#surviving mercury retrograde

[pallastrology]

surviving mercury retrograde 🫖

since the often-dreaded transit affectionately known as mercury retrograde is coming up, i thought i’d write a little post talking about how i personally get through it. some of you may know that i’m a virgo rising with mercury retrograde in the first house. so mercury retrograde tends to hit me like a ton of bricks! over the years, i’ve worked on a little survival guide of sorts, and decided to share it in hopes of easing the transit for you a little bit.

firstly: it will pass. mercury rx only lasts about three weeks, which, yeah, feels like a lifetime when it’s not going well. but it does pass, and in the grand scheme of things, three weeks is almost nothing. when you feel like everything’s falling apart at the seams, take a moment to remind yourself that whatever is going on for you won’t last forever, and calmer seas lie just past the storm.

stay on top of your schedule. mercury rx tends to cause problems with communication, travel and timing; plans go awry, time escapes you, the bus doesn’t show up. this is all completely normal, and there are things you can go to mitigate the effects. personally, i make sure to stay more on top of my to-do list than normal, try not to pack too much into a day (because things will inevitably take longer than normal, or i’ll end up sidetracked and having to rewrite my whole week!). leave enough space in your diary to add things on if you need, and then if you have free time, enjoy it! use it to get ahead of the game, or just take a break – we all need and deserve them from time to time. another thing i do is try to prioritise what needs to be done today, and what can wait if i do get overly busy. these are all handy skills to have in general, but when everything goes a little haywire, it really helps to be able to focus on the important things and reorganise the rest without too much stress.

look at your chart. mercury rx will affect us all a little differently, and this is due to where it lands in our chart, and which of our placements it activates. i’ll use a personal example here: for me, it lands in my fourth house – the house of home and family – and will form a conjunction to my natal mercury. disaster, right? well, it doesn’t have to be. at least i’m prepared, and when i’m going through a crisis and feeling overwhelmed, i can take a breath and remind myself this is just part of the transit. i know in advance to really watch my work schedule so as not to overbook myself, stay on top of my workload, and put in 110% to keep things running efficiently while making time for my family and rest. having a sense of why this is happening, and the foresight to be able to plan ahead and feel a little more in control, brings a sense of power over your situation. personal power is so important for your wellbeing, so make the most of the power of foresight here!

add extra travel time. this might sound silly, but the amount of times i’ve been late, or had to massively rush to get somewhere on time, or to get something handed in or completed on time, during mercury rx is shocking! nowadays, as part of my personal survival guide, i make sure to add an extra five minutes to get ready and to get to my location, i check deadlines more carefully and make sure to finish before them in case there are problems, and i’m careful not to go for back-to-back engagements when possible. it’s more for peace of mind than anything, but it definitely seems to help keep life calmer during a hectic time.

communicate clearly. because retrogrades tend to send energy inwards, communication can get tricky. you might find it’s harder to make yourself understood, or you misunderstand others more. old arguments, often over silly things, can pop up like daisies. people from the past can reappear and bring up all sorts of emotions. i would recommend journaling to anyone, but especially if you’re struggling to make sense of your thoughts and feelings, journaling can be an amazing tool to help you reflect and analyse what’s going on for you. i find it really fascinating to read back through old journal entries too, and look at the themes of the transit through my own words. when it comes to communicating with other people, if you’re dealing with professional situations, i would recommend following up communications with an email or letter reiterating your points. this helps keep the record straight and prevent crossed wires later down the line. in your personal life, it can be helpful to remind yourself that the person who is driving you mad right now is someone you love and care about, and you don’t want to hurt them. you can give criticism without being harsh, though it’s more difficult during this transit. take breaks if you need to during arguments, and make sure you’re being clear with what you want. sometimes i find i go round in circles while trying to express something, and my original point gets lost. taking a breather to reassess what you’re trying to say and then coming back to the conversation can be really helpful here.

stay grounded in the present. when any planet goes retrograde, it’s easy to focus on the past. old issues seem to swing back around to meet you in the present, and you may encounter full-circle moments. so when you’re feeling overwhelmed by old arguments, old friends and lovers, and old thoughts, take a moment to ground yourself in the present. you could use mental grounding to affirm where and when you are, or utilise an anchoring object. i have a post that talks about grounding techniques in more detail here which may be helpful if this is something you would be interested in, but essentially, you are helping yourself to emotionally understand where and when you are, as opposed to logically knowing but feeling stuck in the past.

lastly: it might not be all that deep. transits definitely have an affect on our day-to-day lives, i’m not going to dispute that. but perhaps they don’t have as much power as we feel they do. is there a bit of placebo effect that comes into play when we’re running late for work during mercury rx? probably, yeah! our brains are incredibly powerful organs, and our beliefs can hugely impact our perception of, and feelings about, our current situation. if you’re feeling overwhelmed and at the mercy of a transit, it might be time to take a step away from astrology and just let yourself live in the moment. more than anything, we are at the mercy of our own perception, and that’s something that we can work on.

i hope this guide helps you feel a little more prepared, and a little less scared, of mercury retrograde. take care of yourselves readers,

kira xo

[sheeeetux11]

Mercury Retrograde Guide : Handle Mercury Rx with Ease 🐰✨

Mercury is the planet of communication, travel, trade & commerce in Astrology. When in Retrograde, Mercury tends to affect these themes of our life immensely given how close the planet is to us. The damage this Retrograde can do within just a span of about 15 days (for almost three times a year) is hence astounding. Okay, I’m being dramatic 😉😂😌 but it’s still one of the most influential Retrogrades of the year, affecting our everyday life in unthinkable ways.

