Jacki Smith

Making the Upcoming Mercury Retrograde Work For You

Yes, it’s Mercury retrograde time again.

(waits for the moans and groans to subside)

… and yes, we can expect all the problems that normally occur during a Mercury retrograde – electronic device issues, travel plans have gone awry, communications with others go crazy, and more socks than ever seem to slip into the vortex of the dryers 4th dimension.

(waits for the moans and groans to subside)

But this year, I have the best Mercury retrograde option for you and it couldn’t come any sooner – Coventry Creations Crossroads Candle.

Now, before I get into how to work with the candle, let’s get into the Mercury Retrograde chart, and figure out how we can get the most out of it.

Mercury is the planet that helps us understand life. It’s kind of our little computer/phone app that lets us see what is going on in the world, and integrate all the bits of information into something that is useable for us as we navigate through our day to day lives.

In Greek Myth, Hermes (his Greek name) was a peculiar God. Let me give you the areas of life he was the god of: commerce, messages, the link between mortals and the gods, travel, and he was the protector of travelers, thieves, and athletes.

Mercury was the only god that did not have temples and shrines that were erected in his honor – and with the people he trafficked with, you can see why. Instead, he had ‘herms’ that were erected at crossroads in his honor. This would be where travelers that were lost or people that needed Mercury’s assistance would rest to get guidance from the god.

So, you can see why this years ‘Crossroads’ limited edition (meaning Jacki doesn’t make them often) is perfect because it gives us something tangible to work with during this retrograde cycle.

On with the chart… (yes, there is always a chart for everything)

Mercury goes retrograde in the sign of Virgo on August 12 at 9:00 PM EST. Virgo is an earth sign and is associated with order, discipline, structure, foundation, and natural law.

To look at the trends of the Mercury retrograde chart, we set the chart for Washington, DC for the United States. These trends will be more potent for anyone that has planets between 7-15 degrees of a sign, with a stronger emphasis in the signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces.

Let’s begin with the 4^th house. This house is enormous power because it reflects the current emotional weather of the collective at the time Mercury goes retrograde. There are no planets in the 4^th house of the chart, but the sign of Gemini is on the cusp. This reflects a lot of conflicting emotions. We may be torn about the current state of our relationships or need to decide whether our jobs or careers are giving us what we need. Additionally, Gemini is ruled by Mercury retrograde and sits in the 6^th house on the cusp of the 7^th. So, we have a clue that our day to day life, our habits, and our relationships (personal and business) are going to be high target areas of concern during this retrograde.

Our next area of concern is going to be the Ascendant of the chart, which has Pisces on the cusp and Neptune, Chiron, and the Moon in the 1^st house. Neptune in the 1^st reflects that we may need to think things out and possibly be very patient because all the information is not available. Many of the decisions and choices we need to make right now might also involve past problems or decisions that have come back for us to reflect on and possibly make future adjustments. Chiron in the first implies that we may view things now through the lens of spoiled luck or unfortunate situations that have occurred that have not really been our personal fault or the faults of those in our day to day life. Chiron’s influence is amplified in this chart, and it might be necessary to work through any anger or rage that you may have towards the collective. Additionally, the Moon in energetic Aries in the first implies that we need to take control of our own thoughts and ideas, and our pathway to security (Moon) is doing things on our own and forging our own path. We need to embrace change.

The traditional ruler of Pisces is Jupiter. Jupiter lands in the 7^th house of the chart. The 7^th house has to do with our relationships with others. This reflects that we can learn more about our path by being open and receptive to the ideas and opinions of others. This does not mean that we should do it their way, but it does give us an area that we can look for answers.

Now, let’s analyze Mercury itself:

Mercury lands in the 6^th house of the chart straddling the 7^th house cusp. As I stated earlier, will influence our everyday lives and our relationships. So, the areas most affected will be our jobs, our hobbies, rituals, and possibly put a strain on relationships. This retrograde could even activate our adversaries.

Mercury always indicates a period of reflection when he is retrograde, and we can use its energy to analyze the areas he will influence and gauge whether they are giving us what we need.

