Oh nooo, Mercury Retrograde has arrived! Already my tapped in self is on the fritz, this morning while using my phone it literally just begins operating itself: changing screens, opening tabs, closing apps, clicking buttons i’m not clicking, and typing all sorts of things. 😭 I’ve been having missed calls with no rings & lets pray this post actually makes it out in english. 🙂

How’s your day going?!!

Ok, 3 deep breaths. We got this. In 2022 Mercury will retrograde four times – January 13 to February 3 | May 10 to June 2 | September 9 to October 1 | December 28 to January 18 (2023)

Definitely take some time to ground yourself properly and suit up for the three week journey ahead. When a planet goes into retrograde, it’s actually just in a resting state, so whatever that planet rules – Mercury being; communication, travel, technology, malfunctions a bit. Society as a collective really gets shaken up when mercury retrogrades because we’re so used to Mercury like energy. We’re used to typing an email and it sending correctly, booking a flight or shopping online and it going through, being able to text or communicate via social media with the convenience of our phones, so the PAUSE of this can bring true chaos.

Under the umbrella of communication issues, you may experience problems with your friends, your partner, family, or even coworkers. Be hyperaware of problems that may arise regarding listening, speaking, or texting. Conveying your thoughts and emotions may seem more difficult than usual during this time. Issues may arise preventing you from connecting with others – a common way this happens is plans unexpectedly getting cancelled. It may even influence how we communicate with ourselves, so you may have a harder time being in touch with your own feelings and motivations.

Another common disruption during the retrograde is chaos within formalities. Be careful with any research, negotiations, or work with documents being done. Now is probably not the best time to sign a formal contract for your career, or even to sign a lease or agreement. People also say not to publish any major projects during this time. Work diligently and re-read EVERYTHING.

For me, being in the digital space, by far the most stressful aspect of Mercury retrograde is the technology issues – simply because it’s totally out of my control. I can pay special attention to my communication, relationships, and documents… but anything tech-related… forget it. Peace be with me. Think Murphy’s law – This includes but isn’t limited to personal tech like your computer and phone, as well as travel itineraries, transportation, and even appliances. You may crack your phone screen, have a miscommunication in an email, need to repair your car, have a hard drive crash, or lose a document. I have countless retrograde memories of losing ENTIRE projects/work without a trace, in fact, now that I think about it, the time my hard drive decided to fling itself off my table and crash was during a retrograde 🙃 Anything that involves you having to communicate, which is unfortunately just about everything, can be affected.

So yes my dear, miscommunication/tech glitches are bound to happen now but it’s all to remind you to slow down, breathe, and process these things. We’re not meant to be juggling tasks and projects as often as we do. Mercury retrograde is pointing out where we can kind of pause. The spots that hurt the most are the places you need to work on, and if you take the steps to heal yourself and acknowledge where you’re needing more attention, you can benefit greatly from a retrograde.

What exactly is to be done about this difficult time? While it may be tempting to go inside and lock the door. I thought I’d share some of the ways I help to keep my energy protected and stable through this period. Hope one or more of these helps you out! Let me know.

Sage, Sage, Sage & Sage some more 🙂 (SHOP HERE)

Time to dust off that sage and palo santo and burn them down. Sage clears the air of both positive & negative energy & palo santo brings in positive energy, so start by doing an overall walkthrough of your home and most frequently used spaces with the sage, ensuring the 4 corners of the rooms are hit. Then do an orbit of palo santo all around your body and electronic devices running back through the home. Leave the palo santo burning near you until it goes out. Have frankincense, myrhh, sandalwood, chamomile, or white copal? Definitely give those a burn.

Light a Candle. Or a Spliff. Or both. (SHOP HERE)

Since the chaotic energy of mercury retrograde can bring up a bit of anxiety light a calming candle in your space, especially one using all natural aromatherapy blends so you can get some essential oil help as well. Scents with lavender, lemongrass, vanilla, amber or cypress are great for calming the nerves. I recommend my Lavender Lullaby, Palo Santo & Sage blend or #KeepCalm Retrograde Candle. For your herb, skip the sativa for the 1st few days of the retrograde & use a hybrid or indica variant to help calm those hectic energies.

Skip the Caffeine, Sip some tea (SHOP HERE)

Also… skip caffeine, red bull, or sugar that could wreak havoc on your already anxious state, and opt for natural herbal teas instead. Remember, think, what can I do to keep my vibe calm & grounded? Make sure you’re loading up on veggies, fruit, whole grains and satiating proteins to keep you full and energized.