So let’s look at some of the things to DO and NOT to Do during a Mercury Rx to make sure we don’t stumble along our way during this rather important Transit. Read More…

That’s it for now. I make split threads on each topic, so they are usually uploaded in parts, just so if you’re wondering. Please look forward to them. Or check out the previous one(s) in the Master List. 🌸

Grand Master List 🌩✨ (Oh, also, make sure to click back on the Master List link below the posts to see the updated list/posts, since the reblogs don’t always show the updates.)

Master List 1 ☁️✨ (Ascendant + Midheaven MC + North Node Aspects)

Ko-fi link to Support/Tip me 🪷✨💚

Readings I currently Offer 🪷✨ (Open Again)

Linktr.ee

Link to my Website/Blog, where I upload most of the astrology posts: xqueeno 🍊✨

Asks are open for now (only for a while 🤗). I hope those of you who have asked me questions won’t feel bad if you get your response a lil later. I may take a few days (with other things going on uk). So I schedule my posts and answers. With that said, see you soon with another post. Bye Bye. 💕✨

[inkindofmagic]

Mercury Retrograde Cycle ☿℞

— Astro Notes

This diagram illustrates the 5 distinct periods that are related to the Mercury retrograde phenomena, as well as 4 sensitive points along its path.

🌟 Why Mercury Retrograde?

Mercury's orbit is closest to the sun. It completes its orbit in about 88 days, compared to the earth which takes about 365 days. As a result, from our perspective we first experience mercury moving forwards as its orbit takes it between the earth and the sun.

💫 Mercury Retrograde Pre-Shadow

The Mercury Retrograde Pre-Shadow phase is indicated in blue and corresponds to the time during which Mercury traces the path in the sky that it will later return to as it moves backward, during the Mercury Retrograde Phase. Often it is during this time that the conditions are set up for the Retrograde phase that follows. As Mercury slows down, just prior its retrograde motion, the contributing factors and the experiences of the cycle are strengthened, and this is indicated in the diagram by a violet color.

💫 Mercury Retrograde Station

There is a moment in time, when Mercury by our line of sight has slowed down from moving forward and is about to appear to move backwards. That moment is referred to as the Mercury Retrograde Station, and often somewhat incorrectly as "Mercury Retrograde". This tends to be the most intense part of the Cycle, and is show in Red on the graphic.

💫 Mercury Retrograde Phase

Then for about 3 and a half weeks or so, it appears to be going backwards in the sky - when Mercury is retrograde. The Mercury Retrograde Phase is in light red. Near the beginning and the end of the retrograde phase, Mercury seems to slow down in the sky, and its effect tends to stronger. This is shown with a darker color. The retrograde phase is famous for revealing the consequences of inattention to detail, wrong assumptions as well as errors in communication and transportation. For some people at this time, transportation and communication issues may develop. Many of these are often set up in the pre-shadow phase.

💫 Mercury Direct Station

Towards the end of the retrograde period, Mercury has reached a place in its orbit where it begins to move in the same direction as the earth around the sun. The moment Mercury appears to stop moving backward and is about to move forewords is called the Mercury Direct Station. This is indicated in the Calendar with dark brown. As much as the Mercury Retrograde Station, discussed earlier, tended to be a focus of errors, false assumptions, lack of clarity and proper execution, the Mercury Direct Station tends to be a focus for revealing the consequences.

💫 Mercury Retrograde Post-Shadow

The Mercury Retrograde Post-Shadow phase is indicated in brown. Mercury is now moving forward, and this phase refers to the time during which Mercury is retracing the path in the sky where it had formerly moved backward during the retrograde period. During the early part of this phase, Mercury is still moving slowly, and thus the effects are more intense. Often, the Mercury Retrograde Post-Shadow can reveal the errors in communication and travel that may have occurred during the pre-shadow and retrograde phases.

🌟 Mercury Retrograde can be a Blessing

The retrograde cycle tends to reveal what is not working properly, and although it can contribute to delays and frustrations, it can also reveal issues that are important to resolve, fix or address. It is a good time to deal with what you may have put on the back burner and for reflective and creative writing, inner work, journaling, spiritual work and completing long overdue tasks.

🌟 The Two Levels of Mercury Retrograde

Mercury retrograde occurs at two levels. At one level, there is not much you can do with the actions of others, except to be more conscious and prepare for delays and errors by double checking. But at the personal level you can do a lot in order to avoid the consequences of Mercury Retrograde. Most of us encounter the consequences when we are not centered, aware or conscious of what is going on around us, and more often than not the culprit is that we are not acting from our heart and spirit. Instead we are reacting from our needs, our hurts, from our buttons being pushed, or the way that we take care of others and not ourselves. In that way we act from our shadow, and that is what mercury retrograde is all about. Mercury Retrograde occurs when it is moving backwards, into its shadow, and thus communication, scheduling, transportation and judgment becomes cloudy or error prone. As much as outer work is challenged by Mercury Retrograde, introspection and inner work is very supported. Take advantage of Mercury Retrograde by clearing your own tendencies to get caught up in your own shadows and those of others.

next → how to survive Mercury Retrograde

source astrologyhoroscopereadings.com

via @inkindofmagic

[richarlisonny]

good morning

[tohrus]

hi tumblr <333

[moonlightkingdom]

It coming up soon!

