Tag: Mercury Retrograde

Ground & Chill

~ EmpwrdDstny ~ Leave a comment

It’s the kickoff to yet another Mercury Retrograde, and if you read my August newsletter then you know the importance of pausing to breathe, performing frequent audits of our own headspace, and re-calibrating in order to to gain mental equilibrium this month!

This particular Mercury Retrograde made quite an impact before it even started via late July’s global technology outage, which occurred just after this planet entered its upcoming retrograde path.  Today, with Mercury’s official move into “Reverse” gear, we have the Japanese Nikkei index in meltdown mode; triggering global economic worries and affecting stock markets worldwide.  Breathe, and remember it’s a “Not today, Satan”  kind of day retrograde – we’re not going to fall into the trap of fretting about things we can’t control and will instead direct helpful, productive energy toward grounding & collecting ourselves.  Let’s redirect focus in the direction of finding solutions for the things we *can* control; our headspace being one thing!

With the renewed grounding of our minds, perhaps we’ll even find that we have a little leftover energy for being helpful to others if/when they’re feeling jittery.  If we’re so inclined, this is best accomplished through hearing & validating their concerns yet also utilizing a soft touch that lets them know we’re here for them while doing our best to ease their minds with balanced considerations.  It’s a bit like being a “Chicken (Little) Whisperer” – when everyone is afraid and thinks the sky is falling, be the small, serene angel on their shoulders that reminds them it’s probably not as bad as it seems right now if they just take a “Time out” and breathe for a second.  Remember what I said  in this month’s newsletter: In August, we’ll find we actually *can* think our way out of predicaments.  Make an effort to foster & keep positive mental space and use affirming (self?) talk that will serve as a reminder for how we’ve figured our way out of tough spots before and can do it again. Rather than allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by a problem, let’s focus on solutions.

08/05/2024

A “Knives Out” Mercury Retrograde

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We have just kicked off yet another Mercury Retrograde, and this one sure is comin’ in HOT!  It’s an unusually aggro Rx with the Messenger Planet irritated by a frustrating back-and-forth grind in Aries; like trying to mash the gas pedal with the E-brake still on!  Mercury is all hotted up with basically nowhere to go and as this planet stomps around The Ram’s pen peevishly, The Trickster liable to take it out on us in decidedly “Not Funny” ways – here are a half-dozen quick tips for minimizing this retrograde’s potential edge:

