Lifestyle March 26, 2020
One of life's many mysteries: Is Mercury in retrograde, or am I just a hot mess?
ENTITY tells how diffusers can help navigate the troubles of Mercury in retrograde.
Before we answer the question, “how does a diffuser work?” we need to talk about why you need one. If you’ve been anywhere other than under a rock for the past few years, you have probably heard (or read) the words “Mercury” and “retrograde” thrown together left and right. If you’re anything like me, you probably had no idea what it meant but could infer that it wasn’t good news for our daily lives.
I did some digging to find out about this cultural phenomenon of blaming life’s problems on a planet. The scientific explanation is that 3-4 times a year, Mercury passes the Earth in its orbit, creating an illusion that it is actually moving backward. When Mercury hustles past us, it literally creates an outer space size wind gust that influences us down here on Earth.
You won’t feel that strong breeze physically; you’ll feel it in your day to day activities and probably notice it in the behavior of others. That’s because, according to astrology, different planets are in charge of different areas of our lives. When a planet is in retrograde, it basically just abandons its responsibilities of making sure those areas are running smoothly. So, when Mercury is slacking on its job, we suffer in things like communicating and listening.
There are also shifts in things like transportation, travel, and important documents. You missed your train to work this morning? Mercury. Your computer with your term paper that you spent three weeks writing completely crashed? Mercury. Your boyfriend forgot that he was meeting your parents tonight because he just wasn’t listening? Yup, you guessed it… freaking Mercury.
So in the face of all this chaos, how can you keep from losing your absolute mind? After taking a couple of deep breaths and quietly muttering a few curse words, I want you to go ahead and get yourself a diffuser.
A diffuser is a device that basically turns essential oils into a mist that it spritzes into the air. Essential oils are some of the latest holistic health crazes known for their help with a multitude of ailments as well as sleep and mood. Diffusers use either water, atomization, evaporation, or heat to release the oils into your environment.
Ultrasonic diffusers work similarly to humidifiers, mixing water with the essential oils. This kind could be best if you live in a dry climate. Nebulizing diffusers break down the atoms of the oil and release it directly into the air. This type is stronger because the oil hasn’t been diluted, so you might want to go this route if you want a more intense effect.
Evaporative diffusers use evaporation (shocking, I know) after soaking a pad inside the diffuser with the oil. Some use fans to disperse the oil, but these types of diffusers tend to have a weaker output than the first two.
Heat diffusers warm the oil to deliver it out into the room, but they offer less control over the strength of the oil. Excessive heating of the oils also lessens their medicinal qualities, so if you’re seeking serious healing, a heat diffuser is probably the wrong one for you.
What makes a diffuser work so well for decreasing stress and anxiety is the rate at which your body can absorb the oil. When you breathe it in, the chemicals travel through receptors in your nose and into the limbic system, which controls a number of things in your body, from emotions to sleep.
Now that we’ve answered “how does a diffuser work?”, let’s talk about the 3 ways one can guide you through the mayhem that is, “Mercury in Retrograde.”
As we discussed, Mercury affects transportation. This can include your daily commute, errand running, or road trip plans. Everyone gets a little worked up while driving sometimes, but these few weeks might intensify those emotions quite a bit.
There are diffusers out there that are specially made for your car and don’t require electricity to work. Some fit in your cup holder; some clip right into your air vents. Pop in an essential oil proven to keep you calm, like Neroli, and hopefully you won’t try to run anyone off the road.
Communication will be wonky for a bit, and that can make it hard to pay attention when listening to your significant other. You might miss little details or find yourself zoning out during serious conversations.
Peppermint oil has been shown to improve alertness and awareness. It can stimulate your mind and give you a better chance at holding meaningful conversations that your mind is present for. Put a few drops in your diffuser and rejoice as you perk right up.
Just a tip – peppermint oil is pretty strong in itself. I put some directly on my wrists at work one time and the icy sensation that shot into my nose made it hard to even breathe. If you have a nebulizing diffuser, I would take it easy on how much oil you put in.
The craziness in the universe can leave you feeling not quite like yourself. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the things that aren’t going smoothly, or maybe you’ve found yourself in an inexplicable funk. We’ve all been there a time or two, but this time it’s that dang Mercury is just trying to keep us down.
You should try to get your endorphins flowing with exercise and positive energy to combat the negativity, but you can additionally utilize your favorite diffuser to boost your mood. There are tons of options for oils that positively impact your mindset, but perhaps the most universal is lavender. It is known to help with depression and anxiety; even if you don’t clinically suffer from either of these conditions you could still benefit from its effects on your nervous system.
If you’re feeling down in the dumps, ideally you’d want to make that feeling go away as quickly as possible. So, how long does it take for a diffuser to start misting? Each type is a bit different, but typically it should only take a few minutes, if not instantly.
And don’t let that forgetfulness get the best of you this retrograde season; take care to wash your diffuser and don’t leave it on for too long.
Even if you don’t buy into any of the astrology or aromatherapy mumbo jumbo, its still worth a shot to at least test these waters. No matter the time of year, I’m sure we could all use a little pick me up now and then. You never know…the key to happiness could lie just in adjusting the air you breathe.