Get Grounded

Go on, take a walk outside barefoot, do some yoga, or put that red jasper/hematite under your feet. Whatever method you use to get grounded and rooted to mother earth so you don’t get swept away with the tides.

Breathe Deep

No joke, find those 10-15 minutes a day to meditate & breathe. A go-to coping tool for any retrograde is meditation. The act of meditation is to quiet the mind from any thought and to let it be blank and still. If any personal thoughts creep in, acknowledge that you’ve trailed off from focus, let go of the thought and bring your mind back into stillness. The longer you can keep your mind in a blank-state, the easier answers will come to you from your intuition and subconscious mind. If this feels too difficult, try a guided meditation that helps direct your focus for you or listen to some calming tunes. Here’s a meditation playlist I love -> https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/pure-meditation/pl.e896478fdf824a93ab2f99165c3a1422

Soak it Off (SHOP HERE)

Water is a natural aura cleanser so get in it. If you can have a bath even better, add some extra infusions of essential oils or crystals to your tub and soak it in. Bath salts are a great option as they include epsom or Himalayan salts which are good for drawing out toxins and keep your energy at the highest vibration. My Kick Back Pack is a perfect fit! Made with Epsom Salt + Pink Himalayan Salt, Lavender + Calendula Petals & a blend of key essential oils for relaxation. Whip out that cooling jade roller and your favourite serum and spend some meditative time restoring yourself.

Back up Your Phone, Laptop & Data

Please take some time to do this step. With everything going haywire prevention is better than cure. Save your work several times, backup any websites/hard drives, check your batteries, and always keep in mind where your chargers or backup devices are.

KEEP SOME CRYSTALS NEAR

Crystals contain many different healing properties. You can carry them on your person, set them next to your bed, wear them, put them underneath your pillow, hold them in your left hand while meditating, virtually any way you like once they are near and you’ve brought awareness to their presence, it’s all about your comfort level. Whether you’re coming to terms with a new life path, trying to clear your heart for karmic cycles to end and begin, or you’re simply remembering to slow down while keeping an eye out for the things that DO go right during this month; Mercury retrograde is here for all of it. Take time for yourself and really use this opportunity to free yourself of any illusions or old energy that isn’t working for you anymore. There are crystals to quell anxiety, crystals to cleanse your aura, crystals to align your chakras, and crystals to increase positive communication, which is particularly important during Mercury retrograde when communication breakdowns are more likely to occur. You really have nothing to lose by having crystals in your space and people have being doing so from the dawn of time, here are some of my FAVE crystals to protect you during Mercury retrograde.

Fluorite (SHOP HERE)

Fluorite helps with mental clarity allowing for a shift in perspective. It can help one tell the difference between what’s in your control and what isn’t. This is a stone that keeps you focused and is highly protective and stabilizing; useful for grounding and harmonizing energy. Emits peace and harmony, and helps to release stress and anxiety. Often referred to as an energetic vacuum cleaner, it sucks up and neutralizes negative energy to bring harmony and balance. With so many things going awry during Mercury Retrograde, you may notice yourself feeling more anxious than usual. Remind yourself that this is natural, and part of your body’s response to stress triggers. Invite harmony and tranquility by meditating with Fluorite when you feel anxiety creeping in.  Fluorite increases our powers of concentration, self-confidence and helps us in decision-making. It encourages positivity, balances the energies, and improves balance and coordination, both physically and mentally.

Blue Lace Agate

This gentle beautiful blue stone activates calming energy bringing grace and tranquility, lessens all anger (even deep anger issues), and calms nervousness. It’s pretty easy to get flustered and anxious when everything seems to be going awry during Mercury retrograde but the good news is that the healing crystal blue lace agate can help you calm down when things start to get dark and twisty. It brings peace, inspiration, and enhances clear self-expression while helping to access the highest energetic realms.

Chrysocolla (SHOP HERE)

A little known stone that balances your emotions well. Unchecked emotions can be common during Mercury retrograde due to all of those misunderstandings so chrysocolla is a perfect partner to help heal emotional heartache and balance your mood. Additionally, this magic stone has also been known to help reduce menstrual cramps and muscle pain. So, ladies if your cycle is due during Mercury retrograde, this stone can do double duty, which makes it a must. It connects to the heart and throat chakras, allowing you to speak from your heart instead of your head. It also removes blockages and negativity from your heart space so you can be open to new possibilities and shifts in your life.