  • SLOW DOWN; particularly on the road.  Haste is NOT our friend under this retrograde; whether we’re talking excess speed while driving or doing an ordinary chore/activity, saying something when we’re angry that we can’t take back, firing off an ill-thought out missive in frustration or irritation, or leaping to conclusions without clarifying facts. For at least the next few weeks, get in the habit of thinking over what you’re saying two or three times BEFORE you say/type/write it; repetition IS our friend here! Self-audit what you want to say; chances are the first impulse isn’t a good one.
  • Manage anger; BREATHE.  Count to ten.  Anger is natural; in a positive sense, it allows us to champion causes and fight the good fight in standing up for ourselves or others.  But under this retrograde, we’re more likely to become angry about things prematurely; when we’re lacking all the facts or somehow misunderstanding something – few things are worse than misdirected or ill-informed anger!  Self-righteous anger is another Cardinal Sin of this retrograde; just don’t do it, and be willing to admit when you’ve got something twisted because – historically speaking – pride usually comes before the fall.  There’s something we are in the process of identifying/uncovering about ourselves this Mercury Retro that can significantly change/challenge conceptions we’ve had in how we see ourselves and/or our thought process.
  • Identify & differentiate your communication style: There are Aggressive, Assertive, and Passive styles of communicating, and what every single one of us should be striving for is the positive Assertive middle setting where we are able to speak directly to our wants & needs while maintaining full consideration for others’ rights.  In a world filled with vitriolic rhetoric, this is something sorely needed today.
  • The temperature of conversation needs to come down.  Hot topics should be avoided.  This is not about scoring points & winning, but about learning to truly listen.  Hear yourself, and hear each other.  Because two people yelling at each other isn’t going to change anybody’s mind – if it’s clear someone just wants to force their opinion, disconnect from the conversation; let them argue with themselves instead. Remember, you can’t “win” if you don’t play; why play a stupid game for a stupid prize in the first place? 
  •  Both painful AND healing conversations will be had this Mercury Rx.  The first rule of approach should be “Do no harm” – pick words wisely; with care and sensitivity for the wounds they can cause.  Be brave in initiating (not forcing!) discussions about painful subjects for the sake of healing; rehearse what you want to say ahead of time rather than risk potentially stumbling over words on-the-fly,  be direct in stating the goal of mending injuries, ensure engagement in the topic at hand is 100% consensual (if someone doesn’t want to talk, respect this above all else), and address pain points directly; be willing to sit in the hot seat if you have to in order to achieve the stated goal.  To heal pain, we must often brave the fires of anger first; something that serves as a necessary self-protective mechanism when someone has hurt us. Bring a flame-retardant suit, or don’t go there period if you’ve hurt someone badly but can’t take hearing about it – half of healing is in the listening & understanding; the other lies in not repeating the offending behavior.  This Mercury Retrograde – particularly the back end of it – has the feel of verbal bomb-diffusing; where we’ll need a gentle, graceful, and loving conversational healing touch.  An unrefined rough-around-the-edges approach won’t do and is only likely to worsen a relationship due clumsy execution.  Steady yourself; if you’re nervous, best wait for nerves to be soothed and/or the heat of a situation to die down first before proceeding to initiate a dialogue – you don’t want to risk cutting (or crossing, via misunderstanding) the wrong wire and have things blow up in your face. 
  • Lastly, don’t assume; ask questions.  Assumptions are dangerous now; they equate to going off half-cocked, and if you would rather just altogether avoid a scenario in which you’re liable to metaphorically shoot yourself (or someone else) in the foot accidentally, best to mind the impulse to leap to possibly erroneous conclusions.   Put a trigger guard in place by questioning what you think you know or understand; “Am I understanding this correctly?”

In closing, don’t be this guy:

What we’re definitely NOT going for this Mercury Retrograde in Aries is a “Conversational Arsonist” sort of look – avoid more base-level, shit-starting, pot-stirring tendencies, find healthier outlets for anger so it doesn’t come out sideways at the wrong target, and generally just take a chill pill.  Mercury is only retrograde for a few weeks, but it’s a particularly hot & sharp Rx prone to literal and metaphorical “burns” & “cuts” – to avoid finding yourself in a painful scrape with this planet, mind the above as Best Practices; the life you save may be your own. 

04/03/2024

When Mercury Retrograde Hits…

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LOL, a live look at an error message I received when logging in to do some work today – it looks like the Mercury Retrograde gremlins have been let out to play:

We all know the Mercury Retro drill; gadgets get glitchy, software slows down, hardware hiccups, updates may get upended, meetings get mixed-up, tongues (and texts) can get twisted,  anxiety tends to amp up, schedules can get squirrely, public transport plods, and/or your car might get crotchety.  Phew!  This Mercury retrograde seems to be feeling particularly punchy with its proximity to Fixed Star Aldebaran; like it has a forceful point to make.  In recent days leading up to this Rx, I watched the “Nervous Nelly” implications of Mercury turning Retrograde lead to days in which there were both substantial losses on Wall Street – with the Dow losing 1000 points, Nasdaq having its worst day in 2 years, & then the S&P hit its lowest level in a year  – and a crypto crash as Bitcoin dipped below 30K and triggered a wave of panic.  People get skittish when Mercury changes direction; it’s a thing! The world could use a deep, centering breath when Mercury makes moves like this; logic leaves while the limbic Lizard Brain often takes the wheel.

Indecision and vacillation also tend to be more commonplace during Mercury Retrogrades as we rethink things – this is often a good thing, as taking time to mull something over (again) may make us less inclined to act in haste based on faulty information.  We can frequently make wrong assumptions, or frankly just might not have all the facts of a matter whenever this planetary messenger’s motion is a little “off”.  It’s like a bad 90’s talk show; before going off half-cocked, wait for those DNA test results to come in!

