Image @digital_errors

As with many traditions and celebrations that appear in our modern age, Halloween holds strong roots to pagan rituals. While the term pagan can make people a bit uncomfortable, it simply refers to cultures and groups of people whose religious beliefs were/are strongly rooted in nature.

Back in the day, Halloween was referred to as Samhain, a word that meant “summer’s end”. For the pagans, October 31st was a day that marked the transition into a long, dark winter. This was a time that required an investment of faith with many questions up in the air regarding survival; will we survive through winter? do we have enough provisions? if a sickness runs through the clan, have we stocked enough healing herbs for cures?

And while faith needed to be strong, ritual was there to assist. On October 31st, pagans lit large bonfires to symbolically stave of the darkness and honour a new year, while curing their harvested meats for the winter. They also left out offerings for spirits and faeries, like the best meats and finest herbs. With October 31st being the darkest day of the year, it meant that spirits have more time on earth and pagans paid tribute accordingly.

The Underworld Veil 

Pagans honoured the crucial moment when October 31st became November 1st (or 1/11), as this is when it it was believed spiritual activity was at its highest. The vibration around the number 111 offers up symbolism surrounding the thin veil between the underworld and the living world. The number 1 in the middle is representative of being stuck between those two worlds. The veil between the living and dead is also thinnest as the sun moves into the sign of Scorpio, where intuition and connection to both the underworld and our shadow selves runs deep. This thin veil is also why we put out carved pumpkins and dress up, in order to confuse and keep away negative spirits that may be out and about.

As the veil thins between the two worlds at this time, spirits and humans alike have easier access to travel to different dimensions, offering a wonderful opportunity for us to connect deep with our shadow selves and find what may be holding us back. This accessible time to spiritual revelation can help open our eyes, letting us know what we need to let die, in order to move forward,  beautifully and with power.

Celebrating Our Deaths 

The alignment with Scorpio season is no coincidence. The energy of the Scorpio is all about celebrating transformation and honouring cycles. Death and rebirth are prominent themes during this time, bringing us to reflect that our lives, like nature, undergo deaths and rebirths frequently.

From a spiritual perspective, we can leverage the opening of this portal between the underworld and the living, and invite connection to our deeper shadow selves, as well as celebrate the deaths we experienced this past year. What old patterns did you let die? What new creations are you ready to birth? Halloween is a time to honour your past self, your past relationships, mindsets and habits and allow them to die. Halloween is a time to let go.

This is when we allow our energy to shift into a new cycle, in tune with nature and with the spirit realm. It is a powerful time to embrace change and move forward into a new journey, a new self.

Happy Halloween!

Image Credit @digital_errors 

Full Moon: October 24th – 26th aka The Hunter’s Moon

Key Words: Evolution, Change, Inner Strength, Self-Worth, Excitement, Personal Power

October’s moon cycle started with the new moon in Libra, with a spotlight on our partnerships and relationships. We moved into this cycle with a period of detoxification, purifying our lives subconsciously through interactions with others. People, situations and objects that no longer serve us are finding a way to remove themselves from our life experience. For example, you may have ended a working relationship or removed yourself from a toxic situation. Or you could have faced and overcome a difficult challenge, stepping into a new understanding of who you are and what you can do. Setting the stage for what’s next…..

It’s Time for a Change

The full moon in Taurus is an exciting time, bringing with it a level of uncertainty. For our ancestors, the October full moon was the Hunter’s Moon. With the Harvest Moon behind us, this is a time when we hunt and gather for the long winter ahead. From an emotional standpoint, you may be feeling anxious while ready to confront challenges ahead. This is prime game time. The stage is set for us to step into our personal power and make claim to what is fully ours. The question is, will you answer the call?

Taurus is an earthly, sensical, stubborn and thick-skinned sign. Channel that bull-like energy to propel you forward into the unknown and stake a claim on what is rightfully yours this full moon. The promotion, the client, the relationship you have been nervous to take to the next level. You deserve fulfillment in all aspects of life. This full moon will highlight what we feel is missing in areas of finance, relationships and material possessions.

