Awareness

Secret Societies: Inside The Most Mysterious Groups

Published

2 years ago

October 28, 2020

Secret societies have flourished throughout history and count Founding Fathers and royals among their ranks. By their very name, secret societies inspire curiosity and fascination. Thousands of these mysterious groups have been formed over time, and many have disappeared. Rich and poor, young and old, white and black people have joined mysterious, sometimes forbidden groups, and for what? In this article, we will shed light on the most mysterious groups and agendas behind them. Read on!

What Is a Secret Society?

A secret society is a club or an organization whose activities, events, inner functioning, or membership are concealed from non-members. Some of the societies may attempt to conceal its existence, others may not.

Alan Axelrod, the author of the International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders, defines a secret society as an organization that:

is exclusive;
claims to own special secrets;
shows a strong inclination to favor its members.

Richard B. Spence, historian of the University of Idaho similarly defined three-pronged characteristics:

The group’s existence is usually not kept secret, but some beliefs or practices are concealed from the public and require an oath of secrecy to learn.
The group promises superior status or knowledge to members.
The group’s membership is in some way restrictive, such as by race, sex, religious affiliation, or invitation only.

Richard B. Spence also proposes a sub-category of “Elite Secret Societies” which are composed of high-income or socially influential people.

David V. Barrett, author of Secret Societies: From the Ancient and Arcane to the Modern and Clandestine, has used alternative terms to define what qualifies a secret society. He defined a Secret Society as any group that possesses the following characteristics:

carefully graded and progressed teachings;
teachings are available only to selected individuals and lead to hidden truths;
truths bring personal benefits beyond the reach and even the understanding of the uninitiated.

Now let’s take a closer look at the 3 world’s most mysterious Secret Societies.

3 World’s Most Mysterious Secret Societies

#1: Freemasonry

The first thing you should know about this organization is that it is the main wellspring of clandestine societies. It’s been around longer, has had more members and developed more rituals, rites, secret handshakes, legends and myths than almost any other.

The Catholic Church wishes it didn’t exist. No organization has been condemned by the Catholic Church more than the Masonic Lodge. The Catholic Church has imposed the penalty of excommunication on all Catholics who become Freemasons (or members of the Masonic Lodge). The 1983 CDF declaration states that Catholics “who enroll in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.”

It’s a little-known fact that Adolf Hitler believed that the Freemasons were a tool of the Jews. In 1935, the German government dissolved all lodges and confiscated their assets. It is believed that the Nazis murdered between 80,000 and 200,000 Freemasons.

Many of the Founding Fathers (including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin) were Freemasons, as were many of other famous people, including 14 American Presidents, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, John Wayne, Richard Pryor, Wolfgang Mozart, Mark Twain, and Oscar Wilde.

There are three levels of membership:

entered apprentice;
fellow of the craft;
master mason.

To this day, a Freemason signature is the elaborate secret handshake, or “grip”.

Elements of the order’s visual iconography have become part of everyday life – like the “Eye of Providence” on the back of the dollar bill. Some say the layout of Washington, D.C., is a giant reference to Freemasonry, filled with pentagrams and other Masonic designs.

Over the years, there has been a decline in members. It is estimated there are between 2 and 6 million freemasons globally.

#2: The Illuminati

This mysterious group has been the subject of fearmongering and bizarre speculations more than any other secret organization, though is existed less than a decade.

The story starts with Johann Adam Weishaupt, a law professor at a university in Bavaria, where he was the only teacher who wasn’t a Jesuit priest. In fact, he was so fascinated by Enlightenment thinking that he rejected religion. He wanted instead to establish a secret society of people who had the same views, beliefs, and principles as him, and who might help him advance his ideas.

He couldn’t afford the membership in the Freemasons, so he decided to start his own organization, which he called the Perfectibilists.

Within two years, he had changed the name of the organization to the Illuminati and convinced four of his students to join him.

Weishaupt took a pseudonym Spartacus, and the others assumed names like Ajax, Agathon, and Tiberius.

His goal was to cultivate in his followers a deep belief in the Enlightenment principles of reason, philanthropy, secularity, freedom of expression, individual liberty and morality. They would spread these ideas when they inevitably assumed positions of power.

Essentially, this small group of people in the latter half of the 18th century wanted to take over and rule the world, and they believed they could do it a little bit at a time. One approach was to join other secret societies – like Freemasons, when they could afford to – and to establish sleeper cells within them, recruiting others to their cause.

