I remember the last Ukrainian successful offensive against russian invasion happened on September 2022 and that was retro-Mercury time.

The ongoing Ukrainian surprising offensive into russian territory in Kursk region started again exactly when Mercury turned into backward motion and situation similar - Mercury will come back to previous sign of Leo.

That's strange phenomena, nothing previously noticed so positive about retro-Mercury time.

The only way to relate retro Mercury time to this situation I see is that the initial plans for offensive in reality went not as expected by early detailed planning of operations. But miraculously the outcome during September 2022 Ukrainian offensive came much better than planned and initial aiming to push russians further from Kharkiv city, just enough to keep them at greater distance that 20 miles, to prevent using army artillery to ruin the buildings and infrastructure.
Instead, the enemy defense came up so unprepared and crumbled after surprising attack that Ukrainians liberated around 1000 square kilometers of their territory, making russian regiments literally fleeing.

In current offensive situation when Ukrainian forces dared to attack original russian territory to prevent their poorly prepared attack at Sumy region, most likely there are so called plana A and B and maybe C.

So the A was probably just to counterattack russians preventing their looming intrusion at new directions.

The B might be to seize enough russian territory to make their forces who invaded a month ago at neighboring Kharkiv region to withdraw and defend own territory instead.

The C plan might be highly depending on how poorly russians react and how many mistakes they make to allow Ukrainian army to seize maximum possible territory for further negotiation of piece agreement to stop the war with returning back Ukrainian territory within 1991 year borders in exchange for new occupied russian territory.

So far not at all bad, Mercury moved back to fixed sign of Leo and while incursion keeps expanding the Ukrainian army stabilizing their presence with even establishing local military administration...

That's strange, I just red the opposite. But that’s war, propaganda is all around! Maybe this signifies the retrograde Mercury.

Situation even worsening for russians, the area around 700 sq. km becoming a fully blocked for their forces to retreat, danger of full encirclement because of all bridges destroyed by Ukrainian forces and russians squeezed between the Ukrainian territory and Seym river.

But Putin is in denial, not even declared incursion of enemies' regular forces, doesn't want to move forces from occupied Donbass to repel Ukrainian regiments.

So, what do we have now - Mercury turns direct, and Ukrainian army started new intrusion in to neighboring Belgorod region of russia.
Perhaps will be no less successful but with more clear objectives and straightforwardness in planning operations...

At least yesterday president Zelenskiy declared that Ukraine doesn't have intentions to seize territory forever but rather to create buffer zone to prevent shelling of Ukrainian cities until further peaceful agreements achieved.

Aren't planets supposed to be stronger retrograde so in Mercury's case more 'mercurial' and therefore not surprisingly many unpredictable movements are made in this period.

Greg Young wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2024 12:48 pm Aren't planets supposed to be stronger retrograde so in Mercury's case more 'mercurial' and therefore not surprisingly many unpredictable movements are made in this period.

Well, regarding traditional astrology, all retrograde condition not adding any positive to planet's quality, even I met birth charts analysis with Jupiter retrograde natal pointing at some problems.

In modern 20th century astrology there are a lot of "inventions" with describing retro Mercury deeper and stronger, even in scientist's birth charts .

Meanwhile, on direct Mercury in own Virgo sign russians somehow accumulated forces and conducted counterattack at September 10th which their military bloggers rushed to announce as extremely successful, as of now lost momentum and Ukrainians keep advancing and even managed to create potentially two encirclements pockets for around 8 thousand russisn troops total.
I think geographically Ukrainian offensive was planned extremely wisely, creating potential for achieving success with less troops and making opposite side very vulnerable..
In addition to that russian propaganda and Putin himself still being in denial, like "can't believe Ukrainian dared to do that", calling it terrorist's incursion, not even giving scale of full military operation - which hindering them to make adequate countermeasures.

Yuriy wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2024 1:26 am I remember the last Ukrainian successful offensive against russian invasion happened on September 2022 and that was retro-Mercury time.