Here are some meditation and reflection points:

Am I happy with my job situation?
Am I getting enough exercise?
How am I feeling physically and emotionally?
Have I had a health check up recently?
Have my pets visited the vet recently? How are they doing?
Am I getting enough rest?
Is there anything that I am doing habitually that may be causing a problem?
Are there any new hobbies I wish to pursue?
Am I happy with my current hobbies?
Am I happy with my relationships?
Are there people I need to make amends with?
How are my business partnerships going and do I need to make other strategic alliances?
Do I need to end some business relationships?

Mercury forms several aspects that I mentioned earlier in conjunction with the 4^th house. The most significant is Mercury opposed Neptune. You can expect to feel confusing during the retrograde. Areas of your life may seem muddled and you may need to put off ANY decision making completely until the retrograde is over – especially if this is making you anxious. This could be amplified by Mercury sesquiquadrate Uranus. Mercury and Uranus bring forth feelings of anxiety on their own and likes to make plans and have a scheme on how to resolve things, especially when this is combined with Neptune’s influence. Uranus is the ruler of the 12^th house past and could indicate that we need to analyze the decisions and choices we’ve made that may have led to our current confusion. This could be difficult and force you to dig deep, yet the rewards of reviewing the past will be many.

The second difficult aspect is Mercury square Saturn. This is an extremely frustrating aspect because we often feel thwarted, limited, face any obstacles, and this could lead to depression. This is not the greatest time to engage in social activities because social gatherings could make us feel even more alienated – especially since Saturn is the ruler of the 11^th house group. The key to working with this aspect is realizing that sometimes you should do things slowly and with purpose and that only through going through the frustrations and limitations, you get to the other side. Mercury square Saturn, when worked with consciously, can bring forth solid and endurable results.

Mercury does make one positive aspect: a trine to Pluto. Mercury-Pluto aspects let you dig deeper. Mercury trine Pluto lets you get to the bottom of situations and see the underlying issues and problems. Pluto is the ruler of the 9^th house big picture and Mercury trine Pluto will allow us to see the larger scheme of things and put them in their proper perspective eliminating circumstances that may no longer be good for us.

Now, we all know that Mercury retrograde is difficult, and I have written extensively on its purpose. It’s very easy for us to get caught up in the physical manifestation of this cosmic event. However, Coventry Creations has released a limited-edition Crossroads Candle – and it has arrived at the right time.

The Crossroads candle is an elegantly designed candle that comes adorned with a key. Now for those of you that are Lenormand fans, then you know that the key card signifies opening doors, and usually indicates a yes answer when he appears in a spread.

The text on the candle says:

“What wonders await when you unlock the door to your true self? Magic is not from an external source, but from deep within. We designed this candle to help you find your inner wisdom. Lighting this candle and visualizing your goal is a commitment to your success.”

This candle is perfect for working with Mercury retrograde. It helps us receive inner answers that we can then implement once Mercury goes direct on September 5^th.

Here are ways you can use the candles:

Career – Are you at a point in your career where you are not getting what you need? Do you not feel creative enough or that your career is feeding your spirit? The crossroads candle can be used to help you receive clarity on what direction that you need to take, and what path is more aligned with your spirit.

Finances – Are finances a problem? The crossroads candle can be used to help you get clarity on your financial situation. Do you need a stricter budget or do you need to find a new job to make more money? Do you need to pay off your debt? Are you spending more than you need to spend? This candle will bring you clarity on your financial needs.

Relationships – Relationships are important to everyone. However, there are times when we need to take a deep look at how our relationships are feeding us, and whether or not they are fulfilling us on an emotional level. Additionally, this applies to business relationships. You can use the crossroads candle to help show your relationship path and guide you in the choices that you need to make.

Here is an amazing video that Jacki Smith has done to show how to perform a crossroads ritual.

To get more information on the crossroads candle please visit http://www.coventrycrossroads.com

.. and Happy Retrograde

Storm Cestavani, August 10, 2017

(If you like this article, please hit the like or +g button below)

Finding Your Inner Gold — The Sun

Finding Your Inner Gold – The Sun

How often do you read your horoscope? If so, then you are familiar with where your Sun is located in the horoscope. You are either a Taurus, a Scorpio, an Aquarius, or one of the other 9 signs that make up the astrological heavens. But, what do you really know about the symbol of the Sun that we base all our sun sign descriptions on?

