Mercury Retrograde

MERCURY RETROGRADE 2016

April 28 - May 22

August 30 - September 22

Dec 19  - Jan 8

Mercury is preparing to go Retrograde on April 28th. The week before is considered the Retrograde "Shadow" period. During this time we begin to be introduced to the issues that this particular Mercury Retrograde will focus on for you. It is important to pay attention to the themes that are beginning to surface in your life as they may reemerge in the coming weeks during the Retrograde itself. With this upcoming Mercury Retrograde in Taurus, we have the opportunity to carefully re-think our financial security needs, how to make greater use of our Inner resources/talents, and reconsider what possessions we actually need. It is an opportunity to deepen our values and re-vision our future.

Mercury Retrograde occurs when it is moving backwards, into its shadow, and thus communication, scheduling, transportation and judgment becomes cloudy or error prone. As much as outer work is challenged by Mercury Retrograde, introspection and inner work is very supported. Take advantage of Mercury Retrograde by clearing your own tendencies to get caught up in your own shadows and those of others.

At the personal level you can do a lot in order to avoid the consequences of Mercury Retrograde. Most of us encounter the consequences when we are not centered, aware or conscious of what is going on around us, and more often than not the culprit is that we are not acting from our heart and spirit. Instead we are reacting from our needs, our hurts, from our buttons being pushed, or the way that we take care of others and not ourselves. In that way we act from our shadow, and that is what mercury retrograde is all about.

THINGS TO EXPECT DURING RETROGRADE:

*One thing that ALWAYS seems to happen (for me anyways) are people from my past that may feel they have unfinished business will resurface. This could be old relationships, friendships etc. Interpersonally, communications at all levels are problematic, and we are inclined to think slower and process communications slower. We have to be patient with each other and ourselves. While this is not the ideal time to pursue a crush or start a new relationship, Mercury Retrograde offers us the opportunity to bury the hatchet. If you deeply regret breaking up or having a falling out with somebody, now is the time to make amends. This person may not be meant to be in your life anymore, but Mercury Retrograde will allow you to release deep resentments. If you do reconcile, work to change the behavior that caused the initial breakup. Mercury Retrograde offers a wonderful opportunity to correct past mistakes.

*Delays and/or undelivered mail or messages

*Greater misunderstandings, as all communications are more likely to suffer at varying degrees 

*Traffic problems

*Electronics acting up

*The failure to keep one’s word because of a promise that could not be kept

THINGS TO AVOID DURING RETROGRADE:

*Starting a new relationship, a new job (or new career), or long-term project 

*Binding commitments (marriage, financial, or otherwise) without the absolute expectation of necessary modifications, alternative compromises and/or reversals in the original plan and/or intent

*Repairs to machinery or automobiles

Remember that this time is not to "mess with us", but actually it is a period of rest and rejuvenation. Mercury Retrograde if utilized properly can be a kind of extrasensory tool to contact and connect with the steps to take next on the path or that hidden piece of the puzzle you have been trying to figure out. It is also a time to cleanse and take some down time for yourself for the hard work done in the action accommodating energies that took place before this energy kicked in.  ALL beings have periods of growth and then rest. Be mindful of your pursuits during this time. Taking your time to think about what you say to others and most importantly how you have been treating yourself. When in doubt, surrender and just let go.

ESSENTIAL OILS THAT CAN HELP DURING MERCURY RETROGRADE:

*Lavender: helps you stay relaxed and find peace in the chaos
*Lemongrass: repels negativity and uplifts the spirit
*Bergamot: gives strength during rocky times
*Ylang Ylang: calms your nerves while helping you see through negative situations.
*Peppermint: helps with concentration and emotional focus

Energy Centers: Root Chakra

ROOT CHAKRA: Muladhara 

LOCATION: Base of the Spine

COLOR: Red
ELEMENT: Earth

PRIMARY FUNCTION: Support and Security

CHAKRA DEVELOPMENT

Though we are born with each in and out of body chakra, or energy point, intact, they are activated or fully awakened in an orderly manner. The Root Chakra contains within it's structure the underlying attributes we have about life that have been passed down from our ancestors and family of origin. Our first chakra locks in everything that happens to our parents or ourselves while we are in utero and newly born. During this time, we experience the world through our parents' perceptions and our own physical body. If we perceive a threat to ourselves or to our parents, we might question our right or ability to survive. Threats can include anything from not being fed when hungry to our parents going through bankruptcy etc. These feeling can create a belief that "the world is dangerous" or "I don't deserve to live".