If we can leverage this Full Moon energy through concerted action towards our intentions, we will see powerful manifestations unfold.

There Will Be Surprises 

Expect the unexpected. The moon is conjunct Uranus during this full moon, meaning this will be a period of change and uncertainty. The ride will be bumpy, challenging and incredibly exciting. Change is on the horizon and we are called to accept each and every new curve. Not all surprises are bad, although we may feel like it at the time. We will face situations that invite our true selves to rise to the occasion. Will you cower or will you stand strong in your new power like a bull? Leverage the strength and stubborn qualities of the Taurus. Stake unmistakable claim on what is yours. You have been calling this in for a while and now is the time to evolve into the next level of being.

Relationships

Both the Moon and Uranus are opposite Venus at the moment, signalling change in love. Avoid unnecessary tensions and dramas in relationships at the moment, including temptations and experimentations that could lead you astray from your true love. Channel the extra electricity running through your blood into positive sexual experiences, passionate flirtations and beautiful exchanges of body. This is the perfect time to give and receive with a partner, embrace love, sex and pleasure in positive ways that leave you feeling divine.

In Short
Now’s the time, you powerful being. Step into your hunter’s garb and stake claim on who you are and what you are here for; love, pleasure, success and happiness. Stock your shelves for the winter ahead and prepare yourself for the unexpected. A true hunter appreciates the game and can leverage surprises to winning advantage.

Image by @digital_errors

The art of circling has been around for centuries. Traditionally practiced amongst woman, circling is a prominent ritual within our everyday lives, infiltrating the celebrations and gatherings of people of all ages and genders. In fact, many of us circle regularly, whether we realize it or not. However, as more and more women are finding their ways back to their ancestral roots and exploring how we can connect deeper with each other, our bodies and the earth, moon and stars, the art of traditional circling is starting to make a comeback into our monthly practices and routines. It only takes a quick scan of your local Eventbrite listings to see that women are circling regularly in your community. Businesses like Soul Sisterhood  and The Rock Store host regular full moon and new moon circle sessions, and there are hundreds of women in metropolis cities across the country who act as experienced and knowledgeable hosts and guides for these powerful events.

Image from Soul Sisterhood Full Moon in Taurus Eventbrite Listing. 

We spoke with C.N.H.P Reiki, Women’s Creatix and Spiritual Director Natalie Kehren, founder of Holistic World Healing to learn more about the roots of this sacred practice.

How long have women been circling and where do the roots of this practice stem from?

The art of women circling is ancient, and in my opinion, triumphant. There is evidence dating as far back as 800 CE. You can see it’s roots across every culture, old and new. Gathering around fire pits on the May long weekend, to book circles or all the way back to women menstruating in Red Tents. It’s roots rest as long as women have been alive and menstruating. The art of menstruating itself is sacred and believed to be a time of deep, authentic spiritual truth, cleansing & birthing. It is the cleansing of the old to make room for the new. And as women, we are blessed to have the opportunity, supported by universal spiritual energy, to do this every 28 days. It allows us to grow faster, house more healing energy and bring it out into the world through our consistent dying and birthing process. The learning and unlearning. The sharing and the shedding. That itself is true empowerment… it is truth. And it connects us all, each and every woman existing. It amazes me every time I think about it. 

Why do we circle on the New Moon and the Full Moon specifically?

Each moon brings something different as it is connected to the Universal sky and astrological components happening all at once. Yet, the underlying theme remains for each the New Moon and Full Moon— and often, each woman has one that is her favourite between the two.

The moon’s cycle is 28 days- and right now you connecting the dots in your mind that our menstrual cycle is 28 days as well. This is the connection and their is no coincidence about it.

The New Moon is all about cleansing, turning inward to see what needs to be released, transformed and brought to the surface. This is the very time your physical body tends to be menstruating, releasing, detoxifying & transforming- if aligned with the moon’s cycle. (Please do not worry if you do not bleed during the New Moon, your journey is blessed always). This is a strong time for releasing exercises, rituals and supporting the cleansing you and your fellow sisters are going through. It is a deeply intuitive time, therefore you may crave to be indoors and inclined to self-care-which is a great way to help you body, mind & soul through this time.

