Mercury Retrograde of June 2021

 The Mercury Retrograde of June 2021. A Tarot Message Post Retro

Did Mercury kick your ass hard? This was an intense and notable retrograde (May 29 to June 22). Some who question the validity of astrology are now giving astrology a look because of all the ‘crazy’ that was going on. Serious issues with communication functions. My husband who does not pay attention to these things but is familiar with my ramblings, had to reset the internet nearly twice daily and jokingly asked if it was a Mercury retrograde…. Seriously not a joke…. This Mercury retrograde has been a doozy; and with good reason.

Mercury has two home signs, Gemini and Virgo. This retrograde happened while Mercury and the Sun was in Gemini.  When a planet is in its home sign it is as it says, ‘at home’. Not much different than ourselves, when we are at home we are at our most comfortable and are (typically) our most pure and authentic selves. 

Mercury poured on its most authentic self for sure. 

Now, some people had no problems this retrograde. I looked at a couple natal charts and found some commonalities between the two and possible placements that could explain this. But I would need more charts to validate my theory. (Did you breeze through this retrograde, or did extra good things happen for you? Would you be willing to give be birth info? Email me at owlkamyst@gmail.com).

So this blog entry was not to explain away the astrological, but it did need that introduction. The purpose is a message from the Universe spoken with Tarot cards… I picked the Revelations deck, (re for re, right?), threw three cards for a freeform spread and I can say, I am not surprised with the cards that came up.

4 of Cups in reverse; a card of ‘ho-hum’. It’s depressed, unmotivated, indifferent, bored; basically a state of disconnect. In reverse, there is a connection, but one that is overly emotional. 

2 of Wands; is intensity, energy, flair, power, has a bold and commanding presence. 

VI The Lovers; the title of this cards gives the inclination of romance and relationships, but that is not the root of this card. Two key elements (that happen to be present in a relationship) for this card is choice and commitment.

The Lovers appearing is, well…. What are the odds? The Lovers card is ruled by the sign….. GEMINI. 

So what is the fine message from these three cards.

We have seen or experienced the over emotional outbursts, people not being chill. Where things before the retro was ‘ho-hum’ everyday stuff, and no one was ‘paying any attention’, suddenly people became nit picky about stuff, would seem to hunt down things to be upset about. There has been a lot of heated arguments, people’s egos gone wild in all kinds of directions, but many just wanted to be a ‘voice of authority’ in some fashion. Because you know… when life is boring, why not create some drama, right? Not my game, but whatever… I blame Mercury. I’ve seen a lot, more than usual, confrontations, hostile conversations, and very strange relationship problems (I’m part of a relationship advice group, and most of the posts have been really bizarre).

Since it appears that most of us had challenges with this retrograde, the Lovers addresses you with a question; in light of all that has happened over these past few weeks, what are you going to do? You have choices to make and your choices need to be ones you commit to. 

See, retrograde are not just a phase of havoc and chaos, it is a time of reevaluating, reflecting, review. These are good thing to do when making a choice and commitment. 

This is tied to the reversed nature of the 4 of Cups. In all the heavy negative stuff, there is a piece of clarity this card bring when it appears reversed. One could say experiencing all the negativity and draining energy is an eye opener. What do you see? Look again, look from a different perspective, as that is the review and re-evaluate… you are called to see things from a different angle. 

The authoritative nature of the 2 of Wands is a call to action, take control, exercise your power. If this retro put you down in the dirt, well then, grow! What have you learned? Use your reflection of these recent events to choose your direction and start the journey.

Here's Your Sign! The Universe and It's Sense of Humor.

 I often use signs as a way to figure things out and what I should be focusing on. 

One specific time I asked for a sign, is a time I will never forget, as well as is just another piece that shows how the Universe has a sense of humor.

I was living 22 miles from work, not a big deal distance wise, right? HOWEVER... this was 22 miles of mountain roads, meaning that it took me an hour to go the distance. Doing that 5 days a week was really getting to me. I am not a morning person and getting up at 6am to be at work and drop my daughter off at school was draining me, and putting a load on my already 'over worked' truck. While I loved my peaceful mountain top, it just was not worth it anymore.... but at the same time, I was conflicted due to several things that were a benefit to the mountain. SO.... one morning, on my way to work I asked for a sign.

"Should I start hunting for a house in town; show me a white bird." The second I said it I thought, 'Oh that is so dumb!' 

Why? Because 'town' is coastal and the coast is full of species of birds that are white. I had a really good odds that I would see a white bird. But, the 'rule' is, when you ask for a sign you ask with the first thing that comes to your mind and you don't change it.... so, 'oh well'... I would just have to roll with it.

I drove for 30 minutes, no white birds. 45 minutes, no white birds. Hit the coastal road with 7 miles left to go. Drove past the bay, the marshes... no white birds. Just as I was about to exit a big truck sped past me. On the back window was one of those cut out decals; you know, like the one's that are white and have the dad, mom and kids... and maybe pets. 

The decal was.... a white Woody Woodpecker, holding a sign... and that sign said.... 

"Here's Your Sign"

I was laughing the rest of the way to work, I was laughing off and on all day long. Its been well over 10 years since that happened and it still makes me laugh.

But, I did start house hunting and the first house I applied for, I got. And this is in an area that rentals are pretty slim pickings.

The Alchemy Tarot Spread

This is my own little twist to some basics found in most spreads. This is an easy spread for a quick look into any subject.

The Alchemy spread consists of just four cards.