They were also big on rituals, secret symbols, handshakes, passwords, and initiations. That’s part of what gives the order such a mystique.

At their peak, in the early 1780s, the Illuminati were thought to number between 600 and 2,500 members, most of whom were unaware of each other’s identities.

In 1785, the Duke of Bavaria, fearful of the growing power of the secret societies, banned them all. This brought the Illuminati to the end, less than 10 years after they’d started their existance.

If this organization existed for less than 10 years than why do people still believe in their power more than two centuries later? Well, at least part of the credit for their fame belongs to John Robison, who in 1797 published Proofs of a Conspiracy, a book that claims that the Illuminati had infiltrated other organizations and the rumors of their demise had been greatly exaggerated.

This story spread like wildfire and made its way to America, where George Washington considered it an issue. Around the same time, Charles Brockden Brown was pioneering the American Gothic genre of fiction with novels like Ormond; Or The Secret Witness, which contained clear references to the Illuminati and their sinister activities.

While that panic eventually dissipated, the rumors stayed, mostly in the background. Then, in the 1970s, Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson wrote a series of popular science-fiction books known as The Illuminatus! Trilogy that reintroduced the Illuminati to modern readers. The books combined facts with fantasy. The authors found much of their material in letters sent to Playboy magazine’s forum section, which they edited for many years.

Those books elevated Illuminati fever to a new level, one which conspiracy theorists still embrace to an alarming degree, certain the secret Illuminati groups manipulate all parts of mainstream global life.

#3: The Rosicrucians

This is one of the most secretive orders that roots its beliefs back to ancient Egypt. Egypt was the birthplace, not of the Rosicrucians, but of the Ancient Mysteries and the Secret Doctrines, which gradually, slowly and almost imperceptibly, throughout the centuries of time, developed a system that became Rosicrucianism.

The Rosicrucians brought together into one organization the various associations of individuals previously known as the Hermetists, Pythagoreans, Magi, Platonists, Gnostics, Alchemists, and Paracelsians.

The Rosicrucian Fraternity existed in America prior to the First American Revolution. In 1774, the great Council of Three (the Fraternity’s ultimate governing body) was composed of Benjamin Franklin, George Clymer, and Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine was later succeeded by Lafayette, who, like Benjamin Franklin, was a member of the Paris Rosicrucian lodge “Humanidad.” In 1842, the Great Council of Three was revitalized by the novelist, George Lippard, who rewrote the exoteric ritual, giving it a patriotic-Christian basis. During the Civil War this Great Council was composed of Paschel Beverly Randolph, General Ethan Allen Hitchcock and Abraham Lincoln.

The Rosicrucians follow a doctrine that is built on esoteric truths of the ancient past. Those truths apparently include things that the average person cannot see and give believers insight into nature, the physical universe, and the spiritual realm.

They study many theories and beliefs but specifically, they seek knowledge and spiritual wisdom about the true nature of space and time, mystical power, metaphysical laws, spiritual alchemy and others.

They believe that there is one God, the Creator and source of all. That within each of us is buried a particle of the Divine Spark that is our soul. The Rosicrucians teach how to develop this Divine Spark through transmutation of one’s lower nature and increase the feeling of love within. The main goal of their teaching is to help the adherents to build this soul spark into a glorious, conscious Soul that forms a direct link between the individual and God. This state of spiritual development they term as Soul Illumination.

The name Rosicrucian is derived from rosa (a rose) and crux (a cross). The general symbol of the order was a rose placed on the center of a cross. The Rose Cross has a mystical meaning. The fully bloomed rose in the center of the Cross symbolizes illumination of the Soul.

The Bottom Line

These 3 mysterious groups are perhaps some of the most well-known secret societies but there have been and certainly still exist many more. With the explosion of the internet and the vast sea of easily accessible information that has come with it, it has become increasingly difficult to determine fact from fiction when it comes to these mysterious secret societies.

Positives and negatives could come from joining or taking an oath of silence with any group. It’s important before committing to any such action to diligently research to ensure one knows exactly what they are getting involved in and that it’s aligned with their highest good.

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Awareness

Do We Live in A Holographic Universe? The Science Might Shock You

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2022

SOLANCHA STAFF

The holographic universe theory is a tenet of quantum gravity that suggests that the universe consists of a hidden order that connects one point to another. This, therefore, implies that there is a subtle connection between events and places that could be perceived as unconnected.

