Building Self-Trust During Mercury Retrograde

 Whew! If you are following the astrology of the moment, there is a lot going on.

First, we are in eclipse season: The Aries new moon and solar eclipse occurred on April 20th (or April 19th, depending on your location).

And Mercury is retrograde from Friday, April 21 until Sunday, May 14.

If you’ve followed my work for a while, you might have noticed that I try to bring some balance into the usual planet panic that takes place during notable astrological events.

Horoscopes used to play quite a big role in my life at one time. But the increasing popularity of astrology, coupled with the pressure for content creators to compete with a culture driven by clickbait and merciless algorithms, has led me to a different relationship with astrology.

It seems like every month there is a new astrology column telling people to “buckle up” or “watch out.”

And I know that that the kind of language gets people’s attention, which is what everyone is trying to do to stand out online.

And I know there is a predictive element to pop astrology. I used to write a horoscope column for a fashion magazine for a few year: I know that people want to hear what’s in store for them.

But when I was still actively practicing as an astrologer, I became concerned by how many clients were coming to me because they were worried about something they’d read or heard online in regards to astrology.

Even though so many modern astrologers talk about astrology as an empowering practice, I think that, unfortunately, a lot of the language that is commonly used in horoscopes and astrological content says otherwise.

If people are encouraged to connect with their free will and become empowered through a practice like astrology, then there has to be more alignment with helping them to do so. Stirring fear that every project you start or plan you create will crumble to bits every time a planet moves is not empowering at all: It creates unnecessary anxiety and sends people running to astrologers for clarification.

Instead of helping people take authority over their lives, these messages are causing doubt and confusion.

Which is why I stepped back from astrology a few years ago: I needed to reflect on my own use of it, and the role I played as a content creator.

In reflecting on my own relationship and path with astrology, I have come to realize that astrology is often a lot more subtle than we’re told to expect it to be.

For example, when I reflect on past Mercury retrograde periods, I find that I do often make changes and correct course during those times – but it’s often of my own volition, not something that is being forced upon me.

During these times, I get ideas for how I can improve upon what I already have going on: One year, that meant overhauling my website. Last year, it meant re-launching some parts of my business.

This year, I’m looking at new ways to build up my platform as an author.

I’m also opening up enrollment for my Tarot Study Hall community, which only opens up for new members a few times a year. And in building up to that, I’m looking at what I want to have in place within the community before that launch begins – another opportunity of review and re-evaluation.

These plans are not dramatic. They are totally normal, which is what astrology should help us to connect to – the mundane, everyday possibilities of our lives.

And they bring me back to something I have long believed about Mercury retrograde periods: That it helps when we focus on the “re” in retrograde: Re-do, re-launch, re-view, re-flect, re-try, re-evaluate.

This is what I mean when I say astrology is often a lot more subtle than it’s made out to be. The changes that we move through often happen through us first:

The ideas we have, the needs we identify, the intentions we set, these are what set us in motion.

The timing at which we might feel a pull towards a new direction is simply reflected in the seasons of the sky.

But we need to be aware of what we’re thinking, feeling, and doing – not just reacting to the external world and its unending reams of information. When we stop to think and find clarity by looking at what’s right in front of us – taking inventory of the reality of our lives – we can make good use of astrological timing and realize we already know what to do.

I feel that many of the same principles can be applied to tarot readings. Tarot is another form of divination where superstition and fear can get in the way of what could otherwise be a helpful, empowering message.

Some people see certain cards as purely bad, or as omens with limited outcomes and few possibilities. And as a result, they can get stuck worrying about “what will go wrong.”

But tarot is another practice where I often find that we already know what we’re working towards. The cards just affirm our own hunches, or validate ideas and questions we might be mulling over.

And we have to remember that one tarot reading, or one astrological event, is not the only influence in our lives. There are so many factors working in your favour – including your own resolve to see something through.

Which is why I don’t advise people to pull their plans or put things on hold just based on astrology or tarot alone. If we truly we want to empower ourselves, and each other, we need to become more conscientious about the language we use when divining, no matter what modalities we are working in.

Until next time, 

Liz

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