Mercury Retrograde Self-Care Ideas For Your Sign (Patreon)

Are you looking for some new ways you can do self-care during Mercury Retrograde? Here are some different suggestions for each zodiac sign you could try out by Style Caster and Vogue!

“A long bubble bath, a soothing face mask, a crystal healing session: whatever the ritual, self-care is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It’s an act of looking after your mental and physical wellbeing, making time for yourself in a world that is constantly demanding our attention—a fear-mongering headline here; a late-night email there. This deadline, that deadline. A year into the pandemic, it’s more important than ever.”

“But have you ever tried aligning your self-care rituals with your zodiac sign? According to New York-based astrologer Lisa Stardust, by doing so you can bolster their healing potential and take care of yourself on a deeper, more intrinsic level.”

Here’s how to practice self-care according to your astrological star sign:

Aries

Even the best of us need a pep talk sometimes. You can’t be number one without psyching yourself up before you start work, going out on a date, having an interview—or anything else that’s important to you. That’s why, every morning, you should get into the habit of looking at yourself in the mirror and stating your affirmations—intentions that you want to bring to the world. These can be sentiments you feel about yourself (big or small) that empower you. You can choose a goal that you want to manifest in your life. In this case, believing in yourself is the objective you want to achieve.

Unsubscribe To Email Blasts

Okay, at first I was like: This is lame. But honestly, a ruthless unsubscribing spree has done such wonders for my mental health. You may think it only takes a few seconds everyday to delete the barrage of emails you get on the daily (or let them rot in your inbox forever. Ugh!), but it’s existential noise that can add to your stress—just as much as a dirty car or that lingering work project that you just can’t bring yourself to finish does. Unsubscribe and enjoy the blissful silence of email notifications.

Taurus

It’s time you pamper yourself, Taurus. As the most indulgent sign of the zodiac, you will find solace in adding glam to your daily self-care routine. Giving yourself a mani-pedi or experimenting with your makeup allows you to appreciate your inner and outer beauty. Looking good for yourself is a form of self-adoration, which is helpful in elevating the way you perceive yourself. Take a few selfies—for your eyes only—to see how fabulous and vibrant you are.

Get Yourself A Plant

It’s like having a cute puppy, but with lower stakes! Greenery makes any space more inviting, and taking care of plants (watering, fertilizing, cleaning the leaves, etc.) can be a cathartic experience. The more you learn about plants and take care of them, the more enjoyment you get out your plants’ growth. Plus, you’ll enjoy picking out a cute pot and the exact type of plant you want—pathos and snake plants are great for beginners!

Gemini

In order to avoid one of the more negative traits of being a Gemini (the tendency to gossip), you need a great escape. That only means one thing: pick up a steamy romance novel, a great political thriller, or a book of poems and get carried away with words. Your intellectual mind will absorb the content and get lost in the plot lines or twists. You’ll be so consumed with reading that you’ll want to stay clear of all messy drama. This will also expand your imagination by giving you the chance to relate to the storylines and characters in each tale.

Go For A Meditative Walk

…without headphones! You love movement, and a walk for you can be incredibly healing. But to get the maximum self-care benefit, you need to use this time wisely. It’s nice to zone out to a playlist or an intriguing podcast, but this time, try no noise. Just you and your thoughts. See where they take you. Many a problem will been solved on a walk with zero distractions.

Cancer

A healing bath will help you soak away your issues. Add a sprinkle of Epsom salts to cleanse your aura, crystals to help balance out your energy, and rose petals to awaken feelings of self-love. The ideal time to take a restorative bath is under the full moon. This will allow you to enhance your lunar vibes and be at peace with the universe. You can even charge the water and crystals under the moon for maximum potency. After 25 minutes in the water, your blues will soak away and any tensions alleviated. You’ll feel reborn.

Reread Your Favorite Book

Sorry, but it has to be a physical book. Don’t get me wrong—I love Kindles and E-readers and use them quite frequently. But this is about getting away from a screen and doing something that requires your undivided focus, so no tech allowed.

Leo

As the most creative of the zodiacs, an artistic endeavor will be the best form of self-care for you. Try tie-dye, jewelry making, pottery, painting, collage, or sketching still-lifes. Through art, you can get out all your frustrations and annoyances, release your emotions and tensions while making something that’s aesthetically pleasing. Every time you look at your creation, you can smile knowing that you poured your heart and soul into making it. Plus, you’ll be able to put your talents on display and soak up praise for your creative flair.

Put Your Phone On Airplane Mode

Respond to nothing and no one for a full 24 hours. PSA: There’s a setting you can do so that if someone calls you twice in less than five minutes or whatever, it’ll come through—you know, in case of emergencies. But the point of this whole exercise is to focus on exactly what you want/need to be doing, rather than responding to others’ requests and the distraction that is social media, capitalism, etc. See what a day looks like in your life without compromising for others. Enjoy your autonomy.

Virgo

Always one to overthink matters, you can get wrapped up in your thoughts, which can internalize into anxiety. It’s important to let it all out. That’s right, Virgo, it’s time to speak up… or belt it out for that matter. Singing your favorite song will open up your throat chakra, which will allow you to speak your truth. This will help you move towards your visions and reduce stress, as you can manifest your dreams with certainty and live your best life—with no worries at all. Sing out your emotions to find your inner tune.

Toss Five Items That Cause You Stress

It’s time to Marie Kondo your life, and you already know exactly what I’m talking about, Virgo. Those pants you’ve been meaning to hem and never will. That old framed art print that you don’t even like anymore but were trying to find a place for. A surfboard you’ve had shoved into your closet for years, even though you haven’t used it, like, ever because you hate sand and are deathly afraid of sharks. Remember: Physical clutter can manifest into emotional stress. So throw it out the window or recycle it. Your choice!

