Monthly Mains: October 2020

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I’m a big fan of shopping local, supporting small businesses, and giving my money to companies that give back to the community and do good. I also have spent my time in quarantine doing a lot of online shopping and needed something to help me justify all my purchases. And so I bring you Monthly Mains, a series where I’ll highlight three things that have made my life better (and will probably make yours better, too).

October is basically the height of fall (in my opinion) – the leaves change colour and begin to drop from tree branches, pumpkin spice lattes are available and being ordered in full force at coffee shops everywhere, and the oversized scarves are around everyone’s necks. If you’re in Calgary, you’ll probably also have asked yourself why Fall only lasts two weeks in this city as you shoveled snow and scraped frost off your windshield at least once within the first week.

Along with experiencing the usual October/Fall routines (especially the last part), this month I was really loving these three things: 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I have a candle problem. And that problem became VERY apparent back in April when I found myself looking at (and buying) candles from small businesses across Canada. I’ve accumulated quite a few candles, but it was a more recent purchase that was lit almost all month: The Made of Magick candle by Land of Daughters.

The scent features notes of pumpkin, mahogany and cream, which already screams Fall, but the smell is not overwhelming or fake. Light this candle and the entire room will have the soft, slightly sweet smell that’s reminiscent of walking on a tree-lined path with a latte in your coziest sweater on a crisp Fall afternoon. And since it feels like the majority of the month I’ve spent more time shoveling my driveway than walking on pathways, it’s been a perfect thing to have lit in my living room while I work.

The candle is limited edition, and when I spoke with Paige (the owner of Land of Daughters) she said she wasn’t sure if she'd bring it back once it sold out. Basically what I’m saying is… head over to the Land of Daughters website and grab yours now. 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

As a born and raised Calgarian, there was always one city I could just never like: Edmonton. But in recent years, Alberta’s capital doesn’t seem nearly as bad as I once believed. I mean, don’t get me wrong; it’s not Calgary. But it’s got great people and great local businesses, including Awake Coffee House.
 
The coffee shop itself is located in the northwest community of Twin Brooks. It’s a modern, sleek space (which it shares with a pharmacy) and offers baked goods, fresh juice, and of course, delicious made-to-order caffeinated drinks.

I enjoyed my experience at the café so much that I bought a bag of the Awake blend. The beans are roasted by B.C.-based Drumroaster Coffee, and the flavour profile includes chocolate, caramel and cherry. It’s been my go-to coffee this month – it’s smooth, sweet, mellow and not bitter – making it very easy to drink early in the morning and throughout the day.

If you’re ever in Edmonton, I would highly recommend stopping by, ordering a drink (and maybe a sweet or savoury waffle) and spending some time looking at the collection of specialty coffees and teas you can take with you and enjoy at home. 

 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki
Inspired by Khalid Albaih

"Style is a way to show who you are without having to speak."
– Rachel Zoe, American fashion designer. 

I'm definitely not a fashion expert, but I am someone who will purchase a piece of clothing or an accessory that shows a little bit of my personality and/or beliefs. That's exactly why I I bought this red sweatshirt: it's a comfy piece of clothing that can be worn daily - but more importantly - it shares an important message that I very strongly believe in.

The original design for this sweatshirt was created in 2016 by artist Khalid Albaih. It shows former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling with his afro in the shape of a fist. The illustration went viral for its creative use of art to highlight and support all that was happening at the time surrounding Kaepernick, his kneeling during the U.S. national anthem as a form of protest, and the issue he was bringing attention to through his actions: police brutality towards the Black community. 

In 2016, I wasn’t an online shopper, so I didn't end up buying a sweatshirt before they quickly sold out. But I never stopped wanting one, and I would often go back to Albaih's social pages to see if he had decided to put the item up for sale again.  

We are still dealing with the same issues Kaepernick was protesting in 2016, which were not new at that time either. After George Floyd’s murder in June 2020 brought the Black Lives Matter movement into the spotlight around the world, Albaih teamed up with Manhattan-based private arts club ArtX NYC to raise awareness and funds for civil rights issues. The Kaepernick illustration was printed on t-shirts and sweatshirts to be sold – with all profits being split between Know Your Rights Camp legal and Sadagaat-USA. 

This time around, buying the sweatshirt was a no-brainer, and it's been a staple in my October wardrobe. Besides supporting great causes and raising awareness on issues and the inequality that certain groups of people face on a daily basis, it’s also a well-made, good quality piece of clothing.   

It doesn’t appear that the items are still available for sale (there ARE copycat pieces out there - but they don't support the original artist). The good news though, is that more than $2500 US was raised through the collaboration. 

Black lives matter. Today and every day. Head to this webpage to learn more about the movement and find out how you can help. If you're in Canada,  check out this Huffington Post list of local organizations you can support as well. 

