- January 8, 2021 – March 15, 2021
- Mercury retrograde: January 30, 2021 (26°)
- Mercury direct: February 21, 2021 (11°)
As a transit, Mercury moves so fast that we usually don’t really notice it much – except when it amplifies other aspects, or when it goes retrograde – which will be the case at the end of January. As he will not change signs in between, Mercury will be in Aquarius for an unusually long time.
We can still observe its passage through the different signs, especially by watching what is happening in the outside world, in the sphere of commerce and trade, in politics, in teaching, and all things Mercurian. In Aquarius, Mercury’s ingenuity is on full display.
The tinkerer and scientist
Mercury in Aquarius is inquisitive. Science and technology are his natural domains. He is a tinkerer, interested in how things work and why. He devotes his mental attention not only to the everyday mechanics of the material world but, also to the big question: how did the universe come into being? How does it all work? What are the cosmic laws that govern life? He seeks to understand the nature of things in order to innovate applications that can benefit humanity – or at least a portion thereof.
The devil’s advocate
But Mercury in Aquarius is not only concerned with inanimate objects. He enjoys mental challenges and entertains all kinds of ideas, even contrasting ones, just for the hell of the experiment. As such, he sometimes plays the devil’s advocate, just to see where the train of thoughts will take him and dares to go where no-one has gone before. Innovation, to him, is an adventure in thought.
The social theorist
He is just as interested in politics and social issues as he is in the cosmic laws that govern existence: he is just a likely to read up on the latest developments in quantum physics, string theory, or chaos theory, as he is to study topics like Astrology, system thinking, and social psychology. It is the underlying universal laws and principles that he wants to understand. His tendency is to generalize and thereby misses the more subtle shades of the black to white spectrum. The abstract perspective may fail to connect emotionally with the actual people that represent the focal group of his study or concern.
The entertainer
Mercury in Aquarius is also known for his great sense of humor – witty and ridiculing conventional norms – which, however, at times can backfire.
The non-conformist
But this is a very independently-minded Mercury that does not accept any kind of mental prison nor does he see the point of conformity. He is a free thinker and a free spirit.
Self-Presentation, Persona (1. House)
When Mercury transits an Aquarius first house there is a great desire for social interaction. Mercury, the communicator wants to share his ideas with everyone he meets. He sees debate as a form of mental exercise.
Money, Values (2. House)
Mercury in Aquarius has an altruistic streak. He may well give generously to those who he considers most needy. Trade and business matters may be very much on your mind.
Friends and Kin, Mental Processing (3. House)
In the third house, Mercury in Aquarius tends to have a very active social life – not just in person, but also online! In Aquarius, Mercury is outspoken and makes a case for his chosen cause. Digital communications may come very much to the forefront under this transit.
Home and Family (4. House)
In the fourth house, Mercury is more withdrawn than in other houses. It is a good time to focus communications on the organization of the home and family. Co-ordinating a family schedule can be a challenge, but things tend to work much more smoothly if everybody collaborates and knows their task.
Creativity, Children (5. House)
In the house of self-expression, Mercury in Aquarius can have a great time playfully exploring the far reaches of the mind. This transit can also be quite prankish – Mercury has fun teasing others and pulling their legs. Not all social contexts appreciate this kind of entertainment.
Health, Work, Service (6. House)
At work, Mercury in Aquarius is easy going and normally excellent at collaborative tasks. Thanks to modern technology and digitalization, he takes the ‘working from home’ challenges of our times in his stride. But don’t forget to ‘unplug’ from time to time to avoid digital overload.
Partnership, Relationship (7. House)
Aquarius in the seventh house can be quite detached, coming across as emotionally cold. It certainly is not a gushy configuration, but Mercury transiting through this house at least can help to keep communication channels clear, honest and open.
Shared Assets, Inner Resources (8. House)
When Mercury transits an Aquarius eighth house there can be an urge to grapple with metaphysical questions. Aquarius tends to see the world in terms of universals and systems, so Mercury here is quite inclined to take a look ‘beyond the veil’ via a symbolic system such as Astrology.
Travel, Study (9. House)
Mercury loves to travel, no matter which sign it is in. However, under the current circumstances travel is not an easily realizable option. Armchair travel could offer some respite, especially using digital means to explore far-flung destinations. Or how about learning something new online?
Career, Status (10. House)
Mercury in the tenth house favors communications on all levels, whether in teamwork, outreach, or marketing. It is a good transit for exploring novel strategies and technologies, as well as social media outreach.
Community, In-Group (11. House)
When Mercury passes through an Aquarius eleventh house you may feel inspired to join an interest group of like-minded people – perhaps even online.
Spirituality, Transcendence (12. House)
A Mercury transit through the twelfth house is often a bit more withdrawn and not as outspoken as in other houses. In Aquarius, Mercury is likely to explore ‘aquarian’ ideas, in groups or even in solitude.
