Mercury Conjunct Venus: Family First

Throughout each month transiting points create dynamic relationships with your natal chart.  Often times two transiting points will create a dynamic exchange that affects us all in particular ways related to the points involved.  Sometimes energies merge together when two points occupy the same degree within the same sign; other times they try to strike a balance, as they will when they are 180 degrees apart and opposing one another. 

There can be flowing energy when two points are at the same degree but in different signs with the same element (like one point in fiery Aries and the other in fiery Leo) or when they are at the same degree in different signs where the elements complement each other (like one point in fiery Aries and the other in airy Gemini).  The most dynamic and challenging relationship between points occurs when two points end up at the same degree in signs with elements that do not mesh together (one point in earthy Taurus and the other in fiery Leo).

This article will look at one of these dynamics happening between two points this month, Mercury in Cancer merged with Venus in Cancer.

The Conjunction, and Mercury and Venus

This month, when the faster moving Mercury reaches 26 degrees 13 minutes (26d13m) of Cancer, it will be exactly merged with Venus at 8:26 pm EST.  This will happen while Mercury is retrograde, not direct.  This 0-degree angle between the two points is called a conjunction. The angular relationship between two points is known as an aspect.  The impact of this relationship begins to be felt up to 3 degrees before and 3 degrees after the exact aspect and is known as the orb of influence.  When the faster moving body approaches, the aspect is said to be approaching and is building energy.  Once the exact aspect has passed, the aspect is said to be separating and is losing energy.  The duration of this particular aspect will run from July 22 to July 26.

Mercury represents our need to communicate, learn, and gather information.  Where Mercury resides in your chart reveals the nature of your communication style, your “lens” of interpretation, and the “nature” of your mind.  My Mercury is in Aries, so I tend to be very direct communicating with others and prefer them to be direct with me. I am often thinking, “get to the point” when talking with certain people.  Mercury works well in this sign since its airy nature (ruler of Gemini) has a fiery fuel source (Aries).  With Mercury moving through Cancer at this time, we should want to connect with the people closest to us (Cancer rules the 4^th House of Family).  Cancer is a water sign, warm healing water specifically, and water signs reflect our emotional energy as humans.

Venus represents how we relate to others, feel about our bodies/environment, our attitudes about connecting to people.  Venus rules both our needs, by way of its rulership of the 2^nd House, and our contracts (legal matters) with people in the world around us.  Where Venus resides in your chart reveals the nature of your way of attracting/seeking relationships, and making them work.  My Venus is in Aries, so I prefer to keep my relationships from “restricting” me; I operate best when I feel able to come and go in and out of the relationship dynamic.  At the extreme, this placement can be labeled, “The Hermit”.  With Venus moving through Cancer at this time, we will be attuned to our most personal and emotional relationships, which are not just intimate partners, but anyone that we would consider “family”, including actual family members and the family we choose.

Mercury Conjunct Venus: Tell People How You Feel About Them

The conjunction aspect seeks to merge energy; the points and signs involved need to blend together and work as one.  During the period of this conjunction, the point involving communication and understanding and the point managing our relationships with others will be merging in their journey through Cancer.  This conjunction will be intense because two “personal” points (those inside Saturn) will be in the most personal of signs, Cancer, which is all about the primary caretaker and what you experienced with that person.

Cancer’s nurturing energy wants to be able to be safe and vulnerable with someone, while also acting as protector and safe harbor for others.  Cancer is the classic sign of the mother, or more accurately, the receptive, nurturing emotional energy we all seek and need when we are growing up.  Whether we are in a healthy or unhealthy relationship with members of our family, this energy will push us to want to address and communicate about family matters, long-suppressed emotions (if we have something deeply personal that has not been resolved), and share time with people we truly love and who love us.

The merging in this conjunction is no small matter because of the points involved and the energies of the signs.  Mercury in Cancer can very much present as “I need to tell you how I am feeling and understand how you are feeling” while Venus in Cancer wants to relate through emotions, whether it be worry or joy.  What is “deep inside”, the soft inside of the crab, needs to come out of the shell of protection and defense, to connect at a personal and emotional level.  The high expression of this combination can be tremendous healing for all involved.  Negatively, some very painful revelations may emerge or “come to the surface” and be quite hard to deal with.  Suffice to say, this five-day period could be one of the most emotional you experience this year.  With foreknowledge, hopefully, you can get the most positive results from this transit conjunction.