Casting Spells with Mercury Retrogrades
Use retrogrades to empower your magick spells.
Witches can use Mercury Retrogrades for more powerful spells. However, they’re best for certain kinds of spells.
Every retrograde focuses on revisiting something from the past. The planet seems to pause, go backwards in time, pause again, and then move forward. This cycle usually takes place over several weeks. For some planets, the retrograde path can take months.
Remember, the planet only seems to go backwards for awhile. It’s actually moving forward. We just see it as something moving backwards, from our viewpoint on Earth.
That describes the influence of a retrograde, too: It can look like you’re going back over ground you’ve covered before. It can be fun or — more often — really annoying. You’ve been there, done that, and you’ve shredded or burned the tee-shirt. You really don’t want to go there again.
A small change in attitude turns a retrograde into a blessing:Â Think of it as a time to go back and get it right, this time.
All in all, this is an opportunity for tremendous growth and a better outcome.  It’s a chance to move forward with a clean slate, or at least a better history. You have a chance to banish past regrets and leave the negative parts of the past behind you.
You can also re-energize opportunities you missed, or things you’d like to bring forward into your current life.
Mercury retrogrades occur several times each year, and they can provide energy related to travel and communication.
So, any Mercury retrograde will be useful for spells and activities related to:
- Revisiting things you said (or neglected to say) in the past.
- Clearing up past misunderstandings.
- Going back to places where you want to change what you did there.
- Returning to places where good things happened, that you’d like to repeat or re-energize.
The best part about Mercury retrograde is this: You’re not the only one remembering these things from the past. So, you already have the collaborative energy you need to empower spells and activities that revisit past experiences.
For example, if you hate how things ended with someone who’d been close to you, chance are he or she is thinking about that, too. Maybe he or she would like a chance to do things differently. Mercury retrograde gives you both that opportunity.
Or, if you’ve lost touch with an individual or group you used to enjoy being around, it’s likely that the person or group has been thinking about you during this retrograde, as well.
You can choose a better outcome. This is like a do-over, or a chance to go back in the “Choose Your Own Adventure” story, and make a better decision.
Mercury Retrogrades
14 July – 8 August 2012 – This one’s in Leo. Expect very loud communications on both sides. Be very, very patient. Frankly, it won’t get easier, but you have a chance for astonishing progress if you can keep your outbursts in check, and exercise incredible patience, even when you’d be fully justified if you stormed out after blasting the other person.
6 Nov – 26 Nov 2012 – This starts in Scorpio (expect harsh communications and blaming, at the beginning) and concludes in Sagittarius (good time for a party). If you can keep your temper under control, this can lead to a very happy outcome. Cast early (as early as October 20th) and cast often, fine-tuning the outcome you’d like. This can be a roller coaster, fast-paced transformation for relationships.
23 Feb – 17 Mar 2013 – Take advantage of Pisces’ flow and mellow energy, to reconcile with people you’ve offended or those who’ve offended you. This is also an ideal time to re-apply for jobs, scholarships, or other opportunities that involve applications or important communications. The doors re-open during this retrograde. Find as many as you can, and plant seeds for future growth.
26 Jun – 20 July 2013 – This retrograde is in Cancer, which can be positive as a water sign. Focus on the flow, not the short-term obstacles in the stream! Pick up any “dropped balls” from the Feb/Mar retrograde, and keep moving forward. Ignore obnoxious behaviors by others, and try to rein in your own tendency to speak without thinking. Avoid nursing old grudges. Be the motherly figure represented by Cancer, not the fussy baby side of this sign! (And, allow others to have their bratty, petulant episodes. They may not have the self-control or insights that you do.)
21 Oct – 10 Nov 2013 – Falling on the weeks around Samhain, when things naturally conclude, you’ll find the most powerful energy in fixing relationships that should logically conclude now… but on happier terms than before. Spells after November 1st should focus on sending healing energy to yourself and others, with a chance for renewing broken relationships in 2014, around Beltane.
Casting spells with Mercury retrogrades can super-charge the positive effects of this time and your spells. Use them wisely.
Casting Spells in 2012
2012 is a significant year for its many astrological changes and anomalies. This is a year of transition for our planet and the individuals on it.