In this episode of ‘Keep It Magic’, Jacki Smith and I explore the astrological Sun beyond the sun sign columns and delve deeply into the works of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, and Erich Neumann. Since the symbolism of the Sun reflects the need and urge to become unique individuals, then there must be a universal map or plan that describes solar unfoldment. This is perfectly described by the “Heroes Journey”.

We encourage you to put away everything that you know about your Sun because the information provided in this episode will only amplify your understanding. Instead, it is perhaps more helpful to realize that the Sun is constantly unfolding and becoming itself and is always in a process of becoming. Unlike the Moon which develops through our experiences in early childhood, the Sun takes effort. It is up to you to decide if you are going to heed its call.

Current Spirituality Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with KeepItMagic on BlogTalkRadio

Lunar Cookbook: The Placement of the Moon in the Horoscope

In the last episode of Keep It Magic, Jacki and I explored the Moon from the psychological and mythological perspective. It is one of the episodes I am the most proud of because I feel that understanding yourself on a deeper level ultimately gives you the ability to make better choices as well as be more sympathetic to those around you. If you have not listened to the last episode, I have provided the widget at the end of this article as an audio companion.

Now here is your cheat sheet to help you with interpreting and understanding your personal moon placement which I did not have time to do on the show. If you need to find out where in the heavens your moon is, you can get a copy of your chart for free on my website. If you need help interpreting your chart, then I have provided this free tutorial to assist you.

Finding Your Inner Gold — The Moon

I’m excited about the next four episodes of Keep It Magic. Over the years, Jacki Smith and I have had numerous requests for more astrology content on the show. We have done a bit over the last 3 years (yes we are at the tail end of Season 3), but creating them can be rather tricky. Our challenge has always been how to create an inclusive content about astrology without focusing heavily on individual astrological positions. So we have decided to do shows on the planets meanings and mythologies in order to provide our listeners with a more rounded view of the individual planets and everything they encompass.

Our first episode is on the Astrological Moon. In my opinion, the Moon gets far less astrological press and attention than it should. Perhaps, the reason is that we live in a solar conscious society that place its importance on potential, possibility, goals, and the future. However, being bound to a body that needs warmth, nourishment, and security are all lunar consciousness necessities, and without this grounded reality our ability to manifest our solar desires and personal contentment are minimized.

In this episode, Jacki and I explore the different connections and meanings of the Moon that are beyond the traditional keywords of feelings and emotions. Plus, we explore the goddesses of the Moon and how amplifying their symbols help us to understand the Moon and any lunar dysfunctions that may occur if the Moon is not properly expressed in the horoscope.

Before you begin this episode, I do ask that you put any preconceived ideas, meanings, or associations you have with the Moon on a shelf. This will help you grasp the concepts discussed easier.

Current Spirituality Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with KeepItMagic on BlogTalkRadio

Storm Cestavani is the co-host of the top rated metaphysical show “Keep It Magic” and the co-creator of the “Tarot Magic” with Coventry Creations. Storm is available for consultations by setting up an appointment to speak with him. Simply click on Book a Reading with Storm at the top of the page.

If you like this post please hit the +1 button at the bottom of your page or the LIKE button. We thank you!

Like Storm’s New Insights in Modern Astrology on Facebook.

Follow Storm on Twitter @StormCestavani2

Releasing Yourself From the Bondage of Inner Slavery

A few weeks ago, Jacki Smith called me and asked a rather simple question – “What is a miracle?” To be frank, it is a rather interesting question that has eluded the secular world for eons. In fact, pop culture has “dumbed down” miracles to the point that it’s a glamorous word that more closely resembles luck or fortunate happenstance than anything divine. Needless to say, the word is perplexing. I was plagued pondering the meaning to this for several days. Of course, I eventually pushed miracles aside and began to study Passover.

