PRACTICES FOR THE MERCURY RETROGRADE PERIOD

During Mercury’s retrograde motion, it is beneficial to engage in verbal and visual practices, participate in associative games—everything aimed at bringing our subconscious to the surface of our awareness. And as they say, the puzzle pieces fall into place. It is a good time to eliminate errors and inaccuracies in understanding what is happening with you and around you. During its retrograde phase in Cancer, working with emotions is especially favorable. Keeping an emotional journal can be helpful—naming what you feel, describing your sensations and experiences, identifying possible reasons for them. Write as much as you desire, until you feel comfort and lightness. If these are old resentments or painful experiences, it’s better to set aside 7–14 days for daily revisiting of these feelings, even if you don’t feel like it. Particularly effective at this time is writing forgiveness letters to your parents. This is usually an extended practice that may last 21–40 days. Each day, fill a sheet of paper with words of forgiveness, gratitude, and expressions of love addressed to one of your parents. Be prepared—this is not an easy practice, but for it to be effective, a conscious approach to the process is essential. Choose what feels closest to you right now, to spend this period in the most beneficial way. Very powerful days for any practices are the eve and the day of the Solar Eclipse on June 21.