Mercury Retrograde and Latinas: What You Need to Know

astrologer La Bruja del 305 stands with tarot cards fanned in her hand in front of purple toned large sequined wall

The first Mercury retrograde of 2024 runs from April 1 to 25. Mercury entered its pre-retrograde shadow on March 18, so if you're already feeling a bit of the unanticipated chaos, that's the reason why. So how does this affect Latinas, who let's be honest, some tend to have a bit more chaos than others. Does the retrograde hit a little differently for Latinas? Luz Media caught up with Luz Community contributor Sisther Pravia to ask the clarifying questions we all need right now.


Let’s dive in.

LM: What is retrograde, exactly?

SP: It's when the planet appears to travel backward across the sky. This is an optical illusion caused by the position of Earth in relation to that of the planet since a planet in orbit always travels in one set direction and can’t suddenly reverse course.

LM: What's unique about this time?

SP: This period can cause confusion and uncertainty, but the retrograde can offer some insight. Just as we see the planet from a different point of view, the retrograde asks us to look at our journey the same way. When we see things differently, they become different. What in your life needs redirection?

LM: What are some best practices for people navigating this time?

SP: I always recommend the 3 C's: Cleanse your aura weekly, carry protection (like obsidian crystal), and cojelo suave. Overall best rule: be patient there's no need to rush into anything or anyone we're not ready for. Take this time to reflect and reassess.

LM: What should people know about retrograde? How often does it occur?

SP: Retrogrades invoke planets to do the opposite of their traits. Therefore since it’s in Mercury, the ruler of communication, technology, travel, and home it can disrupt these areas of our lives. So be mindful of your words, back up all your tech, plan to leave early so you're not late for work and possibly disrupt travel plans and make sure home is your safe space to relax. This transit occurs about 3-4 times a year.

LM: Are certain signs more impacted than others?

SP: Because Mercury rules Virgo they might feel it the hardest. On the contrary, people born during retrogrades are lucky and won't be affected by it.

LM: What is the impact of retrograde on the Latina community?

SP: The Latina community already puts so much hard work into building their dreams and doing the inner work to heal generational trauma that it means every retrograde, it's especially important to rest. What will help is to reevaluate your “how to become the first millionaire in the family game plan” or any other game-changing plans and meditate on the why.

LM: Do you have any specific guidance for Latinas managing retrograde? Suggestions on resting?

SP: Latinas can definitely manage this retrograde and live in peace. Mindful practices are important because this transit causes confusion, delays, and uncertainty.

For example, starting the day with an intentional morning routine can be a big game-changer. It's a righteous practice that says, "I come first," especially since Latinas' energy is asked off in so many directions (eldest child, 1st family graduate, financial provider, breaking cycles, healer, etc.). A morning routine can be like this: Wake up, stretch your arms up to the sky, and say, "Gracias divina vida." Next, step outside and take three deep breaths to ground yourself. Then come back in and try a guided meditation for 15 minutes. Finally, brew your cafe and nourish your body.

The same is true for the evening; you want to have a night routine to experience proper rest. The world can feel challenging for us today but don't let it tear you up. Come home and unplug from it all.

For instance, start by putting your phone on DO NO DISTURB. Next, run a hot shower/bath with some essential oil/herb like Eucalyptus. Then take time to journal. Here are some prompts I focus on "What’s one thing that went right today? What’s something you did today that you’re proud of? What’s one thing you can do tomorrow that your future self will thank you for?" Finally, when you're ready to sleep, listening to a sound bowl meditation will help you fall asleep with ease.

So again, take it easy, rest, and evaluate your journey rather than push yourself to work hard.


Sisther Pravia comes from a native Nicaraguan background. Born and raised in Miami, her ability to harness her inner magic through practices such as moon magic, tarot, astrology, yoga, meditation, sound healing, and more has led her to use her divine connection to counsel others. Dedicated to serving the Latino community, her specialty revolves around her healing practices.

You can learn more from Sisther at her website, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Nathalie Molina Niño has never been one to shy away from breaking barriers, and now, she’s focusing her attention on a new mission: demystifying corporate boardrooms for women, especially Latinas. Molina Niño is the President of Known, an asset management and financial services firm, a veteran tech entrepreneur and builder capitalist, and a board member at the iconic lingerie Brand, Hanky Panky, and others.

Like many corporate boards, Hanky Panky hadn’t publicly disclosed its board composition until recently. After the brand survived the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Molina Niño decided it was time for more women, specifically more Latinas, to know what it means to be on corporate boards.

Coincidentally, the decision to finally be more vocal about this topic aligned with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, which served as the perfect kick-off to the work.

"Something that rarely gets talked about and I think almost gets kept opaque by design is boards,” she explains in a recent Instagram announcement. “[This Latinx Heritage Month], that’s what I’ll be talking about.” Her goal? To equip more Latinas with the knowledge they need to navigate onto for-profit boards, where they can thrive and build multi-generational wealth.