The ongoing Ukrainian surprising offensive into russian territory in Kursk region started again exactly when Mercury turned into backward motion and situation similar - Mercury will come back to previous sign of Leo.

That's strange phenomena, nothing previously noticed so positive about retro-Mercury time.

Hi Yuri. I think it's interesting that Ukraine's national chart has a retrograde (reversals) Mercury in the 7th house (wars/enemies) that's applying to Venus and Jupiter- while the 7th house ruler (the Moon) applies an opposition to all three planets. In one sense, this could read as Ukraine's luck (the benefics) in battles against its enemies (Moon/7); Jupiter, ruler of the Ukrainian chart's 11th (friends) and 2nd (assets) does a lot of heavy lifting in that setup (three inferior planets apply to it). The retrograde period that just passed would have included a return/repeat of Mercury to that radix zodiacal position and motion... hmm.

thanks jason

your viewpoint makes the most sense to me and something i was considering, but didn't bother to reply here... what chart are you using for ukraine??

https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Nation:_Ukraine

i have two - a 1731 and a 1757 chart.. adb gives 1800 chart... i probably have the details for these 2 charts i am using if you are interested..

as it happens this date for ukraines national chart has both mercury and venus retro..

it seems like ( kursk invasion) this was a good publicity campaign which has gone into reverse since mercury went direct...

as a side note, i see a very dangerous time for zelensky just before the usa elections in early november... the mars- sun opposition in his chart is overlaid with a mars-pluto opposition which speaks of a potentially dangerous time for him.. he is already way past his mandate as president of ukraine which expired this past may 2024.. he is between a rock and a hard place... maybe it is too late for him to move to his condo in florida.. we'll see..

james_m wrote: Wed Sep 18, 2024 4:50 pm thanks jason

your viewpoint makes the most sense to me and something i was considering, but didn't bother to reply here... what chart are you using for ukraine??

https://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Nation:_Ukraine

i have two - a 1731 and a 1757 chart.. adb gives 1800 chart... i probably have the details for these 2 charts i am using if you are interested..

as it happens this date for ukraines national chart has both mercury and venus retro..

it seems like ( kursk invasion) this was a good publicity campaign which has gone into reverse since mercury went direct...

as a side note, i see a very dangerous time for zelensky just before the usa elections in early november... the mars- sun opposition in his chart is overlaid with a mars-pluto opposition which speaks of a potentially dangerous time for him.. he is already way past his mandate as president of ukraine which expired this past may 2024.. he is between a rock and a hard place... maybe it is too late for him to move to his condo in florida.. we'll see..

Hiya james,

I was using the Astrodatabank chart for '91 (Kiev, 6:00 PM). I shared a link in the post:

Jason wrote:I think it's interesting that Ukraine's national chart

The underlined, bold wording is a link. Surprise! In case you didn't you know... ;)

I haven't looked much at Zelensky's chart or formed much of an opinion as to what is going on over there lately. I've been on a bit of an internet and news diet. An astrology diet too. Justy happened to wander on over here and read Yuriy's post and I had a few minutes so I looked at the chart and rambled off the top of my head (hence, the edit I had to make for grammar). If I get around to looking at things more deeply I'll come share what I think then.

Good to see you!

Yuriy wrote: Tue Sep 17, 2024 4:44 pm

Greg Young wrote: Mon Sep 09, 2024 12:48 pm Aren't planets supposed to be stronger retrograde so in Mercury's case more 'mercurial' and therefore not surprisingly many unpredictable movements are made in this period.

Well, regarding traditional astrology, all retrograde condition not adding any positive to planet's quality, even I met birth charts analysis with Jupiter retrograde natal pointing at some problems.

In modern 20th century astrology there are a lot of "inventions" with describing retro Mercury deeper and stronger, even in scientist's birth charts .

I was thinking more in terms of Indian astrology which seems to view retrogrades in a different light. In fact this view may well be older than that for traditional astrology. One for Martin Gansten maybe?