Mercury is retrograde.
Ahhh, how severe is it going to be?
How will this Astrological Event shake up our lives!?
But seriously, it's not that bad. Not if you're aware. Not if you're living consciously and in sync with the energies that are being offered to you. It's the perfect time to reconnect to yourself. And the perfect time to practice making things work in your favour - by flowing and not fighting back.
Here are my top 10 suggestions to survive and thrive during this Mercury Retrograde.
1. Reflect, revise, renegotiate, revamp, renew, revisit.
Everything! All the 're' words.
Implement anything that will aid your concentration and help engage your mind. This is a time to be mentally present by focusing on one thing at a time. We want to be dispelling confusion, encouraging clarity, counterbalancing mental fatigue and supporting disengagement.
2. Back up everything!
Computers, phones, hard drives, USB sticks - anything electrical. Don't have so many damn tabs open when you're working on something important (guilty!) on the computer! Try and do one thing at a time instead. Otherwise you're just asking for Mercury Retrograde to swing in and ruffle your feathers! (PS I've saved this blog post twice already!)
Whilst we need focus, we also need to quiet and ground our mind, especially if we have a short attention span. Remaining present and completing one task at a time will help bring us back from distraction when we become lost in thought or we jump from one task to another.
3. Double check all travel plans and itineraries.
Are your flight times AM or PM? Are you at Terminal 1 or 4? Did you get a confirmation email about your tent site or hotel room? Were transfers included, or did you just make the assumption they were?
Practice being in your power. I would encourage you to work through any feelings of powerlessness at this time, when we sometimes believe circumstances are out of our control. It helps us take responsibility for our lives, instead of blaming external influences or other people. It encourages accountability, and removes any blame in the case of misfortune.
4. If there's clone situations coming back around, or people from the past that you thought you had disconnected from - ask yourself what is left to be done?
If it triggers emotions within you, then you may need to clear some related blocks or resolve some things within yourself. What is it that you need to learn in order to let go? How can you think about this situation from a different perspective, to cut the energetic ties/chords you still have connected?
Do you need to forgive yourself or somebody else?
Do you need to truly let it go?
What is it that you're feeling?
It’s time to set yourself free - especially if we are leaning into feeling resentful, blaming or bitter, this is the time to foster forgiveness and recognise us that everyone is learning and growing together. Gently invite yourself to free yourself through viewing situations and others with compassion and understanding - including ourselves.
5. Be very conscious of your communication.
Double check who you're texting. Re-read emails and texts that are sent to you, before becoming reactive in your response. Triple check your newsletter, blog posts or mass marketing before sending it out. In fact, get someone else to go over it too! Think before you speak.
Try and calm your mind before verbally expressing yourself. Use gentle words to unblock any blocked communication channels, between people. Slows down racing thoughts. Releases tension from spoken words so that you have an opportunity to feel seen and heard.
6. Don't take things personally and don't attach emotion to everything.
If the garage remote stops working, it's going to be OK. If you're locked out of your house, it's going to be OK. If you ran out of toilet paper, it's going to be OK. If you can't find your left shoe but have your right, it's going to be OK! The world is not against you. Everything is actually working on your behalf, energetically. Use these opportunities to slow right down, and come back to the present.
Breathe. Open up your airways, through deep breathing, and therefore reducing stress. Deep breathing will support you when you’re overwhelmed, constricted, closed. Coming back to the breath encourages us to open up, embrace life, let go of any heaviness, come back to the present and gain perspective.
7. 'If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine - it's lethal.' Practice flexibility.
Controlling routines in your life may feel safe, but they can often make you rigid and stuck. Try and go with the flow. Use this period of time to try and say 'yes' as much as you can - and notice the difference. You are always being looked after - trust a little more. Spontaneously ask someone to go for coffee. Agree to go away for the weekend with friends. Mix it up. Don't be careless, but loosen up a little! Retrogrades can show us which areas we're holding on too tightly in our lives. (Hint: the magic happens outside of your comfort zone!)
Motion and Flow is your friend right now. This will help us when we are stuck in rigidity, feel the need to control, are stuck in perfectionism. Creating energetic flow to create flexibility helps you to cast aside any worries and lets you enjoy the spontaneity of life because you trust it.
8. Think before you speak and listen before you respond.
Throat Chakras are going to be overactive wherever you go! Keep your head on if there's any misunderstandings and try to remember everyone is in the same boat with all of these high flying energies affecting communications. Avoid arguments, debates and being right - sometimes it's better to be kind, than to be right. Words cut deep and can create wounds that last forever.
Wearing blue, and Throat Chakra exercises (singing/humming), will encourage confidence and courage in expressing yourself - allowing you to be articulate in speech.
9. Don't start new projects.
Wait until this energy has settled - things will be a lot more in flow after this retrograde and your new ventures will run more smoothly.
Lean into Surrender. If you’re usually strong willed ( and sometimes stubborn) you will especially need to let go of the action, to allows yourself to flow with a higher power - for things to unfold in their natural timing and space.
10. Take the time to be reflective and to do some real self-evaluation around your priorities - especially around where your 'energy' is spent in relation to these.
What are your top 5 priorities in life, in relation to your values?
Physical, Emotional, Mental Health? Adventure? Wealth? Freedom? Career? Consciousness? Spirituality? Environmentalism? Connection to Nature? Friendship? Family? Personal Development/Growth? Ethical Living? Knowledge/Wisdom? Being in Service?
And now - where are you spending your energy (time, money, resources, attention, love) - on a weekly basis?
Is it time for a shuffle around?
Time to start living on purpose?
Start living consciously?
Choosing what you do and what you do it for?
Spend some time in meditation, focusing on your Crown or Third Eye between your brows. Focusing on these energy centres assists us in clearing self deceptions and invites us to create a much more positive and productive perspective. It will help you gain clarity around what is bringing the most light into your life, and what is keeping you feeling disconnected.