Lord have mercury! Retrograde REALLY ended on on January 1st— the beginning of the new year. I don’t know how we did it, bougie brujas. How did we end one year and start another during mercury retrograde? During what’s astrologically considered the most difficult period of the year communication wise? AND while we had the sun in SAGITTARIUS?? Like I know that it’s winter right now— but with retrograde having began during a fire sign season, I don’t know how anyone kept their cool. I give kudos to everyone, everywhere. Take a sigh of relief and celebrate! You made it through! I hope you also made break throughs… and if you had a couple of break downs, it’s okay. That’s the reality of mercy retrograde. What matters most is that you learned something along the way. Remember that every last one of us on this planet are in the school of life. Just because you graduated high school or college, doesn’t mean you graduated from Universe University.
Think of December retrograde and this upcoming Mercury retrograde in April like your midterm and final for the school year. You just did your midterm in December, and you got your grades back on January 1st. Deep down, you know if you aced or not. If you fucked up or failed the last time, it’s okay. We all mistakes. Think of the new year like the start of a new semester. Just study harder next time for the final in April. And I know, some of you are thinking: but I don’t want to go back to school, while others are saying: I have enough homework as it is. But to tell you the truth, life has its own lessons. Whether you like it or not, if you practice magic or manifestation in some way— you’re gonna be tested on what you’ve learned.
Remember how in Sabrina The Teenage Witch, before Sabrina got her full powers, she had to study from her spell books AND school books? She had homework in chemistry AND alchemy. Then she also had a “quiz master” aka tutor from “the other realm” who LITERALLY popped in to give her pop quizzes! Sabrina juggled both being a bruja and having a boyfriend. Some of you may feel like you’re in the same boat WITH having to go to work on top. However, if you want to keep your power, that of witch craft and clairvoyance, you have to keep practicing. So welcome to the School Of Life Series featuring me— your Bougie Bruja. In our first lesson, we’re going to learn about the planet Mercury. We’re starting with Mercury first since we started the year in Mercury retrograde shadow period (And you know what’s ironic?? Mercury is the first planet too). So listen up Sabrina, I’m going to be your quiz master! You’re going to get your degree, PHD, promotion, your trade school license/certificate— whatever worldly goal you’re striving for, AND you’re going to get your witches license. So welcome to the School of Life series, Spellman. This is your first lesson. Sit back, relax, grab your grimoire and favorite fuzzy pen, and take some notes! Today, we’re doing a Mercury deep dive! We’re going to learn what mercury is, what retrograde is, what the frequency of mercury is, and how we can use the frequency of music to manifest and raise our vibrations as we start the new year in a mercury retrograde shadow period.
So, what IS the planet mercury?
This would be your first question in the school of life’s quiz on Mercury. But what is it? Mercury is the closest planet to the sun named after the Roman messenger God. It represents the mind, messages, communication, connection, language, intellect, and reason. In laymen’s terms, Mercury is how we think, how we speak, how we learn, how we listen, and even what we listen to. Its the information we absorb. It represents the school, the teacher, and the student.
But in Bougie Brujas terms, Mercury is… music. It’s music to the ears. So now we come to ask, what is music? Music is “vibrating air which produces sound waves. These sound waves are then processed by the brain, which creates the experience of music.” Life is like a Spotify playlist, and you’re the one who dictates what you download. And life is also like your own personal musical. You’re the main character who selects the songs you sing. But remember— the real connection is in the chorus. The harmony. The parts where other people sing along. There’s magic in the frequency of music. The lyrics can either lower, raise, or match your vibrations, depending on the mood you’re in. And music is a metaphor for the planet Mercury. Mercury reminds us that we can’t just speak, but that we have to listen as well. Communication is comprehending and complying— not just commenting. You have to let other people have their solos. If you want to have harmony, you have to be one band and one sound. This is the chorus. We also have to remember to respond and not react because the words we speak are spells. Don’t say what you don’t mean. Speak in alchemy.. not in anger.
And musicians songs are based on their experiences in the school of life. They sing about conversations they’ve had and the places they’ve been. They sing about their feelings… they put us on their frequency. This is why we have to be careful about what we listen to and what we say. Mercury retrograde gives us those reminders.
