Monthly Mains: December 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).

We are so, so, SO close to wrapping up the wild, challenging, eye-opening year that 2020 has been. And while I am part of the majority that is happy to see it end, I also am aware that as we head into 2021, things won't magically change overnight or go "back to normal". We are still going to be in quarantine (at least here in Canada), we are still going to see more stress on our healthcare system, and we are still going to be trying to figure out and adjust to what exactly our "new normal" is. 

As cliché as it sounds, I've been doing a lot of reflecting recently, and I really do realize how fortunate I am and have been this year, despite it not going anything at all as planned. There is a lot that I can change personally, and a lot that I feel the world can do better with, but overall, I have been very lucky in 2020 and am grateful for the people in my life and all the opportunities I've received to learn and grow this year. 

Another thing I've become very, very thankful for is online shopping, which I may have turned to a little too often this year. But it brought me joy and helped me survive nine months of a global pandemic, so it's fine (right?). Here are three things I found online that helped make the last month of 2020 better for me: 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

All the extra hand washing and sanitizing I've been doing in 2020 has taken a toll on my hands. Luckily, Calgary-based skincare and makeup brand Ellie Bianca created a hand sanitizer spray that's strong enough to kill bacteria and keep your hands clean, but also contains ingredients that help retain much-needed moisture. 

The sanitizer is unscented (although there is a grapefruit scented option available as well) and approved by Health Canada. It contains 62 per cent food grade ethyl alcohol, which is what kills the bacteria, as well as aloe vera leave juice, which helps calm and soften skin rather than leaving it dried out like many other hand sanitizers.  

Besides offering great products (the hand sanitizer is part of a larger line of cruelty-free, all-natural, ethically sourced and environmentally sustainable items), Ellie Bianca also aims to create connections and positive change. A major focus for the company is on female empowerment through business and fair trade. Ellie Bianca  and even offers a scholarship to single mothers looking to to enroll in and graduate from post-secondary programs. 

To order your own hand sanitizer or any other skincare products, or to learn more about how the company gives back to the community, visit Ellie Bianca's website. 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I decided to try to take a break from buying candles. It didn't work very well, and along with the fantastic few I picked up from Field Kit (which I would highly recommend), I also grabbed some (as in, all three available scents) cone incense - which ended up being a fantastic decision.  

The cones are super easy to use and don't require any extra or special equipment (unlike more traditional incense sticks). All you need to do is flip the tin's lid, place the cone on top, light it for about 15 seconds, blow it out, and voila: the room will be filled with a pleasant, light scent for at least a few hours. The cone isn't overly large and doesn't give off a lot of actual smoke, which is an added bonus. 

Field Kit is another company that you can feel good about purchasing from, as it gives back to the community in a number of ways. Every Field Kit product sold has an impact, with a certain amount from each good sold being donated to a different community organization. As for the incense cones, 100 per cent of proceeds from each tin sold going to the Calgary Black Empowerment Fund.  

You can find the incense cones, and the full list of wonderfully scented, community supporting products on Field Kit's website. 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I don't think I was the only one who needed a sign/reminder/inspiration from the universe to make it through this year. Luckily for me, the universe seemed to answer often enough, including by ensuring this ring popped up on my Instagram feed at one of my low points.   

According to the item description, the STRONG ring is meant to "inspire you to take a few deep breaths, give your amazing self a hug, and remind yourself how STRONG and BEAUTIFUL and LOVED you are!!!!" After buying it a few months ago and wearing it more regularly in December, I can definitely say it reminds me that no matter what challenges come my way, I can handle them. 

Jules Sontag, the artist behind this ring and a number of other beautiful pieces of jewelry, is a true gem herself (pun INTENDED). It's very clear how much thought she puts into all of her pieces, along with the time, effort and care. All of her pieces are made to order, and if you follow her on Instagram, you'll get a small glimpse of the behind the scenes work she puts into each item. On top of her great work, she's also a good human, and continually uses her platform to highlight social issues as well as resources to help resolve them. Basically, like the others on this list, Jules is a Calgary-based small business owner you can feel good about supporting. I know I do. 

To get your own STRONG ring or other piece of handmade jewelry, visit Jules' website. 

 Side dishes 

Podcast: 

Sprawlcast (Carving out space for stories of hope) 

Quote: 

"I am still learning how to go back and reread my own chapters without feeling like I want to set all of my pages on fire."
– E.V. Rogina

Read: 

What DIY couldn't do for me 
– The Walrus

Song:
FOOL'S GOLD - Aries 

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.

New year. New decade. Same mess.

It's 2020. A new year. A new DECADE. 

I've had this blog for 10 years. Yes, you read that right. Despite only having 16 posts (17, if you include this one), this little space of the internet has existed since 2010. 

Do I have a valid excuse for my lack of content and consistency? Well... I am a millennial. Does that count? 

I don't actually have a reason other than I've been busy trying to navigate real life (#firstworldproblems, I know). Blogging is a great concept - but when you want good grades in university, or are being smacked in the face with reality once you graduate university, or are working 35 days straight of double shifts and weird hours at your two jobs, being a blogger just isn't really top of mind. 

And yet, it's still something that's stayed on my mind. I truly love storytelling, and I've been super fortunate to be able to tell stories for a living in some form or another. But those stories have almost always needed approval - from a manager or a news director or my team. They've needed to be timely, to reach a specific audience, to be structured in a certain way. I am so grateful for the opportunities I've had - but I've also always craved the ability to take any idea or topic and share my own thoughts on it. So here I am, back on Blogger, hoping I can just tell stories and write about whatever pops into my mind. 

I've done reviews of music, movies and books. I've written profiles on people I find inspiring. I've even chronicled my adventures in London when all I wanted was a job at the BBC (spoiler alert - I have yet to be hired).

My plan is to continue with all of this (yes, even the job at the BBC). I'm always excited to talk about the newest song on my Discover Weekly Spotify playlist. I have met so many inspirational people - and I want to tell the world about them. I get to visit some really awesome places, and I think everyone should know about the hidden gems in these cities. And sometimes, I see/hear/read/experience something that I want to talk about. 

Of course, plans don't always work out (let's be real - they RARELY work out). But it's a new year and I didn't make any resolutions so I figured I needed to have some sort of vague, kind of unrealistic goal that I can reflect on when it's almost midnight on December 31st and we're counting down to 2021. 

Here's to 2020 - a year where I could get my life together, but most likely won't. Hopefully there's at least some consistency on this blog and that makes up for it though.