This center holds core issues regarding emotional insecurity and physical security, as well as spiritual perceptions that relate to our right to exist and have our needs met. These core issues become issues regarding career, money, primal feelings, addictions, family of origin, and sexuality later on in life.

ASSOCIATED BODY PARTS: Kidneys, blood, the skeletal system, skin

PHYSICAL PROBLEMS: Conditions that affect the feet, knees and hips, including arthritis, kidney stones, osteoporosis, bone problems, and autoimmune deficiecny conditions.

GLANDULAR CONNECTION: Adrenal Cortex (fight or flight)

The Root Chakra emotionally is affected by aggression that, if allowed to remain unexpressed, turns into anger and violence. If your life is threatened or your beliefs are attacked, these feelings will stimulate the adrenaline flow into your blood, causing you to become defensive and frightened. When our way of life is threatened, the Root Chakra is activated and our ideas become harsh. We become defensive and cut off warm feelings to anyone or anything that threatens our home or our institutions.

Our thoughts and feelings about certain beliefs can cause a distortion in the energy center, causing it to become either overactive or under active. Thoughts and feelings pertaining to:

*Finances
*Career
*Physical Safety
*Needs

can cause imbalances. Chakras can be imbalanced by becoming blocked (under active) or overly intense (overactive). When this happens, our being as a whole is imbalanced, often leading to illness and/or emotional blocks and creates an unhealthy environment. Fears related to having your physical needs met can make your Root Chakra become under active and shrink in size. You can literally choke your Root Chakra with worries about money, career and possessions. This creates feelings of lack and usually creates a self fulfilling prophecy involving money challenges. Obsessions about money, career and possessions, the "workaholic" mind-set creates and overactive Root Chakra. Obsessions create imbalance because they make one or more chakra larger than the others.

SIGNS OF AN UNDER ACTIVE ROOT CHAKRA:
Neglecting of self, underweight, poor discipline/boundaries, depression, passivity, lethargy, chronic disorganization, fear of change, feelings of not belonging.

SIGNS OF AN OVERACTIVE ROOT CHAKRA:
Overeating, craving unhealthy foods, paranoia, nervousness, aggression, dominant behavior, addictions to adrenaline activities, hoarding, material fixation.

WHEN BALANCED:
Abundant health and energy, feeling grounded and settled, comfortable with own body, sense of safety and security, happiness in job/career, satisfied with life, material prosperity, able to manifest.

PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF IMBALANCES:
Constipation, lower back/sciatica pain, issues with legs, feet, knees, groin, hips, ankles, rectal/anal problems, frequent illness, immunity issues, skin rashes/issues.

Each chakra also is interconnected with Intuitive or "Psychic" Gift. In relation to the Root Chakra we will experience Physical Sympathy or  Physical Empathy.  If the Chakra is balanced and in harmony we will be able to sense others' physical problems and the reasons for them, be able to separate them from our own energy and are able to release them to assist with their healing.  If the Root Chakra is imbalanced there is a tendency to absorb others' illnesses and physical conditions and have a more difficult time distinguishing them from our own, as well as having a harder time getting rid of them.

WAYS TO HEAL THE ROOT CHAKRA:

*GROUNDING- a way to connect with this elemental energy is to imagine grounding yourself deep into the earth by visualizing a grounding cord made a burgundy red light, uniting your root chakra to the center of the earth. Spending time outside in nature will also assist with healing the root chakra.

*PHYSICAL ACTIVITY- any movement involving your feet and legs will be particularly helpful. When you feel your vital force, you connect with the strength of root chakra energy and grounded in your life.

*LEARNING SELF-RELIANCE- reinforcing your ability to stand on your own and reinforcing that you are safe in the world.

*SHIFTING INTO A MIND FRAME OF "LACK" TO ABUNDANCE-re-center the notion of material abundance on inner and non-material abundance. For instance, instead of assessing your level of wealth just base on your bank account, consider all the other types of riches you have in your life, from friendships to enjoyment of everyday pleasures. In the process, you will like have to reconsider personal beliefs about money and physical safety.

*MEDITATIONS- affirmations and visualizations can assist with healing. Taking some deep clearing and centering breaths, visualize a large red cube at the base of your spine. Expand the form and intensify the color. Feel the weight of this cube anchoring your to the earth. Feel you are cultivating the qualities of patience, stability, structure, and security in your life.

*REIKI OR SOUND THERAPY-energy therapy and vibrational therapy can assist with balancing and removing old energies that no longer support of serve your highest and best good.