The Full Moon is all about an increase in energy and the time when your body is ovulating—you are most fertile at this point in your cycle and that is supported through the Moon’s energy. You feel sexually empowered and excited. It is a time for manifestation rituals, affirmations and using this increase in energy to magnetize what you’d like to see in your life, in yourself and in your world. It’s an affirming time. You may also be more social and crave to get out and be around people, or try new things. 

Why is this practice particularly one that is female-focused?

It is female focused because of the 28 day cycle connection. We are so deeply effected by the moon’s cycle. This was recognized long ago, has been and is felt every day.

Do our wombs/cycles play a part in circling?

Yes, absolutely. As we are aware the physical role of the womb is to grow, nurture & birth new human life. This is true in symbolic & energetic methodologies as well. The womb is the centre of our creativity, our intuition, our truth. It is where we hold the historic roots of our past and the past of all women. It burns in pain each month to release trauma and toxic energy living there from this life time, and others. For our souls and the souls of our sisters.

It is the birthplace of new ideas, of creative ventures, of our soul’s truth. It is SO important our wombs are able to be free. That they are expressed, loved, noticed & taken care of. By connecting to our wombs, we can truly move mountains at an unstoppable rate. It’s empowerment backed by universal life force. It’s truly incredible.

We are a force, connecting everything and everyone around us through the connection of our wombs and the 28 day cycle. Supporting and reenforcing our transitions each moon is so very powerful. You may be sitting in a circle in Toronto, Canada yet imagine the other thousands of circles going on around the same time world wide, under one moon.

Do you see now the power of women?

What can someone expect from their first circle experience?

This is always my favourite. I remember my first circle-it was extremely uplifting, supportive and actually, felt like home. Someone can expect to experience a level of support felt from each women in attendance, as well as the moon itself. It sounds crazy, I know- yet it is an energy that is so familiar you will feel it’s embrace and welcome it with open arms.

A circle is typically 1-1.5 hours long and each is different depending on the woman hosting it— which is the beauty of it. You will sit in circle of course, some are more talkative and social, while others can be more intimate and a private space for deep reflection. It depends on the energy of the moon that month and the woman’s lineage/style behind it. Our souls hold the roots of different cultures, therefore, find a circle of women that speaks to you! Keep going until you find the perfect one. Just set that intention and watch it come to life.

Moon Cycle: From October 8th – November 6th 

Full Moon: October 24th 

Keywords: Partnerships, Relationships, Justice, Trust, Faith, Health 

The moon indeed never lies. It’s no surprise that during a particularly disappointing time in the world from a judiciary perspective, we are entering a new moon in Libra, a sign that is represented by the scales of justice. Lady Libra is feeling a little winded at the moment. As with all moon cycles, we are more attuned to the energies of the sign the moon is in and Libras strongly value balance, fairness and justice, compassion and grace. Therefore, if you find yourself feeling  unbalanced, extra-charged, angry and triggered over current particular world (ahem, US-based) events that seem unjust and just appalling, understand that your sense of justice is working in overdrive. Honour your anger but do not let it consume you. Change comes from clarity of vision.

What Do You Believe? 

This new moon in Libra is inviting us to look inside and try to understand where our own moral checks and balances come into play. How strongly do you believe in what you say and how far are you willing to go to stand up for what is right? Be wary, as we are all feeling protective of our beliefs and bodies at the moment. With the new moon square Pluto and Venus in Retrograde, we may find ourselves in situations where we go too far to protect our beliefs, causing unnecessary issues and conflicts. By all means, protect your values, but ensure your approach is graceful, leaving you in the best light.

Women Are Centre

Interestingly enough, this new moon will highlight the rights of women as it is conjunct Ceres and quincunx Neptune. While typically this alignment brings up issues surrounding the rights of women; particularly single parents, it seems as though the rights of women in other matters are highlighted at the moment. Honour that. Take time this moon cycle to extend love, light and positive energy to the women around us; those who raised us, those who comfort us and those who stand up for us.

