DISCLAIMER: As always, everything presented here is for entertainment and semi-educational purposes only. Please do not mistake this for mental health therapy or advice. If you need mental health counseling or treatment, please contact your insurance company, local college’s student counseling clinic, county crisis line, or the Psychology Today Portal.
NOTE FROM SPICE: Posts on astrology were one of the many things that got eaten by my schedule changes and I’m sorry. My pal and astrology Jedi extraordinaire Linda Berry agreed to help. She will be giving you the scoop on crazy planetary happenings.
Buckle up as Linda Berry breaks down the rollercoaster that is Mercury retrograde.
The planet of communication, Mercury went Retrograde on September 9th during the Pieces Full Moon. As Mercury helps us rethink and reassess our intentions and plans, the Moon encourages us to get in touch with our deepest emotions. Under the potent energy of a Full Moon with Mercury retro, you have an opportunity to review your life and all the experiences you have lived to this point. These past experiences are significant, they’ve made you who you are today.
Mercury Retrograde has gotten a bad rap over the years. Of course, there’s certain things connected to the communication planet that should still be adhered to by using caution during the three weeks of retro time, not to mention the one week before and after, referred to as the “shadow” periods. But, with a Pisces Full Moon kicking off this particular retrograde, the remaining month of September can be one of the most opportune times of the entire year. Looking back to review can lead into the best of what’s to come.
This Full Moon creates a combination of Pisces and Virgo energy. Now add the fact of Mercury being the planet that rules Virgo, the Zodiac Sign the Sun is in right now, along with Pisces being the ruler of big dreams, we find ourselves in a perfect situation. Let’s look backwards and see what goals, dreams, and aspirations we gave up on, or put on the back burner, that can be rekindled and turned into future opportunities during this retrograde period.
Take advantage of this special energy and make plans to bring something to the forefront that’s been forgotten or left behind. But, just make plans. We still have to follow the highly recommended cautions of Mercury Retrograde. This is a time to review and plan, but do not implement until the retrograde is over on October 2nd, and then wait one more week to get safely through the shadow period.
MERCURY RETROGRADE – WHAT TO KNOW
Mercury is retrograde in Virgo until September 22nd, and Libra through October 2nd. Mercury Retrograde is meant to help you turn inward, take a pause, and review your decisions before moving ahead. So if you ignore its cues and keep going about business as usual, things can go off the rails quickly. This valuable period of time can help you get back on track.
Retro Mercury helps us slow down to re-evaluate our lives. As the ruler of mind, thinking and ideas, when the communication planet goes retrograde, it’s an opportunity for us to catch up with things that have been previously overlooked. It’s a time to gather information to make optimal decisions for the future. That’s why it’s best to review, organize and plan what’s needed during this period and take action after Mercury goes direct.
Remember, if you try to rush or force your plans during Mercury Retrograde in Virgo, you’ll experience the downside of this energy, such as breakdowns in communication and technology. When this happens, it signals the need to slow down and review your processes. During this retro period, taking your time is more productive than speeding through to completion.
When Mercury Retrograde goes into Libra (September 22nd), you may be re-evaluating your partnerships in all areas of life. This is the Zodiac Sign of relationships, so don’t be surprised if you re-kindle a romance, hear from an old flame or a potential business connection comes back around. When retrogrades happen , sometimes opportunity knocks twice. It’s the Universe’s way of helping you reevaluate your decisions before the ability to change your mind disappears forever.
It’s also Mercury’s way of asking you to reconsider all your options before moving ahead. And remember, while this transit can help you make the right connections before they slip away for good, this energy can sometimes be stressful and confusing, so keep you eyes and ears open and make no new commitments until well into the second week of October.
