Sorry, Mercury Retrograde: My Life Choices Are Mine, Not the Cosmos

Reclaiming Your Sovereignty: Why the Stars Don’t Control Your Destiny (And Neither Do the Cards)

I feel vulnerable sharing this — maybe the most vulnerable I’ve felt writing a blog. Because in sharing this, I’m going against the grain of what many in my community believe. But standing in my sovereignty — the power to trust my own judgment, make my own choices, and shape my own life — means speaking my truth, even when it challenges the status quo.

I used to be all in with astrology — knowing my chart inside and out (Leo Sun, Taurus Moon, Capricorn Rising, with triple Virgo placements in Mercury, Mars, and Venus). I paid for readings, blamed mercury retrograde and saw life through that lens. I’ve walked alongside others who do too, and I know some brilliant astrologers.

As a coach and a photographer, I’m fascinated by how people construct their identities and feel supported in their understanding of who they are. For many, astrology plays a huge role in that. So when I say something like, “That’s such a classic Virgo vibe,” I’m not mocking you or boxing you in. I’m meeting you on the frequency you’re working with — seeing the world through your eyes.

But over time, my relationship with astrology (and other divination tools like tarot) has shifted. I’ve come to believe that while these practices can offer insight, they don’t define us or hold the keys to our destiny. When we believe they do, we risk giving away our sovereignty — handing over our power to shape our lives to external forces like the stars or the cards.

This blog is my perspective, rooted in deeply grounded spirituality. I don’t really fuck with the 5D -  I’m more in love with the magic of this 3D life. I don’t feel connected to Pleiadians or feel like a starseed. For me, the greatest magic is the simple fact that we exist — that we breathe, create, love, and experience this incredible life. If that doesn’t resonate with you, that’s okay. Your sovereignty allows you to take what you need and leave the rest. With that said, let’s dive in.

When Destiny Becomes a Cage

It’s easy to fall into the belief that the stars, the planets, or the tarot hold the blueprint of our destiny. The idea that our future is written in the cosmos or dealt in a spread can be comforting — it promises certainty in a chaotic world. But what if this belief is subtly disempowering? What if, by surrendering our path to these systems, we’re handing over our sovereignty, our choices, and our power to create our own lives?

Astrology and tarot are rich with symbolism and wisdom, but they are not more wise than you. When we believe the planets dictate our fate or that a tarot card can reveal our future, we’re placing the responsibility for our lives outside of ourselves. We’re saying:

•   “My chart says I’m destined to struggle in relationships, so that’s just how it is.”
•   “The cards show I’m on the wrong path, so I need to stop what I’m doing.”
•   “Mercury retrograde is ruining everything, so there’s no point in trying.”

These beliefs create a passive relationship with life. They strip away your agency, making it seem as though your choices don’t matter, as if you’re merely a puppet to cosmic forces. This is a subtle form of self-abandonment, a way of giving away your power to something you think is wiser than you are.

Astrology and Tarot as Tools, Not Truths

Astrology and tarot are powerful tools for reflection and insight — but they are not masters of your destiny. They offer archetypes, energies, and perspectives that you can choose to work with. They don’t decide your future; you do.

Consider:

•   Astrology offers a map of potential energies. But a map doesn’t determine where you go — you still choose the route.
•   Tarot provides symbols and insights, but the cards don’t decide your path — they illuminate possibilities that you can consider or discard.

When you view these systems as tools rather than truths, you reclaim your power. You become the conscious creator of your life, not a passive recipient of fate.

How to Reclaim Your Sovereignty

Here are some ways to use astrology and tarot without giving away your power:

1.   Shift from Prediction to Possibility

Instead of asking, “What will happen?” ask, “What are my options?” Use the insights from astrology and tarot to explore different paths, but remember that you are the one who walks them.

2.   Trust Your Inner Wisdom

Your intuition, your lived experience, and your personal discernment are just as wise — if not wiser — than external symbols. When in doubt, trust yourself first.

3.   Use Archetypes as Allies

The archetypes of astrology and tarot are like characters in your story. They can guide you, inspire you, or challenge you, but they don’t write the plot — you do. Ask: “How can I work with this energy in a way that serves my highest good?”