This is a beautiful moon cycle to circle and connect with your female allies, even if you are male. The energy of the female is strong at the moment and bonding together is a great way to soothe our souls.

A Highlight On Health 

This new moon also puts a spotlight on our health and the concept of detoxification. Whether you need a good cleanse in diet or in your life, we are called to cut everything that stands in our way of being our best selves, including bad habits and toxic people. Any moves we make this new moon to better our health and relationships will go a long way. A large transformation may be on the horizon in terms of our health or relationships, so be proactive and stand up for what’s best for you. Cut out negativity in all its forms and embrace self-love.

Image by

Aziz Acharki
There’s something about fall, isn’t there? This summer had us spinning every which way under an intense heat that invited us to turn inwards and figure out what we are really all about. The work we’ve been putting in, consciously or not, will have ample opportunity to demonstrate its fruits during this beautiful season of harvest and gratitude. As we’re coming off of a restorative and reflective Gibbous moon and Autumn Equinox, we are likely feeling ready to leap into the next phase of our journey with a giant push, driven by our intuition and our passion.

Ignite the Fire of Aries 

What better way to step into this next phase than leveraging the powerful and fiery energy of Aries? The new moon in Virgo helped us clear our closets to make room for what we really want. With a clear mind, our intentions were made apparent to the universe, even if they may still feel a little unclear to us. With the Full Moon in Aries, we are invited to leverage the traits of this fire sign to our benefit and manifest what our hearts desire for 2019.

Follow. Your. Intuition.

An Aries is highly intuitive. While our inner being is always our guiding system, it will be even more accessible to us over the next few days. However, an Aries can also be highly impulsive. So we must take care not to confuse or combine our intuition with impulsivity. There is a difference between acting on our intuition and throwing caution to the wind, due to impatience and impulse. Ensure that you listen carefully to what your intuition reveals to you during this full moon and act accordingly for best results.

While a full moon in Aries can highlight our passions and bring a lively energy to ourselves and our projects, make sure that everything you start with this energy is completed, as Aries’ can tend to leave things mid-way. Don’t let your inner fire sputter and fade, drifting your attention to something else that may not be a good use of your time. It is also important that we tame our fire and passion, channelling it into a creative force of positive good, rather than letting it lead us astray. The fire and passion of a Full moon in Aries is a powerful force, but if it is not channelled appropriately for our benefit, then we risk confrontations that will be emotionally draining or just a plain waste of valuable energy.

With the Full moon in Aries, we are invited to act on the fires within us and make what we want come to life. Listen to your heart, connect with likeminded people, give in to supportive situations that really speak to your inner being. Leverage the passion of this fire sign to call in the goods and get what you want for the new year. Light your torch and let your intuition take lead. Now is the time to get excited!

Autumn/Fall Equinox: September 23rd, 2019

What Is It? When the Southern and Northern Hemispheres experience an equal amount of daylight. In the Northern Hemisphere it marks the beginning of fall, when daylight hours start to shorten until winter Solstice in December.

Key Words: Reflection, change, harvest, gratitude

The spiritual meaning of the fall equinox can be found in the holiday of Mabon, celebrated in Paganism and other faiths that revolve around nature. Mabon marks the middle of the harvest cycle, a time when we are called to reflect upon and recognize the bounty that Mother Earth has brought to us over the past year. This is a time when we express great gratitude for a bountiful harvest and start to stock our pantries for the colder months ahead.

As many of us have transitioned our work from the fields to more modern methods of harvesting and creating bountiful existences, the Autumn equinox can be viewed as a magical time to honour our growth and abundance from a spiritual, professional, financial and relationship perspective. Finding ways to give thanks to yourself for all you have achieved over the past year is an important part of your journey. The more gratitude you give, the more reasons you will find you have to be grateful.

A way to tap into the spirituality of this Autumn equinox is to set aside a dedicated time of reflection and gratitude. Reflect on where you were this time last year in each area of your life that you find relevant; self-love, partnerships, work, etc.  Honour your journey and symbolize your gratitude with the simple lighting of a candle or new addition to your altar, such as a crystal that inspires and speaks your reflective energy. You can even do something a little less woo-woo like place a pumpkin on your doorstep to honour the abundance you have manifested.