During the season of Passover we celebrate the Israeli liberation from the Egyptian Pharaoh and the story is found in the book of Exodus. It occurs on the 15^th day of the Hebrew month of Ares (Nissan) and always occurs during a full moon. According to the story in Exodus (Shemot in Hebrew), God inflicts ten plagues upon the Egyptians culminating with the worst of the ten plagues being the “death” of the Egyptian first born. In order to protect the Israelites, God instructed them to make their doorsteps with the blood of a slaughtered lamb so that the spirit of the Lord knew to “pass over” the Israeli first born – which is why the holiday is named Passover.

5 Keep It Magic Topics You Do Not Want To Miss

In the summer of 2011, I was in an awkward state. I began psychotherapy a few months earlier for unresolved sexual abuse trauma and social anxiety disorder. I was doing well – or at least better than I had for the 10 years prior. I was getting the relief I needed, and began to live my life rather than let life live me. After doing years of radio prior (hosting 2 radio shows and the co-host of another), doing another radio show was the last thing I thought I would do.

Enter – Jacki Smith!

Jacki and I had worked on a radio show together in the past. She contacted me to see if I would help her with her own show which she wanted to call “Keep It Magic”. I offered to help her get her show going and would host the first 10 episodes with her so that she would eventually feel comfortable running her own show.

Keep It Magic was born in the fall of 2011. It is now the spring of 2014 and we are in the middle of our third season. I guess you can see that Jacki talked me into more than ten episodes. Moreover, the last 100 episodes of KIM (our shortened name for Keep It Magic) have been awe inspiring, transformative, and the most fun I have had in radio. Our goal is to provide our listeners with as much content as possible in order to help them achieve their own personal desires in their lives.

In order to celebrate this milestone accomplishment, I have put together a list of my favorite “Keep It Magic” episodes. These are the episodes that helped change my perspective on living and helped me “Keep It Magic” in my own life. Hopefully, they will help create some magic in yours!

5. Honor Thy Mother and Father With Reservations:

This episode was produced during the holidays and one of the most frustrating and stressful time for our listeners. Often we are forced to deal with relatives that we have unresolved issues with and/or have to deal with past traumas of our childhood. This episode explores how to honor your roots and at the same time remain an individual and firmly planted in your boundaries.

4. Getting Your Needs Met Once and For All: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

This series was divided into three parts. Jacki and I explored needs from a spiritual, magical, and astrological perspective. This is a great show if you feel lack in your life and what you come up empty handed in regards to getting your needs met. Sometimes what we think we need and what we really need are actually different.

3. Does God Really Wear Lipstick? Part 1 and Part 2.

In this series we explored Karen Berg’s book, “God Wears Lipstick – Kabbalah for Women”. Since I know Kabbalah and its theories pretty well, listening to Jacki’s experience was rather interesting to say the least. Her first reaction was that Kabbalah had the same misogynistic ideals as other Judeo Christian religions, but as she got deeper into the book she realized how different it actually is. This series will teach you the Kabbalistic purpose for women on this planet and how they can help others achieve fulfillment.

2. Dispelling Inner Ghosts and Demons: Part 1 and Part 2

During the month of October, Jacki and I decided to take a detour away from the traditional pagan and Wiccan ideals of Samhain and instead focused on the inner world. If you are haunted by things from your past and need to learn how to manage your personal ghosts then these episodes will truly waken you up to how much our personal hauntings control us in our day to day lives.

And finally…

1. Getting to the Core of Your Desire.

Danielle LaPorte’s latest book, “The Desire Map” is one of the most transformative books of my life. It is ground breaking and eye opening. If you live your life based on attempting to achieve goals and satisfaction through the physical world, then this episode will help you flip the switch. You will get to the root of your desire not through what you achieve, but rather though your feelings through the process.

Plus… don’t miss the latest episode of Keep It Magic

Check Out Spirituality Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with KeepItMagic on BlogTalkRadio

If you like this post please hit the +1 button at the bottom of your page or the LIKE button. We thank you!

Like Storm’s New Insights In Modern Astrology on Facebook.

Follow Storm on Twitter @StormCestavani2