A holographic universe also relates to a virtual or simulated universe. A virtual or simulated universe or sensory experience is just a perception produced by an artificial reality.

Look around you. You will get the illusion that you live in a three-dimensional world filled with visceral shapes, patterns, and textures. You also feel that you can interact with these 3D objects and receive an instant subjective feeling in your body of their texture, weight, depth, temperature, and size. As a result, you get a sense of the reality of the physical space around you and your location within it.

However, according to some physicists, all this could be an illusion. What if this perception of depth, space, and location was merely a construct of your mind? What if it was only sustainable from moment to moment? And, what if the shape of the world and its solidity is a hallucination produced by your brain?

Is Holographic Universe Idea A Product of Our Mind?

The holographic universe idea implies that our perception of three dimensions is a product of decoding information from a flat, two-dimensional world. This means that the 3D perception could entirely be the product of your brain’s interpretation.

Think of it like this:

There are realistic and moving computer games constructed and embedded in a CD or hard drive. Yet we perceive them as realistic and moving. This is the same way the holographic universe idea works. We perceive the two-dimensional objects, textures, and patterns as three-dimensional.

Gerard’t Hooft first proposed the holographic universe theory. It was, however, given a precise string-theory interpretation by Leonard Susskind. Susskind combined his ideas and Charles Thorn’s ideas to develop modern principles of hologram universe theory.

According to Leonard Susskind, a three-dimensional world of everyday experience exists. And the universe is filled with stars, planets, galaxies, and people. He further states that this makes the universe a hologram where an image of reality is cited on a distant 2D surface.

Where Did the Idea That the Universe Is a Hologram Come From?

We have already mentioned that the black hole is a major inspiration behind the quantum hologram principle. Now in 1974, Stephen Hawking found out that black holes emit specific amounts of radiation over time, contrary to what was previously thought. The black hole should disappear as the radiation fades away from the event horizon of the black hole’s periphery.

However, Hawking’s idea prompted what is referred to as the black hole information loss problem. It has been thought that it is impossible to destroy physical information. This is because all particles retain their original form. However, if they change, the change only impacts other particles. Therefore, the first set of particles’ original state could get interfered with at the end.

It is much simpler to perceive it this way:

The result will be tiny pieces of paper when you feed a stack of documents into a paper shredder. The entire document no longer exists, but the information still exists on tiny pieces of paper. And the document has been cut into small pieces of paper; it has not disappeared completely. This means that you could reassemble the tiny pieces of paper and still know what was written on the document before the shredding.

This same thing was thought to happen with particles.

But a problem seemed to arise again:

If a black hole disappears, the information present in the particles appears to be sucked in. This is where the works of Leonard Susskind and Gerard’t Hooft come in. They proposed that when an object is sucked into a black hole, it leaves behind some 2D imprint that is encoded on the event horizon. Later on, when the radiation leaves the black hole, it will pick up the imprint of the data left behind. This means that the information is never really destroyed.

And the calculations indicated that you could store enough information on a 2D surface to perceive or describe 3D entirely. According to Susskind, we can independently think of a hologram as a 2-dimensional piece of film that can encode all the necessary information into a 3D region space.

So, how did this all move from a black hole theory to the whole universe?

Relating The Hologram Idea from The Black Hole to The Entire Universe

The physicists’ works did not prove that a black hole was a hologram.

However, earlier on, Susskind noted that perceiving the entire universe as a 2D object which only looks 3D might help resolve some deeper issues in theoretical physics. And he later found out that math was working well whether it involved a planet, a black hole, or the entire universe.

Later on, Maldacena also illustrated that a hypothetical universe could be a hologram. His hypothetical universe is referred to as anti-de Sitter space. Maldecena’s hypothetical universe has a curved shape over considerable distances to simplify things. This differs from our universe, which is supposedly flat.

Final Thoughts: So, Is the Universe a Hologram?

A hologram is a flat surface, or a 2D surface, that appears to have an additional dimension and depth, making it seem 3D when viewed. And there are a lot of physicists that mathematically believe that the universe is a hologram. This theory is not far-fetched. As much as we appear to live in a 3D universe, it may actually be 2D. A 2D surface contains all data needed to describe our universe. This is how they make characters in animations.

