Moons & Retrogrades
Is it just me or have you all been feeling an intense shift in energy? There is a lot on people’s minds these days and a big election a couple days away. With that said, astrologically, there are some planetary updates that are playing a significant role in the energetic shift taking place. The first noteworthy update is that there were two full moons last month, making the second full moon on Halloween a “Blue Moon.” The blue moon is named not for its color, but the fact that it is a rare event that occurs once every couple years and a second full moon in one month makes it “blue.” A blue moon is also called the hunter’s moon because it gave enough light for hunters to gather food back in the day. The last time a blue moon took place on Halloween was 75 years ago, making this year especially spooky!
The moon represents our “inner world” or shadow self. This means all your hidden emotions, desires, fears/worries, and dreams are represented by the moon. It is the yin or feminine energy that reflects on the past and helps us to grow from it. We may feel creatively attuned and have the desire to share more sides of ourselves near full moons.
How does a full moon spiritually affect us? When a full moon occurs, the sun’s position is opposite from the moon and is fully magnified from the light of the sun. When this occurs it can create harmony or friction. The potential for either direction is up to you to manifest. During a full moon it is a good time to channel your meditative practice to one of gratitude. Cultivate gratitude for all that you have attained up to now and let go of what no longer holds space in your life. If you can safely gather in a small moon circle that is a powerful collective way to join together to set intentions, listen to each others thoughts, and chant for humanity. Right now, chanting and prayer are so widely needed on an energetic level to bring our collective consciousness together for a peaceful future.
Another energetic aspect that happens pretty regularly are planet retrogrades.
What are retrogrades? Astrologically, all planets have retrograde periods. A retrograde is when a planet moves in an “apparent” backward motion. The planet is not actually moving backwards, but it appears as though it is. It is an illusion in our solar system that shows objects orbit the sun at different speeds and distances from the earth. What comes to mind when I think about this is The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios. When you are sitting in the simulator ride, the large screen shows a track and moves you through the rollercoaster ride as if you are actually inclining and declining, but it is an optical illusion created from the visual 3-D image and the motion of the seat moving around in all directions. This concept is similar to astrological planet retrogrades and the metaphor may also apply to how you are feeling when retrogrades occur. You may feel like you are moving backwards, reopening old wounds, or overanalyzing, but not to worry, you are still moving forward! During retrogrades you can look to the past, however, use this as a tool to rethink, redo, and reorder aspects of your life for the better.
Are we currently in a Mercury Retrograde? Yes, we are until November 3rd. But, before I go into that, we are also in a Mars Retrograde right now until November 13th. Mars is named after the Roman God of War and is associated with the masculine, passion, anger, and assertion. In retrograde, this explains why you may have felt sluggish the last couple months, unmotivated, or struggled to take action. Ways you can combat this energy is to look at what makes you happy and do more of that. Also, take time to tap into any pent-up anger inside of you and check in to see how you are treating people around you.
Ok, back to the Mercury Retrograde. Mercury Retrograde gets all the attention because it occurs the most - three to four times a year. Mercury rules communication (reading, writing, speaking), technology, travel, contracts, and negotiations. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun and in the year 2020 it spends time in the signs Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio (all water elements), making it an emotional, introspective, and confusing time. What does this mean for us? Well, as it goes, during Mercury Retrogrades it is best to hold off on any big commitments like signing contracts, or perhaps scheduling a big speaking event; it is best to wait out the period to avoid miscommunication and errors. What makes the retrograde particularly tricky right now is that it is occurring during an election period. A Mercury Retrograde during an election can cause mailing delays, mishaps, and lost deliveries. Not to mention, chaos over mishandling of information, filling out ballots, getting proper counts, and what some of us may be fearing, the aftermath of the election.
How can you thrive during a Mercury Retrograde? Take time to pause, reset, and relax. Allow yourself time to journal, read, and tap into your intuition with a meditation practice. Be proactive when you know one is coming. Back up your files, read the fine print on documents, revamp old projects, get rid of material belongings you no longer need, prepare for miscommunication to occur, and keep an eye out for temptation to reconnect with people you are better off moving on from.
Remember, as we are days away from the election, vote early, read the print carefully on your ballot, keep away from the drama, and know the next Mercury Retrograde is around the corner.