What is Mercury Retrograde?
This would be the most important question when quizzed on mercury. Mercury retrograde is an astrological phenomenon where Mercury appears to be orbiting backwards. Astrologers assert that the influence of mercury retrograde can impact communication, technology, and decision-making, often leading to tardiness, misunderstandings, disagreements, and disruption. During Mercury retrograde, you may have a difficult time conveying your feelings, mail may arrive late or not at all, there may be issues with Wi-Fi connectivity, you may be more likely to get sick (especially if you’re a 6th house mercury), and conflict seems to find you at every corner you to turn. But there’s nothing to fear when you’re intuitive and prepared. Then, Mercury Retrograde and Shadow Period is nothing more than a lesson and a test. But who said learning has to boring, brujas?? You can think of it like a game… the game of life.
You’re in control of your destiny, so be careful about the decisions you make and the cards you take. Remember prophecies are at the palm of your hand. And whatever money reaches your hand, make sure you invest it back into yourself (well— that game is more so monopoly. But we’ll save that article for another time). I’ve taken some manifestation classes from Mandy Morris — a mastermind who manifested a home months after homelessness, and a mansion after being on the brink of homelessness again. She says— our thoughts beget our decisions beget our actions beget our outcome. You can’t stay stuck in the past, and you can’t fear the future. She’s big on set it and forget manifestation, and being present to plan, prepare, but most importantly— do. Her lessons are big on anger management because a body that harbors pain can’t properly prophesy, and a body that harbors anger can’t produce alchemy. That said— think of life like a game, or like a test with questions and answers. Or maybe think of life like both— like Family Feud. And your Gods/Guides are your host Steve Harvey. You’re being graded on your responses. I mean— we don’t say “Oooooh my friend/child/sibling/partner/parent was testing me today!!” for no reason! And if you want to reach that Wheel of Fortune— if you want to reap the benefits of Jupiter, you have to start sewing your success with Mercury. You start by raising your vibrations. Boost your frequency. If you have regulated feelings and higher vibrations, you won’t keep repeating the same mercury retrograde lessons verbatim.
So what’s the frequency of Mercury, and how do I use this knowledge to boost my vibration during retrograde shadow period?
Did you know each planet produces a sound similar to song? The frequencies form together to create music! What are frequencies? They’re defined as “the rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave.” And according to my research, Mercury has the second lowest planet vibration out of all the planets, second to that of Pluto (the furthest planet from the sun). This is ironic considering Mercury is the first planet and closest to the sun. You’d think it would have higher vibrations but nope. It’s a pretty small planet with a frequency of approximately 141.27 hertz, and a key of C#. It’s funny that’s its frequency is so low since, in my opinion, some of the best feel good songs are written in C#. When Mercury is in retrograde, these already low frequencies could put us on on an even lower vibration. So how do we raise these Mercury frequencies?
Music of course! If we put good in, we can get good out. This is both regarding our mouths with what foods we’re feeding ourself, and with our ears and frequencies we’re feeding them. If you start your morning with your favorite music, you’ll be singing with a smile all day, even if other people are playing a different tune.
My last article goes into a deeper dive on what frequencies are and how to raise them using the meals you eat (linked here: https://www.bougiebrujas.com/2023/12/12/the-magic-in-making-meals-3-ways-to-conjure-with-cooking/). Check it out if you want more info on frequencies!
But anyway, I have a theory that if you can predict the possible problems that may cross your path during mercury retrograde, you can be prepared and avoid them. You can learn to respond and not react. Then those issues may never come to pass. That said:
Here are 4 ways to boost your frequency this mercury shadow period by using music as a form of prophecy/manifestation:
1. Set The Tone
Every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do before I even roll out of a bed is channel a song by shuffling my music library. I ask the universe for a song that will represent my day and help me set the tone. This way, I have an idea of what to expect. And I do this daily, RELIGIOUSLY! It’s part of my morning ritual. And to add a little extra razzle dazzle, I’ll pull a card to clarify what this song means. Make sure you do this because the song could be foreshadowing the near future. I’m someone that likes to KNOW what’s going to happen. Maybe that’s why my name means “knowing one.” I personally have more peace by prophesying. This helps me stay calm, cool, and collected in otherwise chaotic situations. Music messages are a quick way to do that!
