Dealing with Difficult Astrology, Mercury Retrograde, & Eclipse Season
Twice a year, we fall into eclipse season. A few times a year, we get a mercury retrograde. Throughout the year, we have different astrological aspects that make life feel just a bit more difficult than normal.
At the moment, we are in one of these difficult times. Mercury retrograde just started, smack dab in the middle of eclipse season, with some difficult astrology sprinkled throughout. If you are on the struggle bus right now, you are not alone, and this post is for you!
It’s time to understand how to work with eclipse season, reframe retrograde, and flow with the Universe so you can grow into your highest self!
Working With Eclipse Season
Eclipse season is when the sun and the moon steal the show from each other. On steps in front of the other, things get a little messy for a minute, and then we all go about our day. For us here in North America, we have a big event happening on April 8th, 2024. The moon will be stepping in front of the sun, and in parts of North America, it will reach totality.
Spiritually speaking, eclipse season is a time when the Universe is doing some heavy lifting for you.
Those hard things you’ve been avoiding… Eclipse season is going to just highlight that for you. That little bit of self-actualization you've been needing… eclipse seasons got you. The energy is a little unhinged, but something that is exactly what you need to wake up.
It's not always comfortable, but if you work with it, you are able to grow with the flow instead of resisting it and causing more difficulty and pain.
How To Work With Eclipse Season
When you're in the throes of eclipse chaos, give yourself some grace. In our patriarchal world, we are expected to go, go, go, be productive, and smile pretty while doing it 100% of the time, which is utter nonsense. That is not how humans work. It has conditioned us to gaslight ourselves when we are not feeling our best.
But give yourself permission to feel all the things! Here are some things you can do to give yourself the support you need…
Grounding
During any time of chaos, grounding is vital. Otherwise, you might get swept away in the tornado.
Journaling out the chaos, meditating, and taking time in nature are all ways to help you ground yourself. If you’re struggling to focus on your priorities, journal out the tailspin of your thoughts or go for a run on your local nature trail to burn off the anxious energy.
If you notice yourself getting a little untethered or unhinged in a conversation, walk away and ground yourself before you say something that makes things worse.
Boundaries
Which brings me to the next point… Boundaries are so needed right now. You may not have extra fuel in the tank to give to others. Honor that!
Say no to the outing when you feel you need to rest and say yes to dancing when you feel you need a release. Communicating your needs right now will support you in more ways than you know.
Extra Time
This is going to be especially needed this eclipse season because of the Mercury Retrograde. The last thing anyone needs right now is you arriving to the meeting frustrated and flustered because of complications in your commute during this time of wild energy. So do everyone a favor and give yourself extra time for everything… including rest!
Take more time to do some revitalize self-care! This will do wonders any time there is difficult astrology. Take a nap or sleep in, do some painting, or read more than normal, whatever fills your cup.
Reframe Retrograde
Retrograde, especially Mercury retrograde, gets a bad rap. Does it mess with electronics, seem to make people a little stupider on the road, and stir up some drama? Absolutely! And it can get super annoying.
But when you learn how to flow with astrology, you can make these transits a little easier and even beneficial to you in the long run.
Retrograde is when the earth moves past a planet, making it seem like it’s going backward, but it’s not actually going backward. You know the feeling when you are at a stop light next to another car, and they start moving before you. You’re maybe a little spaced out, and it feels like you are moving backward because they are going forward. It’s like that.
Just like that disorientation you get in your brain from the car next to you moving, we get disorientation in the energy ruled by that planet. Mercury rules communication, logic, and systems (i.e., Gemini and Virgo).
While retrograde can be very difficult, it is truthfully here for us to reflect, reassess, and redirect as needed.
While Mercury retrogrades, take extra time with your thoughts and words. How can you communicate better? What structures can you put in place to support the direction you want to go?
When other planets retrograde, take it as an opportunity to reevaluate how you are moving and functioning in that area. If Jupiter is retrograding in your 2nd house, can you embody more of an abundance mindset with your finances? If Saturn is retrograding in Libra, can you set better boundaries with loved ones or your work-life balance?
Remember that the Universe is conspiring with you and for you, not against you!
Difficult Astrological Transits
All of us have a unique birth chart. You have some planets in an aspect that will act like a thorn in your side and others that act like your personal superpower. As the planets orbit, they react to aspects in your chart and with each other.
For example, when the Sun squares Pluto (yes, I realize that neither of these are planets), it causes some drama for everyone. But if the sun is squared to your Pluto, you might have a more difficult time that day while everyone else is cool as a cucumber.
This is also why your horoscope may be totally off. (Well, that and people usually are looking up the horoscope for their sun sign only. Check out your rising sign and see if that works better for you.)
Just like reframing retrograde, transits are here to help you… whether you like it or not. As humans, we, unfortunately, often need pain to create change. Sometimes, sh*t has to hit the fan in your relationship before you're willing to admit that it's not working anymore. Sometimes, your boss has to lose it on you for you to be fully ready to leave the company.
As these astrological events help move things along, start attuning yourself to the lessons they are trying to teach you. The more in tune with the Universe, the easier it will be to navigate these messier moments. Not to mention, it makes the pain that creates change become more of an uncomfy poke rather than a stab in the back feeling.
Stay most aware of transits for the ruling planets of your sun, moon, and rising signs, as these will be the transits most heavily felt for you…
Aries - Ruled by Mars
Taurus - Ruled by Venus
Gemini - Ruled by Mercury
Cancer - Ruled by Moon
Leo - Ruled by the Sun
Virgo - Ruled by Mercury
Libra - Ruled by Venus
Scorpio - Ruled by Pluto and Mars
Sagittarius - Ruled by Jupiter
Capricorn - Ruled by Saturn
Aquarius - Ruled by Uranus and Saturn
Pisces - Ruled by Neptune and Jupiter
However, you have a whole ass chart that is literally like a road map to life! Having a basic understanding of your birth chart can help you be prepared for transits that may test you. You can get yours here.
You are interconnected in this divine web of the Universe. All the eclipses, retrogrades, and challenges transits are here to help you learn and grow into the epic badass you're meant to be.
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