the different resources within ourselves!

     It might be clear by now that this Mercury retrograde station is not soft or static, but highly energetic and represents in itself an enormous mental and material motivation to implement strategies and boost creativity, be it in pairs, in teams or individually. Be careful though: too much energy can get out of control and cause accidents, serious misunderstandings, and the loss of our original goals. But well managed, it is able to accelerate our progress and transcendence through creative encounters, mixing ideas and resources inside and outside ourselves. The delays normally associated with Mercury retrograde can then become the period of preparation to implement strategies that will make us transcend after May 4th.

Carlos Duarte
Research Astrologer

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