What is Mercury Retrograde you ask?

All of the planets move in the same direction around the Sun, each with a different rate of speed.  Mercury’s orbit is 88 days long; therefore approximately 4 orbits of Mercury around the Sun equals 1 Earth year.

Mercury appears to slow down, then stop, (stationary retrograde) and then move slowly backwards for several weeks (retrograde).  Eventually, it appears to stop again and reverse direction (stationary direct) moving slowly forward once again (direct). Eventually Mercury appears to return to its normal orbital speed.(Mercury isn’t really going backwards, it’s just hanging out by the sun, but from Earth, that makes it look like it’s in reverse) There are three Mercury Retrograde periods each year, each lasting approximately 3 weeks.

As Mercury rules communication, clear thinking, truth & travel, during the time of retrograde it is advised that you don’t make any new beginnings or projects etc. This time period is perfect for:

❤ Reviewing and revising plans

Evaluate how well you've achieved your goals and what things you’d still love to bring into your life.Mercury Retrograde marks a period of Mercury “slowing down,” which means our requests and longings can find more potent expression into the universe. This is a terrific time to ponder intentions.

❤  Finish up any old, lingering projects.

You might not want to submit, release, or publish them during this time, but old projects can benefit from a fresh look. Mercury also helps with creativity, making Mercury Retrograde an ideal time to edit or revise.

❤ Rejuvenate your living space!

Clean out your closet, organize your wardrobe, get rid of clutter, even do a little Feng Shui to your home. That Retrograde energy amplifies your ability to process through old things.

❤ Relax & take care of yourself

Enjoy some solitude or time away. Read a book, take a walk in nature, have plenty of sleep, stay hydrated & do a lot of stretching. This especially applies during Mercury retrograde. Even book a spa day. Go on Treat yourself!!

❤ Back up data

Have patience with your electronics. They’re trying their best. If your phones, computer, email, cell phone or internet act up, take a deep breath and ask yourself if you really need to push things right now. Pushing usually makes things worse, especially during a Mercury Retrograde.

So even though to many people the Mercury Retrograde is something they dread, make this the perfect time to just kick back and relax from everything. Use the Retrograde to your advantage!! 

xoxo

[muzaktomyears]

Yoko’s life revolved around her acquisitions, but her most valuable acquisition was John. By marrying Lennon she had established herself as a celebrity and financial power to be reckoned with. It was the process of acquisition – not the object itself – that kept Yoko going. Antiques were routinely delivered, examined, and carted off to Apartment 71 or to the basement for storage. Clothes were bought and hung up, never to be worn. Once she had acquired something, Yoko lost interest in it. She lost interest in John after they were reunited and she lost interest in Sean after he was born. She treated them both with an icy reserve bordering on contempt.

Life became complicated for Yoko because John was not an inanimate object, but a human being – one with an active imagination, a strong sex drive, boundless energy, and a terrible temper. Indeed, Yoko lived in fear of John’s occasional outbursts of anger and frustration. Although he remained quietly behind closed doors most of the time, she knew well that John’s passive and self-absorbed behavior masked an overwhelming restlessness. Like an old lion, he could turn and bite your head off when you least expected it. Whenever John got a little stir-crazy upstairs and threatened to become “difficult”, Yoko attempted frantically to appease him with vague promises, or she would scare him with ominous psychic predictions and mystical mumbo jumbo. Usually, Yoko could keep John in line with a few carefully chosen words. One of her favorite ploys for controlling him was to tell him that the planet Mercury was going retrograde, a perilous astrological period during which accidents were likely to happen. When I asked John what Mercury being retrograde meant, he explained that it was an astrological period when the planet Mercury, “the messenger”, appeared to move backward against the sun, causing massive disruptions in communications and generally creating “chaos in the cosmos”. Yoko was always to tell me that we had to keep John isolated for his own good. Once in a while, John would try to circumvent Yoko’s strict rules, but he would often regret it soon afterward. For instance, one day John was listening to radio station WBAI when he heard a very eloquent, urgent plea for contributions. New subscribers were to receive a copy of a book titled The Devil Was a Woman. John wanted the book, and as WBAI was one of the radio stations he frequently listened to – he was particularly interested in nutritionist Gary Null’s health show – he impulsively ordered me to call up and contribute one thousand dollars on his behalf. Immediately, the station announced the contribution. When Yoko heard about it, she read me the riot act. She reminded me angrily that whenever John acted impulsively, I was to bring his behavior to her attention before following his orders. I was to consult her about all matters involving John and “human relations”, or his having dealings with the outside world. “After all,” explained Yoko, “I’m here to protect him.” I assured her I understood perfectly. Yoko had the key to John Lennon, and she used it to make John her sole possession by taking him out of public circulation. The old lion had pulled in his claws eagerly and agreed to give up rock and roll and its deleterious lifestyle. Because of his self-destructive behavior when he was on his own, John believed that the only sane alternative was to isolate himself. Moreover, Yoko had offered him the opportunity to try parenthood all over again. When she managed to give birth to Sean against all odds, John took it as a sign of divine intervention. He told me that both he and Sean were “riding on Mother’s good luck”. His childlike dependence on Yoko was so great that he dreaded the thought of Yoko dying before he did. “I hope I go first,” John had told me, “because if Mother died before me I wouldn’t be able to face life on my own.” He had resigned himself completely to the proposition that he could not survive without Yoko. Thus, John willingly sacrificed his freedom for the illusion of safety. And it was part of Yoko’s Faustian pact that she had to keep John, for better or for worse, and remain an appendage to John’s fame and to the pervasive Beatles legend, no matter how much she craved independence and personal fame. It was no wonder that she bitterly resented John, even as she was constantly conscious of the need to retain his loyalty. Without John Lennon, Yoko Ono was just an eccentric lady with no money and no power – and for this she would never forgive him.

