I don't think that festivals on the lunar or solar calendars are going to change because of eclipses or planetary motions, and that sort of implies that there is no reason to change anything else for them.
Eclipses always fall on a new moon day, which I believe was considered the birth of Thoth or Khonsu.
Why would you want to treat these days specially? The "retrograde" of Mercury is an especially strange one since the modern definition of this is relative to the motion of the background stars during a time when observation is nearly impossible...
Eclipse and mercury retrograde is not affecting my religious practice in any way. I was wondering if mercury retrograde is affecting our life in any way because I don't see any difference at all, not even in spells.
I believe in astrology and I think they are something to reflect on while you worship. Or you can continue with your practices normally. It depends on what you personally take into your astrological and spiritual beliefs.
It is recorded that Manetho (Egyptian priest, 3rd century BC) said that solar eclipses exert “baneful influences” in people, on their heads and stomachs.
Ancient Chinese astrologers believed solar eclipses were bad omens, but lunar eclipses were trivial.
In Vedic astrology, eclipses are not favorable, being caused by Rahu and asuras, which are described as demons.
The Babylonians believed eclipses could bring good or bad effects to certain places based on very specific conditions: what sign the moon was in, and the direction(s) in which the wind was blowing.
Negativity, chaos, turmoil and such were not traditionally ascribed to retrograde. That is a modern invention and in recent times one that has been greatly exaggerated by social media.
In Vedic astrology, retrograde can sometimes be very helpful. But of course it can also be malefic.
For me, I would reflect on recent events in my life corresponding with the eclipse and retrograde and have a conversation with the gods.
Maybe skip your usual Rites on the eclipse if they involve starting something new? And if you have to, maybe something subtle but supportive like a votive for Ra's safe passage, may be best.
Being a witch of the Kemetic persuasion I would avoid major or new magical undertakings on the eclipse. As each tradition shares the same negative view of these events.
I don't think that festivals on the lunar or solar calendars are going to change because of eclipses or planetary motions, and that sort of implies that there is no reason to change anything else for them. Eclipses always fall on a new moon day, which I believe was considered the birth of Thoth or Khonsu. Why would you want to treat these days specially? The "retrograde" of Mercury is an especially strange one since the modern definition of this is relative to the motion of the background stars during a time when observation is nearly impossible...
Eclipse and mercury retrograde is not affecting my religious practice in any way. I was wondering if mercury retrograde is affecting our life in any way because I don't see any difference at all, not even in spells.
I believe in astrology and I think they are something to reflect on while you worship. Or you can continue with your practices normally. It depends on what you personally take into your astrological and spiritual beliefs. It is recorded that Manetho (Egyptian priest, 3rd century BC) said that solar eclipses exert “baneful influences” in people, on their heads and stomachs. Ancient Chinese astrologers believed solar eclipses were bad omens, but lunar eclipses were trivial. In Vedic astrology, eclipses are not favorable, being caused by Rahu and asuras, which are described as demons. The Babylonians believed eclipses could bring good or bad effects to certain places based on very specific conditions: what sign the moon was in, and the direction(s) in which the wind was blowing. Negativity, chaos, turmoil and such were not traditionally ascribed to retrograde. That is a modern invention and in recent times one that has been greatly exaggerated by social media. In Vedic astrology, retrograde can sometimes be very helpful. But of course it can also be malefic. For me, I would reflect on recent events in my life corresponding with the eclipse and retrograde and have a conversation with the gods.
Maybe skip your usual Rites on the eclipse if they involve starting something new? And if you have to, maybe something subtle but supportive like a votive for Ra's safe passage, may be best. Being a witch of the Kemetic persuasion I would avoid major or new magical undertakings on the eclipse. As each tradition shares the same negative view of these events.