 

APEX is positioned at the Top Center

NEGATIVE INFLUENCES is positioned on the Left

POSITIVE INFLUENCES is positioned on the Right

SELF is positioned at the Bottom Center

 

 

 

When throwing the cards, the order is:

 Self, Negative, Positive and then Apex. 

 

 

 

 

 

The deck presented here is Waking the Wild Spirit By Poppy Palin 

 

Card interpretations below come from my own intuitive eye 

The reading is a 'General' or "What does the Universe want me to know" type reading.

 

The SELF card is as it sounds. It is a reflection of you (or the sitter) in the situation of focus.

The card in this position is 6 of Earth. This is about creative energy combined with passion, it is the driving force and source of joy that keeps one fulfilled in life. This is is connecting to the creative energy that is within as well all around. It is a love of nature and being in tune with nature, inspiration from and honoring everything in life. *If you have been stressed or fatigued, the recommendation is to take a mini-vacation to somewhere you can immerse yourself in nature. Get to know the sounds of the life that lives there and their routines. A lot can be learned from nature.

 

Negative Influence card is 3 of Air. The 'seasons' are changing and thus, one needs to adapt and adjust the routine. What once was not, now is; and there is trouble if one cannot make the adjustment. The challenge here is NOT taking charge of things and making adjustments and tending to the things that need tending. Responsibilities are not being dealt with. This is a need to get your head into the game and get down to business. If motivation is lacking, then it is going to take strength to get the mind into a determined mood to 'attack' the needs in life and get everything in order. The warning applies: Avoid a downward spiral into chaos. Think Ready, Set, Go. While it seems like a lot of work, just getting it done and out of the way feels so much better in the end. Order (and not chaos) is liberating.

 

Positive Influences card is Queen of Earth. The Queen is a wise, skilled and compassionate individual. This speaks of hands on nurturing, the training of others in the ways of different skills and crafts. The Queen has a love for all life. This virtue has animal whisperer qualities and a green thumb. She is one that listens to the sounds of nature and nature for a deeper understanding in how it all works. This allows her to know what her environment needs and what it will give or bring. It is the call of the cows that lets her know a storm is coming. It is the color of the leaves that lets her know what to feed her plants. You have much skill and wisdom and are capable of self sufficiency. You pay attention to everything around you be it natural or urban and thus know what to do, how to do and what not to do. 

Do what you do best!

The Apex card is the card that brings it all together and speaks on the over all energy and situation. The card in the position of Apex is the 8 of Water and speaks of an unpleasant environment. There are 'bad spirits' that are fouling things up and causing problems. There is stagnation and things out of balance. This takes us back to the negative influences card, things in chaos. Like a song the get stuck in your head, certain 'bad habits' have developed and persisted; things need to get cleaned up and put into order. This is not a healthy space for the soul as it bogs down everything in life. Things cannot grow and flourish in this sort of environment. This card's call to action is to cleanse your space energetically and physically, and to cleanse yourself spiritually and emotionally.

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Ask A Question

Tarot is a wonderful tool for getting insight and helps in finding answers. The cards themselves may or may no provide a specific answer, but a reading allows the mind to work things out so that a person can find some direction.

With tarot having the stigma of being a tool for fortune telling, questions get often phrased in a direct manner.


"Does he like me?"


"When will I get married?"
"Will I have a baby?"


"Will I find a job?"


These questions are limited to two answers- either 'yes' or 'no'. Tarot does not work that way (well not exactly, but more on that later).
Now, let's examine these questions for what they are. If someone was to ask another these questions, just to get an opinion or advice, what would they be told?

"Well, how would I know, why don't you ask him?"

"Are you dating anyone right now?” Or, “Have you talked about marriage with your SO?”


"Well, do you want a baby?"


"Only if you get off your butt and go look for one."



Getting a tarot reading for these questions would be a waste. So how can these issues be addressed utilizing the tarot? First thing is to properly phrase the question. Questions need to be in an open-ended format. If you are not sure what an open-ended question is, it is a question that invites a dialog.


'Does he like me?' would be, 'How does he feel about me?'
‘When will I get married?’ would be, ‘What can I do to find a life partner who will commit to marriage?’


'Will I have a baby?' would be, 'What is it best for me for having children?'


'Will I find a job?' would be, 'What do I need to do to find a job?'


Of course there are many different questions that can be asked for these issues.


'How can I make finding a job easier?', 'What do I need to do to be a good parent?', 'How do I make myself more appealing and desirable?'



In forming open ended questions, it allows for the cards to give a more in-depth response compared to a plain old 'yes' or 'no'.

 

So what about the 'well not exactly' (mentioned earlier) as far as tarot giving a yes or no? This is a matter of likelihood.
 If the cards are asked 'Does he like me?'; they will describe, based on the spread used, the thoughts, emotions, attitude of the person of interest. In a long winded manner, the reading will express dislike, unawareness, or interest. While this then would give a yes or no in essence, as a reading, it is still a waste to a degree. If the reading indicates that there is no interest, then the person is able to move on right then and there and that is not really a waste, but it is in the sense that so much more could have been discovered.



Side Note: It is not a (my) typical practice to do a reading that involves intruding into the lives of a third party. However, I use the 'does he like me' as an example for it is often asked. In rephrasing the question, the question is made into something that becomes more focused on the person asking the question that their person of interest.

 When I say so much more can be discovered, we find that in the rephrasing of the 'does he like me' question into 'what can I do to be more desirable?', we get a reading that carries a lot of value. Value that goes beyond just focusing on the person of interest for the information and advice provided in the reading can be utilized throughout life.

With all that said, I still can do a reading with a question that is phrased in a manner that can be answered with a ‘yes/no’, but the reading will say a whole lot more.