newsletter archive: mercury on a hot tin roof

Sent: November 10 2025

It’s pretty well known at this point that I am actually a Mercury retrograde apologist. 

I have really grown to adore these transits because they almost always bring upgrades. When you understand that your perspective is responsible for your reality and when you’re mentally prepared for the delay that the metaphorical software update brings, it’s hard to hate these little pockets of time. I also don’t really consider Mercury retrograde to be only three weeks long. Mercury writes us a beginning, middle, and end– the retrograde itself is just that crunchy middle part where confusion and switch ups are most prevalent. The story doesn’t make as much sense without considering what happened before the retrograde during its pre-shadow transit and what happens afterwards in the integration period during its post-shadow transit; this is a planet of context. All retrogrades work this way, Mercury is just the easiest to observe because of how quickly it moves and how fresh in our minds it is as a result. 

Consider the questions and foreshadowing events that have already happened between October 20th and November 8th, these will be reprocessed and transformed from November 9th-29th during Mercury’s retrograde, then integration and clarity is finally actionable in the post-shadow from November 30th- December 16th. It’s wise to move slower during this cycle, to think before you speak, to ask hard questions, and to find flexibility among the confusion. 

On Mars-Saturn: Expansion often means that old behavioral patterns and ways of thinking have to be challenged first, this is part of Mercury in Jupiter’s sign where it will spend half of its retrograde. There’s a sense of wanting to act in line with older scripts but especially over the last few years, consequences have been met for doing this. This is the third year in a row that we’ve had Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius and the last year that we’ll have it for a while, the next Mercury rx in this sign won’t happen again until 2030. Symbolically, it makes sense that Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius has coincided with the last 3 years of the Saturn in Pisces transit as these signs square each other within their shared mutable modality. Mercury works to change perspective while Saturn works to lay foundations that withstand the test of time, it’s clear that Mercury has been at the disposal of Saturn’s mission and this year is the final test. It’s under this kind of pressure where we find out what beliefs truly drive us and whether or not we’re devoted to our growth or to our fears. 

2023 is very relevant to 2025, we've seen this at several points in the year (particularly in August) but it's coming up again as Mars transits Sagittarius working towards a square to Saturn in Pisces. This aspect will perfect on December 8th during Mercury's post shadow, and even while that exact square is a month away, it's a culmination of the review that is occurring now. We last saw that Mars-Saturn square at the very beginning of these signs around Thanksgiving 2023 where we saw a "stress test" of belief, endurance, and capability. It's possible that something cracked under pressure at that time, maybe adjustments had to be made, or it became clear that the end of the rope was in sight and a directional shift became imperative. Mars-Saturn is uncomfortable and can bring a power struggle between active force vs. stuck limitation. 

We're building to something that feels very similar in theme and echoes that scene two years ago, but now there is a higher tolerance level and a wealth of wisdom that didn't exist before. This is one of the final Saturnian tests before it leaves Pisces, a test to endure the pressure that's being applied, even if adjustments need to be made. Sagittarius and Pisces both have a flightiness to them, it's going to be important not to run from these problems or to fall back on what looks "easier"– through Saturn's transit through Pisces, we've likely learned by now that what looks easy or what is objectively easier is not always worth the time and energy. With Saturn moving out of Pisces in February, making it through the obstacles set up for us in November and December can bring beautiful Saturnian gifts that are only obtained through this kind of commitment to the long haul. We're ending a 3 year cycle geared toward trust in the unknown built to defy illusory limitations. 

On Mercury-Mars: Another pivotal part of this retrograde are the conjunctions to Mars along with Mercury’s retrograde back into Scorpio which we haven’t seen since Fall of 2020. When retrogrades are involved, transits typically work in 3s (beginning, middle, end). We had our first Mercury-Mars conjunction in Scorpio on October 20th, the second hit will be on November 12th in Sagittarius, and the third and final hit will be on January 17th in Capricorn. Mercury-Mars can have quite a wide range of symbolism depending on where it hits in a natal chart but one of the most primitive manifestations of combining the planet of communication with the planet of war is heated speech and arguments. 

On October 20th, I literally got into an argument with someone during the first Mercury-Mars hit (perhaps you did too) but it’s important to look beyond the argument or frustration itself and into the motivations, the defensive strategies, as well as the patterns of behavior that show up as a result of an established mindset. This is where the real meat of the transit is; this argument helped me understand that what was manifesting as anger at someone else was actually a pattern of my own that needed examination. The two hits to follow will continue this story somehow, keeping the underlying symbolism in mind is important as it may not manifest through the same person or scenario, but whatever arises will be deeply connected in theme nonetheless. Look back to that week to see what surfaced, you may be able to track your own story. 

Mercury-Mars of course can be about words aligning (or not aligning) with actions, arguments, defensiveness, motivation and gaining insight into why we do the things we do, but it can also indicate an inflammatory health issue that needs to be addressed over a longer period, particularly one that needs more information or more effort applied for healing. Mercury and Mars together can additionally indicate theft– astrologers are waiting with bated breath to hear more about the Louvre heist as this took place during the first hit! It’s a time where more information is required to make the changes that need to be made and this transit is doubly significant as it all culminates in the Mars cazimi (the Sun-Mars conjunction, rebirth of Mars) just before the final Mercury-Mars conjunction. 

