The Cats Got My Donations...Mercury Retrograde Got My Car!

Warm greetings!

I hope Mercury Retrograde has been kind to you.

I, on the other hand, am having the most Mercury Retrograde of Mercury Retrogrades.

For starters, we are in Cancer season. I was born on the very last degree of Cancer, so this time of year always seems to stir something in me. I inevitably find myself wanting to buy new sheets and new towels. Something about this season just screams: “home refresh!”

Last week, seemingly out of nowhere, I felt an overwhelming need to rearrange my office. And when I say “need,” I mean there was absolutely no talking myself out of it. This had to happen immediately.

Once that project was complete, I cleaned out every room, cabinet, shelf, drawer and every closet. Before I knew it, I had a sizeable pile of things ready to donate sitting in my office.

Looking back, it feels very fitting for Cancer season and Mercury Retrograde. Cancer invites us to revisit our homes—not just the physical spaces where we live, but the emotional spaces we carry within ourselves. Mercury Retrograde often asks us to review, release, and reconnect with what truly matters.

I have a Goodwill donation drop-off quite close to where I live, but that felt like the easiest (laziest?) option. I wanted these things to go somewhere meaningful. I decided to drive everything down to Venice, about 30 minutes south of where I live, to a cat shelter supported entirely by the earnings from its thrift store.

These donations had to be for the cats.

Friday morning, I decided to put the retractable roof down on my two-door car so I could load everything more easily. Before leaving for a meeting, I needed to put the roof back up so I wouldn’t leave everything exposed to the elements.

The roof closed.

The sunroof did not.

That had never happened before!

After my meeting, I got on the highway and headed south to deliver the donations. Since I don’t go to this place very often, I turned on Google Maps just to double-check the location.

Google announced that the thrift store was closed.

I was annoyed, but something told me to get off the exit anyway and figure it out. As I started driving another direction, I had the distinct feeling that my guardian angel was tapping me on the shoulder saying, “Call them!”

So I did.

As it turns out, Google was wrong. The thrift store was open! Thankfully, because I really didn’t want to keep a car full of donations until Monday.

I continued south again, feeling quite pleased that the mission was back on track.

And then I saw them.

Clouds.

Big, dark Florida summer clouds.

Of course, it’s hard to know exactly how close a storm is when you’re driving, so I kept going.

And then…

It started raining.

On me.

And inside my car.

I have decided to call this experience “Nature’s Interior Detailing Service.”

I was already soaked, but carrying all of the donations from my car to the thrift store bin left me completely drenched. Thankfully, everything I donated was wrapped in plastic bags, so nothing was damaged. The attendant quickly brought everything inside.

I climbed back into my car and drove north, receiving several more rounds of Nature’s generous detailing service along the way.

I never did manage to close the sunroof on my own. The car is now in the shop, and apparently this donation experience came with an unexpected financial contribution!

All joking aside, when I look at the bigger picture, I realize that the physical clearing I was doing in my home was also an energetic clearing.

As I sorted through closets and cabinets, I noticed that I wasn’t just releasing clutter. Some objects carried old memories, old emotions, and connections to things I had already outgrown. It felt good to let those things go.

This feels especially meaningful with the New Moon in Cancer arriving next week while Mercury Retrograde is also moving through Cancer. Rather than rushing toward something completely new, this energy invites us to clear away what no longer supports us so we can create healthier foundations for the future.

Cancer reminds us that our homes are more than physical spaces. They hold memories, emotions, and energy. This can be a powerful time to reflect on our family foundations, heal old patterns, and create a greater sense of peace and belonging within ourselves.

I will be holding a 60-Minute New Moon Collective Distance Healing in Cancer next Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern. As always, within 24 hours of the healing session, I will send you a Healing Report Video sharing how the energy moved through the session and any intuitive guidance that comes forth for the group who participates.

This healing will be an opportunity to work with the nurturing energy of Cancer—to gently release old emotional patterns, strengthen our inner foundations, and create space for whatever wants to grow next.

If you decide to do some cleaning and purging of your own home during this Mercury Retrograde and New Moon energy, may it go decidedly smoother than mine!

Wishing you every blessing,

Martha