Further to, the Autumn equinox is a time when both the days and nights are equal in length, inviting us to recognize what areas in our lives are craving balance. For example, if you have been scurrying away during the harvest season and running yourself a bit ragged, you are invited to surrender to your body’s important need for rest and recovery. These next couple days are a magical time to call balance into your life through self-care and meditation. We happen to love that we are in a resting period of the moon’s cycle (Gibbous) during this equinox, which allows us to pass our trust over to the universe that everything is happening exactly as it should.

Enjoy this Autumn equinox. Rest and prepare for the next phase of your journey.

With the new moon in Virgo it’s time to manifest our the dreams that transmitted into our mind’s eye over the summer into reality. And while manifestation works when we combine powerful intention with concerted action, it never hurts to have a curated collection of items that can lend assistance to you along the way. Every warrior needs the following: a good theme song, the right crystal, the gear and some powerful potions.

The Theme Song: Ready For It? Taylor Swift

Ok, sure it’s about some guy because isn’t it always? But we love the title, the chorus and mainly the question; ARE YOU READY FOR IT? Because this is the season to harvest and to WORK. The energy and sweat equity we put into this moon cycle will work hard for us in the long run, with the potential to reap the benefits into the new year. This isn’t a dreamy moon cycle that calls for too much introspection. We are being tasked with putting our heads down and making shit happen, with caution of course. There’s nothing like a good old Taylor Swift song to remind us of the problems that arise when our egos get out of whack. Plus, it’s poppy and upbeat and will get you moving.

The Crystal: Citrine 

This new moon cycle is all about manifestation, success, and opportunities. Citrine is the stone of powerful manifestation. The high frequency of this stone stimulates our sacral and solar plexus chakras, both of which are connected to our joy, our power, our will and our abilities to move forward with control. Keeping citrine close to us this season will stimulate our focus and act as a reminder of our intentions and what it takes to make our dreams happen. See here for more on citrine. For a grounding effect, choose raw citrine points as featured below (available at most gem stores, the below are from The Rock Store). When you hold a piece of raw citrine in your hand, the feeling of textured edges can help ground you, rooting you in your work and cause.

The Gear:

We would suggest putting heels aside for harvest and indulging in practicality with style (and with no animal DNA, obviously). We’re loving the geometrical cut of the DRE shoe from Matt and Nat. Dress em up, dress em down or wear em into boardroom battle.

The Potion: 

Our potion of choice is the Energy Booster vitamin from Well Told Health. Made with all natural ingredients including Organic Rhodiola Rosea, Organic Matcha Tea, Organic Beets and Organic Maca, you can give your body the extra boost it needs to get stuff done without the crash and burn or any pesky jitters.

Sending love and energy during this new moon in Virgo. Make it happen. Namaste.

Moon Cycle: From September 9th – October 7th

Full Moon: September 24th 

Keywords: Harvest, Practicality, Health, Self-Care, Simplification, Integrity, Opportunity, Success, Flexibility

This Sunday, we are welcoming the new moon in Virgo. While this new cycle puts a final stamp on the summer, many of us may find ourselves looking toward the next phase in our journeys with a certain wisdom and newfound understanding of ourselves. This summer, it seemed as though the universe did everything in its cosmic powers to give us the tools we needed to go deep within ourselves, and to help us come out of the heat and confusion with a bit more clarity about who we are and what we want. It’s only natural that we are now passed on to the practical and meticulous hands of Virgo to help us sift through what was uncovered and go into the next phase with a bit more insight as to who we want to be.

Virgo invites us to find our deepest and purest emotions to help us set truthful intentions for this next phase. Essentially, we will uncover our own secrets, if they have not been revealed to us already this summer. Virgo helps us determine who we are and what we want to call in to our experience, as well as shows us everything we no longer need. This practical new moon, we are called to unapologetically cut out everything that is keeping us from being our best selves. This can mean old habits and negative thought-patterns or even people who are dragging you down.