 Side dishes 

Podcast:
To Live and Die in LA

Quote: 
“Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on; twas not given for thee alone, pass it on; let it travel down the years, let it wipe another’s tears, till in heaven the deed appears—pass it on. You can’t light a candle to show others the way, without feeling the warmth of that bright little ray; and you can’t give a rose all the fragrance with dew, without some of its sweetness remaining with you.”
– Henry Burton 

Read:
The Truth About Aaron: My Journey to Understand My Brother
– Jonathan Hernandez

Song:
Sink – Maya B, SAINt JHN

Don't be afraid of Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde is an astrological event that’s become popular in recent years – often used as a way to explain bad days (or weeks), mood swings, things not working out, and in general anything negative happening in life during a specific time period.

Mercury Retrograde is an astrological phenomena that's
become popular in recent years for the wrong reasons.
Illustration by Len Kurosaki

When we experienced 2020's first Mercury Retrograde in February (pre-COVID-19... remember those days? But also Pisces season, so HELLO emotions!), I was part of the group of people blaming my overly sensitive state and all the things I saw as “bad” on the phenomena. 

A few months later, I reached out to Alberta-based astrologer Donna Young to ask her for tips on how to make it through the next one. And that’s when I found out the bad rap Mercury Retrograde has is one that isn’t actually deserved. 

“This is the thing that drives me crazy,” says Young, who has been studying the craft for two decades. “A lot of people think that when a planet is retrograde that horrible things are going to happen. Everything that goes wrong is because Mercury is retrograde. It's Mercury's fault. As though nothing ever goes wrong otherwise.”

What is Mercury Retrograde? 

Let’s back up a bit.

Astrology is in part based on how other planets interact with the Earth (because we're self-centred and it was originally believed that our planet, not the sun, was the centre of the universe. Obviously, we now know is not astronomically correct).

Because of this, it can sometimes appear that planets are travelling backwards (even though in actuality, they are really just making their regularly scheduled trip around the sun). This visual illusion is why we use the word “retrograde.”

Technically, all the planets go retrograde, as they are all travelling around the sun, just at different speeds. The slower moving planets (slower in comparison to earth), like Jupiter and Pluto (technically a former planet now but it will forever remain a planet in my heart) will appear retrograde every year for about four to five and a half months. Planets that travel at speeds closer to that of earth (Venus and Mars) are retrograde less often: Venus is retrograde every 20 months for 40 days, and Mars every two years for approximately 10 weeks. Mercury does a lap around the sun every 88 days – so we see it “going backwards” from Earth three (and sometimes four) times per year. This may be a reason why it’s the only retrograde we hear about in popular culture. 

The term retrograde comes from the optical illusion that makes planets appear to be travelling backwards.
Illustration by Len Kurosaki

Mercury's mythological counterpart is the Roman God with the same name (also known as Hermes, if you prefer Greek mythology), who looks after a number of things, including communication, commerce, finances, luck, transportation and trickery. 

When Mercury is retrograde, it’s equivalent to Mercury/Hermes backing up to trick us into thinking he didn't do something that he did. And that impacts all the things he rules.

“This is why they say don't make any major purchases when Mercury is retrograde,” Young says. “If you buy something during this time, something might be wrong, and you might have to retrace your steps. But it's not the end of the world. It's just an inconvenience.” 

Mercury Retrograde affects all the things
Roman God Mercury/Greek God Hermes rules,
including communication and finances.
Illustration by Len Kurosaki

That’s not to say that Mercury Retrograde won’t have any effects on you – both positive and negative. But what you do (or don’t) experience during these three (or four) yearly events depends a lot on a number of factors, most of which can be found in your natal chart. 

Using Mercury Retrograde to your advantage

Mercury retrograde isn’t something we can avoid. And while it may not be the negative, inconvenience-filled astrological period pop culture makes it out to be, it can still throw us off. 

So how can we make the best of this triannual event? 

“Back up your computer,” Young says, only half-jokingly. “That is absolutely one of the things that you should do before Mercury goes retrograde.”

“This is a really good time for us to retreat. It's a good time to do any of the “re” things: Research, reflect, renovate, remarry even. To redo something while Mercury is retrograde is a perfect use of the period.”

If you’ve been putting off returning that shirt you ordered but didn’t fit quite right, now is the time to cross that off your list. Have a paper due in November? Start gathering information and planning for it now. 

But if you’re thinking about dropping some serious cash, especially on items related to communication (the latest iPhone or a new laptop), it’s best to hold off until this retrograde passes. 

More importantly though – don’t buy into the hype. Mercury Retrograde is not something you need to worry about. In fact, it’s something you can actually make work for you.

“That's the thing with astrology. All of the planets that are transiting through, you can use to your advantage – if you know what's coming,” Young says.

The last Mercury Retrograde of 2020 begins October 13 and ends on November 3. To learn more about this astrological phenomena - or anything else astrology-related - and its impact on you, book an appointment with Donna Young.