WOW, there’s many cautions to take during Mercury in retrograde. It’s frustrating, because despite our best efforts, it can feel like nothing turns out the way we’ve planned. Travel gets delayed, important documents might get deleted or sent to the wrong place, and communication with others seems to break down altogether. But keep this thought in mind at all times, the retro energy may create delays and difficulties, but it also gives us an opportunity for introspection and self-improvement. It’s a time to reflect and embrace the changes as they come along with opportunities. As we treat them as blessings and let gratitude flow from our hearts, we can create something magical during this Mercury Retrograde period.
HOW DOES MERCURY RETROGRADE AFFECT YOU?
Mercury is the celestial body that rules our communication skills, intellectual processes, and technological devices. This planet turns retrograde three to four times a year and for several weeks at each time. When it goes into its retro period, we look at where it lands in the “chart” of Zodiac Signs. To find out how it effects your “Sun Sign,’ Linda Berry has prepared a “horoscope” for Mercury Retrograde periods.
Curious about Linda? Linda Berry is the owner, consultant, coach, trainer, and reader for the Spiritual Discovery™ Center in Southern California. She’s a best-selling spiritual and inspirational author, summit and podcast host, and international Spiritual Astrologer – AKA the “Zodiac Yoda.” She can be reached at lindaberry_@hotmail.com and through her website: www.spiritualdiscover.net.
DISCLAIMER: As always, everything presented here is for entertainment and semi-educational purposes only. Please do not mistake this for mental health therapy or advice. If you need mental health counseling or treatment, please contact your insurance company, local college’s student counseling clinic, county crisis line, or the Psychology Today Portal.
For those of you who like my hot takes on current events, please accept my summation of a couple current events fever dreams (click on the differently colored text to find out where I get this stuff):
Former leader of the USSR and Nobel Prize winner Mikhail Gorbachev died at the age of 91. You can read about his death in this Reuters article. You can also read how other world leaders—including Vladimir Putin—reacted to the news right here.
Speaking of FORMER leaders, EX president Donald Trump made the news for having a couple meltdowns this week. Even though Republicans like this Arizona candidate and these GOP-ers want to distance themselves from Trump’s wild election claims—the ones many of them so readily ran with—Emperor Orange Julius Caesar threw quite the tantrum, demanding—demanding, I tell you—a new election because he is the rightful POTUS. You can shake your head in disbelief as you read about it right here. My personal theory is that he is trying to create a diversion so that we quit focusing on the documents seized at Mar-a-Lago. He had a pretty strong reaction, which you can check out right here. The popular theory is that the Dept. of Justice will wait until after midterm elections to reveal any charges against Trump. You can check Bloomberg’s take on it in this article.
Meanwhile, Outwardly Inclusive/Inwardly Fear-Based Corporate Juggernaut (™) Google is getting called out for creating a culture of fear that discourages employees from supporting Khalil Awawdeh, the Palestinian prisoner who went on a hunger strike. Rumor has it this has a lot to do with Google selling some powerful AI to Israel and other military contracts they are pursuing. You can read about the accusations against Google right here.
It appears Trump isn’t the only one suing the FBI these days. Micky Dolenz, the lone surviving member of the Monkees, is suing the FBI. Apparently the Fed tried to dig up some massive dirt on the band because the Prefab Four would make anti war statements during their concerts back in the 60’s. You can check that story out right here.
American student loans remained in the news this week. Apparently those of us who continued to pay on our loan balances during the pandemic pauses are eligible for a refund. Don’t get too excited, though, because the refund you get drives your loan balance right back up to what it was before you made the payments. Nice shell game, Pres. Biden. No matter where you stand on the student loan debt cancellation argument—you can check out three points of view on the subject right here—I think it’s pretty clear that the government will find a way to get their money back. Did you think the U.S. government got miraculously less greedy? That’s cute. Methinks we don’t have to worry about student loan cancellation driving inflation through the roof as a result. You can read about the phony loan refund nonsense right here.
Does anyone else hear some lazy spiritualist utter the copout “everything happens for a reason” and wish they would shut the fuck up? If you’re one of my salty twinsies, this video is for you:
If you can, please consider making a donation to Ukranians affected by the current crisis. Consider making a donation to Catholic Relief Services or the International Rescue Committee to provide displaced Ukranians with much needed food, shelter, and medical care. Or, if you are more concerned about the children, please donate to UNICEF. Honestly, anything helps at this point.