John Lennon: Living on Borrowed Time, Frederic Seaman (1991)

[outofrealms]

Isekai’d as the Demon King’s Therapist

Synopsis: One minute, I’m fighting a vending machine for coffee. The next, I’m the therapist for Zarvath, the Demon King who’s one bad day away from obliterating the realm. His mental health’s a mess, and I’ve got nothing but my psych degree and questionable life choices to fix it. No pressure, right?

Chapter 1: I Was Just Getting Coffee, and Now I’m a Therapist for a Demon King?!

It all started with a vending machine.

Not some magical, glowing vending machine that dispensed ancient relics or cursed snacks. Nope. This was the regular, broken vending machine in the breakroom at work, the one that seemed to have a personal vendetta against me.

I just wanted a cup of coffee. One measly coffee to help me survive another session with a client who swore Mercury in retrograde was the reason her life was falling apart. I was dangerously low on caffeine, and without it, I was one minor inconvenience away from shouting at inanimate objects like she did.

But the vending machine had other plans.

It ate my dollar. Then, just for fun, it ate my life.

I gave it a light smack. Nothing violent. I’m not a monster. Just a small “I’m watching you” kind of tap.

That’s when the vending machine decided to electrocute me.

There was a bright flash of light, a weird sound like a thousand cats sneezing at once, and then….nothing.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a throne room.

I lay flat on a cold, black floor, staring up at a ceiling covered in glowing runes and what I really, really hoped were fake skulls. Around me were creatures straight out of a heavy metal album cover, demons with horns, glowing eyes, and questionable fashion choices.

In front of me sat a seven-foot-tall demon with glowing red eyes and a crown made of actual fire. He was lounging on a massive black throne, sipping something from a skull-shaped goblet like this was just another Tuesday.

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re the one?”

The one what?!

I sat up slowly, still trying to process the fact that I was very much not in my office anymore. My first thought? Hallucination. Second thought? Maybe I’m dead, and this is some weird afterlife punishment for all the times I lied about liking kale.

“Answer me, mortal!” the demon barked. “Are you the legendary mind healer we summoned?”

Legendary mind healer? Was he talking about a therapist? Did I just get isekai’d to be a demon king’s therapist?!

“Uh… yeah. Sure. That’s me,” I said, adopting the time-honored strategy of when in doubt, agree.

The demon who I later learned was Zarvath, the Demon King of Darkness leaned forward, his eyes glowing brighter. “Excellent. My armies may be unstoppable, but my mental health is… fragile.”

Oh. My. God.

One of the demons, a nervous little imp cleared his throat. “Lord Zarvath, we were supposed to summon the most powerful mind healer in all the realms. Are you sure we got the right one?”

Zarvath frowned. “Do you doubt my summoning rituals?”

The imp shook his head so fast I thought it might fly off. “N-no, of course not! But… they don’t look very powerful.”

Rude. I may not look like much, but I’ve survived family holiday dinners, passive-aggressive coworker emails, and clients who believe crystals can cure broken bones. I’m tougher than I look.

“I may not have magic,” I said, crossing my arms, “but I’ve got a master’s degree in psychology and plenty of experience dealing with difficult people. You want therapy? I’m your person.”

Zarvath tilted his head. “Master’s degree? In… psychology?”

“Yeah. It’s a degree that qualifies me to help people process their emotions, manage stress, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.”

Zarvath narrowed his eyes. “So… it’s a form of magic?”

“Not exactly. It’s more like… mental training. But instead of using spells, I help you talk through your feelings and reframe your negative thoughts.”

Zarvath crossed his arms. “Sounds like sorcery to me.”

The imp leaned closer to Zarvath, whispering loudly enough for me to hear, “Master, perhaps it’s some kind of mind enchantment?”

“It’s not enchantment! It’s cognitive behavioral therapy!” I said. “There’s science behind it!”

Zarvath nodded slowly, stroking his chin. “Hmph. Whatever it is, if it can stop me from obliterating the next hero I meet just because they irritate me, I’m willing to try.”

He leaned back on his throne, considering me carefully. “Very well. Prove your worth.”

And that’s how I found myself sitting on a demon-sized couch, preparing to give my first therapy session to the Demon King of Darkness.

I wasn’t sure how I got here, or how I was supposed to survive in this world… but one thing was clear: this Demon King needed serious help. And if I played my cards right, I might just live long enough to give it to him.

[astrolovecosmos]

The April 8th 2024 Eclipse

There's been a LOT of information out there about the infamous April 8th eclipse. From a straightforward astrological perspective an eclipse represents repressed thoughts, feelings, and energy coming to the surface in a forceful way. While many cultures have deemed eclipses as bad luck or a sign of destruction and doom this isn't fully representative of a modern astrological standpoint. Karma and themes surrounding the collective can certainly exist within the eclipse in many ways. If the placements of the eclipse conjunct your placements, then you may be affected more than others. Those with the same modality (cardinal, mutable, fixed) as the sign of the eclipse can be influenced too. Don't forget to pay attention to the House your placements are in if you are influenced by it, this will give clues to the environment surrounding its effect.

