The sun enters Scorpio on October 23, marking the official start to Scorpio season. The sun joins Mars, the ruler of Scorpio, and Mercury, which just entered the sign of the scorpion the day before.
Mercury will be in Scorpio through November 9, 2023.
What does this mean for the planet of communications?
It’s a notable change from Mercury in Libra. In Libra, Mercury encourages us to have pleasant chit-chat. In Scorpio, things can take a darker turn.
Scorpio is a fixed water sign that is all about depth.
Mercury in Scorpio Signatures
Mercury in Scorpio is probing. It asks deeper questions and digs under the surface of things to get to the root of an issue.
It can be great for research and deep inner work.
On the flip side, Mercury in Scorpio reminds us that our words can be potent weapons of pain and destruction.
Words can cut, stab, sting, and wound. They can hit deep.
The next week brings focus to the potential harm our words can cause as Mercury approaches a conjunction with Mars in Scorpio, at the same time that we are approaching an eclipse.
This is a great time to focus on intentional communications.
Here are 5 tips for communicating more consciously during Mercury’s transit through Scorpio and at any time of the year.
5 Communication Tip for Mercury in Scorpio
(1) Pause Before You Publish
The heat of a charged moment or can be a catalyst that unlocks a flood of thoughts and emotions. Those charged moments can often be helpful to writing down things you’ve been struggling to articulate.
If it helps you get the words out, write the thing you want to write, but pause before you publish that essay or social media post or hit send on that email.
Anytime you write something in the heat of the moment, give it a day to rest. Come back to it and reread it when you’re not in a charged state. Maybe even pass it by someone neutral for an objective read.
(2) Consider What Really Needs To Be Said
Not everything that runs through your mind needs to be said aloud or shared. It doesn’t all need to be written down for yourself either.
We often think that venting will help us feel better. Disclosing stress is a coping mechanism intended to reduce stress. But studies actually show the opposite. Negative venting can lead to heightened stress levels and physical health issues.
Rehashing a stressful story or going on with a litany of complaints keeps us in the toxic energy of anger and frustration, or in the trauma of a situation. It also impacts the stress levels and health of the listener.
(3) Consider the Impact of Your Words and Tone
In the heat of an argument we often feel triggered to say things that end up being hurtful.
Even if what you write is true, and even if it needs to be said, consider whether you can say it in a way that is more gentle and kind.
This goes double for spoken words.
Often, we backtrack by saying “I didn’t mean what I said.”
In fact, most of the time we did mean it, we just didn’t mean to say it in the way we said it.
When we are overcome with emotion, we often say what we’ve been stuffing beneath the surface, but it doesn’t come out in a way that is constructive.
Let a pause and a deep breath bring you back to your center, and if necessary, show the strength of character to walk away, before you say something you may regret.
(4) Create a Safe Space Before Speaking Harsh Truths
Often the hardest truths to hear sting the most in the moment.
If you are speaking truth to someone out of love, and in service to their greater good, you want them to be able to receive what you are saying.
When people feel attacked or unsafe they tune out what you’re saying. This isn’t necessarily intentional.
When the nervous system feels unsafe, it puts on metaphorical “fear muffs”, which cause us to literally stop hearing.
If you want to ensure your message gets through, your first step must be to create safety for the other person.
(5) Listen Beneath the Words
The most effective form of communication is listening. Don’t underestimate the power of holding space for someone else and truly hearing them.
Listen carefully to the words people use. Notice the choices they make when speaking. Words have specific meanings and we communicate volumes through our word choice.
Also remember that words are only a small fraction of how we communicate.
Much of what people say is communicated through tone, cadence, body language, and pacing.
True listening is more than “hearing.” It’s a full-body and multi-sensory experience.
Listen to what is being said that isn’t being spoken through words.
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