it’s that time again!
you walk into the other room and suddenly completely forget why you went in there…
that’s right – it’s MERCURY RETROGRADE!
mercury will be taking his backward journey in the sign of scoprio/libra from october 4th through october 25th. as always, MR periods offer a chance for a “do-over” in some areas of our lives. sometimes people from the past resurface or we get a chance to look at something from a different perspective, and perhaps make a different or more clear decision about it. MR gets a bad rap, but it can really offer a second-chance in a way, we just have to be open. mercury retrograde just wants us to consider things from ALL SIDES, and to make decisions from a more introspective mentality. sometimes we need to see things form a different angle, and that sheds light onto a subject in a way we perhaps hadn’t noticed before. conversely, sometimes MR periods cast “shadows” on matters… afterall, mercury himself is the epitome of duality – having both equal parts dark and light. sometimes the key is to trust the saying, “if one door closes, another one will open.” the key is also to go within, and trust your intuition a little more.
some of the other key things to remember during mercury retrograde are as follows…
—
try not to sign any major documents… and if you must, go over all the paperwork with a fine-tooth comb, as they say, and make sure to “dot all your i’s and cross all your t’s” – MR periods tend to cause our minds to easily overlook small but important details, so it is usually advised that one does not do something like say – purchase a home or sign divorce papers – and the like, during this time.
allow for extra time during travel… or try not to do too much of it in general – MR periods tend to slow down travel/transportation overall but by allowing for extra time, frustration can be easily avoided. i always suggest leaving the house an extra 10-15 minutes early on your way to work, just in case.
do your best not to make any major decisions… mercury is the ultimate trickster. it’s important to use this time to “incubate” your thoughts… pay attention to how they may change or how you may suddenly see something in a whole new way. MR periods have potential to cause confusion, so it is advised to let your thoughts simmer rather than act on them right away.
triple check your work… in going along with “crossing all your t’s” and such {which is kind of a weird thing to say in this modern keyboard-driven technological world we live in}, MR periods beg for us to make sure to pay attention to the details. it’s easy to forget something that may seem like a habit to you. so just do your best to take a few extra moments to make sure you shut the garage door, replied to that important email, or sent a text to the right person 😐
be conscious of your words and any miscommunication… it’s one of the biggest downfalls of MR periods. sometimes you may just NOT hear someone right, or sometimes you may struggle to find the proper words to express yourself, or sometimes you may misunderstand what a person said – or vice versa. just slow down, go easy, and remember that it will pass. and try not to hold a grudge against someone if there in fact is some miscommunication… you can always talk it out after the 25th 🙂
—
of course, if you are a natal mercury retrograde soul like myself, you always have the green light for any of the things listed above. it’s not to say that these periods don’t effect us in these categories, it’s just that we have a different way of interacting with the energies, since we live it on a daily basis.
mercury will be traveling through scoprio and libra during these 3 weeks. some areas of our lives in which MR may have an effect are – divorce, sex, death, rebirth, finances {scorpio} and relationships, partners, clients, fairness, equality {libra}.
if you want to read more of my rants about mercury retrograde events, you can click HERE.
and i hope you backed up your important stuff recently… just sayin’
have fun! ❤
mercury went retrograde in cancer today… for three weeks we can expect to see our thoughts become more reflective and introspective. a few of the key themes will be home, renovations, real estate, roommates, moves, security needs, childhood, intuition, emotions, mother/mother figure, and creativity.
as you may recall from my previous rants, mercury was the messenger god in greek mythology… he “presides” over the following themes in our lives : communication, travel, electronics, writing, thought-processes, transportation, and the like. he longs to communicate and relate. he was the figure responsible for communicating messages to the “mortals” from the “gods” – what a job, huh?! try communicating with a bunch of people who don’t “speak your language” … it can be quite challenging.
this time, mercury is retrograding in the sign of cancer. and cancer is ruled by the moon, by our emotions. cancer represents things like our security, home, family, and intuition. what makes this particular mercury retrograde interesting is that the moon will be housed in it’s ruling sign, cancer, during this transition, as well… that means a WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY under one roof! my advice is to expect the unexpected. trust your gut – listen to that voice inside that speaks softly to you; it’s nudging you one way or another… and sometimes we have to surrender and let go of what we feel is “safe,” in order to open up to a whole new world…
as i’ve mentioned, i was born with natal mercury retrograde in my astrological chart. these time periods {occurring about 3-4 times a year for approximately 3-4 weeks at a time} tend to make me feel extra good. for one, i feel more like my “authentic self” and less like i’m trying so hard. i feel more articulate, open, and creative. this is particularly true this morning.
i have had a weird couple of weeks over here and this morning i woke up feeling different… and i welcome good change.