The collective is always influenced by eclipses which is why many astrologers will speak about world or societal events surrounding them.

When there is a solar eclipse, this represents light of consciousness, life force, and vitality being blocked out by the subconscious, unseen, emotions, and potentially irrationality by the Moon. When there is a lunar eclipse it represents rationality, warmth, and giving (the Sun) overcoming the primal and emotional side of the Moon.

On April 8th the Sun and Moon will be in Aries, a sign of war, recklessness, competitiveness, anger, and passion. I am not making any predictions for the eclipse, but this can explain many of the intense claims out there. The fire element overall can disrupt energy flow, confidence, and activity. Aries also represents enthusiasm, enterprise, winning, leadership, adaptability, and new beginnings. Eclipses ultimately ask us to change and reevaluate, they bring thoughts and feelings to our attention.

There are other aspects and placements that have been adding extra "flavor" to this eclipse. Mercury will be retrograde in Aries during the eclipse which adds more challenges, especially to travel (a time where MILLIONS are traveling). Be mindful of emotional outbursts, harsh truths, and impulsive anger or communication from this retrograde.

Jupiter Conjunct Uranus is a major aspect for April and while the exact conjunction won't occur until later in the month many believe this will cause expansion, explosion, abruption, and/or a major shift in global events. With the two planets in Taurus most astrologers are predicting the aspect to influence finances, economies, the environment, food, the material world.

Sun Conjunct Chiron will be happening on the 8th, which can indicate the collective confrontation of wounds related to similar themes as the eclipse - a fresh start, assertion, force, bravery, initiative, selfishness, survival, impulse, self-expression, and identity.

It is important to remember that the eclipse's influence is not for one day or moment, there are debates about how long an eclipse's energy/influence will last but many will cite that the effect is at its height in the month leading up to the eclipse with influence being felt up to six months before or after the event.

I am not a Vedic astrologer but in Vedic astrology the eclipse is in Pisces which is a sign that represents endings, completion, returning to the whole vs. the newness of Aries. Pisces also has a strong connection to spirituality, an active imagination, is famous for intuition, empathy, and healing as well as illusions, addictions, isolation, guilt, blame, belief, and confusion. When an eclipse is in the water element it messes with our emotions, feelings of security, and attachments.

Whichever type of astrology you practice and follow I hope this gave you a big picture idea of how eclipses work.

[judasgot-it]

Ello o/, may i request again (dk if i can tho, don't feel pressured if not maken), really love the post you made for the request my heart literally- aawkwkw, i have so many things to say to that post but really busy asfck like if i wnated to, i could literally write a essay or thesis statement, */ahem anyway

BSD boys, while having a fighting/argument with s/o they suddenly grip they're s/o's wrist too hard and ended up leaving a mark (they didn't mean to tho ;-;) that reminded the reader's past child abuse/not used to this type of conflict which lead to angst to comfort or just angst hehe. Idk this is just a random 2am thought(my time rn) I have classes later waking up at 4am too…

AHHHHHH omg yes I'm so sorry I haven't like set up any request rules yet which I should do lol, but I'm so shehejwj but I don't have limits on requests! I just try to get to them when I can &lt;3 Also I'm so sorry about the late response! College is hard x[

But also, I wanna do some scenarios for this, so I'm gonna have to only pick a few that I feel I can write the best for this if that's ok cause ngl I feel the mercury retrograde rn,,,

Scenario: Accidentally triggering past abuse/trauma during an argument (Ranpo, Dazai)

Ranpo

Ranpo was a rather loud guy. That's not his fault, since he's only loud whenever he has a reason to be - he's confident because he knows he can get away with it. He's smart enough to survive some of the most dangerous killers, and is bold enough to laugh in their face about it too.

But god is it aggravating as hell whenever you want to truly talk to the man one on one. Sometimes, you just want to have a normal date with him - like a normal couple and do normal couple stuff.

Like right now, you just want to walk down this busy street and not have to listen to him boast about how stupid people were. It was embarrassing how loud he was about it, how the person who got hit with a car could have easily avoided it had they just checked both sides of the street.

A normal conversation to have after witnesses a horrible event, but you could feel the stares from across the street from the mans wife. Especially towards Ranpo, who seemed to have no social boundaries as everyone else in the area seemed to instead be occupied with the normal human behavior of freaking out after witnessing a man flying in the air and being hit by a car.

To save face, you dragged him away, with him still talking about it as if it were a normal everyday thing. In his world, it probably was - but not to you. Not to normal people, who didn't think about death everyday.

"Ranpo, you need to quiet down."

"What? I'm just saying. It was pretty avoidable you know?"

You turned around to glare at him, gripping your enclasped hands tightly. He thought nothing of it, swirling his ramune bottle rather casually. The ball clinked around with each step the both of you took together.

"I know that. But you do know that it's pretty insensitive to say that in front of him and the wife who saw her husband get hit with a car."

"Y/n."

You were forced back as Ranpo stopped on the sidewalk. It was apart of a narrow stretch of road, empty and away from the commotion, which forced you to look at him. He was staring at you with his eyes, as if trying to puzzle something.

"You don't actually care about them."

There was a pause. You blinked once. Then twice.

