I don’t often look forward to Mercury Retrograde.
While searching for “Survival Guides” about the current one, I found an overwhelming number of astrologers saying Mercury Retro in Libra was “positive” and a “great time to revise and reflect.”
I was willing to revise my opinion until I read, “I actually look forward to people from my past coming back…those people who seem to have fallen out of my life for some reason or another…”
Well frankly, I do not look forward to people from my past coming back. In my experience, the past is best left in the past. My spiritual mentors have often said, “Relationships are for a season, a reason, or a lifetime.” I have observed that for those on the Path, certain relationships and people are meant to fall out of our lives. Not because of anything we’ve done, or they’ve done….but because the relationship has served its purpose. Or often, because we have shifted, transformed….and the relationship can no longer house our new selves.
We may walk away from the relationship consciously, but still hold onto it in our subconscious.
Luckily, the universe conspires to help us.
I was talking with my guides one morning on a walk….and doing some work on manifesting. I rounded the corner, look up, and had to catch my breath.
Turned out to be a Turkey Vulture.
I was captivated by this magnificent bird, purifying itself in the ultraviolet rays of the sun. A commanding presence. Still. Proud. Peaceful..
I watched it gracefully deter magpies trying to steal its perch. A rustle of wings made me turn my head to look across the street…….…where 9 more Turkey Vultures sat, unmoving, in another tree.
This isn’t the full 9 vultures, but the magpie in the middle was too funny.
Turkey Vultures are rare on my walks. I knew the universe was trying to say something big, but it didn’t fully click until the next day….
….when, in full-on Mercury Retrograde in Libra style, I was unexpectedly contacted by a person from the past. A relationship I had walked away from, over five years ago. And felt tempted by guilt to reopen.
Again, a classic example about how we can walk away consciously….but still be holding on inside.
Turkey Vultures…. beautiful and misunderstood Masters of Letting Go, of transforming that which has died…into flight. They encourage us to discern relationships that are truly “over” or “dead” (they apparently have an amazing sense of smell…most birds can’t smell). And when we have correctly discerned, to unabashedly purify ourselves of what needs to be released.
Reflecting on the symbolizing of these birds gave me so much clarity. Guilt is a strong negative emotion…really tricky.
But let’s spend a second on the 10 Turkey Vultures: 10 is both an ending and a beginning: a doorway. We approach, enter, and exit through many doorways on our journey to self-love.
A doorway is the path and gateway to newest version of Self. Relationships are transformational doors. We enter and exit a different person…discovering new identities (and preferences!) in the name of Self-Love
In this time of Retrograde, the Turkey Vultures encourage us to Recommit to self-love, gently closing certain doors behind us. Doors that are not growing. Trusting that in closing them, our abundance lays in front of us.
Letting go…to fly higher.
