*Eleditor’s note: Astrology isn’t a religion. We’re not sure it’s a science, either. It’s magic, maybe. But, as with feng shui, say, things affect things. So as long as we don’t go blaming our problems on the stars, as long as we assume responsibility for our own actions…well, hell, a little auspicious coincidence and applicable wisdom can’t hurt. And so, with that grain of salt…enjoy!
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For dog’s sake, can we get over stressing about Mercury retrograde

It’s happened every 88 days since the stars were dust, and won’t be stopping anytime soon. Instead of showcasing how affected we are (and thus somehow implying how spiritual we are), let’s use the special magic available now for our psychic benefit.

And while we’re at it, does it make me less enlightened to admit the orbit of a tiny iron-rich planet doesn’t really wobble my aura?

In fact I look forward to it. I’m part of the 18 percent of quirky people born during a Mercury retrograde. When that little metal ball in the sky dances about, I flourish.

But that’s just me. If you’re someone who feels less-than-flourishing, take advantage of heightened awareness to work on your intuition.

Here are 10 ways a three-week bath in the reflective, dreamy energies of a Mercury can help those who are hoping to hone their psychic abilities:

1. Answers arrive.
As well as finding $100 in an old handbag or the phone charger that disappeared, answers can arrive in unexpected ways. Abandoned relationships rekindle. Problems resolve in strange and unexpected ways. This is Mercury thinking outside the box.

2. Healing the Past.
Don’t be surprised if someone long gone surfaces to say hello. It’s a chance to clear emotional leftovers. 35 years ago I cheated on my fiancé with a nightclub DJ. It wasn’t the classiest way to end a relationship, but I didn’t need to be psychic to see getting married at that time would eat my brain. Last Mercury retrograde, my ex fiancé surfaced. We swapped a few limp emails, and I congratulated myself on an excellent 1979 life choice of dumping his *ss, and keeping my perm.

3. Practice spiritual discernment.
Mercury is a trickster. Recently I spoke to someone about to hand over $10,000 to “ Psychic Laney” for remote healing and a shrine. Psychic Laney (not her real name, but close) had a cheap Wix website with purple background and flashing stars. There were no prices on her (very vague) services, so she could gauge her mark and set a price to suit.

Thanks to quick intervention by good friends, Psychic Laney’s mark just escaped. I’m encouraging this gentle and trusting man to report Laney and other scammers like her for fraud. This fish got away, but I wonder how many other vulnerable people she’s built invisible shrines for to ward off invisible energies?

Use intuition and gut instinct choosing energy workers, healers and psychics. If the claim sounds too good to be true, it usually is. When Mercury does direct again, the truth will be known. Don’t end up poorer when it does.

4. Finish that e-course.
Mercury retrograde is powerful for studies, so its a great time to do that course on how to see an aura. Not only will the links between the worlds be thin at this time, making all psychic work more intense, finishing a course is one less item off the checklist, and you’ll be ready to move forward when the planet goes direct again.

5. Car dance in traffic jams.
Remember the god, Mercury—the guy with wings on his feet? He rules over travel, so when he’s prancing about backwards, relax. Expect traffic jams, car troubles and late trains. Hone clairaudient skills by noticing how many different sounds you can hear, or take headphones and listen to Katie Perry.

6. Get a reading or a healing.
Mercury retrograde is the absolute best time to get a reading or energy healing. Just make sure their name isn’t Psychic Laney. Use this reflective, dreamy time and turn inward to review, plan or dream. Mercury’s backward ways offer new insights and 20/20 clarity now.

7. Meditate.
Mercury rules connections of all kinds, and while a retrograde means regular communication might go a little screwy, its tailor made for meditation and going within. Relax and let go like a balloon deflating, allowing this heightened time for better connection to guidance.

8. Spirit guides might go on radio silence.
And then again—there could be nothing. Trickster Mercury loves to hide things. Not all questions get answers and part of the fun of life on Earth is not getting what we want. The challenge is patience—there is no answer now, and we must wait.

9. Bad guys get caught.
About the only reason to watch the news is when karma finally catches up with somebody doing the wrong thing. Mercury retrograde loves to uncover lies and corruption, at any level. Psychic scammers who charge a fortune to “lift bad energy” from vulnerable people will be charged with fraud, and Seaworld may free its whales.

10. Laugh More.
Mercury had the power to appease the gods and make them laugh. Take your spiritual growth less seriously and watch everyone else get their panties in a bunch over this time.

Most of all, relax, use the time for its better intuition. It’s just a retrograde, and it happens three or four times a year.

Relephant:

Author: Denise Litchfield

Image: flickr/Lars Ploughmann

Editor: Ashleigh Hitchcock