I'm no astrologer. In fact, most of the time, I feel like I'm attempting to understand a foreign language when I read anything more than a horoscope. I used to scoff at these alleged planetary influences, and thought it was a little ridiculous to think that a planet's "appearing to move backward" could really have an effect on anything we do. But, at least in my own life, I've found that there's something to this, and while I don't make astrology a religion, I certainly do see the correlations and try to pay attention to them on at least a basic level. I've found that valuable lessons can be learned from following this model.
This time around, I learned a few things:
1. There are times when communication isn't working, and it's okay to just say, "I'm having a bad communication day. Let's talk tomorrow." People respect that kind of honesty and are willing to accommodate.
2. Sometimes, it's just best to end a social media friendship rather than simply hiding someone's posts from your news-feed to avoid hurting his/her feelings. When you do end it, they are hurt and can get snarky. But, honesty is always the best policy and, at the end of the day, you have to be true to yourself. I'm a firm believer in social media friendships, especially among Pagans, as many of us live in areas where face-to-face interactions with others of like mind are next to impossible. That comes with the understanding that they are easier to make and break; and not everyone will value them at the same levels. That said, when it's time to end it, clean breaks are best.
3. As I continue through this 51st year of life, I'm finding I'm less tolerant of passive-aggressive behavior, and I'm more aggressive in my approach to calling it out. I'm not interested in being as "politically correct" as I used to be. I'm much more interested in authenticity, and I think that goes to #2 as well.
4. I like being uniquely me. I don't want to copy someone else, and while "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", I don't want to be copied, mimicked or followed in that fashion. There can be only one me, one you. I like the meme that says, "Be yourself. Everyone else is taken".
5. Racism is much more alive and well than any of us wanted to believe. Given the amount of progress made over the last 50 years, I'd hoped we'd gotten past a lot of things.. this, sadly, was not the case. I am also disheartened at the amount of people in white America that refuse to acknowledge their privilege. To my sisters and brothers of a darker color, I am so sorry. I want us to do better. I'll keep fighting with you. Your dignity, courage and grace is an inspiration to me... you just have no idea how much I see in how you live. I also see a younger generation that gives me hope. It's still alive, and that's what counts.
Those are my top five lessons this time around. It's a full moon in Aquarius (the first of two consecutive Aquarian full moons this year), and I'm going to enjoy the magics. Thank you for the lessons, Mercury. They were hard to learn, but valuable. I'll see you again in October.