ESSENTIAL OILS: Cedarwood, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver, Myrrh
FOODS: Root Vegetables, Red foods
CRYSTALS: Bloodstone, Garnet, Hematite, Red Jasper

AFFIRMATION: "I AM A DIVINE BEING OF LIGHT. I AM PEACEFUL, PROTECTED, AND SECURE"

Energy Centers: The Chakras

To understand yourself and energy, the chakras will be of central importance. There are seven major chakras associated with the human body, each one having a direct relationship to the part of the physical body it governs. The corresponding system on the physical body is called the endocrine system. Most people are concerned with the seven major chakras primarily, but we do have many more that lay within and outside our physical body. Each chakra is shaped like a funnel or whirlpool of energy. The seven main chakra vortices lie inside the body, along the spinal cord (which corresponds to a central energy channel) and up into the head.  Each of these seven major chakras, or primary energy centers, has its own character and corresponds to a unique aspect of our being- from the 1st chakra (physical vitality, or survival) to the 7th chakra (totality of beings, or spiritual perfection).

The chakras are energy processing centers, points of energy flow, and act as the major energy junctions in the energy field. The energetic operations within them are what make every aspect of our bodily, emotional, mental and spiritual life possible.  Every chakra is always receiving energy into itself, from all around, and it is this energy that supports the energy field and the entire life process of each individual. Aside from this entry of energy into the energy field through each of the seven major chakras, there is also an upward flow of energy in the central energy channel from the lower to higher chakras.  This upward flow of energy originates mostly from the earth and then moves through the 1st chakra, 2nd chakra, etc. as it ascends finally to the 7th (crown) chakra.  This energy is processed at each chakra, on its way up, in accordance with the unique nature of that chakra.  The lower chakras are simpler functioning, but as the energy ascends upwards there is a greater degree of sophisticated and more spiritual functioning.

A defect in the energy flow through any given chakra will result not only in a defect in the energy provided to certain portions of the physical body, near to and associated with that chakra, but will also affect emotions, mind and spirit in certain specific ways associated with the nature and character of that particle chakra. Defects will also often affect many other parts of the energy field. This is because the energy field is a holistic entity: every part affects ever other part.

We develop each chakra for a period of seven years, before moving onto the next one. This begins at birth, as we emerge from the protection of our mother's womb and start to develop our relationship with the outside world. The chakras represent a journey, beginning at the base and moving up. The chakras can be seen as a logical progression through life as we learn to deal with the outside world and its relationship with our inner world. The soul incarnates in the physical world, which is represented by the vertical line from spirit to earth. Then the soul goes through five levels of interaction with the world as it develops its physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual self.

Each week coming up, I will spotlight one charka. What is represents on a mental, emotional and spiritual level. What physical aspects of the body it rules, as well as what imbalances will look like in all forms. Included will be ways to balance each center with different tools.

Grounding Energy

It requires extra effort to ground your energy when you are a spiritual person or going through a spiritual awakening. When you are opening up to higher spiritual awareness and downloading many different frequencies of energy, you must be completely grounded to the Earth in order to not burn out your system. There are ways to physically ground so you will be calm and centered and be able to speak your Soul's message with clarity and confidence.

When you are ungrounded you will pick up thoughts and feelings from your surroundings that do not belong to you. You will feel off balance and your energy will be anxious. This is an issue for people who are extremely empathic. This is something that I have dealt with most of my life until I learned energy work and Reiki and started to understand energy.

Before you meditate, or do other spiritual work such as energy healings you should prepare and protect yourself. You do this by grounding yourself and centering your energies.

Centering means that one’s attention is always centered inside the body, more or less.  This also causes a person to be more realistic, more present and more grounded and attentive.  People who are not centered in themselves are usually more distracted, less present, more emotional and often feel pulled in several directions at once.  Centering and grounding are thus related to one another, though they are not exactly the same. We can become so scattered and give our energy out to everyone around us that we feel drained. Spend a few moments focusing on your breath. Then ask all energies that are not yours to move out of your space and into the Light. Then ask all energies that are yours that you have left with others or in other places to return so that you own all your power now. Then you can proceed to grounding.

