Ohh that’s a good one! I like Elite Shungite, I also find Pyrite good for sheilding I wear it as a pendant most days. 
Good old Mercury! Sends me bananas! I wrote another post on Mercury Retrograde a while back, heres the link 
October 13 to November 3 is the next Mercury: The pre-retrograde shadow begins September 23, post-retrograde shadow ends November 19.
This retrograde will be in Scorpio, so anyone with Sun, Moon or Rising maybe more effected, on the whole this retrograde will probably make us all feel a bit more nostalgic and sentimental.
I’ve just noticed aswell- Mercury goes direct 3rd November, which is election day for Americans right? Interesting!