now – to see where this energy takes me…
❤
———
by the way, i am available for hire as an astrologer. i specialize in conducting accurate birth chart interpretation and would love to help you on your way to understanding YOU a little better… 🙂
email me if you are interested!
hey friends. how was your weekend? i took a long one, and spent some time in denver visiting a few loved ones. my goodness was it a rich weekend. i am so blessed to have some truly amazing people in my life. they are generous and giving and never turn their back on me. i am blessed to have such loving friends!
i had every intent to write “mercury monday” as promised yesterday, but i just ran out of time. i start a new job today and had to tie up loose ends in other ways and just get mentally prepared for the day. i’ll be working in glorious aspen… it is going to be a great season!
so here we are, in the final week of mercury retrograde. how have you been feeling over the last couple of weeks? personally, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster. i mean, i know i mentioned that mercury retrograde periods are when i feel most alive and articulate, and that is very true and still applies {hence the reason i have started journaling more and even started writing a book, finally!} – however, that doesn’t mean i am immune entirely to the energies that come along with it. Continue reading
hey gang.
i decided to write a little today. it’s been a long time since i’ve written down my thoughts and it is such a good outlet for me… i always say i’m “better in print than in person” and that is very true. i find i am much better at expressing myself when i write. i often get “tongue-tied” or have major trouble articulating what it is i need to say.
this truth does bend occasionally… about 4 times out of the year… for about 3 weeks at a time.
why this change?!
the planet mercury, that’s why.
{foto courtesy wikipedia}
Continue reading
hey gang, how’s your mercury retrograde treating you?
mercury retrograding in cancer teaches us this…
we are almost half way through the cycle… and now mercury has left the sign of cancer and entered his home sign of gemini…
so what does this mean? — well, the last week or so may have presented you with issues to deal with, revisit, resolve, etc. in the following themes : home, roommates, intuition, nostalgia, mother/mother figure, childhood, emotions, security needs… these are some key themes of the sign of cancer. perhaps you made the decision to move or make renovations in your home? perhaps a past project came up that needed tweaking or you had an “epiphany” regarding something from your past. you may have learned to trust your intuition more, or to learn to come to terms with some emotions you are feeling… MR in cancer offers an opportunity to revisit, rework, and release in these areas of our lives… and with the full moon energy last week, this period has had amplified energy to support it, as well…
now mercury is continuing his backward travel through the sign of gemini – which is where his “home” is. for the next couple weeks we can expect to see our thoughts shift into the themes that gemini represents. these include talks, short trips, local activities, brothers/sisters, electronics, vehicles, writing, the internet, and anything else that involves connecting or communicating. mercury LONGS to connect, and when he is in the sign of gemini, he has the most success in doing so. however, since he is retrograding in this sign, we can expect to see our thoughts become more introspective. we may want to get other people’s advice or opinions on the current relevant matters in our lives. we may revisit a writing project or rework a trip we had planned. any vehicle or electronic issues may arise to be addressed {sorry, that IS one of the bummers about this period – i hope you backed up your computer recently!} and/or we may find people from the past showing up again to rework, reclaim, or revise a situation. there is great opportunity during MR periods… it’s like taking a mulligan 😉
mercury retrograde periods get a bad rap – but i believe it’s because we don’t generally UNDERSTAND what they are for… and we don’t properly harness the energy presented during these times, so many of us are left feeling frustrated and wondering what happened. which is ironic because that is precisely what mercury retrograde longs to be – UNDERSTOOD! i can’t tell you how many times a day i catch myself thinking or saying “i just wish {that person} understood how i felt.” you may catch yourself using some of my catchphrases lately – like, “did that make sense?” or “i just want to explain it so you can understand…” or “that came out the wrong way, let me rephrase that…” or “wait, i didn’t mean to say that…”
astrology doesn’t MAKE stuff happen… it can’t cause events. but time and time again i find validity in the movements and study of the planets and their behaviour. being natal mercury retrograde, i have a unique and tremendously accurate understanding of how this planet’s movements effect our lives in a major way. perception is EVERYTHING in life – and it can be to our benefit or to our detriment. this has been my biggest lesson during this current MR period. i guess it all goes back to being true to who you are. we are not all the same – we are very uniquely different. but i believe that the ways in which we are the same can bring us together and allow us to be ourselves, as individuals… if we could just simply change the way we look at things – at life.
every puzzle piece has importance, significance, and relevance – we just don’t and CAN’T all have the same design, function, or purpose – we must each bring our own individual strengths to the group, the collective, the puzzle itself. and we should never try force a puzzle piece to change its shape… we simply can’t. and besides, then it wouldn’t fit in the puzzle, anyway – you dig?!
thank you for reading, and for your support – it means the world to me! and please let me know any thoughts you have or feelings you wish to share… i love hearing from you! and don’t forget, i also am available for hire to conduct natal astrology interpretations.
hey ya’ll. happy monday – did you have a nice weekend? i had a foto shoot saturday, but relaxed all day sunday… did a little work around the tiny home, and organized some things that needed organized – that always feels great, doesn’t it?!
i promised i would write about mercury retrograde for the duration of its journey… and although i’m tired and not feeling as “wordy” as i did last week – well, i’m a woman of my word – so here we go.