Grounding connects you to the energy of the earth, and it is important in healing work since it prevents you from depleting your own body's energy. Simply put, you connect to the earth by imagining you are connected to the earth. Sounds silly, but it works. Here are some different ways you can do it:

• Standing up in bare feet (if you can't have your feet bare then imagine your feet are bare) on the ground- you can do this anywhere. With you feet planted firmly on the bare earth, and by your visualization and intention send roots into the earth. As you inhale, you draw energy up through your new "roots", and as you exhale, you send your roots even further into the earth. Do this for several minutes-you should definitely feel a change in the state of your feeling.
• Eating grounding foods- When you are feeling like you are floating and up in the clouds, eat foods that will ground you to the Earth. Roots veggies: beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, ginger, and garlic. All of these veggies have roots that reach down into the ground. 
• Go outside and put bare feet in the ground.
• Hug a tree! 
• Walking.  Walking slowly and deliberately is very helpful for centering and grounding.  Think about your feet as you walk and send your energy into the earth with each slow, deliberate step.  If helpful, imagine you are being pulled along when you walk by a magnet hidden under the earth. 
• Sea Salt bath- purifying in nature this will help eliminate toxic energies and clear the auric field. You can add a bit of lavender essential oil to calm the energy field and clear out other peoples energies and thought patters you may have collected.
• Spend time in nature.
• Use grounding Crystals- such as hematite or black tourmaline
• I like to use essential oils as well. Grounding oil by Young Living assist with centering energies. I apply this blend to the bottoms of my feet.
• If you are attuned to Reiki I like to draw the Power Symbol (CKR) on the bottoms of my feet before doing any energy work.

Can what your Jewelry is made of affect your energy?

Many of us wear jewelry on a daily basis. But did you know that different materials can either draw or repel energies? It is important to make sure that we are properly choosing the items that we wear as well as cleansing them on a regular basis to keep the energy high. Every natural substance has a unique vibration that creates an energy field. Metal is no exception. Jewelry also holds the thought implants from the person who made it, and if it is second-hand also from the person who wore it before.  It will also hold the vibration from the environment where it used to sit. If it was a happy atmosphere there will be no problem. But if you own jewelry that once belonged to a negative thinking relative, or perhaps a depressed or alcoholic person, those dominant thoughts and emotions will be imprinted in the jewelry and will resonate out. It is important to be mindful of where you purchase your items as if you are a highly sensitive person it can be very disruptive to your energy.

GOLD

Gold is the metal of the Sun. Gold has been known to possess a warm energy that brings soothing vibrations to the body to aid in the healing process. Gold really opens the crown chakra and is known to help the wearer who is open to wisdom obtain it from universal sources. Gold will not accept negative energy very easily, but silver and especially base elements will. Gold absorbs and attracts. Gold is an empowering element and truly implements the law of attraction. It is a high-level amplifier of subtle energies. It is important to understand this because it is such a powerful amplifier that if you are someone who has poor boundaries or are psychically sensitive you may attract more unwanted energies while wearing gold. Gold encourages satisfaction and positivity. Eases the load when you are overburdened. Gold has also been used to strengthen the meridians.Gold is very easily programmable much like how you would set your intention with programing a crystal as explained in my previous blog post. You can program gold to attract opportunities. It is important to program your intention prior to wearing.

SILVER

Silver is closely associated with the moon; if you know anything about the influences of the Moon in astrology, you’ll find it closely related to the influences of silver. One of its key traits is that it increases sensitivity—particularly psychic sensitivity. If you’re trying to hone your psychic abilities, silver is a good choice to wear when you work on them and it enhances your psychic abilities it can protect you from others energy. Wearing Silver can also produce psychic/prophetic dreams. It's protective properties and can be used to deflect negative energies while drawing out your own negative energy and reflects others' harmful energies back to their higher selves. Reinforces all energetic boundaries. 

COPPER

Not a lot of people wear pure copper jewelry, but copper is still found mixed into a lot of jewelry. Copper has been hailed for improving circulation. Wearing copper can help you improve your awareness and expand your consciousness. It's particularly useful in strengthening bonds between people. Copper helps the wearer amplify thoughts when sending and receiving psychic communication. Copper can also stimulate the flow mental and physical energy and aids in overcoming lethargy. Bolsters self-esteem and releases mental burdens.


HOW TO CLEANSE JEWELRY 

Jewelry can be cleared but sometimes it can be difficult if it was second-hand. But if you want to work with it, first dedicate and bless it. Dedicate it to the highest of Light and Harmony. Then bless it with understanding, wisdom, healing and your need at that time. Whenever you are doing clearing work it is important to bring white Light down around your body and root yourself into the earth to link yourself into the higher and lower.

To pass the clearing energy into the piece of jewelry, cross your arms over your heart center, and visualize white Light coming down into your heart center and building up as an energy change representing unconditional love. When you heart chakra feels hot, open your arms and allow this energy to flow out of your heart, into your third eye and both palms in a triangular formation.  Visualize this energy surrounding the object until you sense a shift. At this time you can then set the intention of what you would like this jewelry piece to do for you.