Libra

You love the good life, but sometimes you take whimsical daily moments for granted. All the more reason why you should start noting all of the amazingness and awesomeness in a gratitude journal. You will become grateful for all that you have and everything that is coming your way. By counting your blessings, you can be happier than ever before. Sometimes taking stock of your life is all that you need to elevate your psyche, jumpstart positivity and heighten your essence.

Set The Mood

It doesn’t have to be a date or special occasion to set the mood. When you get home, put away your stuff and light a candle. Open your windows for a fresh breeze and play some music that makes you feel some type of way. Saving your happiness or cute underwear for a special occasion is a great way to ensure that the small, good things in life pass you by, and you don’t want that. Not to get all TikTok omg you, but you have to start romanticizing your life! Don’t underestimate the power of a clean room or pretty sparkly lights. It is enough for you to just enjoy it.

Scorpio

Being a highly intuitive and sensitive sign, you often carry around the energy of others. The only way to combat this is to cleanse your surroundings with ethically sourced palo santo, sage or other herbs (lemon balm, rosemary, frankincense and myrrh). This will banish negative vibes in the home and in your space. Keeping up with essential spiritual hygiene will not only make you feel better, but will also change the way you relate to others. You will be able to lean into your gut feelings and make the best decisions possible without hesitation.

Cut Up A Shitload Of Fruit

This is actually my go-to self-care practice for when I’m stressed. Go pick out your favorite fruits and then cut them up into cute meal prep storage containers. If it sounds labor intensive, it’s because it is (for the modern day, anyway). But it’s MAGIC. Because while I’m cutting fruit and crying, I’m usually figuring my shit out, too. And by the time I’m taking all the various rinds to the trash, I usually feel a lot better. And I’ve also got a shit-ton of fruit to eat. Super-bonus!

Sagittarius

You carry a lot of stress in your hips (Sagittarius rules the thighs, buttocks and hips), which is why you’ll need to loosen up these stagnant tensions by dancing. Belly dancing is particularly useful as it activates and stimulates the focal points of the sacral chakra. Opening this up (it’s located by the hips in the lower back and stomach) will help unlock your emotional flow, sensuality and creativity. By the end of your personal dance party, you’ll be more balanced in all areas of life.

Any & All Screen-Free Activities

There are so many of them: reading, writing, cleaning, crocheting, gardening, cooking, etc. Pick ur fave activity that doesn’t involve you staring slack-jawed at a screen of any kind (and don’t be sneaky, okay? This is for you!) and get into the groove of doing something with your hands that isn’t scrolling. There are so many things in this world that want to bring us joy, and often, we are our own worst enemy at denying ourselves the pleasure of our bodies and time to do something meaningful.

Capricorn

You are a hard worker, which means that you never take a break from your job. The issue is that you often need more time to catch up on your sleep, life and friends without your work to-do list weighing on your shoulders. Let yourself have a day off from work. Don’t be scared to hit snooze in the morning and sleep in. Have a leisurely cup of coffee while reading the newspaper. Implement some R&R in your day off to soothe and rejuvenate.

Moisturize & Hydrate

Speaking as an extremely Dry Betch, this is a necessity more than self-care. BUT! Slathering your nubile body with various creams and mainlining water is a nice thing we can all do for our bodies. And you, Capricorn, are a hard worker and one to overlook things you find frivolous. For self-care, consider getting jiggy with it by diving into a big container of bougie moisturizer or night cream—or, a cute one you found discounted at Marshalls. And not just your face! Get your whole-ass body. When you slide into your sheets at night, I want you to feel like a smooth dolphin jumping into the waves with no fear of the future.

Aquarius

Breathe some new life into your world, Aquarius, with a bit of yoga. Spending time stretching out your muscles on a mat can benefit your mind, heart, body and spirit. Being one of the more mindful zodiac signs, you’ll use the time spent in downward dog and child’s pose to connect to yourself on a deeper level. Yoga will allow you to expand your mind, so you can be in the moment instead of focusing on the small stuff. Think of yoga as the gift that keeps on giving to your soul and mind.

Non-Punishing Exercise

I think one of the reasons why some people think they hate exercise is because of how many X-treme sports/routines there are. Exercise shouldn’t be punishing to be effective. Finding exercise (stretching, yoga, walking, tennis, dancing, etc.) that you don’t hate and that benefits your mental health is one of the absolute best things you can do for your body and brain. Find it and live foreverrrrrrrr!

Pisces

Start an evening ritual to prepare yourself for a good night’s sleep. First, place an amethyst crystal by your bed to deflect troublesome dreams, then put some lavender in your pillowcase to create a calming aroma. Finally, turn off all your electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime. A good night’s sleep will recharge your body and give you plenty of energy throughout the following day.

Make Your Bed & Declutter Your Sleeping Space

Why is it so easy to turn a bedroom/sleeping space into a gross, dank dungeon where you store all your weird shit that you should throw away? I’m talking about you, Retainer from 2014 that hasn’t fit in the last three years! Clean your sheets, make your bed, and brave the terror that is your nightstand drawer. Throw away/move everything that isn’t absolutely essential, and then exist in the safe, clean air that is your lair of slumber.

Sources:

https://stylecaster.com/feature/zodiac-signs-self-care-1055759/#slide-12

https://www.vogue.com/article/how-to-practice-self-care-according-to-your-star-sign/amp