As always, I have to mention the MindBody/Wellness Research and Science Network group on Facebook. The chick who runs it takes an evidence-based approach to holistic topics. I appreciate her common sense-meets-spirituality way of doing things.
Aaaannnnyyyyhoo… Onto the Reading, Shall We…?
I asked the cards what we need to know about the week of 8/31/22 – 9/7/22 and I got: Ten of Wands (number 10, martyrdom, the need to delegate at work or in relationships, family burdens, taking on too much responsibility, enabling others, worrying too much, and using one’s burdens as an excuse to not progress); the Empress (number 3, creativity, productivity, “mommy issues,” a smothering relationship, the need to let go, the need to keep healthy boundaries in relationships); the Chariot (number 7, the need to exercise mind over matter, movement or change of residence, sometimes literally transportation, the need to keep one’s emotions in check, the need to push through inertia or procrastination, and overcoming fears); and the World (number 21, natural end to cycles, a phase of life ending, happy conclusions, others noticing one’s achievements and contributions, possibly travel, peaceful resolution to an old issue). I can sum up this spread in three words: SUCK IT UP. Not to be an asshole, but it feels like you’re making way too many excuses for yourself or someone around you. I get this feeling not only from the sense of annoyance I’m getting, but also from the first card in this spread. This potentially controversial line o’ cards starts with the oft put upon Ten of Wands. When we see the Ten, we’re looking at a relationship that’s become a burden, enabling and highly codependent behavior, feeling unappreciated, and taking on way too much responsibility. The relationships and jobs signified by the Ten have become obligatory and possibly soul-sucking. In short, this card talks about situations where the juice ain’t worth the squeeze. Know what keeps these situations alive? People making excuses for them, rather than actually dealing with the problem. If we’re talking about you avoiding something you truly want or need to do because you’re mired in busywork or others’ fuckery, then you need to know that you’re using way more energy making excuses on why you can’t do the thing than actually doing it. This would be a good week to list all of your reasons for taking on way too much, not going after your goals, putting off that project, etc and evaluate whether these things are actually valid or just a fancy form of procrastination. Perhaps use this guide. Please also apply this logic to jobs or relationships with others that leave you feeling resentful, burned out, exhausted, or physically ill. These vampiric fucks will find another soul to drink. You enjoy the daylight, pumpkin. Let them crumble to dust, go poof like some stripper’s body glitter exploded, burst into flames, or scurry into the shadows like cockroaches. The theme of enabling is carried with the second card, the incredibly indulgent Empress. In a relationship, this Major Arcana card corresponds to creativity, abundance, and a very venutian, all-encompassing type of love. In the positive, this is a relationship that makes both people feel safe, satisfied, and inspired. However, the Empress can also signify a mama’s boy, a helicopter parent, or a partner that can’t let their loved one up for air. She can choke the shit out of you with her need to indulge whims you didn’t even know you had. The Empress can also be insanely self-indulgent. She might be the person who constantly has to treat herself with spending sprees or empty calories. Or she could be the person who feels she needs to self-soothe every little feeling of discomfort, rather than work through it and solve it. (Yeah, Gen Z, I’m fucking looking at you. Stop the self-indulgent bullshit and learn some distress tolerance.) Think of the Empress as a control freak with a sweet candy coating. The warning with the Empress is that you’re better off turning this laser focus and need to control towards things that would actually make your life better, such as art or DIY projects or dealing with your eating habits. This is a great time to talk about our third card, the strong-willed Chariot. A card of willpower and inner strength, the Chariot appears when we need to stop making excuses and push through any discomfort we might be feeling. (It can also signify needing to literally get off your ass, so this might be a good week to get some exercise or look for a new job or place to live. Just stop procrastinating this week.) You might want to stop daydreaming and actually start your novel or start learning a new sport. The Chariot wants you to stop focusing on the people who want you to fail and your obstacles. Rather, use their venom to make you stronger.PLEASE NOTE: I completely understand that there are real obstacles that keep us from doing things. It’s completely unreasonable for me to expect that someone with crippling anxiety will spontaneously become a star at their local Toastmasters chapter. Yes, I’m also aware that someone who doesn’t have the money to eat organic food might not realize their super vegan fantasies. The person stuck in an abusive relationship due to financial hardship and/or familial obligation probably can’t just up and leave. We ALL have limitations. However, your job this week is to examine your limitations and find at least one small way that you can take a step towards your goal, rather than use your limitations as a way to kick your own ass. There’s always SOMETHING you can do, no matter how small the action is. Believe me when I say the small victories build on each other. This spread concludes with a third Major Arcana card, the World. Emphasis on the word conclude. The World signifies peaceful resolutions and natural conclusions. Relationships, jobs, and connections that were hanging on by a thread might find their way out of your life this week. Your task is to stop making excuses for them to stay.