At first glance, it looks absurd. But it may be true that we live on a flat surface that appears to have depth. When physicists incorporate this in their calculations, complex problems such as the black hole and the nature of gravity and quantum mechanics become much easier to solve.

Astrology

Lunar Eclipse on May 15th: Karmic Lessons, Unexpected Shifts, Big Changes

Published

6 days ago

May 12, 2022

Katya Ki

The total Lunar eclipse will occur on Sunday, May 15th. In this article, I will share what we can expect from this time according to Vedic Astrology (Jyotish). Also, I will share with you what opportunities are hidden in this eclipse and what we can do to neutralize its negative influence on us.

When Is The Full Lunar Eclipse 2022?

A Lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth, sun, and moon align in a way that causes the Earth to cast a shadow onto the moon, making the moon appear reddish.

The Moon is expected to enter the penumbra at 9:31 p.m. EDT on May 15th (6:31 p.m. PDT) and leave it at 2:52 a.m. EDT on May 16th (11:52 P.M. PDT on May 15th). The eclipse peak will be at 12:14 a.m. EDT (9:14 p.m. PDT).

The total Lunar eclipse will be visible across much of North America (except in northwestern regions), South America, Western and Central Europe, and much of Africa (except the extreme eastern part). If you live in these parts of the world, take security measures against the eclipse (described below), and do NOT look at the eclipse.

The Full Moon Eclipse from Vedic Astrology Perspective

According to Vedic Astrology (Jyotish), lunar nodes – Rahu and Ketu – take part in the eclipse. By their nature, lunar nodes are formless clumps of unfavorable energies. They can be compared in some ways with points of radioactive energy. Radiation is invisible, but its consequences are known to everyone.

However, from the perspective of Vedic Astrology, such eclipses are not harmful in the literal sense of the word for our physical bodies, but they instead affect our inner world. Solar eclipses affect our consciousness and subconscious, and lunar eclipses affect our mind and psyche.

To understand how the upcoming Lunar eclipse will affect us, we need to understand the nature of the Moon from the perspective of Vedic Astrology.

The moon supports our mental calmness and clarity of mind. Therefore, three days before and three days after the eclipse, we can usually see an increase in quarrels and conflicts. People become more aggressive and intolerant. As a result, accidents, violent acts, and terrorist attacks may happen.

Mentally, the number of fears and emotions increases. At the physical level, the moon can manifest its effects in disturbances in the lymphatic and circulatory systems and aggravate lung problems. The moon is also associated with water. Therefore, there may be dysfunctions of fluid metabolism and hydro balance in the body. In addition, a lunar eclipse can create problems with water transport. And also, there is a possibility of threats from water, such as floods, tsunamis, storms, etc.

The main effect of the eclipse appears in life with a delay of 6 or 18 months after the eclipse. Therefore, it is essential to monitor your thoughts and desires at the moment of the eclipse.

The Full Moon In Vishakha Nakshatra

The eclipse takes place in the constellation Scorpio. Scorpio is a very karmic sign that requires you to reconsider your views, mindset, habits, and behavior. This eclipse may reactivate your unsolved problems, karmic debts, and life lessons. Any past issues may surface during this time. You may also experience a sudden sadness or an unexplained feeling of void.

According to Vedic astrology, the lunar eclipse takes place in the lunar mansion of Vishakha Nakshatra. Let’s take a closer look at this lunar mansion and what kind of energy it represents.

Vishakha is the Jupiter-ruled nakshatra. This nakshatra motivates people to explore and discover the truth of things.

The nature of Vishakha nakshatra is Sattva. Sattva represents the energy of balance and harmony. It promotes life, energy, health, and contentment. The Full moon in Sattva is balancing, harmonizing, and spiritualizing force. The energy of the Moon in this guna manifests itself very gently. Its influence is favorable to our minds and feelings. Thus Sattva guna slightly mitigates the impact of the eclipse.

The power of Vishakha nakshatra is the ability to manifest and achieve. However, during the eclipse, it’s wise to focus on the spiritual aspect of manifesting by performing mantras, meditations, and other spiritual practices. Focus on improving your karma via prayer rather than visualizing the material goods you want to attract. This will “fertilize the soil” of your karma so that you can “plant the seeds of your intentions” in it later.