The Rebirth of Mars

A Mars cazimi occurs about every 2 years and begins a new cycle of motivation and activity somewhere in the chart. The last Mars cazimi perfected in November 2023 in Scorpio where Mars is “home” in its domicile. Scorpio is a sign that hits on our survival needs which can open up a Pandora's box of debt, power dynamics, trust, jealousy, envy, autonomy, and our intimate psychological inner workings all for the purpose of transformation. When the Sun conjoins a planet, it “rebirths” its planetary identity and with Mars especially, it brings forth a kind of “hero’s journey” to discover how we can personally & collectively relate to that sign and house. The seed planted at the cazimi point starts as an initial push in some direction and grows over the two years to show us the range between a correctly used Mars (passion, inspired action, stamina, productive change) as well as an incorrectly used Mars (burn out, frustration, injury, struggle). Wherever the cazimi hits the chart is where some kind of active and alchemical process is slowly occurring, the two years in hindsight is not unlike a martial arts training montage. The cazimi is where the raw ingredients are thrust into the frying pan, hopefully creating a successful meal by the end of the process.

Since Mercury will dip back into Scorpio from Sagittarius and is influenced by Mars, you may notice the culmination of this Mars journey that began two years ago in 2023. I know that the Mars cazimi might seem like very future lore since we still have two months before the next rebirth, but Mercury retrograde aids in this review of how far you’ve actually come, adjusting whatever skills still need honing but ultimately, the purification is completing itself and we’re gaining powerful insight into why it all happened the way it did.

Here is what you’ll likely be reviewing in the Scorpio sector this retrograde and what is being harvested now after this 2 year journey based on your rising sign– keep in mind that Mercury doesn't officially move back into Scorpio until November 18th but we're still under quite a bit of Scorpio influence atm.

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Mars Cazimi & Mercury rx in Scorpio review:

Aries Rising: 8th House

An audit of trust, intimacy, and shared resources. Power dynamics and emotional debts came due

Taurus Rising: 7th House

Your alliances underwent a stress test. Partnerships demanded raw honesty or strategic endings

Gemini Rising: 6th House

Work, health, and routine became crucibles for discipline. You learned the cost of scattered effort

Cancer Rising: 5th House

Creative fire, childhood reminiscing, & romantic intensity revived the artist-warrior within you. Pleasure demanded purpose

Leo Rising: 4th House

Family and origin wounds resurfaced for purification. The reforging of emotional foundations

Virgo Rising: 3rd House

Your mind became a weapon and a wand. You learned precision of communication and to move through familiar environments with new strategy

Libra Rising: 2nd House

A reevaluation of value and money: you redefined what’s truly worth your time & energy

Scorpio Rising: 1st House

A rebirth of identity and body. You molted old skin and rediscovered primal agency

Sagittarius Rising: 12th House

Hidden drives and buried anger surfaced. You confronted subconscious sabotage

Capricorn Rising: 11th House

Group work demanded authority. You separated authentic allies from surface networks

Aquarius Rising: 10th House

Ambition intensified. You reclaimed control of your public narrative and carved out what you’d like to be known for

Pisces Rising: 9th House

Your beliefs and big picture visions were forged through crisis. You learned conviction through pressure and foreign confrontations

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Mars cazimi in Capricorn horoscopes:

While we’re not quite to the next Mars cazimi just yet, it might be something to keep in mind for the upcoming transit in January and during the build of these Mercury-Mars conjunctions. Here’s what the next thing seeding itself based on your rising sign:

Our collective theme: Construction, discipline, tangible mastery. What are you building?

Aries Rising: 10th House

Strategic ascent. Career and legacy demand calculated strength, not impulsive conquest

Taurus Rising: 9th House

Purpose gets pragmatic. Study, travel, and philosophy become instruments of status and reach

Gemini Rising: 8th House

Wealth through alliance and precision planning. Building stability and intimacy through strategy that stands the test of time

Cancer Rising: 7th House

Contracts, marriages, and rivalries call for boundaries of granite. Power must be shared wisely

Leo Rising: 6th House

Efficiency becomes your battlefield. Health and service turn to metrics of success– remember that health is wealth

Virgo Rising: 5th House

Discipline refines your art, pleasure demands purpose, romantic ties test ambition

Libra Rising: 4th House

Build emotional architecture that endures. Home becomes both fortress and workshop

Scorpio Rising: 3rd House

Learning things that will stand the test of time. You’ll wield intellect as a scalpel for influence and learn to move through familiar streets with new authority

Sagittarius Rising: 2nd House

Sober financial construction. You’re laying the groundwork for long-term self-reliance, finding inner stability above all

Capricorn Rising: 1st House

Self-command incarnate. You’ll learn how to wield your body and natural authority through discipline and devotion

Aquarius Rising: 12th House

The invisible fight: conquering internal chaos through confrontation with your subconscious limitations. You’re remapping what responsibility looks like

Pisces Rising: 11th House

Ambition through networks. Build alliances that honor integrity over popularity

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This Week's Mood Board

Your friendly neighborhood astrologer,

Katie