PLEASE READ: I am not doing private readings for the foreseeable future. I have way too much going on to create content and be an effective reader. Please understand, this isn’t personal. I just need to clean my own mental and emotional house for now. If you want a badass reading, I suggest you hit up my friend Marshall Delaware. You can email him at ggm92666@yahoo.ca Also, I highly recommend you check out my Keen pal Silverbreeze. You can find her right here.
If you’re looking for an inspirational poem on finding your place in the world amongst a million ghosts, check outJoan Carol Bird’s latest. Hey, sharing is caring. While you’re at it, check out her newest collection of creepy tales right here.
I don’t know if you’ve heard about the abortion bans over the last year, but my OG readers can probably guess that grills my cheese in a bad way. Please consider donating to Planned Parenthood. The problem with banning abortion is, this makes a huge legal loophole for conservative legislators to make things like birth control or women’s healthcare cost prohibitive. Banning abortion also criminalizes doctors in situations where the pregnancy is nonviable and the fetus needs to be extracted in order to save the mother’s life. You know those babies conservative pro-life types don’t like paying for? Taking away abortion rights will most likely create more of those. I know, I know. Anyone who would read my blog probably doesn’t get stigmata or have a trauma reaction at the thought of Planned Parenthood. (If you do think I owe the world an apology for singing the praises of Planned Parenthood, I have two things to say to you. One, please remember what your religion told you about judging others and take a long look in the mirror. Two, perhaps you should acquaint yourself with other services Planned Parenthood provides. They offer women and men’s preventive healthcare, birth control and emergency contraception, HIV services, assistance for the transgender community, sexual assault crisis counseling, pregnancy counseling, and STD testing. You can learn more about these services right here.)
Also, consider donating to Blind Cat Rescue. They do wonders for blind and FLV+ cats.
For those of you who can’t resist a little subtle virtue signaling, why not buy a shirt that gives back? Arm the Animals has some of the cutest shirts I’ve seen in a long time, plus a portion of the proceeds go to shelter pets in need. I also love Meow.com because this site allows me to buy a new workout shirt and give to homeless kitties at the same time.
P.S. I managed to publish the first part of my first novel in 2019!! I’m excited and want to share it with you. Check out Water Torture Part One: Have You Checked the Children?Here. Please read and review it. Thank you!!
Did you like my buddy Marshall Delaware, aka G. G. MacLeod? Check out our latest political collab. He’s coming back in the near future, FYI. If you want to read an awesome historical fiction novel,you can get your hands on his book here. It may take place in Ancient Rome, but Augusta couldn’t be any more timely if it tried. He actually droppedPart Two a while ago and then gifted the world withPart Three. Part Four is right here. And, ehrmagerd, you can even score Part Five. For those of you who can’t do the piecemeal thing, check out The Omnibus Edition so you can get Volumes 1-6 in one place. I think you should go get it, Tiger!
the spice is right 