Moon Mondays: Mercury goes direct — stop blaming a planet, and start owning yourself 

I woke up feeling sad this morning. The reason? Mercury just stationed direct. 

That’s not the typical response, I know. Most people breathe a sigh of relief when Mercury retrograde ends — no more tech glitches, communication mishaps, or scheduling snafus to blame on the poor messenger planet.

But for me? I love Mercury retrograde. It supercharges my creativity.  

Over the past three weeks (while Mercury’s been retrograde), I’ve written more than I have in months. That right-brained, inner quiet, reflective space that Mercury retrograde invites us into is where my best artistic energy flows. So yes, I feel a little melancholy to see it go. Simultaneously, I recognize a richer invitation underneath the sadness: It’s time for me to take responsibility for keeping my creative momentum going. 

We’re quick to scapegoat Mercury retrograde. Even people who don’t believe in astrology blame it! We love to point the finger — at Mercury, other people, our circumstances — anywhere but ourselves. But that habit of blame is part of what keeps us stuck in victimhood. It’s not my fault — the billionaire “man” is keeping me down. 

For decades, I carried around the belief that I “should” be making art. I went to college and earned a degree in fine art, after all. When I wasn’t creating, I felt guilty — like I was wasting my life away. Dramatic much? Eventually, I caved to my internal pressure cooker. I went all in: printing my photos, layering encaustic wax and resin, and set up a booth at the Basalt Sunday Market. I eagerly awaited validation of my life’s path (and money) to come rolling in. 

They didn’t. 

Yes, I made a few sales, but mostly people passed by with a smile or stopped just to chat. I was crushed. Defeated, my shame spiral came roaring in: You’re not good enough, you epic failure. But the truth is, I was feeling like a victim to everything but the real issue. 

It wasn’t the market or people. It wasn’t Mercury retrograde. It wasn’t even my neglected art. 

It was that I didn’t want to be an artist like that anymore. That identity no longer fit — but I hadn’t allowed myself to admit it. It took addressing my outdated beliefs and unconscious baggage I was still dragging around to finally let go of that old story and take radical responsibility for what I truly wanted: to write. That moment of clarity was like shedding 20 years of psychological weight I didn’t realize I was carrying. 

That’s the power of self-connection and self-responsibility. When we stop and honestly listen, we cut through the noise of “shoulds” and shame. Authenticity invites you to choose what feels right for you in the moment. When I let go of who I thought I should be, I liberated my energy to be who I genuinely am. That is true freedom. 

What if we collectively use this moment — Mercury going direct — as a cosmic cue to take our power back? 

Blaming keeps us small. It feeds the cycle of self-sabotage, where we keep hitting the same walls and wondering why nothing changes. Taking responsibility, on the other hand, is the turning point. That’s when we begin steering the direction of our lives, one conscious choice at a time. 

This is how we break the cycle: by choosing new responses. Moment by moment. Step by step. 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve proudly outlined a book I’ve always wanted to write about my Astro-Life way of life. (You heard it here first!) Mercury retrograde gave me the inspired spark — but I don’t have to squelch that fire just because it’s gone direct. The choice is mine — self-responsibility in action. 

Planetary energies shift, but real change comes from what we do with those swirling currents. 

Let me ask you: What’s one thing you can do this week to take more responsibility for yourself? Maybe it’s in your relationships. Your boundaries. Your creativity. Your health. Wherever you’ve been pointing the finger, ask: What if it’s actually mine to shift? 

Take one baby step. One new action. That’s how it begins. 

Next week, I’ll be back when the Sun enters Virgo, and we welcome the stillness of the Virgo new moon — an energy aligned with finding our sacred work in the world and our profound connection to the earth.  

Until then, I invite you to stop outsourcing your power — even to the planets — and start choosing what’s truly right for you. 

Sheridan Semple is an Astrology Life Coach and the founder of Moon Sisters Circle. She guides women back to themselves, helping them reclaim self-trust, take ownership of their choices, and create more authentic connections. Find her work at sheridansemple.com or reach her at sheridan@sheridansemple.com.