Selenite (SHOP HERE)

Cleanse your aura with Selenite. Feeling a little cosmically cluttered? It might be time for an aura cleanse. Selenite is useful any time you need to shift, reset or cleanse your aura as it’s excellent at moving and removing stagnant energy, it really is perfect for all types of energy cleansing. It is one of the the very few minerals that has the ability to quickly unblock stagnant energy and remove negative energy. Selenite stones also greatly magnify the energy of anything that is placed upon them so use this with your crystals to amplify their effects.

Hematite

Get rid of everything dark & twisty with Hematite. When everything goes sideways during Mercury retrograde, it’s not uncommon for the dark and twisties to descend like a bell jar. The crystal hematite can help you clear yourself of negative energy. Hematite is renowned for its ability to absorb any toxic emotions holding you back from your natural state of joy and vitality. Use Hematite in your crystal healing first-aid kit to clear away negative feelings from stress, anxiety, and worry. It works to pull any stray negative energy in the aura to the root chakra where it neutralizes its harmful effects by balancing and aligning all seven chakras. Truly this stone is one of my favorite grounding crystals. When you hold it in your hands or place under your feet, its energy pulls you downwards, making you one with the Earth. It constantly pulls any excess, unwanted or negative energy from your body into itself to clear your energy field. Since Mercury Retrograde strips away your anchor of routine you may feel wayward and lost, Hematite abolishes negative energy and clears up space for restoration, instead of pulling more energy from your body, it reinvigorates you with holistic healing.

Amethyst (SHOP HERE)

This beautiful lavender crystal can not only help protect you during Mercury retrograde, it’s also great for everyday use.  Amethyst is mostly thought of as a protective stone as it is linked to the crown chakra making it helpful in purifying the mind and clearing it of negative thoughts. This includes the negativity of stress and anxiety, which is why many meditate with amethyst so as to rid themselves of that darkness. Amethyst’s healing properties are especially useful in regards to work-related stress, because the stone is also associated with abundance; therefore relieving stress while emanating prosperity. It guards against psychic attack, transmuting the energy into love and protecting the user from all types of harm, including geopathic or electromagnetic stress and ill wishes from others. Amethyst is a natural tranquilizer, it relieves stress and strain, soothes irritability, balances mood swings, dispels anger, rage, fear and anxiety. Alleviates sadness and grief, and dissolves negativity.

Amazonite / Aquamarine

These are two of my favourite aqua stones, they help me so much with my throat chakra but have some properties that can definitely be useful during this period. Amazonite helps you to speak with clarity and grace, fostering clear communication. It offers calming and soothing energies, which will prove to be beneficial during this time of anxiety and stress. In a time of wild emotions and thoughts Amazonite is filled with soothing energies that stave off anxiety so that you can restore peace within.

One of the best crystals for anxiety is Aquamarine, a stone that aids with communication and synergizes with the Throat Chakra. The translucent aqua blues of this calming crystal instill within you a sense of calm and patience that serves as a sanctuary from the stress of Mercury Retrograde. Its calming energies reduce stress and quiet the mind. It encourages reflective relaxation and calm, revealing the speaker’s wisdom to themself while unlocking truths and feelings. Communication is improved, doing away with anger or fear, in favor of clear and calm thoughts. The process of intellectual reasoning and the ability to find answers quickly are also facilitated by aquamarine. The stone allows you to learn about the world at large as well as yourself, as it makes analytical thinking more manageable and gives strength to discipline and perseverance by virtue of a lifted mood. Altruistic properties are enhanced as well as your will to help and heal others becomes more pronounced and inspired.

Citrine/Carnelian (SHOP HERE)

Who can’t use a little help communicating in a positive manner during Mercury retrograde? Citrine is one crystal everyone should have in their arsenal to make Mercury retrograde as painless as possible. Aside from lessening communication struggles cultivating positive communication, citrine is also a powerful crystal for manifestation and can help you attract abundance, wealth, prosperity, success and all things good. It also encourages generosity and sharing good fortune. Citrine assists in all fast money ventures, and is especially helpful in financial speculation and for commercial success.

