Weekly Metaphysical Forecast 8.22.23
Navigating a Very Virgo Retrograde
WHAT?
Prepare for rude, irritating corrections and critiques this week - the kind that throw us off our game and force us to undergo re-education. Mercury Retrograde is back with a vengeance to usher in the season of its dignitary, Virgo, and it will be the Virgo-est Virgo season that ever swanned into our lives.
Many hard aspects to Mercury in Virgo will force re-evaluation this week, and the best way to cope will involve being as constructive as possible as we give and receive feedback. We are entering a stretch of time that could see us fighting old emotional baggage as we struggle to change habits and procedures - like an old, abused dog trying desperately to learn new tricks in order to survive. New information will keep us on our toes, forcing us to stretch so high sometimes that we will inevitably tip over and face plant on the floor. Accept this possibility now and prepare to laugh about it, because only the gift of generous grace for ourselves and others can smooth our transition from carefree, hot Leo summer to diligent, repressive Virgo.
WHY?
Of all planetary retrogrades, zippy little Mercury haunts us most frequently - 3, occasionally 4 times a year - due to his petite orbit around our flaming sun. The frequency and infamy of Mercury doing his reverse jig invokes a collective fear in our new millenium, even among people who otherwise loudly proclaim astrology to be bullshit. Many 'mainstream' blogs will caution people to back up digital information, plan for travel delays, and avoid communication with exes during this retrograde, and honestly, those are good practices during all seasons for all people, spiritual beliefs notwithstanding.
This particular retrograde could feel extra potent because we simultaneously kick off solar Virgo season, and Mercury looooves Virgo. The trickster planet, (Hermes to the ancient Greeks) is never happier than when he is delivering messages and perfecting processes, much like the fussy virgins over which he rules. So when he is retrograde, communication and technology can be fraught. Emails can go to the wrong people, delays can plague travel and events, and the odds on saying or hearing embarrassing anecdotes are higher. Mercury in Virgo also forms some hard aspects to the moon and Black Moon Lilith this week, injecting strong emotions into our communication. Expect a re-examination of practical things like finances, paperwork, and contracts as we try to pinpoint where we screwed up and how to fix it going forward. This is one of those irritating moments when, despite everyone saying their corrections and feedback are not personal, they totally, 100% will feel personal, and it's going to be really tempting to have a collective suck attack about it.
It's important to remember, though, that when things break down in spectacular fashion, it is a sign that they needed a serious retooling all along, and the retrograde had to happen for us to buckle down and do it. Some of us are going to feel persecuted, but we will be grateful for the work we are about to put in come mid-September. Hermes and Virgo like to work fast, because they want to correct us quickly and move on to better outcomes, so take heart in the knowledge that this rash of uncomfortable corrections only lasts 3 weeks.
WHEN?
Wednesday, August 23rd is D-Day for our solar Virgo kick-off and Mercury shenanigans, but a nice sextile between the moon, Mercury, and Mars will help us feel invigorated rather than defeated, making it a good day to go over finances or clean house. Thursday, August 24th will see the sun squaring the moon and then opposing Saturn through Saturday, August 26th, so don't be surprised if disciplinary vibes prevail through the weekend. Remember, this too shall pass.
TAROT
The Chariot reversed brings the first pangs of self-doubt on Wednesday, probably due to something communicated about ourselves or our work, which leads to delayed projects and feelings of restriction on Thursday. We will continue to feel thrown off our game on Friday, when The Magician reversed keeps us from realizing our potential, and the vibes could get vicious on Saturday if we lash out at others to hide our own insecurity, ala The Queen of Wands reversed. We will be tempted to dwell on the past and resist change Sunday, August 27th, but time waits for no man and transition is inevitable, because as Death reversed knows, the universe hates entropy.
Like steel in a forge, we will emerge early next week to a better, brighter future thanks to lessons learned and pain endured. The Ace of Coins carries from Monday to Tuesday and shows us that all is not lost financially as long as we pull our heads out of our asses, and beautiful possibilities converge with Strength and the full moon in Pisces on Wednesday. Phew.
As always, thank you to everyone who has been following the daily readings on our stories at RitualPNW on IG and YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/@alectochaos ! The same RitualPNW IG will morph next month into Alecto and will still feature daily pulls, plus tarot reviews, tarot archetype photography, and street style according to zodiac signs.
LAGNIAPPE
As we say goodbye to summer, and also to Ritual, let us embrace the lesson of the Death card and close out this era with one final soundtrack, a combo of somber new releases that fit the transitional vibe of August into September and old, gothy favorites emblematic of our time on Capitol Hill. This playlist is a little circumspect and sad, but it's okay to feel sad as long as we remember a key truth - for something to be born, something else has to die. This is just the way our universe operates.