Eat your Moly

Mercury is now retrograde, from August 20 through September 12. During the Messenger’s retrogrades, I’m reminded of Pythia Peay’s marvelous metaphor for this time–when we become like Odysseus, waylaid by monsters, upsets, and unexpected adventures while trying to sail a straight line home. During the Trojan War, wily Odysseus conceived of the Trojan Horse scheme, then bragged how he ended the war without the gods’ help. The gods don’t like such hubris. Poseidon sent fierce winds to blow him off course.

We have crimes to pay for too. We go for weeks without noticing all those serendipitious encounters with divine grace. We get caught up in our churning minds. We’re burning with opinions, projects and plans, forever texting, talking, and multi-tasking. Mercury’s thrice-yearly retrogrades are meant to take us off course. And maybe down a peg. The gods might foul our communications, distract us with stupid mistakes. Giggling, they may put the pen in our hands to sign unwise contracts or entice us with purchases we’ll later regret.

But if you honor Mercury now, he just might be willing to rescue you. He did that for Odysseus, slipping him an elixir made from the magical plant Moly (which grows underground and can only be seen by the gods). Moly inoculated Odysseus against Circe’s seductions. She couldn’t turn him into a pig like the others! An amazed Circe figured she’d met her match in Odysseus and immediately released his men and served them all an amazing feast. You can have a good time during the retrograde too if Mercury slips you some Moly. First you must resist the seductions of your usual ambitions, habits and deadlines. Slow down: a perfect enterprise for this Pisces Full Moon. Don’t think too much or take yourself too seriously. Just listen, play, and let the chimeras of your imagination soak in, along with a little Moly.