For this specific Mercury Retrograde, there seems to be a theme of “severance” in the air; both literal and metaphorical.  Careful around machinery (including cars and household appliances) that you could have an accident (digits or limbs getting caught and cut) with, and be mindful of sharp things in general; Mercury bounces back-and-forth between Fixed Stars Aldebaran – associated with a sword-wielding Archangel Micheal – and Algol in Medusa’s severed head.  In a less literal sense, words can both cut and lead to a cutting off (of communications) with Mercury ping-ponging between these two powerful stars. Do not engage in gossip, and be mindful of what you say and/or write (on yet another Mercury Rx-related note, look at the leaked Supreme Court opinion on overturning Roe v. Wade that happened last week as evidence of this).  So be safe out there, take a big calming breath,  choose words wisely, and avoid distractions when around a sharp or otherwise potentially dangerous object.

05/11/2022

Heeding Good Advice

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When good advice comes to you, are you able to recognize it as such?  On a scale from 1 – 10 (1 = Never, 10 = Always), how often would you say that you listen to the advice of others?   I ask because with Mercury Retrograde incoming a little over a week from now, we should always pay attention to any messages we get more than once.  To wit, I’ll share something that bears repeating – it’s an excerpt from my March 1st newsletter referencing April’s Jupiter/Neptune Conjunction:

“…there is some major hermit energy inherent in this configuration, yet it is coupled with the paradox of there also being simultaneous restlessness regarding isolation. Much like everything else with this alignment, this begs perspective and the necessity of asking ourselves “How much is too much?” in any given context. There is value in self-isolation as a means for mitigating over-sensitivity and for soul-searching to find one’s own truth, though admittedly in recent years we have certainly had a surplus of opportunities for this due to world events. In fact, some are so exhausted by this prolonged “hermit mode” they are desperately wanting to move “onward and upward” regardless of the broader ripple effect this may cause for the world at large and for the course of this pandemic. We can certainly choose not to believe in the pandemic anymore, but unfortunately the pandemic still believes in us or – more specifically – in our ability to keep spreading illness because of this great weariness we have about it. In fact, the astro of this alignment very much cautions against such over-relaxation leading to the spread of increased illness. There is indeed a theme of self-induced harm via over-permissiveness that can generate just such a wake on a bigger scale w/ the conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces. On the macro, there is most definitely a huge lather-rinse-repeat cycle that keeps going on with the premature eagerness to be “over” this virus leading to subsequent surges and more variants of concern emerging that are more, well, concerning than prior iterations.  For the time being, our energy is much better spent on finding ways to relax this restlessness before it balloons into a bigger problem for us.”

See also: The rise of multiple Omicron Covid-19 sub-variants –  BA 2.12.1, BA 4, & BA 5 – that all surfaced in the news right around the time of this conjunction.   I am publishing this excerpt again in the interest of public health because it was good advice then and it’s still good advice now; particularly with Mercury about to backtrack – remember, Mercury is a health planet too.  And in the physical body it governs the lungs & respiratory function (among other things).

05/02/2022

Mercury Retrograde Can Be Tough On Pets

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Pets2I have written about this topic before in my monthly newsletter, but with respect to Mercury Retrograde it is worth paying attention to our pets whenever this planet is due to backtrack/is in “reverse” gear.  Mercury symbolically rules small animals, and when this planet is out-of-sorts so too can be our furry, feathered, or scaly little friends. This isn’t to cause us any undue worry; only to inspire us toward a little extra diligence before and during these cyclical periods in the name of possible prevention.  For example,  Mercury Retrograde could correlate with a health issue potentially surfacing in our pets. They might break their leash or run out of an open house door and thus wind up lost.  Some odd behavior can possibly crop up that – as their caretakers – we have never seen before.  They may chew/swallow/drink/inhale something they shouldn’t.  Dietary problems sometimes occur.  It is therefore a good idea to be extra attentive/attuned to our pets during these periods, keep a good eye on them so they don’t wind up going walkabout on us, monitor their surroundings for potential errant stimuli, avoid giving them new toys without supervision, and stick to their usual routines (including feeding; both timing and type/brand of food) at these times.