Harvest for 2019

The new moon in Virgo is when we harvest opportunities and work to translate them in to future successes and triumphs. In fact, opportunities will be abundant during this time. The various angles of this new moon in relation to Jupiter and Pluto mean that we are open to good luck as well as opportunities for happiness and success. Good fortune is on its way, and it is up to us to sift through the noise and time-wasters that won’t serve you. Because opportunities will be coming at you in more abundance, it will be important to tap into the practical nature of Virgo to determine what is a real opportunity and what isn’t a good use of your valuable energy and resources.

Neptune’s a Bitch 

That said, beware of any feelings of insecurity or discouragement. This new moon is opposite Neptune which means we may face challenges dealing with feelings of competition or assertive people. These feelings may put our ego on overdrive and have us puffing out our chests to show who we are and what we can do. Don’t give in to the games of others. If you are focusing on them, you cannot focus on your own path. Remember, the universe is effecting everyone the same way. Expect other people to be hustling to achieve their own goals. Let them move in their own lives. Cheer on the success of your competitors. There is enough success and abundance for everyone and their success can’t effect yours.  .

And Finally, Self-Care 

Nourish your body, your sacred temple this moon cycle. Life will be picking up pace after a dozy summer, but that’s no reason to let your self-care rituals slide. Make time for yoga, for sleep, for washing your face and making a cup of herbal tea. Make time to meditate, to sit and do nothing and to rest. Your body is your earthly vehicle to create the experiences you want. The new moon in Virgo reminds us to honour our health and peace of mind.

The full moon will be in Pisces this Sunday, and we’re so ready to hand ourselves over to this ever-dreamy but determined and driven sign. It is no surprise that some of us are feeling a little spun out and weak at the knees after this summer’s whirlwind of retrograde activity, eclipses and super moons and blood moons, oh my. This summer, the cosmos called us to reflect and face ourselves directly, to go deep inside and allow whatever comes up to be acknowledged and recognized. We were given support from the universe to let go of everything that doesn’t serve us, as well as insight (if we were listening) to determine what we truly want in life, what our goals are and what needs to be done to achieve them.

The new moon in Leo brought on August 11th brought us the courageous and fierce energy of the lion, guiding us in setting our new lunar cycle intentions with precision and confidence. You may have felt a bit like a live wire over the past week or so, ready to jump in defence of yourself, fiercely protective of your beliefs, your morals and what you believe is true and right.

We can thank the Lion for helping us set our intentions during the new moon phase with clarity and pure strength in vision, while recognizing a need to take a break from being overt with our ideals and positions. The universe has heard your roar and now it’s time to give into the softer side of the Pisces.

Full Moon in Pisces August 26th: Surrender

With the full moon in Pisces, we are called to surrender our need to know all the answers about the future and take things as they come, giving into our capacity for trust; trust in ourselves, trust in others and trust in the universe. We may find ourselves to be grappling with issues or conflicts around how our quest for spirituality can live in harmony with our need for material items. This is represented in the sign for Pisces; two fish tied together but swimming opposite directions. One fish represents our spiritual side, the other represents our material side. When we find a way to let our two sides compliment each other, we can navigate the waters of life with greater ease.

Although we are reminded to find balance between our two sides, Pisces is a dreamy sign and one that tends to connect with the more spiritual aspects of life. This is why during a full moon in Pisces, we are invited to leverage this ability and go deep, to find connectivity with ourselves and others, as well as the divine. If you are interested in astrology, tarot or meditation, this full moon is an excellent time to put your interests into action.

It’s Time to Clean Your Closet

That said, a full moon in Pisces can bring up our emotions in a less than productive way. Make sure that you are not avoiding reality, overstepping boundaries or giving into self-indulgent behaviours. While Pisces is dreamy and content to swim along in a sea of dreams and emotions, this full moon will be opposite the sun in practical Virgo, bringing clarity to the situation. The sun in Virgo will help us sift through these emotions that come up during the full moon in Pisces and put them to practical use. Think of her like a practical and wise mother or grandmother who knows what you need in your messy closet and knows what you don’t. She’ll help you eliminate the clutter; in work, in relationships and inside your own mind.