———
last week i went on and on about how awesome it was that i discovered my mercury retrograde and how i can utilize the energies that come about when it takes a backward journey. thank you so much for reading a little about me! a whole week has now passed and i still feel a little more “normal” than normal, but i also have noticed that my overall ability to just let go of things has come with more ease…
it’s amazing how much “stuff” we carry with us – ideals adopted from our families or social groups, our schooling, our peers, and our every day interactions with things even like the internet, phones, and public places. often times, this may leave us feeling confused and wondering “who we are” or “where we belong” – because for so long we’ve just done what was expected of us, or followed the masses. all the while, those adopted patterns, beliefs, or behaviors, may not actually resonate with who we are as individuals. i’m working very diligently on changing my own personal paradigms, so that i may walk about this earth with more comfort, confidence, and grace… and ultimately, more love… for myself, and for others. sometimes this means changing behaviors or habits within, in order to aid in revealing the most authentic version of myself. Continue reading
greetings!
happy holidays and happy new year! {also – happy mercury retrograde for all you astrology fans out there!}
i hope you all are doing well! also, i wanted to welcome my new readers to this tiny little space on the world wide web. thank you for taking time to subscribe and follow along – i truly hope you enjoy the time you spend here at food and foto dot com.
as a personal goal, i am working to post new blogs at least once or twice a month… but ideally, my aim is to post once a week. as usual, you can expect the topics to include all things food and foto related – as well as the great outdoors, cool people and places, occasional astrology jargon, and general musings/ramblings from yours truly.
for example :
even though our temps have been in the mid 50s all week, this morning i was thinking about the weather and how i really never liked winter… this became particularly true when i lived in the high country in colorado and worked at 12,000 feet elevation {brrrr!}. i don’t enjoy the cold, although i do know that some people really do! the winter season is just not my favourite. however, i have recently learned to embrace each season for different reasons.
as humans, we are just as much a part of nature as nature itself. i sometimes feel we have really lost that connection and we often forget that we, too, have seasons. whether it be the “aging” process, or a relationship, or a job, or relocating/moving, or any other variables in life, we all go through seasons. and i believe that the winter season is a time to relax, reflect, and regain strength for spring. it’s a time to hibernate and go within, and most importantly – a time to REST!
personally, i {now} enjoy the downtime that winter has to offer more than I ever did in the past. of course – a lot has changed in my life which has offered me new perspective on this time of year… but nevertheless, i have certainly learned to embrace this season in a different way. plus, {in true introvert form} i enjoy working on a lot of puzzles this time of year – one of my favourite hobbies. 😉
also, i am not really big on “resolutions” – but i did make a short list of things i want to do more of this year. that includes :
do you have any resolutions or goals this year?
hey gang. hope you’re enjoying the weekend.
i unfortunately have not been sleeping very well at all this week and am extremely tired and worn out. i look forward to resting this weekend, and doing not much of anything else…
my brain has been on overdrive, due to this lack of sleep and i’m sure a hundred other physiological aspects that come along with it… and i’ve just been in a lousy headspace today. when i don’t sleep well for several days, i can’t function. as i’ve mentioned in the past, i’ve battled with insomnia for most of my adult life. i’ve found ways to “cope” but ultimately it’s an ongoing process. sometimes things keep me awake, sometimes i just don’t sleep well. it just depends. point is, today my brain is so tired and yet it’s trying so desperately to think, that it’s focusing on stupid crap.
however – it did get me thinking and researching more about a term i’ve been familiar with but hadn’t thought about much until a friend mentioned it the other day.
HSP – Highly Sensitive Person.
google it, it’s a very real thing. even oprah talked about it on her show once, so the mainstream is accepting it, as well. and, wouldn’t you know – i, myself, am an HSP. Continue reading
to YOU!
that’s right, you. the reader reading this blogpost right now.
