War Is Over: The Cardinal Guide to Recovering from Mercury Retrograde

So, Mercury Retrograde ended on Thursday and if you feel like you are hanging on by a thread, you are not the only one. This Mercury Rx began on June 29^th and as you can see, I have not made a blog post since June 30^th. These past few weeks have kept me on the ropes as this particular Mercury Rx heavily impacted the following signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn; or, simply put, the cardinal signs. This transit hit me and my fellow cardinals like a freight train, with the sensitive energy of Cancer responsible for the domestic and emotional friction each sign experienced. If you found yourself more irritable, side eyeing your partner, getting into shouting matches with your parents, or simply wanting to curse more people out, chances are your natal chart has some serious planetary influence in one of the four signs I mentioned.

Mercury Retrograde always gets a bad rep—it’s the reason why you hooked up with that ex that will make your friends roll their eyes, it’s the reason you forgot to pay that parking ticket online, it’s the reason why you forgot to get your mom a birthday gift, it’s the reason why you accidentally shared a screenshot of your iMessages with the other party when you were really trying to gossip about them, etc. While the energy is always a bit cheeky and a little messy (I live for it), this energy felt sinister and unrelenting. I wanted to cry, scream, curse and collapse all at once. I wanted to do everything and nothing at the same time. I came home every day for three weeks and exclaimed that I felt raw. My partner, who was seemingly unaffected by this retrograde energy, would simply slow blink as I tore through our apartment as recklessly as a Tasmanian devil.

If I had to liken the impact to anything, I would associate it with being a newly made vampire, everything heightened and nothing short of pure chaos. There were also physical manifestations alongside the emotional currents—my body felt sore, most specifically my neck. My joints felt weak, my workouts were harder than usual. Suffice it to say, I was a mess. I either could not write a single sentence or stayed up until 3am working on a project.

After experiencing a transit like that, you could imagine how tired I felt when everything lifted, seemingly all at once on Thursday. By that point, I had already abandoned my residence and drove 50 miles out west to be cared for by the one person whose job it will always be—my mom. While this visit had been planned weeks before Mercury retrograde even began, it came right on time as I needed the escape to shut my brain off and sequester myself in a safe place (where I can also request pancakes (see below) with crispy edges).

Instead of continuing the downward spiral that I found myself on, I wanted to take control of the energy and repurpose it. While every single one of my ugly insecurities reared, I took it as an opportunity to strengthen the parts of myself that felt less than ideal. I worked out even when I didn’t want to. I refrained from drinking in excess, fearful of saying things that I would later regret. I took space instead of forcing myself into social situations where I remained unsure of whether I was a pity invite. I stopped replying to texts before I was ready. I stopped seeking validation. While it was an isolating three weeks, I am much stronger for it. I continued to attack my goals to the best of my ability. I continued to write even when I felt unworthy of having a voice, I went to the gym even when I felt unattractive in my own skin, I continued showing up in love, even when I doubted the love that others gave me. I did not self-sabotage, I did not self-abandon, I did not overcorrect. Now, I’m back to you like I never left.  

I escaped from the bad energy and chaos that had started to weigh heavily on my heart in search of the one thing I hadn’t had in weeks—peace. I packed up my car and drove to the quiet and rural reality of my mother’s abode to engage in activities that were playful, childlike, but restorative. I had a pool day, went to a carnival, explored a new town and loaded up on baked treats. I played my Nintendo Switch while yelling out my dinner and breakfast orders. The nostalgia of outsourcing my care was exactly what I needed. It soothed the parts that still ached from the emotional whiplash I had endured. From a clearer headspace, I was able to come back to this blog. I knew if I was experiencing an unanticipated reckoning, it was plausible that somewhere out there, someone else was too.

As I cross the other side of this retrograde, I am a little battered and bruised, but reassured that I can weather intense storms, yes, even emotional ones. If you felt out of sorts or like you were battling for control within yourself, take some rest. To my fellow cardinal signs, there is a reason we are called the initiators and leaders of the zodiac; we must continue to lead even through chaos.

Mercury is direct, which means war is over (for now)! However, you must heal after three weeks of energetic warfare. As this is a love letter to my cardinals (I know life hit you hard bookies), I am sharing a few tips that may help you navigate the calm after that very traumatic storm.

Post Mercury Rx Self-Care Checklist:

- Aries: Calm the fire. You spent the last three weeks resembling the wrath of Mercury; a chaos agent who likely burned those around you a few times. Redirect the flames—pick up that new hobby, go full throttle in a workout class. Demand peace as much as you demand respect.

- Cancer: Find your way back home, either literally or emotionally. This retrograde was encased in your own energy. I know the feels were felt and you are probably the most rocked right now. If you need to rest in your mom’s lap, cook a delicious meal to soothe the soul, redecorate your space, or watch your favorite comfort show for the hundredth time, do that. Unabashedly, call your energy back to yourself.

- Libra: Stop performing for the sake of everyone else’s peace, find your own. Your throat hurts from the words you keep holding back, let it out. Maybe not as much as you did over the last few weeks (trust me I know) but you matter beyond your ability to smooth everything over for the sake of other people’s comfort. If you take anything away from this retrograde, stop yielding so much. Your own comfort should be prioritized.

- Capricorn: You are not your work product. You deserve rest mamas. Abandon the grind when it begins to hurt you. You are the most important accolade you will ever win. Protect that.

- All Cardinals: A true leader knows when they need help. Stop bottling it all just because vulnerability can be embarrassing. You deserve to be cared for. The people in your life are willing to show up for you if you let them (yes, you still get to dictate how if that helps).

Thank you for getting to the other side with me! I hope this upcoming week feels lighter.