2. Change The Tune
If you’re feeling pretty low, or don’t like the tone, then you need to change the tune! Each planet has its own frequency in hertz AND its own musical note. Mercury has the second lowest frequency of all the planets at, again, 141 Hz and in the key of C#. Venus has the highest vibration at 221 Hz, and is represented by musical note F, with Neptune closely following at 211 Hz and a musical note of G#. Listening to music in these keys can raise your vibrations, change your moods, and help you manifest.
Here’s a mini playlist of a few popular feel good songs with positive messages. These are all in the key of F Major (aka the key of love and peace). I call this playlist: Songs for Self Love & Success.
Mercury by Sleeping At Last
Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Huston
Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus
We Are The Champions by Queen
Life Is A Highway by Tom Cochrane
Let it Be by The Beatles.
My Girl by The Temptations
What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
Firework by Katy Perry
A few of my personal favorite motivational songs are Conceited by Flo Milli (which is in the key of G#) and I Am by Baby Tate ft. Flo Milli (in the key of C#)!
3. Pray For A Playlist
Speaking of which, another way I prophesy and manifest with music is simply by praying for a playlist. I feel like the universe knows what I want to hear more than I do sometimes. Of course I have songs saved on my phone, but only in my music library. They aren’t compartmentalized into playlist of pop hits to rock music. My friends were SHOCKED when they found out I don’t have any playlist at all. “No work out playlist? No cleaning playlist? No sleep music playlist!?” Nope! I trust that the universe has premade one for me, and all I have to do is press shuffle. 9/10 times the playlist is a 10/10. And that other 10% are times when I may not like the message but I needed it. I just tell the universe how I’m feeling or what I’d like to know, and they do the rest. A lot of times, these playlist can also be prophecies for the whole week if you’re really listening.
You can also make your own playlist as a means of manifesting! Make sure all the music you’re using is related to whatever it is you’re trying to manifest, and set the name and picture of your playlist to that thing you’re manifesting. Give it good vibrations (also another great feel good song by The Beetles for our playlist for success!)
4. Make Your Own Music
One of my favorite ways to manifest is through the sound of my own voice. There’s nothing more powerful than hearing yourself personally speaking (or singing) aloud something you’ve been wanting. And you don’t have to have a Grammy winning produced beat or sound like Beyoncé. You can get some sounds off YouTube or Garageband for free, and you can simply do spoken word or poetry. You don’t HAVE to sing, you just have to know what you want to say. Make sure your lyrics are things you want to manifest into your life. Someone that has mastered this method is the artist Londrelle. I highly recommend listening to his albums The Feels, Sunflower Souls, and Stay Free to get an idea of how he does it. And you get brownie points if you use Binaural Beats!
And sometimes, you don’t always want to affirm aloud. Maybe you want to save your voice, or maybe you have a little cold. Some days you may not even know what to say. So make some pre-recorded tracks with your own voice that can essentially speak for you on those days.
And the goal of mercury retrograde, it’s lessons, and its grades are not to seek perfection, rather peace. Ultimately, I’m just here to teach. Or not even really teach, because I’m still a student in the school of life. I’m more like a TA and the Gods tell me what to say.
And I mean hey… music can help plants grow. Why wouldn’t it do the same for people? If you couldn’t tell— music class was my favorite class in school. It was like learning a language we all naturally knew how to speak. Even when mercury retrograde would come in to confuse us, music brings us clarity. So even though you’re starting the new year with a retrograde, that doesn’t mean you have to respond in your old ways. Leave reactions in 2023. In 2024 we’re having responses. And I hate to sound so old school, but our elders really are our living guides. And in the words of my grandmother, don’t say anything at all if it’s not going to be nice.
That said, your assignment this month is to practice the methods mentioned in this article. Genuinely journal your results and how you felt. Some of you may even have your manifestations come through this month and I’m wishing you well!
I’ll see you in February for our next School of Life lesson. We’ll be studying the planet Venus, the Goddess Venus (aka Aphrodite), and her connection to Valentines Day.
Bye for now Bougie Brujas, and Happy New Year!
