Mercury in Virgo is particular about the details. This is Mercury as analyst. It gathers all of the information, the data points, and crunching the numbers. In Virgo, the sign associated with the stomach and small intestine, Mercury digests, processes, sorts, and separates.
Which part of what you’ve ingested has nutritional value, and which parts are empty calories? What needs to be absorbed, and what needs to be released?
But that analysis can go too far. Too much focus on the weeds distracts us from harvesting the fruit that’s ripe on the trees. We miss the bigger picture: what do you need to retain in order to survive?
Saturn is the planet of structure, limits, restrictions, and boundaries. It separates things. It is a critical taskmaster.
In many ways Saturn has natural affinities with Virgo. Saturn is the planet of time, bringing our awareness to the fact that building things can take a long time. Virgo is future-oriented, planning for the season that lies ahead.
As Mercury comes into an opposition with Saturn retrograde (September 17, 1:47 PM, 28º46’ Virgo/Pisces), it puts Mercury’s analytical nature in tension with Saturn’s critical taskmaster. This can be a recipe for over-thinking, obsessive, hyper-critical behavior.
Mercury in Virgo is aspiring to perfection. When egged on by Saturn’s criticism, that perfectionism can become paralysis. You can get stuck in the weeds instead of focusing on the crop.
Look under the surface. The over-analysis, attempt to control by micro-managing details, and perfectionism are natural reaction to fear and doubt.
When you’re paralyzed with fear, digestion falters. You can’t absorb nutrients. Pisces reminds us to zoom out to the bigger picture.
At its best, Saturn’s limits can contain Mercury’s tendency to overanalyze. Lean into structure. Release the need for control.
Trust the process.
Sometimes good enough is perfect.
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