4.   Own Your Choices

If you feel drawn to a certain path, make the choice consciously. Don’t attribute it to fate or the stars. Say: “I am choosing this path because it aligns with my truth.” This reinforces your agency.

5.   Practice Sovereign Reflection

Before seeking answers from a chart or a deck, take time to reflect on your own thoughts and feelings. What does your inner voice say? Let external tools complement your insight, not replace it.

“It Was Meant to Be”: The Trap of Spiritual Bypassing

One of the most subtle ways we surrender our sovereignty is through the belief that “it was meant to be.” While this phrase can offer comfort during difficult times, it can also be a form of spiritual bypassing — a way of avoiding the deeper work of processing our choices, responsibilities, and the complexity of life.

When we say things like, “That relationship ended because it was meant to be,” or “I lost that opportunity because the universe has something better planned,” we might be sidestepping the uncomfortable truth that our actions, decisions, or fears played a role. In doing so, we hand over our power to an invisible force, believing that destiny has it all worked out for us. But this belief can keep us passive, waiting for life to happen to us rather than actively participating in the creation of our future.

There’s a difference between trusting that life has a flow and using ‘it was meant to be’ to avoid facing hard truths. Healthy surrender allows you to accept what’s outside your control while still taking responsibility for your actions.

You Are the Wise One

Believing that something outside of you — be it the stars, the cards, or cosmic destiny — knows better than you is a way of avoiding responsibility for your life. But true empowerment lies in knowing that you are wise enough to guide yourself. The stars and cards can offer reflections, but the deepest wisdom comes from within. Reclaim your sovereignty. Chart your own path. The universe isn’t here to control you; it’s here to co-create with you.

The Power of Discernment: Your Inner Compass

At the heart of reclaiming your sovereignty is the practice of discernment — the ability to filter information, symbols, and insights through the lens of your own wisdom. Discernment is your inner compass, guiding you to what resonates with your truth and helping you navigate the ever-expanding world of spiritual tools and teachings.

In a world filled with astrological predictions, tarot readings, palm interpretations, and divination practices, discernment is the key that keeps you anchored in your own power. It’s the ability to ask:

•   Does this insight empower or limit me?
•   Am I using this information to expand my awareness, or am I giving away my choice?
•   Does this align with my lived experience and intuition?

Discernment invites you to engage with spiritual tools in a way that serves you, rather than controls you. It allows you to pull the threads of wisdom that feel aligned while discarding what doesn’t resonate. Instead of passively accepting what a chart or a card says, you evaluate it through your own lens.

Honouring Your Inner Authority

Many people fall into the trap of believing that external tools or spiritual authorities know better than they do. But your inner authority — the quiet, steady knowing within you — is a source of deep, reliable wisdom. By cultivating discernment, you honor this inner authority and reaffirm that you are the final decision-maker in your life.

Discernment helps you avoid blind faith or spiritual bypassing. It gives you permission to question everything, including:

•   Astrological interpretations that feel disempowering.
•   Tarot readings that suggest a future you don’t want to create.
•   Palmistry insights that don’t align with your evolving reality.

When you practice discernment, you’re not dismissing these tools — you’re using them in a way that honors your journey and your truth.

How to Strengthen Your Discernment

1.   Pause Before You Accept

When you receive a reading or interpretation, take a moment to ask yourself: How does this feel in my body? Does it expand or contract my energy?

2.   Reflect and Integrate

Instead of immediately acting on external guidance, reflect on how it fits into your current experience. Does it provide a new perspective, or does it feel misaligned?

3.   Trust Your Intuition

Your intuition is the voice of your inner wisdom. If something feels off, trust that feeling. If something feels expansive and empowering, explore it further.

4.   Stay Curious, Not Dogmatic

Hold insights lightly. Be open to the possibility that what resonates today may evolve tomorrow. Discernment allows for flexibility and growth.

Discernment: The Bridge to Sovereignty

When you engage with spiritual tools through the power of discernment, you maintain your sovereignty. You recognize that while the stars, the cards, or the lines on your palm can offer guidance, you are the one who ultimately shapes your path.