06/10/21

The Next Mercury Retrograde Mission, Part 2

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Part 1 here.

There are many potential issues presented by the current Mercury Retrograde due its three square-offs with Neptune in Pisces before, during, and after the retrograde ends.  If you know anything about Neptune, one of the bigger challenges posed by this planet involves its inclination toward (self?)deceptiveness.  When you combine this with Mercury’s influence, multiply by two (or more); even the “little white lies” add up.  Because this is a square and not an opposition we are more likely to encounter this dishonesty within ourselves, but care should still be used when dealing with others during this retrograde nonetheless so that we do not take for granted the other party being upfront/above-board.  Low-vibration Neptune in Pisces tends toward denial of our less-than-savory character traits, but the fact that we all – to a greater or lesser degree – have them is universal to the human experience.  We *all* have “stuff” to work on; the shame lies in lying to ourselves about our faults because then we cannot possibly fix them.

DuplicityWhen Mercury Retrograde makes multiple contacts to Neptune in Pisces like this, it’s a cosmic call to look at character flaws like gossip, double-speak, lying, the spreading of misinformation, duplicity, having poor boundaries around our communications; from TMI to having “loose lips” and spilling secrets, and having disorganized or disordered mentalities about things.  Something is likely “wrong” – and by that, I simply mean non-functional – with the way we have been communicating or thinking.  So-called “magical thinking” can overtake the brain’s logic; mantras, affirmations, and visualizations are not a substitute for doing the work to clean up our messes, nor are they meant to be substitutes for help from a qualified mental healthcare provider.  Weird pseudo-spiritual “rationale” can infect our minds like a thought virus; although a concept may sound spiritual on a superficial level, please water-test it first by breaking down its various components to see if it is truly helpful and healthy or instead may be misguided.  Information tends to exist in a vacuum during this time and it is easier to think that something can be blanket-applied without taking into account our specific situation(s), fail to consider how accurate or sensible it is outside of a small bubble of micro-influence, or neglect to investigate whether or not there is accurate data to back it up. Yes, even if the info being presented is well-intended/meant to be “helpful”! Mercury in Gemini squaring off with Neptune in Pisces is a caution against drinking the “Kool-Aid” in an intellectual sense; it’s likely laced/spiked with something toxic.

Speaking without discernment – or discretion – is a problem during this retrograde.  Gossip, double-talk, the spreading of false or misleading information, speaking negatively about others when we think they are out of earshot, and/or generally having poor boundaries in our communications can ricochet back at us; causing sorrow and suffering for ourselves as well as others.  Divinity sees all of this,  even if we can’t/don’t/won’t admit wrongdoing to ourselves.  Whenever Neptune in Pisces touches something, there is often a certain amount of cowardice involved; what are we running from?

As far as the deceit portion of this energy goes, this is not to trivialize *at all* the suffering of those who have been victimized by it but perhaps one of the things most overlooked about dishonesty is the harm we ultimately wind up doing ourselves whenever we lie.  Consciously or subconsciously, our conscience knows this is not good for the soul; lying/hiding/omitting things damages not only our relationships with others (who will no doubt find us untrustworthy), but it hurts our spirit and the love and reverence that we have for ourselves.  It is hard to feel worthy of goodness when behaving in a way that we ourselves would not like to be treated.

Rather than continue this sad cycle ad infinitum, finding forgiveness for ourselves and redoubling our efforts to make amends by speaking only as we would like to be spoken to can help us to find redemption.  If any of the above have been character defects with which we have struggled, humbly acknowledging this weakness to ourselves while asking Divinity to help remove any fork in our tongue and instead guide us toward channeling our words in a more enlightened manner is the way to go during this retro. Apologizing and atoning via empathy, sensitivity, compassion, utter transparency, and in a way that truly serves the Highest Good of All is the way to approach.  We all make mistakes, but self-deception and the unhealthy behaviors that stem from this is a reversible one if we understand the multiple factors that can cause it and just take it “one day at a time” – recovery is possible.  Apologies matter now, but they do have to be more than just empty words.

