Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

Have you ever had a day, or a week, or a few weeks where nothing seemed to go right? I recently went through one of these episodes. First, I went to pay my car registration, and noticed that I needed to get it smogged several weeks prior to mailing my registration. I rushed over to get it done before I had to send in my paperwork, and it didn’t pass smog. I took it to the auto mechanic shop, and the problem ended up being two tiny wires that test oxygen levels. Of course, these two tiny wires came at a high price, $500!! Meanwhile, my desktop computer’s monitor burned out and the power cord for my laptop died. The monitor was easily replaced but I ended up having to wait over a week to get my laptop cord because it was under warranty. During this time several little things also went wrong that wouldn’t have been a huge deal if I hadn’t been going through all of the car and computer related stress!I felt like I had made someone in the heavens mad, until I looked at the calendar. All of this happened smack dab in the middle of a Mercury retrograde. This astrological phenomenon happens three times per year, unfortunately, and effects us all.

Just as we are connected to the earth, we are connected to the skies as well. Astrology is an important ‘subject’ in Paganism and using it to time rituals and spellwork is important in the effectiveness of your magickal work. That’s why I always recommend consulting an ephemeris before planning a ritual. An ephemeris is a record of the movement of the planets through the astrological signs. Ephemeris, can tell you what sign a planet will be occupying for the next 50 to 100 years. They make it simple to see what will be going on astrologically. Using planetary power to aid your magickal working will make it all the more powerful.

A Mercury retrograde is a unique astrological time. Most planets enter a retrograde period, but the further out a planet is, the longer time the retrograde takes. But since Mercury is closer to us and to the Sun, its effects are very powerful. Venus and Mars retrogrades also have a powerful effect but they fortunately don’t happen with the frequency of Mercury retrogrades. A retrograde describes a period where the planet in question appears to be moving backward from our standpoint here on earth. Astrologically, the energies that the planet normally controls turn inward instead of outward. Mercury controls communication, travel, though and technology. As a result, Mercury makes our thoughts, transportation and electronics go haywire! It can be a frustrating time, and definitely not a time to try to get a lot accomplished.

When I first learned of Mercury retrograde, I started to dread them. Everything seemed to go wrong, as it did this most recent time. However, despite all of the setbacks and missteps that seem to happen during this period, I’ve found that Mercury retrograde has its good points (just like everything in this universe). What could possibly be good about Mercury retrograde you ask? Well, mental energies may be confused, but they are also turned inward. I have found that Mercury retrograde is an ideal time for looking inside yourself, and taking a break from our fast paced lives. If we try to continue at the pace we’ve been going during this time, we will undoubtedly get caught up in the web of Mercury. Instead, if we approach this time with a more reserved stance and introspective nature, we’ll get much more out of the period and be much less frustrated.
Love And Light,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”