Health-related Issues

Vishakha nakshatra may cause abdominal pains, bladder infections, uterine cysts, vertigo, blockage of pancreatic ducts, problems with kidneys, hemorrhoids, bladder wall inflammation, enlarged prostate, weakness of arms, and problems with the rectum and pancreas.

Sutak: Particularly Unfavorable Time

Sutak is an exceptionally unfavorable time before the eclipse. It begins 9 hours before the peak of the eclipse. During this time, the most destructive energy accumulates in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Count down 9 hours from the beginning of the eclipse in your region — this is the beginning of an unfavorable period. Note that Sutak is even more unfavorable than the eclipse itself.

Do not schedule any important things for this time. Observe a feasible fast to mitigate the impact of the eclipse. Oil massage, drinking water, combing hair, brushing teeth, and being involved in sexual activities are not recommended during this time.

Recommendations for the Lunar Eclipse

This Lunar eclipse will have a significant impact on everyone. We will experience a release from restraining factors, and new life changes will begin. This is the time when one period ends, and the next comes.

The eclipse will karmically scan each of us and reveal our debts. We need to be prepared to face any consequences of our past actions. Performing the practices described below will help us soften the karmic lessons and align ourselves to the rhythms of our planet and the Universe.

Here are some essential recommendations for this Lunar eclipse based on ancient teachings:

put thoughts and emotions in order;
practice mindfulness;
do not get provoked by others;
show more love for yourself and others;
Let go of everything that doesn’t serve you anymore – toxic relationships, old connections, negative thought patterns, bad habits, etc. Clear space for the new chapter of your life;
DO NOT observe the eclipse and DO NOT leave the house during the eclipse hours (keep your blinds/curtains closed);
DO NOT start new projects, cases, or transactions during this time. The moon causes emotional instability. Therefore, anything new started during this time will not work out. There is also a significant risk of various mistakes and miscalculations;
postpone trips, if possible;
DO NOT eat at least 3 hours before and after the eclipse (ideally would be fasting 9 hours before and after the eclipse);
avoid crowded places;
DO NOT eat food that is exposed to the eclipse. Make sure you cook fresh food after the eclipse;
postpone physical activity;
DO NOT perform psychic readings or hypnosis during the eclipse time;
DO NOT make big purchases;
STAY AWAY from any arguments, conflicts, or unpleasant talks;
donate;
DO NOT plan a wedding on this day;
if possible, postpone your cosmetologist or dental appointment.

By following these simple recommendations, you will be able to avoid the negative influence of a lunar eclipse. To make it easier to get through the eclipse:

take a shower before and after the eclipse or, at least, wash your face and hands. Water is the element of the Moon. Therefore, it’s a perfect way to align yourself with its energy;
meditate during the eclipse;
read prayers or chant mantras.

The lunar eclipse will affect us especially strongly during the three days: May 14th, 15th, and 16th. But we can start seeing its effect 1-2 weeks before the actual eclipse. We can also keep noticing its influence for about 1-2 weeks after the eclipse.

Mantras For Lunar Eclipse

These mantras will help you neutralize the Lunar eclipse’s negative influences and align yourself with the cosmic energies and the Divine plan. You can chant these mantras during the eclipse or listen to them.

#1: Om Som Somaya Namah

#2: OM SHRAAM SHREEM SHRAUM SAH CHANDRAMASE NAMAHA

#3: Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

#4: Om Namah Shivaya

#5: Dum Durgaye Namaha

The Bottom Line

Any eclipse is a reboot of humanity’s deep state. Eclipses can be compared to the “Reset” button on a computer when the only way to get the computer working again is to restart it. Therefore, we should be mindful of the importance of the role of eclipses in our lives because this is our chance to “reset” our consciousness and our lives.

It is very beneficial to work with subconscious programs during the eclipse time. It is better to write down all those qualities you would like to transmute in advance. During the first half of the eclipse and at its peak – in meditation, mentally transmute them into the positive qualities you would like to have. After the peak of the eclipse, mentally say those positive qualities and absorb them into the body in meditation. This practice is simple but very effective.

Also, remember that each eclipse is a powerful opportunity for us to purify our karma and evolve spiritually. This is an excellent time for our personal and collective evolution that carries tremendous potential for humanity and the planet.

Astrology

Mercury Retrograde In Taurus: How Will It Affect Us?