06/10/2021

The Next Mercury Retrograde Mission, Part 1

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With Mercury’s recent arrival in Gemini, we are officially gearing down for its next retrograde phase – though the formal kickoff isn’t until the end of the month (May 29th, to be exact), we’re going to want to decelerate a bit and drop into a lower gear now to build some power in order to make it through with minimal disruption.   This Rx is a bit of an agility course; only after we’ve spun around like this multiple times due its repeated contacts to disorienting Neptune:

Dizzy

Perhaps one of the bigger keynotes of this upcoming Mercury Retrograde is: Slow down and check your orientation/heading as a first order.  Wind the gears in your brain DOWN and take a few deep, centering breaths before opening your mouth, answering that email/text, or posting on social media.  Maybe say nothing at all.  Consider taking a mini “communications sabbatical” if it’s not absolutely essential.  I say this because there is a higher than usual likelihood that mindless engagement during this retrograde period can cause us to be the source of our own suffering.  We may have a disorganized or disordered mentality about something and this is hardly the place to be making enlightened conversation from.  “No comment at this time” is a perfectly acceptable response during this upcoming retro. Mindfulness gives us an edge; think twice.  Mindlessness, however, presents a real problem – this is especially so if alcohol or other substances (natural or pharmaceutical) are allowed into the mix; do NOT drink and text/dial, kids!  Checking our orientation/heading may also involve utilizing a combination of intuition and critical thinking to introspectively examine where we may have been misinformed about something; either via our own wishful thinking, being in a state of denial, or perhaps we’ve even been outwardly deceived by someone else.  There’s much more to this Mercury Retrograde of course, but this is a good starting point for now.

05/10/2021

Astrologically Warned

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I wrote the following in January 2020 in reference to the impending Mercury Retrograde in February 2020 (excerpt):

“…Boost your immune system in prep for this retrograde, though – there’s a ‘communicable illness’ side of this Rx that can have us laid up if we’re not good about washing our hands or avoiding exposure to those who fail to cover their mouths when coughing….” 

This was well before hearing of the coronavirus that has since been declared a Public Health Emergency by the WHO in recent weeks.  Astrology is not fear-mongering; the sensible precautions the Art can advise do have the ability to literally save lives in some instances.  Would you rather have the terminally positive reader who tells you what you want to hear; like to go ahead and take that trip to Wuhan, China (“Everything will be awesome, man!”), or would you prefer instead to have an astrologer who tells you to pick different timing for your journey; say maybe not during this Mercury Retrograde?

02/28/2020

Mercury Retrograde Oct/Nov 2019: Reaching Out & Haunting Someone

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It’s almost time for our final Mercury Retrograde of the year, and this one is set to make quite an impression because it’s kicking off in spooky Scorpio *on* Halloween!   In a nutshell, connections we once thought severed may suddenly become reanimated during the next several weeks.  So before we pick up our phone or answer that email/text message for curiosity’s sake, consider what it did to the cat. 🤔🙀  Think twice before resurrecting lines of communication that may have best been left undisturbed, because it’s quite possible to open up a can of worms during this retrograde.  Think of it as if you were contemplating excavating a gravesite – if the thought of what could be uncovered brings up a sense of horror and revulsion, better to let that conversation Rest In Peace.  Don’t let false notions about “closure” suck you in, either – closure is about the peace you make with yourself in the aftermath and nothing more.  Besides, conversations are more likely to be tinged with bitterness or resentment when Mercury is retrograde in Scorpio – old triggers can play on repeat and toxic, dagger-like words may come lashing out with lethal accuracy. One of the better uses for this particular Rx energy is to go over old traumas – preferably talking about them with a trusted, qualified therapist – to see what root operating scripts in our brain need to be overwritten.  Internal exploration of the psyche is favored over reviving long-dead connections that may haunt the mind.  While it is true that healing discussions can also be had, the likelihood of wires getting crossed is high during Mercury Retrograde so the risk makes this a dicey proposition at best; bridges can be burned as quickly as they are mended.

