Mercury Retrograde

I’ve never been a big believer in astrology. Sure, I peek at my daily horoscope on occasion but I know those horoscope writers are rarely experts in the field of astrology. If I were to truly delve into astrology there would be more to it than just a sun sign. I’d be researching birth charts and educating myself on all sorts of things that I just don’t have the time or interest to invest in.

Now, moon phases and their effects on human behavior is something else. I’ve always been intrigued by full moon madness and since the moon effects the tides and we are made mostly of water, I can get behind that scientifically. This leads me to the topic at hand. If the moon really does affect us as a species do the planets in our solar system affect us as well?

Since 2019, it seems that I have been informed by the media and social media every time Mercury has gone into retrograde. I’m not sure why this information suddenly became so important. I’m fairly certain Mercury has been doing this for as long as there has been a Mercury but since we are currently experiencing our first Mercury Retrograde of 2022, I decided to look into it.

What is Mercury Retrograde

A Mercury Retrograde occurs once every four months. It was previously believed that during this time the planet changed direction and moved “backward” in its rotation around the sun. Later, astronomers determined that this is simply an optical illusion caused when Mercury briefly overtakes Earth in its orbit.

The Planet that rules communication

Verbal, written, and internal communications are said to be affected by Mercury. Not only the way we communicate with others, but, also the way we communicate with ourselves in our internal dialogue. It’s said that it’s best to slow down and reflect before communicating thoughts or ideas during this time.

Energy influence

Mercury Retrograde is said to cause some people to feel drained and lethargic while others are feeling restless and full of chaotic energy.

Intuition

They say that if you are sensitive to intuition you may become overwhelmed during Mercury Retrograde. Thoughts, premonitions, and empathy will be at an all-time high. Maintaining emotional boundaries will be difficult and will lead to energy drain.

The past comes back to haunt us

Mercury retrograde is a time of reflection and in that reflection things from the past return to us. Sadly, in some cases, this includes our exes.

Don’t make big changes

They say that you should never sign a contract, make a big life decision, invest in a major purchase or cut your hair during Mercury Retrograde.

Your place in the zodiac

It is also thought that how Mercury Retrograde will affect an individual is directly related to their astrological sign. For me, a Pisces, this current retrograde is supposed to cause past trauma to resurface. Cancers will be tempted to break their New Year’s resolutions and sink back into comforting habits.

What does it all mean?

For believers, Mercury Retrograde is a real phenomenon that causes real, though not life-changing, shifts in our daily lives and overall sense of well-being.

For skeptics, planetary retrogrades are merely an optical illusion with no capacity to impact humans, energy, or human behavior.

For me, I’ll be on the lookout for communication from my ex and swiftly delete any texts that I might receive. Talk about past trauma resurfacing!

This article was originally posted here: https://medium.com/@BonnieJTaylor/mercury-retrograde-78d9438e3540

Can Locations Have Spiritual Energy?

 

What is spiritual energy?

Spiritual energy is best described as a residual footprint left in a place during a specific point in time. Many people believe that emotionally charged or traumatic events leave bits of energy behind in locations and this energy can be felt or otherwise experienced by visitors to these locations. Battlefields, cemeteries, hospitals, and prisons have all been considered places highly susceptible to spiritual energy. While these places may be prone to energy footprints, other less public places are also said to have the capacity to hold on to energy.

Some places teem with energy

Our Homes

Imagine going through life feeling uncomfortable in your own home. For many people, this is a reality. There are numerous tales of people moving into a home and being overwhelmed with a sense of dread, paranoia, unexplainable anger, or depression. These people claim to feel better when they leave the home but upon their return, these feelings also return.

For paranormal investigators, this is a clear sign of an energy footprint. It is believed that the human psyche is susceptible to the effects of negative energy and that this energy can actually make us sick. While this theory remains unproven, many people who believe that they have suffered from this phenomenon claim to have been helped by home energy cleansing.

Historic Buildings

Courthouses, libraries, hotels, and drinking establishments also top the list of places prone to energy footprints. Visitors claim to feel a sense of dread or see shadows which can lead one to assume the location is haunted.

Paranormal theory does define this type of activity as a haunting, however, there is no interaction between the energy and the human inhabitants. This is what's known simply as a residual haunting.

The Outdoors

Even outdoor locations can hold on to energy. Like a battlefield at Gettysburg.  Cemeteries, forests, parks, and town squares can all provide us with a sense that there is something more around us than what our eyes can see. New Orleans visitors often recount ghost sightings in the city.

My home is surrounded by the historic and famous Kisatchie National Forest. There are many tales of energy in this forest. Some say the faint sound of Native American drums and chants can be heard in the forest in the dead of night as it was once a popular hunting ground for the Apalachee tribe.

My short story, Remembered, from the Haunted Collection, touches on the paranormal activity in New Orleans, Louisiana during and after Hurricane Katrina. 

This article was originally published here: https://medium.com/@BonnieJTaylor/can-locations-have-spiritual-energy-ff0a58310d20

Midnight Mass (A Netflix Limited Series) by Mike Flanagan

 I've watched this series twice now and I have to say that Mike Flanagan has done it again! This show is likely to be considered the number one horror offering of the year. Flanagan never fails to combine humanity and horror in an intricate dance with every chance he gets. He creates characters who are flawed yet likable and places them in situations where they must face not only the supernatural but their own personal demons as well. 

If you don't mind serious spoilers, check out the article that I've written about the show by clicking the image below.

Halloween 2021 is almost here! Relax and enjoy the ride.

 

How is it even possible that 2021 is already coming to an end? It seems like it was just 2019 yesterday! I, for one, am not ready to roll through the scary season, spend two days prepping for turkey day and then trimming the tree and rushing out for last-minute Christmas gifts! I mean, didn't we just do this?

The stress is real during this time but I have a few quick and easy destressing ideas to make things a bit more bearable,

First and foremost, don't deny yourself 8 hours sleep

If you are anything like me, a typical night's sleep begins around 2 am and ends around 6 am. This is a horrible habit and one that can lead to premature aging, a weakened immune system, and an inability to effectively function. Sleep is always important but in times of amplified stress, it can be a game-changer. Don't let a lack of sleep put a damper on your holiday fun! Get your rest!

Exercise

Even light to moderate daily exercise can reduce stress. Start or continue your workout routine through the holidays. Just twenty minutes of cardio, yoga, or strength training will make a huge difference in your overall mood.

Bath Salts

I prefer CALM by Herbivore. It's a pink himalyan salt infused with lavender, eucalyptus, ylamg ylamg, and chamomile but there are other options on the market. Just look for the same ingredients.

Scented Candles

Our sense of smell is magical and what we smell can easily change our state of mind. Vanilla, lavender, chammomile, ylang ylang, cedar, and rosemary top the list of calming scents.