One of the main reasons why citrine is such an amazing crystal and should be in your possession at all times is because it works on all levels of your existence. It helps in the spiritual, mental, emotional, and material aspects of one’s life. Citrine is part of the quartz family. Quartz is known for absorbing and releasing energy and is a very powerful crystal, which is why quartz is one of the most common crystals for overall healing. Citrine has much of the same benefits as quarts however because of the color, minerals and hardness it not only absorbs and releases energy it also returns energy.

Citrine benefits: Happiness, Prosperity, Generosity, Creativity, Pleasure, Protection, Strength, Alignment, Confidence, Stability, Moderation, Energy, Comfort, Success, Truth, Goodness, Warmth, Digestion, Assimilation, Enjoyment of life, Spiritual growth. So as you can see it touches on just about everything.

Labradorite (SHOP HERE)

Helps me to see the light hidden within the gray areas of life. It reminds me to look beneath my dark shadows, to discover the underlying lessons that I’m meant to learn. Whatever mercury retrograde digs up for you will carry with it a message. Labradorite can assist you in digesting that message. It guides your mind in recognizing the transformations you need to make, and the actions that can lead you toward emotional progress. Whenever you feel yourself speeding up and beginning to lean into that infamous retrograde tailspin, slow down and find your point of balance by connecting with labradorite. For some, that may mean meditating with labradorite to get in sync with both the breath and the labradorite meaning, and for others, that may simply mean holding the labradorite stone in your hand to think before making decisions.

Labradorite helps to purify your energy and connect you with the energy of light. Having Labradorite in your space creates an energetic shield that protects your aura and strengthens your personal energy supply. It helps you to unfold your true-life purpose, uncover your destiny, and clear and open all the chakras and energy centers within your body. It is a power gemstone that helps you see through any illusions to determine the actual, tangible form of your dreams and goals. With the rainbow of brilliant hues, Labradorite healing properties help to purify your energy and connect you with the energy of light. Place a labradorite crystal on your windowsill to amplify its vast spectrum of colors, and allow the energy to flow into your space.

Black tourmaline (SHOP HERE)

Black Tourmaline is probably “the’ stone when dealing with negative energy. Not only does black tourmaline help get rid of negative energy, it also works on attracting positive energy. It promotes self-confidence, diminishes fear, and aids in understanding oneself and others. Tourmaline attracts inspiration, compassion, tolerance and prosperity. It balances the right to left sides of the brain, helps treat paranoia, overcomes dyslexia and improves hand-eye coordination. Tourmaline releases tension, making it helpful for spinal adjustments. It balances male-female energy within the body, enhances energy and assists in letting go of fear, anxiety and chaotic blockages.

Black tourmaline also offers strong protective energies during this period of chaos and turmoil, helping you to feel safe, supported and secure. When your life feels out of control, it’s best to release your grip and root yourself in grounding energy. Black Tourmaline is one of the most powerful crystals for Mercury Retrograde because it alleviates fear, anxiety, and discontent. With its strong relationship with the Root Chakra, this is a grounding crystal that connects you to the therapeutic vibrations of the earth. In addition, this stone’s healing properties are protective, shielding you from the toxic ripples of this unsettling phase repelling and removing negative energies and psychic attacks within a person or a space. Black Tourmaline will cleanse, purify, and transform dense energy into a lighter vibration. It is wonderful for protection from electromagnetic smog in our high tech lives. It has a calming effect when needed, grounding flighty or scattered energies into the earth. Those who face challenges from negativity, frequent worrying, and/or OCD can work with Black Tourmaline to help heal these issues.

Garnet

Garnet purifies and balances energy. It can alleviate emotional disharmony and expand awareness. This precious gemstone has long been known for its rich connections to creativity and love. Garnet comes with a thousand stories to its name. It was said to have been the only light on Noah’s Ark, marking it as a stone that held every single note of hope that there was an olive branch waiting at the end of a great struggle. It’s adept at clearing out negative energies by flushing toxins, not only from your body but also your life in general. It works closely with those grounding chakras to keep you safe and steady on your feet and less likely to slip into traps of self-doubt and jealousy. Garnet is a highly uplifting stone with its rich colors and warming glow you cannot help but feel supported and nurtured by its deep healing properties. It’s an amazing talisman to have close for those times you may feel the need to be balanced out. It keeps you off the emotional roller-coaster by ensuring that your self-esteem is high enough to make healthy choices and that you approach life from a positive point of view. For those who often find themselves lost to a feeling of crisis, Garnet is here to talk you down off that existential and emotional ledge. It kicks your survival instinct into touch, ensuring that no matter what trouble is brewing, that you are at your best and ever equipped to handle it.

