As of this week, we are in the “pre-wash” of Mercury Retrograde. The actual shift happens on the 21st, but Nature does anything abruptly, and this is a pattern that always shows itself about a week out (and goes on for a week longer than it has any right to). It will happen the day after New Moon, at the same time that the Sun enters Aquarius. What this means to me is that the energy for the next 4-5 weeks will likely be somewhat jarring, and it will be challenging to feel like your feet are actually under you.

If you want a good primer on Mercury Retrograde in general, this is probably my best recent-ish post on the subject.

It’s an interesting energy that comes with the close proximity of Mercury, Moon and Sun shifting gears. Mercury Retrograde to me has always been slow, thoughtful energy (unless I’m trying to rush it, and then things get frantic), but when the Moon and Sun shift at the same time, it sets up a sense of being broadsided. I interpret this combination as an indication I really need to work on my foundations.

Take a look at your daily practice. What is working? What isn’t working? How can you improve how you start and end your day, from a spiritual point of view? What are the things you do or can do that will give you a clear sense of being grounded and walking through your day with purpose? What are the things you can do to help you be in alignment with your highest self? What are you doing to maintain your emotional well-being? What are the things you are or could be doing to maintain your physical well-being?

• Are you drinking enough water?
• Are you grounding?
• Are you carrying around things which no longer serve you, or are you consciously releasing?
• Are you feeding your soul, making your heart sing?
• Are you eating things that nurture you, or just sustain you?
• Are you moving your chi?

Mercury Retrograde is always an optimal time to evaluate where you are and how you go there, so that you know where you want to go from here (and maybe even how to get there), and the addition of the Sun/Moon shift within 24 hours of its beginning is a strong indicator that foundations need to be your first focus. Without a foundation, you won’t be able to move on to other, theoretically meatier, stuff.

If you can get your foundation down pat by the end of the day on the 19th, you may end up being able to sail through the next month fairly unscathed.

Good luck!
Ayamanatara