Moon Mondays: Take out the head-trash 

Are you fretting over Mercury going retrograde yesterday? Does it feel like the last thing you need right now is more stress — tech glitches, distractions, misunderstandings? Is the world about to finally succumb to complete chaos? 

Humanity feels like it’s lost its collective mind. Every time I watch the news or scroll social media, I feel bombarded by events that make no logical sense. I keep asking: How can this be happening? Where in the world are we headed? Are we going to make it to the other side?

Also, I’m so weary of hearing (in spiritual circles) about some hailed “new earth” or impending higher consciousness that’s about to swoop in and miraculously fix everything, without us doing the work. I don’t see the transcendent cavalry coming. We’re the ones we’re waiting for.

That’s why this Mercury retrograde is the perfect moment to talk about how our fear is spraying out sideways all around us — and how blaming the outside world only sidesteps our own responsibility.

We love to blame Mercury for everything, right? The printer breaks — Mercury retrograde. The Wi-Fi crashes — Mercury retrograde. You argue with your partner — definitely Mercury’s fault.

I’m a big believer that planets act as mirrors for the energetic soup we’re all swimming in. But I don’t buy that they’re “doing” something negative to us. If anyone’s messing with us … it’s us. 

When life feels tumultuous, it’s so much easier to point upward than inward. Yet, every time I pause and check inside, I remember: The planets aren’t punishing us. They’re simply reflecting what’s already stirring inside both of us.

What Mercury retrograde really offers

When Mercury appears to move rearward (due to our earthly perspective shifting), the trickster planet seemingly retraces its steps back across the sky. Mercury rules the mind: how we think, communicate, and process the world. Retrograde is an invitation to pause, reflect, and take out the head-trash.

We’ve all got the symptoms: looping thoughts whispering we’re not enough, we’ll never change, something’s wrong with us. Mercury retrograde says, open the windows of your conditioned thinking and do a little psychic fall cleaning.

Giving away our power is not taking responsibility for ourselves. As Michelle Pfeiffer, playing the real Louanne Johnson in “Dangerous Minds” so eloquently stated, “There are no victims in this classroom.” Endorsing self-responsibility for at-risk teenagers dealing with intense, real issues. Remind me what’s our problem here again?

Retrogrades aren’t punishments; they’re cosmic permission slips to slow down and rethink how we’re thinking.

Pick one small mental loop that’s been bugging you — a nagging thought, a pattern, a habit. Then take one teeny, tiny action to shift it. Mercury’s retrograde until Nov. 29, so pick something small enough to work on over these next few weeks.

Mine lately? TV. I’d fallen into zoning out most nights. Nothing “wrong” with that, but it wasn’t how I ideally wanted to spend my evening time. So, I started timing how long I watched. That one simple act brought the habit into my conscious awareness, as opposed to mindlessly checking out after dinner. Result: I’m reading much more, which has been my goal all along.

Awareness is everything 

Once I saw the numbers, I could more easily make a new, better choice for me.

What’s your version? Maybe it’s noticing when doom-scrolling starts and setting the phone down for one slow, deep breath. Maybe it’s pausing before you automatically say “yes” and asking, do I really want to do this — or is my reply actually a no? 

You know you’re on the right track, if the step you choose to take feels almost too easy. Small shifts lead to the biggest transformations.

This Mercury retrograde is your chance to lean into awareness and make those micro-moves that change everything.

Next week, for the Scorpio new moon, I’ll be back on my soapbox — because setting intentions alone aren’t enough. Magical thinking won’t get you where you truly want to go. We’ll dive into what it really takes to turn desire into action and create the change you crave.

Until then, may your mind — and your week — feel lighter.

Sheridan Semple helps women clear the mental clutter that keeps them stuck, so they can reclaim confidence and freedom. She’s an astrology life coach, a feminist astrologer, and founder of Moon Sisters Circle. Find her work at sheridansemple.com or email her at sheridan@sheridansemple.com.