Mercury Retrograde

In March of 2026 I found myself with a torn ACL after a ski accident, and this would ultimately be the catalyst that finally pushed me to pursue a career in astrology! For three and a half years before this I’d been cleaning houses full time. It was good work that provided me with the flexibility I loved and ample time to listen endlessly to astrology podcasts and audiobooks. When I wasn’t working, I was analyzing charts, reading various astrology books, and engaging in conversations with anyone who would listen or discuss astrology with me.

When I started seriously studying astrology during the COVID pandemic, I kept in mind that I’d like to read professionally. But for so long I just assumed it’d happen organically without trying. Having dreamy and imaginative Neptune in the early degrees of earthy Capricorn in my 10^th House of career and reputation, this was a very delusional way of thinking about how I’d make my mark in the world.

So when I found myself on the side of a mountain unable to even hobble down on my own, the Universe brought the forced shift I needed. Mercury was retrograde and moving into a conjunction with Mars (ruler of drive & inspiration) and the North Node of the Moon (growth & purpose). This joining of Mercury retrograde re-analyzing energies and Mar’s drive happened to be in opposition to Mar’s placement in my own birth chart in the sixth house of work, health, and my daily habits, while also forming a creative sextile to my birth placement of the North Node – culminating in a new opportunity for growth!

In a single moment, a quick pop in my left knee completely shifted how I moved through my life both in the immediate time (on crutches) but also brought long-term change to work and how I thought about my direction in life. Saturn, the ruler of bones, structure, and in particular the knees (!) was also in exact opposition to my natal placement of Mercury. With Saturn also moving through Aries in my First House, I knew ahead of time  it would be helping me to redefine my identity, restructure how I perceived myself and ultimately provide me with challenges and lessons around how I expressed who I was. I anticipated that, but I could not have predicted it would be so swift and provide such a literal manifestation of the symbolic energy the planets can represent.

This is one of the many reasons I love astrology! No matter how much I study, learn, and discover about astrology it still is such an engaging and dynamic lens through which to view and interact with life. As we approach the next Mercury retrograde near the end of this month, I being to reflect again on this Journey we call life. Retrogrades are the time for ‘RE’s’ … REflect, REview, REpair, etc. While most of the planets go retrograde, Mercury is the most well know and talked about. Perhaps because it occurs most often (three times per year), and is the most noticed planet when it does go retrograde.

As a society that relies so heavily on many of the things Mercury resides over; language, communication, transportation, reason and intellect – really all the ways we humans connect to one another – when it goes retrograde it causes us all to pay attention. But Mercury doesn’t go retrograde simply to cause upset and discord. It doesn’t throw us off the rails simply to make us surfer. It does so in order for us to really asses and review the way we have been moving and interacting with the world around us, to determine if it is still in line with where we want to be going. It forces us to really analyze and determine if changes and adjustments are necessary. Then when Mercury goes direct again we can take the necessary steps towards following a path more in line with where we want to be heading, or how we want to interact with the world around us.

The retrograde last March was located in my 12^th House of unseen things, as well as institutions (such as hospitals!) and endings. I certainly hadn’t expected so sudden a shift to my life, even if looking back I really wanted it. Life has a funny way of giving us exactly what we want/need, which is why they say “be careful what you wish for.” This next Mercury retrograde in Cancer will be moving through my 5^th House of creativity, joy, self-expression, and confidence. It will be a time for me to re-evaluate how and why I am expressing myself in a loving and nurturing (Cancer) manner.

Great questions to ask regardless of which house this Mercury is moving through for you:

• How have I been sympathetic, comforting, and nurturing towards others or myself? When have I not been?

• How do I connect with others with emotional authenticity?

• Are there times I am giving too much to others?

• Do I have healthy boundaries around how I care for others?

• How/where can I find a healthy boundary that balances caring for others, while also ensuring proper care & nurturing for myself?

  
  

These are important questions I can ask myself too as I actively pursue reading birth charts professionally. It’s a career that involves helping others look at their own lives and how to make the most out of their potential from an astrological perspective. This often means identifying challenges within the birth chart and helping the Native (person being read for) navigate difficulty and overcome many of life’s obstacles.

I love people, and it does bring me joy to help others grow and thrive to the best of their ability, to actualize the full potential of their birth chart. But as with all things there is a healthy, balanced way of engaging with it. Astrology and its Zodiacal framework of opposites and complementary energy is ultimately all about balance. It’s a tool to investigate and uncover where we are off balance and how we can find equilibrium

This next Mercury retrograde starts June 29^th and lasts until July 23^rd. It will be another opportunity to look at life, review where things are heading, and what is or is not working in order to REpair or REcalibrate how you are connecting to the world around you. This will of course be specific to a particular part of your life, depending on your own personal birth chart and what house Mercury is moving through as well as what aspects it is making to your natal placements.

If you’d like to explore Mercury retrograde in your chart or get a general chart reading please feel free to reach out to me and we can dive in to how to make the most of your own set of life blueprints the stars indicated at the moment of your birth.

Shylah Blomquist

Sblomquist924@gmail.com

(406) 459-6367