One of the main spiritual gifts you get from the glow of Garnet is that grounding force from your root chakras. Our base chakra is one of the most important chakras as it keeps us feeling safe and tethered rather than floating in space. When we feel safe, we are able to make choices that are connected with our authentic well-being. Garnet also works well on the sacral chakra, which is the base of all our creativity and even our sexual selves. If you are seeking to stir up your chi and let light flow across your chakras, Garnet is an amulet of amazing passion.

Shungite (SHOP HERE)

Do you experience tech anxiety? You’re not alone! The omnipresence of technology has made many of us feel unsettled. Worse, things can get funky during Mercury Retrograde. The power might go out in the midst of a work deadline, the internet might start glitching while working on an important project, and your file might just save in the ethers. Block those technology energies. SHUNGITE is known as the “stone of life” and the “miracle stone”

It’s a great idea to keep a piece of Shungite near your tech devices to minimize the toxic effects of Electromagnetic Radiation. In addition, you’ll gain purification from the toxic energies swirling during this contentious phase. It is now the go-to stone for electromagnetic field (EMF) protection, purification, and detoxification of the body. While not a crystal, shungite is one of the strongest mineral healers. It is the only mineral that has been scientifically proven to possess “fullerenes,” molecules with powerful healing qualities! Shungite has electricity conducting properties. Placing shungite at the base of a computer, microwave or around your various home electronic devices will not interfere with their operations, but will block out some of their free radial output.

& of course, trusty Clear Quartz (SHOP HERE)

Clear the cobwebs & bring clarity and focus to yourself. Clear Quartz vibrates pure white light, removing any blockages or obstacles that lie in your path. If there’s one crystal I recommend you start with, it’s the “Master Healer,” clear quartz. It’s one of the most popular healing crystals, and for good reason. Clear quartz has the power to amplify all other crystals, charging them with restorative and protective energy. You can feel the healing properties of the white light vibrating through the energetic frequencies of the stone. Clear quartz helps you heal in all areas of the body, mind, and spirit, which makes it one of the best crystals for Mercury Retrograde.

While it’s helpful during Mercury retrograde, clear quartz is another crystal that’s pretty valuable all of the time. If your spirit needs illumination, it brings clarity to shadows within the mind. A universal healer, it links to all the chakras to provide balance and harmony. Its ability to be programmed for manifestation is unlike any other crystal. It will help manifest your intentions like never before as it amplifies energy and thought. Quartz enhances spiritual growth, spirituality, awareness, and wisdom. It increases inspiration and creativity. It can also help with concentration, studying, and retaining what one learns.  Clear Quartz draws off negative energy of all kinds, neutralizing background radiation, including electromagnetic smog or petrochemical emanations.

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

• Because of the whole reversal in orbit, things from your past comes up. So be sure to put yourself together when going out incase you run into an ex-lover. 😉

• Delays delays delays. This doesn’t mean that you get a pass on arriving late to meetings and dates, rather things may have a way of coming later than expected. It’s really a freelancer’s nightmare as money owed takes its sweet sweet time to get to you.

• Don’t push yourself during this time. Any kind of rushing could bring along accidents and favour technical difficulties.

• Signing contracts and agreements are a no-no. This does make a lot of sense, because if the planetary vibes are moving backwards, how would it be feasible to assume that moving forward is possible? *yikesss

• Not a great time to start or launch new projects. All beginnings need a good push from the universe, right? Well, it would be best to wait until retrograde passes. Trust me on this one as I’ve learned this the hard way.

• Don’t buy any electronics or big ticket purchases. Try your best to steer clear of the Apple Store. If you’re in need of repair, know that due to Mercury Retrograde you’ll be spending more than necessary with little to no fix. And not a wise time to do any technical / software upgrades to any devices. LOL i upgraded to IOS15 today & it legit took 3 hours.

MERCURY RETROGRADE IS ASKING US TO SLOW DOWN.

Hopefully by integrating these tips into our routine we are out of this miles ahead. Life is a balance of ebbs and flows. How we handle these times is vital to our wellbeing. The mantra for mercury retrograde is let it flow. Is the bigger message from the planets to slow down? Does this three week period teach us a greater lesson, reminding us to communicate clearly, to not take things personally, and to take some extra time to make decisions? If this is so, then a time reputed to mess with our senses sure makes a lot of sense. See you on the other side!