((The Steampunk Tarot, Moore and Fell. Read left to right, top to bottom: Devil, King of Pentacles, Hierophant, Four Pentacles, Three Swords. ))

A WARM SPRING WELCOME!!

Spring has finally arrived in the American Midwest (Greetings from Chicago, Illinois, US!), and Selene’s Full Pink Moon smile will be with us at 12:49 AM/CST on the 11th (or Monday night as I like to think of it).

Normally, this Spring Moon would be about new beginnings, starting projects, launching into new endeavors. NOT THIS TIME!!! Mercury Retrograde (MRx)* is underway, and this is NOT the time to start new things  unless you want the going to be particularly rough. Instead, we will focus on healing – a new beginning in its own right – and the process will work well with the current MRx season. (This blog has reviewed MRx many times so if some of this seems familiar, that’s because it it. 🙂 )

The cards above speak directly to our current surroundings and situations; we are dealing with devils of our own making, and some of the repercussions are more serious than anticipated – really, it could happen to anyone, and it has. Before all is said and done, we will learn some stuff (knowledge of the poorer-but-wiser variety) and although our hearts are bruised, they are not broken. 

 LET THE HEALING BEGIN!

Let us begin with a standard MRx reminder; in addition to being a trickster god, Mercury rules Communication and Transportation. With that in mind, plan to avoid the common pitfalls:

• Do not purchase vehicles or electronics (if this cannot be avoided, do as much research as possible before making a final decision).
• Do not enter into any agreements (this cross-references with the current Saturn Retrograde (SRx) and the likelihood you will bite off more than you can chew).
• Do not sign any contracts (if this cannot be avoided, seek appropriate professional assistance to review every bit of the fine print).
• Do not engage in unnecessary travel.
• Do not be pulled into arguments or negative talk such as gossip.

Before you get the idea MRx is all about “Do not…,” please remember this is a good time for the following:

• De-clutter your home; if you do not love it, need it or use it, pass it on.
• Re-organize your home; once de-cluttered, reorganize what remains.
• Back-up all electronics; this one just makes good sense – and you should be doing it regularly.
• Take note! Literally!! Put pen to paper; write down thoughts and ideas, make To-Do and Shopping Lists, write appointments on your wall calendar. 
• Re-visit current project plans; make sure the existing plan is still working as desired – tweak as needed.
• Take good care of yourself. Self-reflection, meditation, self-care are always important to personal balance, and particularly necessary during this time.

*Reminder: Sometimes, things just happen despite our best efforts. MRx is not necessarily the cause of every unfortunate incident but it will make you more keenly aware of it. Cut yourself some slack, have a cup of tea, regroup and try again.

PRACTICAL MAGIC TIP: With the most basic of tools, you can make your healing magically charged and protected. Gather the following:

• dead sea salt (protection and purification)
• fresh rosemary (success, protection, healing)
• vanilla candle (home and hearth)
• quartz crystal (general positive energy amplifier)
• rose quartz crystal (positive heart energy)
• pen (color of your choice – I like blue or purple)
• notebook or journal  

STEP 1: Mince the fresh rosemary on a bed of salt while concentrating on healing energy.

STEP 2: On a heat-resistant plate, draw a circle with salt-rosemary mixture; place the candle in the center and the crystals on each side.

STEP 3: Sit comfortably before the candle and focus on the flame; ask it to reveal where your healing is most needed. 

STEP 4: Write down the areas of healing you will address as well as how you plan to address them.

STEP 5: Blow out the candle. Move the plate as is to your home’s true hearth (for me, it is the kitchen but it can be any room you feel is the true heart’s center) for the remainder of the MRx cycle.

STEP 6: Meditation and contemplation; meditate on your notes, and contemplate the best ways to actualize the healing. 

STEP 7: Embrace healing; it is not enough to know where and how healing is needed, you must also fully embrace it for yourself. It is the ultimate in self-care.

NOTE: This particular spell is for your personal healing but it may be adapted to other intentions with the addition of various herbs and crystals.  

((All images courtesy Google Images and Facebook.))