For second-hand items or items that may need a deeper cleansing, I have also buried the item in a bowl of pure sea salt and let it sit, sometimes for a few days. Afterwards I remove the item from the bowl and discard the salt in the trash.

Depending on how often you wear a piece of jewelry, the intention behind it, as well as if the piece also has crystals in it, you may need to cleanse it from time to time as it may pick up energies from the environment. You may repeat the process above or you may also use sage smoke to cleanse it. Use whichever method resonates with you!

Using Intention to Bless a Crystal

Lots of individual are drawn to the high vibrational medicine of Crystals. Crystals hold their own vibration which we can utilize for healing as well as to unlock different aspects of our self and our consciousness. They can also assist us when we want to set an intention.

Intention is focused commitment. We use it to declare our objective and to alert the Universe that we are serious about changing our pattern. We can lock our intentions into our crystals that can then be utilized by wearing, carrying or having them in our home or setting up a crystal grid. Your intention actually alters the molecular content and structure of your crystal. Afterward, every time you hold it, your intention is played back for you, like a recorded energetic message, to help you reach your goals.

STEPS ON HOW TO USE YOUR INTENTION TO BLESS YOUR CRYSTAL:

1. Hold or think about the crystal you are going to use.
2. Clear your mind of everything you've been thinking about.
3. Center your heart.
4. Sense any feelings, thoughts, experiences, people, resentments, or obstacles that have been compromising your energetic boundaries, or holding you in an old programing. Concentrate especially on guilt, shame, anger, and blame.
5. Release these factors, allowing your own spirit or the Divine to flush them out of your system and your spiritual borders.
6. Now ask the Divine to completely cleanse you and this crystal of all intentions, decisions, or energies that might keep you stuck in an unhealthy pattern.
7. Reflect on the new intention you would like to set. Sense, feel, embrace, visualize, or otherwise fully experience this new intention.
8. Create a ball of light in your mind's eye and visualize this intention, along with the full sensation of it, being inserted into the crystal. Feel this new intention flow from your heart down through your arms and hands into the stone.
9. Acknowledge that this crystal now carries the energy of your intention and that holding, stroking, carrying, wearing, or thinking about the crystal will re energize your new intention.
10. Believe that the Divine will continue to reach you through this crystal, and in all other areas of your life, as you begin living your newly established commitment.

SMUDGE STICKS: DIFFERENT TYPES & SMUDGE BOWLS

The herb most commonly used in Smudge Sticks is Sage, however there are different herbs and plants that can be utilized in a Smudge Stick that can add additional energies into the space.


SAGE: most common is California White Sage- the sprit of sage has the power to drive out negative energies, spirits, and influences. It transforms energy and brings change.

A great article about how Smudging can help to eliminate dangerous bacteria in the air HERE

SWEETGRASS: the powerful spirit of sweetgrass is used to attract positive energy, and to aid healing after all of the negativity has been banished by the sage.

LAVENDER: restores balance and creates a peaceful atmostphere. Lavender also attracts loving energy and spirits.

CEDAR: deeply purifying, especially useful for clearning negative emotions and healing.

MUGWORT: stimulates psychic awareness and prophetic dreams. It also banishes evil sprits.

JUNIPER: used to purify and create a safe and sacred space.

YERBA SANTA: used to purify and to set and protect boundaries.

ROSEMARY: a powerful healer that brings clarity.

SMUDGE BOWLS:

Native American Shamans do not always use smudge sticks. A common use is a loose smudge mixture that is placed in a bowl or shell and lit.  This is easy to make. All you need is your choice of dried herbs and resins, a bowl or shell that can withstand the heat of the burning charcoal, self-igniting charcoal, large feather.

A Basic smudge mix would include a tablespoon of crumbled sage, plus a teaspoon each of cedar bark and lavender. Mix the herbs together.  Place the charcoal in your container and light it. Wait until the charcoal stops sparking and has turned white-grey. Add a few pinches of your smudge mixture. Use your smudge bowl in the same way you would use your smudge stick-hold up the bowl and use the feather to direct the smoke. Add more smudge from time to time is necessary. Please make sure to use caution as well as keep out of reach of children and pets.

SMUDGE BOWL MIXES:

Powerful Cleansing Mix: (for clearing a new home) sage, sweetgrass, juniper

Emotional Cleansing Mix: (after arguments) sage, cedar, lavender, borage (optional)

Mental Clearning Mix: (when you need clarity) rosemary, juniper, sweetgrass

Healing Mix: (for sickness of both mind and body) sage, cedar, lavender, echinacea (optional)

Spiritual Mix: (for calling on spirit, intuition, and divination) sage, mugwort, copal or frankincense (resins), lavender