Mercury Retrograde
It’s not you. It’s not me. It’s Mercury retrograde.
My first real job, the first job that required me to pay taxes or clock in and out, was working at a delicatessen when I was sixteen years old. The place where I worked had an Italian theme and was called Pastabilities. It was a vibe. Pastabilities was part of a historic hotel with a fine dining restaurant and banquet room. There were many employees and moving parts under one roof. We had year-round regulars, and in the summer months, there were lots of tourists. The energy would noticeably change seasonally, but I also noticed another type of shift. From time to time it seemed everyone was cranky. My manager would ask, "Is it a full moon? People are acting strange today." A customer would comment, "I didn't sleep well; it must be a full moon." I found it interesting, but I didn't dwell on it. Astrology and "woo" were not part of my very religious upbringing. Of course, I always read my horoscope (Virgo) in the back of my Seventeen magazines. I loved the idea that "my crush may show interest on the fifteenth," but I didn't learn more about astrology and woo until many years later when I started teaching yoga. The yoga community introduced me to other ideas about crystals, auras, and energy. I would say that I'm into the woo now, but I don't fully understand or believe in all of it. However, I know that the moon affects the tides, so I certainly think that what happens in the skies above us can have an affect on humans.
Mercury retrograde is when the planet Mercury looks like it's moving backwards from Earth, which happens a few times every year. It's an astrological event, and some people think that it can mess with communication, travel, and tech stuff. Basically, things can get kinda wonky. But, on the flip side, it's also a chance to take a step back and think about old patterns or unfinished business. We are in the middle of it happening right now. The current retrograde started April 21st and the last day will be May 15th.
At the beginning of April I had a twenty minute session with local astrologer Tara Jade Nichols (Zoom sessions available). In sobriety I am trying new things and this is one of them. I’d met with Tara six months prior and found her knowledge helpful. These sessions are centered on my birth chart. A birth chart is based on the date, time and location of your birth. Her insights from the recent session inspired me to begin my coaching training immediately. She advised me about the upcoming Mercury retrograde, which includes two eclipses with a full moon and a new moon. She suggested that this is a time for me to sit back, observe and take notice. As a result, I rescheduled some appointments and considered skipping blog posts until after the 15th. However, I believe that it's not about avoiding life because of the potential challenges and miscommunications ahead. Instead, it's about increasing my awareness of what is happening around me and what is coming into my world. It's about opening my eyes to what is possible and reacting with curiosity. Ultimately, how someone decides to understand and respond to this astrological occurrence depends on their individual beliefs and point of view. Whether you believe it or not, I'm just saying, being a human may be extra confusing right now.
Thank you for reading this. I hope you'll come back. I'll be over here.