The sun in Virgo also will remind our Pisces selves to take care of the trivia, the minutiae at home, at work and for our bodies. This full moon, make sure that your temples are in order; your living space and your beautiful, serving body. Put aside a day to clean out your apartment and book that doctor’s appointment you have been putting off.

Why?

The full moon in Pisces is opening the pathway to our next chapter. Like for real, if you have been putting in the work, it will start to pay off and you can’t have extra baggage holding you back as you embark on this next exciting chapter. You will be called to give into the unknown and trust the natural transitions. Don’t be afraid to say goodbye to things or people that have been dragging you down.

Listen

The most important part of a full moon in Pisces is to listen. Your capacity to connect to Spirit and the Divine will be running high this full moon so listen to what is coming through during moments of solitude and meditation. Set aside time to embrace the messages that are trying to come in as we head into what has the potential to be a very successful fall. This really is your time, you just need to believe it.

Mercury Retrograde Started July 26th, 2018 Ending August 18th, 2018

It’s no coincidence that the final days of Mercury Retrograde (ending on August 18th) coincide with a yin moon phase, and a Crescent Moon phase at that. Yin moon phases indicate that the energy offered from the moon serves us in a receptive manner, as opposed to a  yang phase which serves us in a active manner.

So what does this have to do with the current Mercury Retrograde we are presently experiencing? First thing’s first:

What Is Mercury Retrograde?

Four times a year, the planet Mercury is said to go into Retrograde, meaning that it appears to be moving in an opposite direction from the Earth. Simply put, planets move from east to west around the sun. Mercury in Retrograde refers to the four times a year when the planet moves from west to east around the sun, giving us on Earth the optical illusion that it is moving backwards.

Think about when you are driving on a highway and pass a car. The other car appears to be moving backwards, but it really is just moving slower than you. That other car is Mercury in this analogy.

What’s All The Hype About? 

Mercury is recognized as the messenger of the Gods and the planet of communication and logistics. On a modern-day level, this means that we can expect interference in our daily conversations, emails, travels or when we are making plans. It may feel as though we are talking to loved ones and co-workers through a thick static, where messages are getting caught or missed.

Technology and travel can be highly effected during this time. Think back to the start of this Mercury Retrograde (July 26th). Did you experience any issues with your travel and technology? Did your TV stop working for no reason? Did you pop a tire?

This, of course, can be frustrating and is why Mercury Retrograde gets a bad rap.

What’s Good, Though?

On a woo-woo level, it is said that when Mercury goes into retrograde, he travels deep into the underground of our psyches, opening up the pathway to our base-level human consciousness, offering insight into past experiences and helping us gather information for the next phase in our journeys. Because we move so fast, we rarely have a chance to stop and reflect on how our past stories are shaping our present lives and future experiences.

When Mercury goes into retrograde, we are forced to slow down. Technology and travel will push back, forcing us to go inwards for insight. Your phone’s not working? Take five to meditate and download information from your higher self. Bus is late? Embrace the opportunity for a long, head clearing walk.

Patience is a virtue during this time and one that will be greatly rewarded. When Mercury goes into retrograde, its a time for data-collecting and reflection. Time alone is essential during Mercury Retrograde. You may have tapped into to some key insights about your life direction or relationships during this time. Mercury has a lot to reveal to us, and when it goes into retrograde, we have a greater opportunity to listen.

Making the Most of these Last Few Days

It’s no secret that this has been a super charged summer, one that was extremely transformative, whether you realized it or not. Shifts happened this summer and we are all susceptible to them. We absolutely LOVE the fact that the last few days of the Mercury Retrograde fall in a receptive yin moon phase, the Crescent Moon phase, when are called to stop and breathe into our final intentions of the summer, allowing them to permeate our bodies and minds.

We are invited to take advantage over the next few days of the final insights Mercury can offer us in its last days in Retrograde. Because the planet is retrograding through the fire sign of Leo, we may feel an opposing pull to rush into action. But remember, even Lions know when to lay low and observe, calculating the jungle before making their next move. Lay low over the next few days. Meditate and reflect. And most importantly, listen. The universe has messages for you and Mercury wants to help you receive them.