"What do you mean by that?"

He held your hand tighter, almost painfully so.

"You don't really care about them that much. So why are you defending them?"

His viridian eyes bore into yours, which deeply unsettled you. He meant nothing by it, especially with the iron grip he had on your hand which kept you in your spot.

"Because not everyone is a superfreak like you Ranpo!"

But it made you incredibly uncomfortable.

You felt the need to defend yourself, somehow.

"Some people have 'empathy' which I know is a foreign concept to people like you."

It was as he cocked his head to the side, like a crow trying to understand what you had just told him. It was as if what you just said had gone right through him, like the wind.

"You don't mean that."

He pulled you towards him. You tried to step back, but you only found yourself stepping around and trying to find your balance again.

You flinched when Ranpo reached to balance you, but you still felt the energy from your sudden bout of frustration pumping through your body. It was embarrassing, but your mind and body were reacting all on their own.

Ranpo kept staring at you, looking past your angry scowl and into something deeper.

"I'm not your enemy Y/n, I know you're upset but there's something more."

He left you feeling naked there.

"It's not that deep. You don't need to defend yourself against me."

You looked down, avoiding his eyes. The sidewalk underneath you was rather cracked and abandoned - there was a dandelion growing just underneath your feet, a rather resilient flower.

"I'm not defending myself, I'm just..."

Ranpo lifted your chin up so you could meet his eyes again, which were now softer, as they had quickly figured out the puzzle that he's struggled with.

You looked back at him. A part of you wanted to keep arguing - it was in your nature, to keep fighting. Unfortunately, it was something you've done for a long time, which Ranpo has figured out by now.

Another thing that made you feel a little uncomfortable.

He met you with a cheeky smile, like a little rat. He closed his eyes, his cheeks raising to meet his eyes.

"I know. You're a good person Y/n."

Dazai

"I just don't think you understand. I can't expect you to, but it's not your problem, so why are you so upset about it?"

Dazai was looking at you from the couch, watching as you were once again picking up bottles he had left from one of his drinking binges. He still smelled of last night, wearing the same clothes and smelling of the various drinks he had lost himself in.

"It clearly is my problem. I'm the one cleaning up your mess right now, so how could I not be involved? Dear god, do you ever look at yourself and want to even try to be better?"

Dazai looked at you, sitting up from his previous lounging position. He stared up, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at you - his eyebags prominent in the early morning sunlight.

"What do you mean 'try' to be better? Have you ever even known what it's like to be like this?"

You rolled your eyes, dragging the bag to the front door so you could later bring it to the dumpster of your apartments. In your eyes, he was clearly being dramatic - sitting like some sort of mafioso, needing only a cigarette to seal the deal.

"Everyone has had it hard at one point Dazai. Losing yourself to alcohol every night and weekend doesn't justify it. You have a life to live you know? It's worth living."

You heard footsteps approach behind you, and looked up to see Dazai standing a little too close for comfort. His body was warm, and you could see the sweat and stains on his bandages. His hair was usually fluffy hair was greasy, but his eyes - they were dark, simply staring down at you.

"What do you know about living?"

"What?"

He had backed you into the wall, his hands now on either side of you, blocking you from exiting the danger that had become him and whatever emotional rage he had thrown himself into.

"You act like you know so much about life but you know nothing! You don't know anything about death or life - I don't think you know anything at all really. You feel all too comfortable making these assumptions about me when you don't know who I am, do you?"

He was smiling but it didn't reach his eyes at all.

You pushed at him, trying to find space to escape from his hold. His clothes and warmth made you want to burn your skin and run at that moment, and you closed your eyes in order to avoid the worst of your fears as you knew he was staring at you with those eyes that seemed to hold nothing but contempt in that very moment.

When you couldn't break free, instead feeling him pressing himself more against you, you felt your eyes begin to tear up.

"Dazai get the fuck away me."

"Or what? What will you do, oh sweet belladonna?"

You could feel tears build up in your eyes as your pushing did nothing against him - so you resorted to what you knew would work.

You raised your knee as hard as you could, and watched as Dazai fell hard on the ground, falling like a sack of potatoes. He writhed around, clutching his pearls while you gripped your pants, trying to soothe your nerves.

"Dazai I'm..."

You looked around your apartment, looking at the mess that it had become because of him. You looked back down at him, who was still on the ground and wasn't saying anything.

"Dazai I'm going to leave for a bit. Sorry."

I'm so sorry this took so long waaaaahh I'm a slow writer I'm working on it tho ;( also I was thinking about doing Jouno but I felt that it would've been super harsh so maybe I'll do him another time

[northopalshore]

Hi

As leo mercury retrograde 27 degree in 11H

I'm virgo sun mars Jupiter so im ruled by mercury does that affect?

What's the best way to learn a language

English is my second language but the language just slipped in my mind and I can't explain it 😭

♀ Hello

I think that could definitely be the case.

The Logic of Language genius placements in astrology

Key characters: Gemini & Sagittarius

I always found that Gemini moons & mercuries are the best when it comes to learning new languages; it's very natural to them. Like my mother has Sun, Mercury & Saturn in Gemini in the 11th house & she speaks 5-6 languages.

My late grandfather is the type to learn languages as fast as memorizing lyrics to your favourite songs; super quick. My family has always had this amazed look in their eyes whenever they told me stories about his language crusades (he used to be a political advisor) lmao. Though, I've never met him his stories never seem to bore me. I only wish my grandmother kept some of his cameras he used to love photography. He took pictures of my mother often. Although I don't have his chart, I'm certain there is a lot of Gemini & Sagittarius influence in it.