Published

1 week ago

May 10, 2022

Katya Ki

Starting on May 10th and lasting until June 3rd, the Mercury’s backward dance in Taurus will introduce an element of uncertainty in the sphere of communication, contacts, purchases, and travel. During the retro cycle of this planet, electronics malfunction more often than usual, plans may unexpectedly change, and ex-partners may return. Mercury retrograde in Taurus will greatly slow down the process of perception of new information. It will bring strong inertia to all spheres controlled by this planet.

In this article, I will share some important information about this period and tips on making Mercury retrograde in Taurus a harmonious and peaceful time for you.

What Is Mercury Retrograde?

The retrograde state of the planet is an astrological term reflecting the astronomical difference in the speeds of movement of the planet Earth and other planets.

Retrograde is a particular type of movement of the planet when from the Earth, it seems to us that it’s going backward, although the planet simply changes direction relative to the Sun. All planets periodically become retrograde. For some, it happens every few months or every few years. But Mercury is usually the record holder in this “marathon”: a retrograde period occurs on average 3-4 times a year.

Mercury is the only planet whose retrograde effect is felt by most people on Earth. It is believed that Mercury has a detrimental impact on people during the retrograde period, but if you properly use the energy of this period, you can benefit from it.

Mercury is the planet of contacts, contracts, information, intellectual activity, communication, and commerce. It is associated with travel and transport, negotiations, training, and signing documents. Mercury is responsible for memory, speech, oratory, logic, and intelligence. Therefore, its retrograde movement may negatively affect all of the above.

Mercury is a planet that has a strong influence on our daily life. This is especially relevant for those living in the big cities, drivers, and people involved in the field of communications.

Mercury has a strong influence on intellect, and on how we perceive and analyze information. During the retro phase, subjective perception prevails over objective perception – it is important to remember this and double-check the information before you believe it and share it with others.

Mercury Retrograde In Taurus

Taurus is one of the most inert constellations. It promotes stability and a strong foundation. Therefore, the perception of new information will slow down during this Mercury retrograde phase. It brings strong inertia to all spheres controlled by Mercury. The main lesson here is not to lose sight of the present moment. During this time, it makes more sense to slowly master the knowledge that you already have rather than focus on learning something completely new.

During this period, from May 10th till June 3rd, we will have to overcome various obsessions because of the specific character of Mercury retrograde in Taurus which gives an intense fixation on certain beliefs and ideas. The lesson of this period is to reconsider these beliefs and ideas.

The main focus of Mercurian energy is to maintain communication and transfer information and knowledge from one to another. During Mercury retrograde, it is this function that fails the most: documents get lost, and errors are found when filling out and processing papers. Therefore, we have to be very attentive during this time, to double-check documents before we sign or fill them out.

In terms of health, Mercury retrograde in Taurus may provoke sleep disorders, and bring problems with the throat and neck area.

Spiritual Lessons

Any planet that is in retro motion creates the possibility of clearing our negative karma by learning the spiritual lessons that the planet brings. Here are the spiritual lessons that Mercury teaches us during this retrograde phase:

Learning how to slow down and observe.
Accepting people for who they are without judging them.
Learning to accept people’s lack of focus and attention and not to judge or criticize them for their mistakes or forgetfulness.
Developing kindness and compassion towards every living being.
Working on your commitment and patience.
Learning to be more flexible and adjust to any uncertain situation or unexpected event.
Reducing consumerism in your life and spending less money.

The Dos During Mercury Retrograde

During Mercury retrograde in Taurus, the following actions will be favorable:-

#1: Finish things

If you want something new to happen in your life, make room for it, and finish things before moving forward. Think about how many things you need to finish, delegate, or get rid of before you can move on and bring new relationships, abundance, and wealth into your life. This period is perfect for finishing old relationships, getting rid of toxic people, and sorting out your feelings and emotions. You can also quit your old job.

#2: Deal with unfinished and running projects and documents

You can finish the article, or finish the book you’re working on. It is good to restore order, and throw away all unnecessary papers, archives, and media.

#3: Meet with friends

This is a good time to meet with friends and family members you haven’t seen in a long time. If you had some miscommunication problems in the past, it’s time to solve them. Reaching out and reconnecting with people you haven’t been talking to for a while is very beneficial during this time.

