It's no secret that 2017 has been a rocky year, and with Mercury beginning its third backspin on Aug. 12, it doesn't hurt to take some extra precautions. Ways to protect yourself during Mercury Retrograde include everything from wearing protective jewelry to warding off the frustrations of this cosmic kerfuffle with meditation. While this might sound a bit new age-y, with everything that's happening this summer — a lunar and solar eclipse and Uranus and Mercury retrograde at the same time — things might feel more off kilter than usual. And, you need all the help and protection you can get.
Humans have turned to things like crystals and talismans since the dawn of time to protect themselves from negative energy. The forthcoming Mercury Retrograde in Virgo is the third in a new nine-year cycle that began at the beginning of 2017, and will likely inform your life for the next nine years. Additionally, because Mercury is opposite Neptune, it reinforces negative emotions like selfishness, egotism, immorality, meanness, melancholy, and unhappiness, according to Astrology King.
While you can overcome these obstacles with preparation, not everyone will heed Mercury Retrograde's warning, which means dealing with people who are less than tuned in could be frustrating. This is why arming yourself with a little extra Mercury Retrograde protection is beneficial for both body and soul. And, if you don't believe in this kind of thing, at least you'll smell great, be super relaxed, uber-hydrated, and more self aware than you were before. There is literally no downside to trying some of these practices.
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Crystals & Stones
If you've had a difficult during previous Mercury Retrograde cycles then there's really nothing to lose by trying healing crystals for a little extra protection. "Using crystals for mercury retrograde helps you to stay grounded, calm, and focused," Heather Askinosie explained on Energy Muse. "To harness their energy, they can be held in your hand, placed on a bedside table, or in your purse or pocket. You can also create a crystal grid during this time to hold your intention for the retrograde period."
You can find crystals online pretty easily, or likely at any local meditation shop. Personally, I sleep with an amethyst crystal next to my bed, and I even take it with me when I travel. According to Crystals and Jewelry, "Amethyst is a meditative and calming stone which works in the emotional, spiritual, and physical planes to promote calm, balance, and peace. It is also used to eliminate impatience."
If you just get one stone, this is a good one because it's considered an all-purpose clearing stone. If stones aren't your jam you can get a necklace or bracelet so it looks good while also protecting you from negative energy. And, bonus, with a crystal as jewelry you won't have to explain why you're carrying a large piece of amethyst in your carryon when your bags are searched by TSA at the airport (this totally happened to me).
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Mercury Retrograde Meditation
For an invisible cloak of Mercury Retrograde protection, consider practicing a daily meditation during the retrograde cycle. This one is just under seven minutes, so it's perfect to do when you wake up and before you go to bed. Los Angeles-based meditation teacher Amy Sandler likens meditating to going to the gym for your brain.
While you can't control how others behave during Mercury Retrograde, you can control how you behave, and meditation can help you take a pause before making key decisions, or saying or doing something you might regret later. On her website, Sandler noted that meditative breathing techniques, combined with attention and compassion training, can help you achieve sustained, positive change. And, the best part about this is that you can continue to reap the rewards after Mercury Retrograde is over.
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Smudging
Because the Aug. 12 Mercury Retrograde is rooted in negativity, there's going to be a lot of dark and twisty energy hanging around. Smudging is a great way to clear less-than-ideal vibes from your home and body. You can easily smudge with sage; I use something called Sacred Sage, which is hand picked by a healer in California. And, even if you think what I'm saying is a bunch of malarky, if nothing else smudging will clear your space of any bad odors, and make your house smell great.
"The effects of smudging can be surprisingly swift and dramatic," Kathleen Lamoureux noted on Self Growth. "This ritual can help banish stress, attract love, sooth you, give you energy and rid your space of prior dweller’s energies. This ritual has the power to bring your family closer together and can turn any space into a soothing sanctuary — a place of renewal and happiness."
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Essential Oils
Essential oils are pretty great in general, but some people believe that certain combinations of essential oils can help protect you during times of planetary pinball. Pure Plant Essentials sells an oil that it claims can neutralize negative energy during Mercury Retrograde.
A blend of Pure Frankincense, Myrrh, Lemongrass, Ylang Ylang III and healing gemstones Citrine, Moss Agate, Tiger's Eye, and Lemurian Quartz Crystals, the oil is supposed to promote relaxation while helping you deepen your intuition.
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Journaling
Because Mercury Retrograde can cause miscommunications, journaling is a good way to get your thoughts out of your head. The process of purging your mind can also be cathartic, and help you feel less anxious or overwhelmed.
"Keep a record of any dreams you have through writing them down in a dream journal, but also use this journal to write down any thoughts, emotions or inspirations that come to you," Sarah Catori noted on her blog. "This is a time of healing, regeneration and contemplation, so a journal can be your best friend through this."
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Drinking Water
While drinking plenty of water is good advice every day, staying hydrated is particularly important during Mercury Retrograde. If you body gets run down, your mind might not be strong enough to stay ahead of the retrograde cycle's cosmic calamities, and this is when the misunderstandings and mistakes can start to happen.
"As we go through spiritual changes, very often water is a very important factor because of it's cleansing properties," Sarah Catori explained on her blog. "Also try to eat what your body feels drawn toward, as your body will communicate with you what it needs right now."
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Reiki & Massage
Negative emotional energy can build up in your body and cause physical pain. If you feel particularly stressed during Mercury Retrograde, having a session with an energy worker — or massage therapist — can help cleanse negative energy from your body and mind.
"During times of stress, it is always a marvelous idea to get a massage or book an energy therapy session. Life will continue to throw curves balls at us, but it is how we respond that will determine the outcome. By taking care of ourselves, we function better," Appalachia Guild of Healing Arts explained on its blog. "By receiving a massage, muscles, organs, lymph system, respiratory, and other body systems have been activated, making you feel better as well as operate more efficiently. You can choose a more subtle approach through reiki, craniosacral, or other therapeutic applications to align the energetic anatomy, release blockages, and rebalance the chakras.