My friend has Gemini stellium in the 1st house (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Saturn 💀) she literally has a different accent from the once she had at birth; state dialect. She's the only one who sounds different in her family, she speaks 4-5 languages. Quick to catch other languages as well.

₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ . ₊ ⊹ .₊๋‧₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ . ₊ ⊹ .₊๋‧₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ . ₊ ⊹ .₊๋‧₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ ⊹ .₊��‧₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑

However, when it comes to the level of proficiency of languages I always found that Sagittarius placements tend to mean their reach or language understanding gets much deeper; they tend to speak fewer languages compared to Gemini placements, but they really know the language, different slangs & all. They copy slangs & pronunciations very quickly as well.

& In the case without Gemini or Sagittarius placements:

I know Lisa doesn't have any prominent Gemini or Sagittarius placements in her natal chart, but she has Virgo in her third house & mars (°22 Capricorn) here. She literally had to learn a language to survive ( when she first flew to South Korea for her training with YG). Like they say about the 22 degree; it's killed or be killed. I recall reading something from a post somewhere years ago that YG literally banned her from speaking English ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠•̥⁠`⁠ʔ.

Her 3rd house ruler ( Mercury) is in the 10th house in Aries & a Sagittarius degree so it still tracks, just not as obvious as the other examples.

Honestly the best way to learn a language fluently is by

1) Having interest

2) Being able to communicate with someone who speaks that language natively or get real-time feedback

3) Having fun with that language & watching media/memes from that languages' speaking community.

But that's just how I prefer to learn it. Of course learning the basic rules, expanding your vocabulary & understanding grammatical functions are important, but remember that LANGUAGE COMES WITH THE CULTURE IT'S ATTACHED TO you can't have one without the other.

₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ . ₊ ⊹ .₊๋‧₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ . ₊ ⊹ .₊๋‧₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ . ₊ ⊹ .₊๋‧₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ ⊹ .₊๋‧₊ ˚ ⊹ ࣭ ⭑

Hope this helps!

[astroa3h]

Mercury Retrograde Is Turning Up the Heat

From November 25 to December 15, Mercury is RETROGRADE in the sign of Sagittarius, promising a holiday season riddled with frustration and chaos. Sagittarius, the sign of travel, exploration, and big ideas, doesn’t mix well with Mercury’s backward spin. Holiday plans are likely to go off the rails, expect delayed or canceled flights, lost luggage, traffic jams, and travel mishaps that make you wonder why you even tried. 

Family gatherings? Sagittarius’s blunt, truth-telling energy could lead to arguments, hurt feelings, or someone accidentally spilling a secret that wasn’t meant to come out. Miscommunications will be rampant, so don’t be surprised if holiday invites get lost, schedules overlap, or you end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. On a global scale, this retrograde could disrupt diplomacy, spark international tensions, and create headline-worthy public missteps or scandals.

This isn’t the kind of retrograde that encourages calm reflection, it’s a cosmic warning to expect the unexpected and tread carefully. Double-check your plans, keep receipts, and avoid making big commitments unless you enjoy watching things fall apart. Patience will feel like a cruel joke, but it’s your best chance at surviving this holiday retrograde without a meltdown. Buckle up, and grab a martini, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Sending you all my love and blessings,

Ash (@AstroA3h via Instagram & TikTok)

✨

Ready for your own personal reading?

Visit astroash.net to book yours today!

[seafoamreadings]

week of march 31st, 2024

these are written predominantly for the *rising* signs but they are also intuitively "channeled" enough that they should work for any dominant energy you have! (try your sun if you don't know rising, or more advanced readers can try moon, anywhere you have a stellium, etc and see what works best for you!)

aries: let's not beat around the bush; these are not easy times for aries people. self care is critical. finding joy in the small things is critical. allowing joy and despair or any other blend of emotions to coexist is critical.

taurus: the focus upon your 12th house of hidden things intensifies like a magnifying glass catching something on fire. do not be an ant under that beam. you won't be able to see it necessarily, it's hidden after all. but you can feel that fire and act accordingly.

gemini: the eclipse is no small thing but for you, mercury retrograde is bigger. you will feel an urge to blurt things out, but do not. probably not even to your most trusted circle, unless it is a very serious matter. everything else can wait a few weeks, no?

cancerians: eclipses are always major for you. cardinal eclipses even more so. it isn't until the weekend - actually technically monday! - but you feel it already, i'm sure. mercury retrograde nearby to the eclipse point happens first. it is intense. stay home if you can. if not, keep to yourself a bit anyway. everyone will be blurting things out; let that inform you, don't be the informant.

leo: aries vibes build and build all week which ultimately is good for you in a really transcendent, perhaps also cerebral way. but you also feel the first hints of the coming eclipse which is not meant to be a comfortable time for you. still, comfort can be overrated.

virgo: so much is going on it can be overwhelming to your constitution so take it easy physically AND mentally. avoid debts or loans, other people's money, stay in your lane, etc, but also i suspect a good relationship development occurs IF everything in your partnerships has been aboveboard and authentic.

libra: relationships are always a focus for you of course, but with everything going on in aries there's no way to ignore them or let anything else take center stage for most librans. you have to maintain balance of course, but attend to what needs your attention.

