If you follow the stars, you know that we're in the first week of the last Mercury Retrograde of 2015, which will be ending on October 9th. Mercury retrograde occurs when the planet seems to be moving backwards in the sky, and until it appears to move forward again, all kinds of muckety-muck can foul the gears, especially in all endeavors travel and technology and communication related.
Which sounds like a nightmare to all you writerly types, I know. E-mails getting lost or misunderstood, computers hiding files or catching on fire. Flat tires and delayed planes and trains not training properly. Ugh.
However, if you switch up your perspective, the energy of Mercury retrograde can be used in an effective manner. My brilliant friend Sara Amis refers to it as "the scapegoat planet" because every ill wind for these three weeks gets blamed on Mercury heaving itself backwards in the sky. As if planets do that. No, people do that (remember, a retrograde only looks backwards, which makes it a perspective challenge, not a roadblock challenge).
So yes, switch it up. Relax into lateness as an exercise in non-resistance (you Buddhists out there know what I'm talking about). Back up your files as a practice in prevention. Appreciate the weirdness and odd quirks that flavor your landscape. Mercury retrograde is a great time for anything with an re- in front if it -- redo, revise, reorganize, revisit. Recover. Reconstruct. Remember.
Re-imagine.
The tarot has some tools to help you. This week two cards came up, one drawn by me -- the Ace of Swords -- and the other a "jumping card" -- The Star -- which is a card that makes itself known in other ways, like falling out of the deck.
For a well-needed dose of mental clarity, there's the Ace of Swords (see its previous appearance for further details). Use it to slash away all that does not serve, clearing the space for you to bring forth that which does. Caveat to the wise -- the chaotic energy of Mercury Retrograde tampers with communication, so re-check your words before they leave your mouth or keyboard. Make sure that the Swords' penchant for cutting truths and sharp assessments doesn't slice too deeply by erring on the side of diplomacy and compassion.
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| From the Tarot Art of Thalia Took |
Luckily, The Star asserted itself, so there should lots of good nurturing energy to help you do that. The Star is a card of hope and balance. It asks nothing of you but to be fully present in the moment -- a moment that has both grounding and flow -- and search for a light that will guide your way.
Because there's always a light. And it remains fixed and steady, especially in times of flux. Seek yours, and set your feet to the path forward.
It's just a retrograde. Fasten your seatbelts. You'll be fine.
2 comments:
Ok, so it's been a long time since I've read Tarot for real, but as I look at the cards I try to let the way they are drawn suggest things. I don't know what those yellow leaves (?) are at the hilt of the sword in the ace, but as the tip of the sword goes througha crown, and as the sword is held by a crown (as if from seemingly nowhere), it seems to suggest a kind of truth that will "pierce one through the core" or to the crown, which one may assume is the head, the regent of all life decisions while we live in the material world. In other words, it seems to suggest the kind of truth that will hurt, that will cut through any delusions. On the other hand, the stars seems quite opposite, gentle, and looking pensively into the sky in the night, like a dreamer hoping for a wish come true. On the other hand, these two together may actually mean that this dream that one has thought to now unattainable might actually come, and is it the kind that you may regret wishing for?
Painful truths are indeed a hallmark of the Swords, I will agree. I suspect there are several coming at us this Mercury Retrograde, or several that we will be delivering, perhaps even unintentionally. I was grateful to see The Star there, mediating that sharpness with, as you said, some gentleness. My teacher Christopher often offers the blessings, "May your lessons come with ease." I don't think ease is on the menu for a little while . . . but perhaps something less than difficult can be reached.
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