For-profit corporate boards often feel like an exclusive club. And in many ways, they are, especially for Latinas, who hold the smallest percentage of board seats in Fortune 500 companies compared to other racial groups. According to the latest report from Latino Board Monitor, while Latinos hold 4.1% of these board seats (compared to 82.5% held by white people), only 1% go to Latinas. Molina Niño, a first-generation American of Ecuadorian and Colombian descent, is part of this boardroom minority.

When asked about her experience as a Latina board member during a recent Zoom interview, she said, “It’s been lonely. There’s not a lot of Latinas on boards.” She went on to explain that even serving on boards of Latina-founded businesses gets lonely because, “A lot of the times, people who serve on their boards represent their investors and, as a result, [...] you still don’t see a lot of Latinas on those boards.”

This lack of representation drives Molina Niño’s determination to increase Latina presence in corporate boardrooms. By sharing her insights, she hopes to give Latinas a roadmap to claim their seats at the table. “If you don’t know where to go, it’s impossible to figure out how to get there,” she says.

The Road to the Boardroom

Getting onto a for-profit corporate board isn’t an overnight achievement, but it’s not an unattainable dream either. People often think you need to be a CEO or have a certain type of background, but that’s one of the biggest myths about boards in Molina Niño’s experience. What they’re really looking for is expertise — whether that’s in finance, marketing, sustainability, or even technology. If you have that expertise, you’re already an asset. It’s simply a matter of which road you should take.

Understanding what boards are and how they operate is key to unlocking opportunities. For-profit boards serve as the governing body for companies, overseeing direction and financial stability, and guiding CEOs and executives in decision-making. But Molina Niño emphasizes that not all for-profit boards are created equal.

“There are two kinds [of for-profit boards] [...]. There’s the publicly traded business board and then, on the privately held side, there are, I would argue, two types of boards [...] the traditional business board and the venture-backed business board,” explains Molina Niño. Traditional businesses are often family-owned or long-established and may only form boards to meet requirements, like securing financing or transitioning through an ESOP. Venture-backed boards, on the other hand, are typically filled by investors who hold major stakes in the company.

According to Molina Niño, understanding the difference between them is how you can create a successful strategy. With publicly traded business boards, the whole world is privy to them, so, “The way that you get in there is a little bit more transparent. Sometimes those publicly traded companies will hire a recruiter to help them find new board members,” explains Molina Niño. For private companies, on the other hand, there’s no legal requirement to make announcements. As a result, most people don’t know anything about them or their inner workings.

“Usually what happens in traditional businesses that don’t have venture-capital investments is that the Founders, Executives, or the board members, if one existed already, they usually go to their friends,” and people they deem experienced to fill board seats. In other words, it’s the founder’s decision, and that’s an entirely different approach than hiring recruiters. When it comes to venture-backed business boards, the seats on the board are filled by whichever investor writes the biggest check.

This is why an understanding of the different types of boards and acknowledgment of their own strengths is what will help Latinas define a sound strategy. Whether that’s working with a recruiter, networking and connecting with founders to build trust, or making the biggest investment.

The Path for Latinas

For Molina Niño, the key to getting more Latinas into corporate boardrooms is education. Knowing what a board looks like and how it functions is how you can position yourself to get on it. In openly talking about this, without the mystique it’s usually shrouded in, Molina Niño is providing women, especially Latinas, with invaluable insights. “If we had Latinas understanding what are the three types of for-profit boards I think that, on their own, they would be able to figure out what their best chance is and adjust their careers to make themselves more competitive,” states Molina Niño.

When asked about the impact of increased Latina representation in boardrooms, Molina Niño flips the narrative. “Boards don’t help Latinas by offering them seats; Latinas help businesses thrive by being on their boards,” she says. “The whole point of sitting on a board is that you have experience and expertise, and as Latinas, you also have some cultural experience that everyone wants. [...] At the end of the day, we [Latinas] have to realize that we have a ton to offer and we have to be selective about where we put that expertise,” she explains.

As demand for access to the Latina consumer rises, Molina Niño predicts that more Latinas will find themselves recruited into boardrooms. But she’s not content to sit back and wait for that moment. By openly sharing her journey and insights, she’s making sure other Latinas know their worth and have the tools to claim their place at the table. “I realized that quietly being on boards that helped me personally is not helping other Latinas. [...] I was lucky enough to have friends who could advise me and share their experiences, so that’s why I’m doing this,” she stated.

With Hispanic Heritage Month as the backdrop, Nathalie Molina Niño’s mission is clear: “My goal is just to give Latinas enough information so they can make a plan for how to eventually get on a board that they’re paid to be on and that will eventually help them build generational wealth.”

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