Make Your Own Medicine and Take It

Mercury stations direct in Virgo, first quarter moon in Capricorn

On September 10th, Mercury stationed retrograde, joining five other planets already in retrograde. Just so we’re clear, that’s Mercury (communication, technology, travel), Jupiter (generosity, optimistic/expanding), Saturn (discipline, focusing/limiting), Uranus (revolution, invention), Neptune (imagination, spirituality), and Pluto (hidden power, death/rebirth) – all in a long reflective pause. Has it felt like the transition into fall has been especially unsmooth? Like you just haven’t been your bright copper penny of a self? Like you haven’t had access to all of you, or all of your good hormones were crashing?

Yesterday – Sunday, October 2nd – Mercury stationed direct, and a lot may be cleared up and freed up as it gets back up to speed this week. The vibe is “finding your keys” and then trying to remember what you were even doing before and whether it still matters. By the end the week, Pluto will also be direct, then Saturn on the 23rd. But then Mars will station retrograde a week later, and Venus six weeks after that, all of which is to say, retrogrades in general cannot be avoided, and don’t need to be avoided. They can be worked with, and have their own gifts and offerings.

Just like all the distressing and regressive parts about being human – negative emotions, difficult memories, dark truths, being wounded or sick, not being your ”best self” – cannot be avoided, but can be increasingly respected and understood. Understanding almost always leads to compassion, and together they make wisdom actually usable.