Any spells cast during 2012 are likely to be more powerful. You can make your witchcraft hyper-powerful by planning your spells according to the stars, the planets, and the phases of the moon. Other influences — such as correspondences — can help, too.
Here’s what you need to remember, so you don’t make long-lasting mistakes with your spells in 2012.
First, remember that spells are very literal. It’s smart to write your spells first. Remove all slang, and any dramatic expressions you don’t mean, literally.
For example, if you want a certain person to leave you alone, say something like, “I want [person's full name] to stay away from me, and for him/her to have no negative influence in my life or in the lives of those close to me.” Do not say something like, “I want [person's name] to fall off the face of the earth. He/she is dead to me.”
Never cast a spell on another that asks for something you wouldn’t want to happen to you. If the target of your spell is using a mirror spell, or other protection that returns the spell — as received — back at the sender… well, the outcome could be tragic.
Never cast a spell on behalf of someone else. Generally, the outcome is something that teaches you a lesson about meddling in others’ lives. It’s usually significant enough to haunt you for the rest of your life.  Instead, tell that person to cast his or her own spells, and leave you out of it.  One of many reasons why people choose earth-based and Pagan spirituality is this: We believe that we have direct access to Deity. We don’t need a priest or other intermediary as the go-between, to commune with our gods and goddesses. Even our priests and priestesses are primarily organizers and teachers. So, don’t set yourself up as the go-between by using magick on behalf of others. Instead, empower them by instructing them or pointing them to good resources.
If you want something
As the moon increases in size (waxes), cast to attract whatever it is.
Remember these two important points:
- Cast only for your own experience. Never cast spells that attempt to control or influence others. So, you can cast for a happy relationship with someone like an individual, but not to attract that specific individual.
- Always add “An it harm none,” and “So mote it be” when you conclude your spell. The first is insurance against damage you hadn’t planned to inflict. The second is voicing your trust that Deity will honor your requests and act in your best interests.
Then, during the next full moon (and the day before and after it), celebrate the imminent arrival of whatever you’ve wished (or cast) for. Thank Deity (or the Deities) for the blessings you’ve already received, and for their gracious help in bringing you what you’ve asked for.
Always act in confidence — with perfect faith and trust — that Deity is/are working on your desires right now.
Remember: If you keep digging up planted seeds to see if they’re starting to grow yet, you’ll kill the plant. Faith is an important part of your spells. Trust that Deity will bring you the experience (the essence) of what you’ve cast for, at the very best time for you to receive it.
If you need to banish something
As the moon decreases in size (wanes), cast to eliminate lack, weaknesses, and disappointment in general.
If something is bothering you and it needs to leave your life experience as soon as possible, cast to remove or lift it during the waning (decreasing) moon.
Remember also to ask for what you’d like to replace it. Never cast to remove something and stop there. That could create a vacuum and attract even worse things to you. Always ask for a specific experience to replace what you’re sending away.
When someone is doing something harmful to you or to others, cast for Justice instead of using a spell (or a binding) to stop that person. You don’t personally need to inflict pain or suffering on another person. If it’s an appropriate outcome for that person, Deity (or the Universe, if you prefer) will send that to him or her without your assistance or even your request.
2012 is a very powerful year of transformation and change for all of us. The power is there. Put it to good use by casting spells and using magick responsibly, consciously, and in accordance with the powers within your reach during this landmark year.
Natural Magic – Review
Magic? It’s natural!
Many new witches and Wiccans are discovering the Old Ways. However, some of them don’t realize that the Old Ways — and natural magic — were explored and documented back in the 20th century by people like Doreen Valiente, the author of this important book.
To more fully understand the world around you — and the natural magic in your everyday life — this book is vital. It’s one of the classics.
Did you know…that the thickness of the layers in a locally grown onion will indicate the severity of the coming winter? That’s one of many tips in this book that will introduce you to the wise ways of past witches and Wiccans.
Keep the Old Ways alive. Enrich your life with magic from the natural world around you.
Though I think you’ll want to own this book, even if you can’t buy it right now, see if your public library owns a copy. (If they don’t, ask if they can get it for you from another library.)
Magic is all around us. All we need is the ability to see it, understand it, and apply it. Natural Magic allows us to do just that, and this book makes it simple.
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