One thing this retrograde will definitely be good for, however, is attuning our psychic antennae to alternate sources of data; everything from picking up on the vibe conveyed in someone’s body language, to reading what’s *not* being said, to getting information from Spirit or via divination tools.  Withdrawing a bit to be alone with our thoughts is favored, and allowing ourselves to exist more in a feeling-state as opposed to a headspace can help us tap into a deep wellspring of insight & illumination.  Listen to or make music – songs may speak to us in code now.  Talk out loud to deceased loved ones and ask for signs of their presence or for their guidance. Perhaps we can petition them to communicate with us via a dream Visitation if they’re having trouble connecting to us on the earthly plane.  As far as dreams go, this is another way we might obtain symbolic information during the next several weeks – keeping a recording app or good old fashioned pen & paper by our bedside to document is a good idea.   And lastly, never underestimate the power of words to bless or to blight. You might even think of a personal Word of Power to chant like a mantra daily during this Mercury Rx – repeat it over and over again as in invocation; an empowering spell.  So mote it be! ✨

10/22/2019

When Mercury Retrograde Starts EARLY!

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🙃 It’s that time of year again; we’re gearing up for our quarterly Mercury Retrograde and this one looks like it’s going to be a doozy!  On a personal level the last week or two seemed populated with minor annoyances like random phone glitchiness, TV quirks, and – more recently – email login wonkiness, but yesterday’s large-scale half day mini-meltdown of multiple social media platforms (FB, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)  had me fully convinced “The Trickster” (that would be Mercury, FYI) was indeed in full effect if there was even a shred of doubt left in my mind.

Many folks are inclined to focus solely on the period that Mercury is actually retrograde (in this particular case, from July 7 – 31, 2019) as the segment of time when wacky things tend to happen with our technology (and oh so much more!), but the weeks before and after the retrograde can be just as funky; usually moreso before as Mercury’s kinks have been mostly  worked out by the time it turns Direct.  This time frame is often referred to as the “shadow”, and it’s a madcap stretch because Mercury is already traversing a patch of the zodiac it will have to cover again in a few weeks or it will have already covered that same spot twice in the last month in a half.  Mercury doesn’t seem too keen on this review/redo, so to keep things interesting it releases a few krakens gremlins because if it has to suffer, we might as well suffer too, LOL – that’s *my* theory, anyway!  😂 Mercury has always been a rather impish figure with a notoriously low threshold for boredom so perhaps it’s just how this planet gets its jollies; by screwing with our phones, gadgets, communications, cars, and whatever else it can get its hot little hands on for ha-has. 

I’m not an astrologer who advocates canceling everything during Mercury Retrograde, but we do need to bear some extra things in mind.  Back up your data prior to the Rx.  Don’t even think about applying non-mandatory software updates or doing something wack like picking now to switch to a different OS.  No, don’t buy a new phone or car and do take extra care with the ones you currently have.  Pick your words more thoughtfully; think twice about what you write or say. Don’t put yourself in the position to have to “sign on the dotted line” if you don’t absolutely have to.  Try to avoid travel if possible, or if not be patient and account for the possibilities of SNAFUs or delays.  And last but not least – and this is coming directly from personal experience – don’t accept or start a job when Mercury is retrograde.

Instead, try and use this period to get caught up on some (re-?)reading. Tweak your nutrition or daily routine.  Have a conversation you need to have again.  Write yourself good old-fashioned memos; preferably on paper (careful with putting them on your phone/computer in case of technology hiccups). Review and revise things.  Pick up the phone and call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while to reconnect (be cautious if this is with an ex or anyone you suspect you might later change your mind about ).  Redo your resume.  Unplug more & make it a point to be more alone with your thoughts so you can hear your inner voice more clearly.  Simplify your schedule and minimize distractions.  Diversions are allowed, but be conscious instead of mindless about them.  De-stress.  Take a trip down Memory Lane and uncover a blast from the past while also appreciating where/who you are now – sometimes it’s nice to dust things off and sit with them for a spell, but not everything/one from the past necessarily has ongoing relevance in *this* era.  Clean and reorganize.  Tend to your mental health.

07/04/2019