How Mercury Got Her Mojo Bag-ck

A Mojo Bag for 2018’s Final Mercury Retrograde

By Michael Herkes

Chances are you have heard of mercury retrograde (sometimes stylized as MRx), an astrological phenomenon which occurs several times during a calendar year. During these times, mercury alludes to moving backwards from our standpoint on earth. While the planet does not actually move backwards, the energetic associations of mercury go into a state of reversal. This typically comes with a set of obstacles leaving us feeling like we are swimming upstream. All planets experience retrogrades but mercury has asserted himself to be the most commonly known one. As the astrological ruler of communication and thought, mercury’s retrograde tends to cause a bunch of communication bumps, or shall we say pot holes!

It is important to remember that retrogrades are a vital aspect of life. While they are generally considered to be negative, the planet is essentially calling for you to take pause. It is a time of prudence. A time to carefully dot all of your I’s and cross all of your T’s. This is why it is often recommended to not sign any contracts, do any major business transactions, rush into projects, submit art works, etc. Mercury is a trickster planet. She weaves a web of mischief, speaking in esoteric riddles. Therefore, it is extremely important to not rush into anything hastily during him retrogrades.

2018 has had three periods of mercury’s retrograde, with the last going into full effect from November 17th through December 7th. This period overlaps the mysterious and vengeful Scorpio energy with the fiery, philosophical, Sagittarius. Scorpios are a mysterious water sign that are prone to jealousy and vengeful behaviors. Meanwhile, Sagittarius is a fire sign that relishes in travel, idealism, and other forms of deep thought. In general, fire signs yield creativity, confidence, impulsiveness, hot tempers, and destruction. Throwing all of these attributes into a time of recommended caution can cause quite the cosmic dichotomy, especially for those who already suffer from impatience or those bursting with creativity. This final retrograde of the year will yield large creative flare ups, a lot of internal questioning, rise issues that question your and war-like outbursts of aggression and anger. But this is nothing that a little witchcraft can’t fix!

The following is a simple spell for this year’s final retrograde, to help steer communication and creativity in the right direction. For this spell, we will be constructing a mojo bag—a popular magical talisman used in folk magic, traditionally containing an odd number of ingredients found from animals, minerals, and vegetables (herbs and roots).

Materials

• 1 Fire Sign Crystal (Garnet, Red Jasper, or Ruby)
• 1 Grounding Crystal (Smokey Quartz, Black Tourmaline, or Black Obsidian)
• 1 Mercury Crystal (Aventurine, Agate, or Citrine)
• 1 Scorpio Crystal (Aquamarine, Rhodochrosite, or Topaz)
• 1 Pigeon Feather
• Knife
• Mercury Herbal Blend
• Mercury Oil Blend
• Small Paper & Pen
• Yellow Candlestick (to represent Mercury)
• Yellow Drawstring Bag

Michael’s MRx Oil Blend:

• 1/3 Lavender
• 1/3 Lemongrass
• 1/3 Vetiver

Michael’s MRx Herbal Blend:
This combination balances herbs ruled by mercury with those ruled by fire energies.

• Chili Pepper
• Lily of the Valley
• Marjoram

Perform Your Spell on the Wednesday before mercury retrograde, during his planetary hour. Ground, center, and create a sacred space in whatever way you are accustomed to. Once settled, begin by turning your yellow candlestick upside down and chip away at the wax of the end until the wick is exposed. You will be lighting the candle from the opposite end to represent the retrograde. Carve the symbol for mercury on one side, and your name (initials are ok if your name is too long) on the other. Lick your thumb and trace your saliva over your name, creating an energetic bond between you and the candle.

Dress your candle with your oil, and roll it in your ground herbal blend. Light the candle. Write the following phrase on your small sheet of paper and recite it aloud:

“Sagittarius flames burn and blaze,
Communication setbacks will not daze.
As mercury goes into retrograde,
I won’t be affected or dismayed.”

Set your paper on fire from the candle and place in a fireproof bowl to burn. Allow the paper to cool to ash. Once cooled, add your herbal blend, crystals, and feather into the bowl. Mix them together. Open your yellow bag and speak into the bag’s opening:

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,
Smooth communication is a must.
Mercury may turn around,
But my communication and thought will remain sound.”

Pour the contents of the bowl into the bag. Anoint each of the four corners of the bag with a drop of your oil. Next, hold the bag at a safe distance above the candle’s flame and wave it back and forth to charge by fire. Then holding the bag open in your hands, push a deep breath slowly into it. In doing this you awaken the bag by breathing life into it. From here, your mojo bag is activated and ready to use. Snuff out your candle and carry the bag with you at all times during the retrograde. During the planetary hour of mercury on each subsequent Wednesday of the retrograde relight your candle, repeat the process of speaking the prayer into the bag, anointing it, and safely charging it with the candle’s flame. When the retrograde ends, bury your bag with the remaining bit of the candle in an area that you do not frequent regularly. This will ground your energy and express gratitude to the universe.

Wishing you all a happy and safe mercury retrograde!

Michael

Bio: Michael Herkes has been a solitary Witch for 18 years. Working exclusively with the Goddess Lilith, Michael walks a magical path established through the Great Lilithian Arcane Mysteries. Additionally, his areas of expertise fall in tarot, crystal, glamour, and moon magic. Michael is a regular contributor to Witch Way Magazine and is currently developing his first book THE GLAM WITCH to be released in 2019. Michael weaves his web of Witchery in Chicago, IL. Follow him on Instagram @the.glam.witch