This is the bridge to true empowerment — where you are no longer seeking answers outside of yourself, but collaborating with the wisdom within you and around you.

The Purpose of Astrology, Tarot, and Divination Practices

When we strip away the idea that astrology, tarot, palm reading, or other divination practices dictate our fate, we’re left with a deeper question: What, then, is their true purpose? If these tools don’t determine our destiny, why do we engage with them at all?

The answer lies in their power to illuminate, reflect, and inspire. These practices are not about giving away our power; they’re about expanding our understanding, unlocking insights, and deepening our connection to the mystery of life.

1. Self-Reflection and Insight

At their core, these tools are mirrors. They reflect back to us aspects of our psyche, our patterns, and our current experiences. When we explore our astrological chart, pull a tarot card, or study the lines on our palm, we’re engaging in a dialogue with ourselves. These practices prompt us to ask:

•   What am I experiencing right now?
•   What patterns or energies are influencing my decisions?
•   What do I need to see or acknowledge within myself?

This reflection helps us develop greater self-awareness and clarity.

2. Accessing Archetypal Wisdom

Astrology, tarot, and palm reading work with archetypes — universal symbols and patterns that are embedded in the human experience. These archetypes can help us understand ourselves on a deeper level by offering symbolic language for what we’re going through.

•   The fierceness of Aries, the depth of Scorpio, or the balance of Libra are energies we can all access.
•   The High Priestess or the Fool in tarot invite us to embody intuition, new beginnings, or curiosity.
•   The lines on our palms reflect life themes like growth, challenges, and potential.

Archetypes transcend individuality and connect us to the broader human story. They remind us that we are not alone in our experiences.

3. A Catalyst for Intuition and Creativity

These practices stimulate our intuition by opening channels of creative and non-linear thinking. They invite us to step out of rigid logic and into the fluid realm of symbols, metaphors, and gut feelings. When you pull a tarot card or consider the placement of your planets, your mind opens to possibilities you might not have considered otherwise.

This can spark:

•   Creative breakthroughs
•   New perspectives on challenges
•   Intuitive solutions to problems

In this way, these tools serve as catalysts, helping us access the deeper wisdom that already exists within us.

4. Providing Structure and Ritual

Engaging in practices like astrology or tarot offers a sense of structure and ritual. In a chaotic world, rituals provide grounding. Whether it’s a new moon reading, a daily card pull, or reflecting on your birth chart during your birthday, these moments anchor us in intentionality.

Rituals remind us to pause, reflect, and engage with life consciously. They help us mark thresholds, transitions, and milestones, bringing deeper meaning to our journey.

5. Affirming Personal Agency

Ultimately, these practices remind us that we are co-creators of our lives. They don’t hand us fixed outcomes; they offer a canvas. By reflecting on the energies and symbols they present, we choose how to respond and what to create.

The purpose is not to find answers outside ourselves, but to inspire action, reflection, and growth from within. When used with discernment and intention, these tools empower us to navigate life with greater clarity, creativity, and connection. They remind us that while the universe offers symbols and patterns, we are the ones who give them meaning through our choices and actions.

Take What You Need, Leave What You Don’t

Ultimately, you are the authority in your own world. You have the power to take what resonates, what feels right to your inner knowing, and to disregard what doesn’t. These tools — astrology, tarot, palm reading — offer symbols and insights, but you decide how they fit into your understanding of life.

If my perspective doesn’t align with the way you wish to see the world, the cosmos, or the universe — that’s perfectly okay. Your sovereignty means you get to choose your truth, your path, and your meaning. Take the wisdom that serves you, and leave the rest.

I offer you my opinion from a place of deeply grounded spirituality. I don’t really fuck with the 5D. I don’t feel a connection to Pleiadians or feel like a starseed. I am a child of this gorgeous earth, my pachamama. I don’t believe there’s anything more magical than the simple, awe-inspiring fact that we are here — that we exist, breathe, create, love, and experience this incredible life. That, to me, is the greatest miracle of all.

So, take what you need. Trust your knowing. Your path is yours to shape.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you use astrology or tarot in your life? Does this perspective resonate?

In creativity and connection,

Rosie