#4: Analyze your mental attitudes

Pay attention to how your thoughts and attitude shape your reality. Think about – what thoughts you can let go of to improve your life? Are there any mental programs, blocks, or stereotypes that prevent you from reaching your goals? Well, now it’s the perfect time to let them go.

#5: Engage in spiritual practice

This is the time when we all need to focus more on our spiritual journey. Meditate, purify and calm your mind, chant mantras, pray and work with positive affirmations.

The Don’ts During Mercury Retrograde

During periods of retrograde, all Mercurian affairs develop slowly, there is often confusion, and the risk of mistakes increases. New projects are slowed down, and transport and mail services are disrupted. It is more difficult to study and engage in intellectual work and conduct negotiations. During such periods, equipment breaks down more often, and communication operators have problems with their work. Therefore, take note of what is still better not to do in this period to avoid trouble:-

#1: Making purchases

This is not a good time for making any big purchases, because later you may be disappointed and regret it. For example, you may find hidden defects in the things you buy.

#2: Signing contracts, making transactions, opening a business, and starting a project

During Mercury retrograde, there is a very high probability of making mistakes. Therefore, it’s not recommended to sign contracts, make transactions, open a business, or start a new project during this period.

#3: Getting a new job

Those getting new jobs during the retrograde period are usually disappointed with their jobs later. You may not be satisfied with the conditions, some additional information may open some disadvantages or difficulties the job has, etc.

#4: Making important decisions

Later you most likely will regret such decisions. They may bring you more trouble than satisfaction.

#5: Starting a training or course

If you start a training or take a course during the retrograde period, the study may appear to be more difficult than you expected or the knowledge gained may not be useful.

#6: Making big purchases

Anything you buy during Mercury retrograde has a chance to disappoint you in some way. Don’t buy real estate, cars, or anything that requires big money being paid. Most likely, such purchases will not be useful, will be unnecessary in the future, or will break down.

#7: Borrowing money

If you borrow money during Mercury retrograde, it may be difficult to pay this money back.

#8: Starting a new relationship

Relationships started during the retrograde period will not be long-lasting and will not become serious.

#9: Moving, buying real estate, signing the rent

Any operations with real estate will face delays and obstacles. Therefore, it’s better to postpone moving, buying real estate, or signing the rent.

Spiritual Practices

Here are some spiritual tools that will help you make this Mercury retrograde in Taurus a good period for you.

#1: Mercury Mantra

To neutralize the negative influence of Mercury retrograde on your life, chant the Mercury mantra 108 times daily:

Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaya Namah

Chanting this powerful mantra gives:

self-confidence;
concentration power;
intelligence;
commendable communication;
business skills;
calmness and peace;
wisdom;
knowledge;
enlightenment.

#2: Gemstones

To pacify the effect of Mercury retrograde, you can wear gemstones throughout this period.

Emerald is Mercury’s primary gem! It is the closest to representing Mercury through its crystalline structure that helps distribute Mercury’s cosmic rays that the planet emanates. Wearing emerald can help balance the influence of the planet and re-establish balance and harmony in your energetic field and mitigate difficulties caused by the retrograde period.

Jade can be used as a valid substitute for an emerald when working with Mercury gems.

Peridot can be used to strengthen relationships and connections. This stone pacifies retrograde Mercury and balances your life. It can be worn for health in general and to increase wealth and happiness in life.

Aventurine is connected to Mercury and is known as a lucky stone. It is great for overall health and well-being. Aventurine can be used to regulate pitta dosha in Ayurveda and is connected to Anahata Chakra.

#3: Yantra

Mercury Yantra (also called Buddha Yantra) helps to decrease the negative impacts of Mercury. This yantra also:

helps to boost intellect;
improves studying abilities;
helps in personal development;
improves memory;
helps to develop oratory and communicative abilities;
attracts success;
improves the financial situation, etc.

Display the Buddha Yantra in the North sector of your house and chant the Mercury mantra 108 times while looking in the center of the Yantra. Perform this practice daily or, at least, every Wednesday.

The Bottom Line

Mercury retrograde in Taurus is part of the natural cycle intended to be a time of reflecting and revisiting things that need our attention. This is the time to slow down, reflect, and listen to our voice within. It can feel like a punishment in our fast-paced world, but in reality, it can be a blessing. Mercury retrograde offers us a beautiful opportunity to tidy up, chill out, and get crystal clear on exactly what we need to do to further align with our inner Potential, Power, and Purpose.