scorpio: no matter how tired of pressure you become, you have more ability to thrive under it than probably any other sign. it intensifies all week, it transmutes us all and you emerge the most beautiful phoenix. doing hard things, surviving hard things, is worth it.

sagittarius: fifth house activity is fun, at minimum in a dramatic soap operatic way. fine, the eclipse is hardcore, mercury is retrograde, and chiron is still over there doing his thing. but see if you can't get a bit of a thrill out of the chaos. start over if you want.

capricorn: these cardinal times are hard on you, but the antidote is to beautify your home and make it a peaceful sanctuary. yes you might want to be out there making status and legacy for yourself, or finding a suitable partnership of one kind or another. for everything a season. but this season is for the peaceful lair you make for yourself, from which you spring forward later in full bloom.

aquarius: your local community or people close to you emotionally are probably in some chaos. your money though? your resources? all good there. avoid delusional spending, just stay a bit frugal and it all plays out very nicely for you.

pisces: something or someone you thought you could depend on - thought you HAD to depend on, maybe - it turns out is not so reliable. it may or may not be their fault. but you have to become independent. if you already are, you are called to rely upon that independence this week, fortify it, and appreciate it. there are still others to lean on. not all is lost.

[inkindofmagic]

Mercury Retrograde in Virgo ☿℞♍︎

august 2023

— Astro News

The Second Mercury Retrograde of 2023 begins the Pre-Shadow in Virgo on August 4 at approx. 3:00 am Universal Time*, and on August 3 at 11:00 pm EDT, and 8:00 am PDT.

Mercury goes Retrograde in Virgo (21º 51') on August 23 at 7:59 pm Universal Time, 3:59 pm EDT, and 12:59 pm PDT.

The Direct Station occurs in Virgo (8º 0') on September 15 at 8:21 pm Universal Time, 4:21 pm EDT, and 1:21 pm PDT.

Mercury ends the Post-Shadow in Virgo on September 30 at approx. 5:15 am Universal Time, 1:15 am EDT, and on September 29 at 10:15 pm PDT.

The previous Retrograde in Virgo occurred in August of 2017 and 2016.

Discover more about Mercury Retrograde ✨here✨

Useful tips on how to survive Mercury Retrograde ✨here✨

source astrologyhoroscopereadings.com

via @inkindofmagic

[truevedicastrology]

Retrograde Realities

🌠🔄 Cosmic Backspins and Their Astrological Impact 🪐✨

You've probably heard someone blame Mercury retrograde for their latest mishap, but did you know that all planets (except the Sun and Moon) go retrograde? Let's dive into this fascinating astrological phenomenon!

What is Retrograde? 🤔 Retrograde is when a planet appears to move backwards in its orbit from our perspective on Earth. It's an optical illusion caused by differences in orbital speeds, but astrologically, it's so much more!

🪐 The Major Players and Their Retro Rhythms:

Mercury ☿

Frequency: 3-4 times a year

Duration: About 3 weeks

Themes: Communication, technology, travel

Effects: Misunderstandings, tech glitches, travel delays

Venus ♀️

Frequency: Every 18 months

Duration: About 40 days

Themes: Love, beauty, finances

Effects: Relationship re-evaluations, financial reconsiderations

Mars ♂️

Frequency: Every 2 years

Duration: About 2.5 months

Themes: Energy, action, desire

Effects: Frustration, misdirected energy, reviewing goals

Jupiter ♃

Frequency: Annually

Duration: About 4 months

Themes: Growth, luck, expansion

Effects: Introspection, philosophical reassessment

Saturn ♄

Frequency: Annually

Duration: About 4.5 months

Themes: Structure, responsibility, limitations

Effects: Karmic lessons, restructuring life areas

Uranus ⛢

Frequency: Annually

Duration: About 5 months

Themes: Innovation, rebellion, sudden changes

Effects: Internal revolutions, unexpected insights

Neptune ♆

Frequency: Annually

Duration: About 5 months

Themes: Dreams, intuition, illusion

Effects: Heightened creativity, spiritual awakenings

Pluto ♇

Frequency: Annually

Duration: About 5 months

Themes: Transformation, power, rebirth

Effects: Deep psychological changes, unearthing hidden truths

🔍 The Retrograde Lowdown:

It's not all bad! Retrogrades are times for the "Re-" words: Reflect, Reassess, Revise, Redo.

Personal planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars) tend to have more noticeable effects in daily life.

Outer planet retrogrades (Jupiter through Pluto) often bring more subtle, long-term changes.

Your birth chart might have retrograde planets - these influence your personality uniquely!

💡 Pro Tip: Check which house in your natal chart the retrograde is happening in. This shows which area of life will be most affected!

🌈 Retrograde Survival Guide:

Don't panic! Retrogrades are natural cycles.

Use the energy for introspection and review.

Be patient with delays and miscommunications.

Avoid starting major new projects if possible.

Double-check important documents and communications.

Take time for self-care and reflection.

🤔 Food for Thought:

How have you experienced retrogrades in your life?

Do you notice differences between various planetary retrogrades?

Any personal stories of retrograde challenges or breakthroughs?

Remember, retrogrades aren't cosmic curses - they're opportunities for growth and realignment. Embrace the backward dance of the planets and see where it leads you! 🌠💃

[daily-pryce-and-carter]

Survival Tip No.941

Mercury isn’t in retrograde, it’s in Celsius.