Today’s Meditative Journal Prompt prepares us for the upcoming Mercury Retrograde in Gemini.
This period begins tomorrow (May 29th) and lasts until June 22nd.
Disclaimer: I am not particularly astrology-centric and this newsletter will not touch upon astrology very often. That being said, I have a soft spot in my heart for Mercury Retrograde and I love a good opportunity to reflect on a cycle.
As a kid, Mercury Retrograde was introduced to me as a scapegoat for weird technology glitches or car trouble. When these inconvenient things would occur we would check the calendar, looking to confirm our suspicions. It was Mercury’s fault! Nothing we could be expected to do about it. I’m sure many of us had a similar surface level understanding of retrograde at first.
When I was most engrossed in astrology, I would view Mercury Retrograde with dread. I’d read the forecasts and get worked up about the possibility of trouble.
What if what if what if?
Truly, our life is full of chaotic occasions no matter where Mercury is in the sky. Our greatest responsibility is how we respond to the forces outside of our control.
Now I like to view it as a time to be extra intentional with my words and actions. To be considerate of what I’m doing, where I’m going and where I’ve been. To take things slower than usual and trust the process.
Even if there’s a vibe that seems to hang over the days, I endeavor to look at said vibe through the lens of the observer, rather than fully giving oneself over to it.
So often, life’s cycles sneak up on us. We must be vigilant enough to recognize our patterns before we’re swallowed up. There’s something comforting about a cycle that we can see coming and know when it will end. Mercury Retrograde offers us a practice run of seeing a cycle play out with the awareness that it too shall pass.
With all that in mind, I wanted to open this moment of reflection to you. Knowing that other people are taking part in this intentional retrograde will keep me accountable.
These are the questions I’m asking myself today:
How can I slow down during this Mercury Retrograde?
What expectations do I need to let go of in order to do that?
How can I make space for the unexpected, without anticipating the worst outcome?
Is there anything I’ve experienced in past Mercury Retrogrades that can help me be more present in this one?
It is imperative that we treat ourselves with grace, especially during periods of learning and growth. The forces of chaos may cause us to stumble, but if we can laugh at these instances, it will soften the blow and make the lesson easier to digest.
I will be thinking of you all tomorrow as the solar system’s littlest planet begins it’s infamous dance! I’ll check back in on our intentional retrograde soon.
xx,
James