—
the lady with the latte in one hand while her nails dry…
the guy with the messy hair who just woke up and has his dog nipping at his leg, begging to be taken outside…
the teenager who thinks i’m cool because i keep it real…
the mom who wandered over to my blog and was inspired to create something different for dinner…
the girl who’s my age and who takes comfort knowing she’s not the only 30-something without a husband or kids…
the athlete who loves my smoothie recipes…
the family who wants to hire me to take their portrait. {just email me! :)}
the fellow blogger who appreciates artistry…
YOU!
—
all of you.
i wanted to shout out to all of my 700-plus readers who take time to stop in and give validation to the things i say and the things i share. as an introverted artist, it takes a lot for me to “put myself out there” {ugh, i even don’t like the term} however, it gives my heart so much comfort and joy every time someone clicks that “follow” button. i appreciate you all following my blog, taking time to read the wacky things i say, and taking time to comment and share. this wordpress blog forum has really been an amazing outlet for me and i feel such a strong sense of community among bloggers i’ve met.
i am just so grateful to each of you – words won’t really be able to express {remember my natal mercury retrograde?! ;)} but i had to do something to show my appreciation.
this thanksgiving, i’m thankful for so much, as usual… but today i want to focus on being thankful for support. THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart! you inspire and encourage me, just by reading and engaging.
🙂
hello you faithful readers, you.
so much is happening. a lot of energy is coming from everywhere.
i have been through some of the worst – i mean, the worst depression of my life… i’m comfortable in saying that i’m out of it now. i don’t want to think it has potential to ever surface again, but i’m a rational person – it might. however, i feel so completely different lately that i don’t know if it will ever have as much reign over me as it did this bout. i’m telling you, it was awful. be thankful i didn’t blog about it, even though sometimes i wanted to – just to get it out of my head.
whatever, i don’t want to waste too much energy even talking about the fact that i suffer{ed} from that horrible debilitating condition. well, it’s the human condition, actually. suffering, pain, fear, separation… we all deal with it, in some fashion. some of us talk about it, some of us take it out on others, some of us take it out with drugs, some of us live a secluded life avoiding interacting with anything or anyone at all…
i guess my point is, i have so much to write about lately because now that i’m out of that horrible dark tunnel, i see the light and it’s so incredibly bright i can hardly stand it. it’s like my favourite quote –
“our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. it is our light, not our darkness, which most frightens us.”
yeah. good stuff. and so, i’m feeling somewhat like that – only, less afraid, more excited. i’m like, “holy crap that light is so damn bright – i can’t wait to be sucked up in it and spitting it back out at everything i see!!!” Continue reading
“i’m starting with the man in the mirror, i’m asking him to change his ways – and no message could’ve been any clearer, if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make that CHANGE!”
— michael jackson, lyrical genius.
———
well, it’s wordy wednesday. and i have a lot to say this time. it’s been quite a week. a HUGE full moon last wednesday and i’m not talking viewable by a telescope huge, i mean like – effect me on all levels huge. i have always talked about how i am a huge astrology buff. i follow zoe moon astrology, and you should too! she’s fantastic and always right on! astrology and horoscopes are NOT exactly the same. i’m not saying i follow my horoscope and freak out if “my crush” doesn’t ask me out even though my horoscope said it would. i’m talking about astrology – a study of the movements of the planets. it’s a very in-depth and fascinating field that i have studied more and more as time has gone on… also, i am very “in tune” with the planetary changes. and i FELT this last full moon like, with major force. it was intense!!! Continue reading
walking through the filthy snow-packed hills during x-games this weekend, i became inspired… and thus, i have begun working on an actual artistic series called “the dark side of snow” 😉
i’ve been taking my camera with me to fotograph such things, but i wanted to share these few i snapped with my iphone. do you ever stop to look at the details these old and dirty piles of snow create?! between the melting and re-freezing and various winds and plow trucks, snow forms from fluffy white flakes into slushy mixed-coloured mounds and stark white turns pitch black. it transforms from graceful to treacherous, from beautiful to ugly, from light to dense, from snow to something else entirely…
by the way, it’s almost time for mercury to go retrograde again… 😉
missing new york and hair long-enough to pull in a ponytail…
i’ll get there soon… it’s growing sort of fast{ish}… okay not really at all. and i hate to blame it on colorado but i do… my hair always behaves funny here and it’s nothing like my east-coast hair…
whatever… sigh.
and on that note, have a great weekend! mercury is retrograde, in case you didn’t know… there is lots of information out there for those of you interested in reading more… just do a search. and be patient as you may encounter delays as per the very essence of MR. even as i typed this blog, my keyboard kept freezing up. and my music was skipping… haha.
one day i’ll talk about how i was born under MR. it’s rare, as am i… and usually i can articulate myself a little more effectively when mercury is slowing down for those few weeks every 4 months…
aaannnyway, enjoy the weekend!! 🙂
food & foto 