Mercury in Leo, August 8th - August 23rd - “Communications and Creativity”

There’s a little of the proverbial silver tongued devil in all of us

when Mercury visits Leo.  How much depends on whether or not you have Leo in your natal chart.  If you do, consider a career in sales, or running for political office, because you, my friend, have a superior gift of gab, especially right now.  Mercury in Leo effects all of us in varying degrees.  All of us will notice that in the next couple of weeks we’ll have more of an urge to speak up and get our message across to the world.  The problem arises when we allow ourselves to be influenced by Leo’s negative side, i.e. the ego.

The Sun is ruler of the sign, Leo
The Sun;s tarot card shows us a joyous,
element kind of happy
RWSC US Games©

There are essentially two ways we communicate – through our sense of self, or through our heart.  When you engage your sense of self, or ego to help you determine how, or what you communicate, you put yourself and your feelings of self-importance before the truth of any message you’re trying to convey.  Our ego demands to be fed first and its favorite meal consists of feelings of entitlement, rightness and superiority. The heart is another matter entirely.  Communications from your the heart, sans ego, looks for the truth in all matters.  You more keenly discern a situation and it becomes easier to respect the needs of others and to response to those needs instead of simply reacting to them. 

Enough with the cautionary tales already!  Mercury in Leo is

Mercury's Tarot card is The Magician
Now tell we how cool Leo in Mercury is!
RWSC US Games©

here for us to enjoy and enjoy it you will.  The stories you relay to others will be more colorful, your humor, quicker and your enthusiasm, infectious.  Mercury in Leo carries great creative energy as well.  Dust off your sewing machine, dig out that manuscript you started last summer.  Express yourself in a myriad of ways: Gardening, cooking, painting or general fix up.  The message from Mercury this month is very clear.  Engage in life, honestly and directly.  No sulking, no hiding.  You have something to say.  Express it positively and with love.

LADY ORACLE

"The Flight of the Red Balloon" - Releasing Your Pain and Anger

We carry baggage with us wherever we go.  Sometimes there’s only a small duffle bag and sometimes we have a matched set of luggage - pieces we’ve collected over time from trauma we’ve experienced during our life. Our baggage shapes the way we relate to our world and there’s no easy way to drop it off for someone else to handle - no Sky Cap for the human psyche.  We have to learn how to handle our own bags one piece at a time.  How do we release our anger, or let go of people who cause us frustration and pain?  One of best techniques to release unhealthy emotions is the Red Balloon.

Begin by identifying the person or situation that upsets you. Think about how nice it would be to have some emotional distance, to be able to respond to a recurring situation instead of over-reacting to it.  Sit quietly in a place where you won’t be disturbed. Close your eyes and allow your body to relax. Feel the tension leave your forehead as the relaxation drifts down your face.  Notice your jawline softening as the stress eases from your head, neck and shoulders. Continue to talk to yourself, inducing a state of relaxation throughout your torso, down your arms, legs and to your feet.  Enjoy a feeling of ease and well-being throughout your whole body.

Now visual the person(s) or circumstances that distress you - a relationship, workplace friction, school, etc.  Get the sense of what triggers your emotional response to that situation.  Suddenly, drifting towards you on the wind, is a bright and shiny, red balloon.  Envision putting what or who disturbs you inside the balloon.  Don’t worry, it stretches.  

It may not be easy to successfully complete this exercise the first time or two. You’ll find that people don’t want to get inside the balloon.  They’ll fight, argue and even threaten you to stay out of it, but stick with your resolve.  All of this is occurring in your own mind so you get to control the outcome.  Let ‘em kick, yell and beat on the inside of their new red home all they want.  They’re not getting out.  Gather up the hurt, the anger and the fear the situation causes in your life and put all that energy inside the balloon.  Now you can talk to whoever is inside.  You will likely feel tightness in your throat and chest the first time you try this.  Perhaps you’ll even cry as you tell your captive audience how you feel and that you will no longer allow them to control your emotional well-being.

See yourself tying a brightly-colored string onto the balloon.  Imagine the balloon drifting away from you.  Up it goes, higher and higher until it’s out of sight.  People inside the balloon might look sad and try to make you feel guilty.  Don’t let them.  Release them into the Universe with love and with understanding. That, my friends, is the hardest part.  Releasing with love.  Everyone adds their baggage to a situation or circumstance, but not intentionally.  When you let go of the effects someone else’s baggage has on you with compassion and love, you lift yourself higher.  You lift yourself to a place of peace and understanding where their negative energy has a much more difficult time reaching you. You make your own life better and isn’t that the point?

LADY ORACLE