Mercury clowning around in Leo
Tonight July 17, the messenger, the trickster, the psychopomp will turn around in the Leo sky and retrace its steps, from 15 degrees back to 4 degrees. This is the infamous Mercury Retrograde. What will it mean for you?
Mercury stays close to the Sun, and so it goes retrograde three or four times per year. This backwards motion is only an optical illusion, yet it is known to wreak mischief – or worse – on people and systems. It means the planet of communication, logic, and technology appears confused or uncertain, and this often results in delays or mishaps with your digital world and your thought process. It literally goes back to where it was a few weeks ago to re-assess what it did.
And indeed, the “re” words are usually all applicable to this time. It’s when we rewrite, reword, rethink, redo, and review something that’s already occurred.
Sometimes in its retracing, Mercury will go back to the previous sign, but this time it will pull focus on Leo. Mercury in Leo in general wants to perform and be funny, and it can manifest as buffoonery – ridiculous, clownish, amusing. So imagine the antics that might occur when it’s confused!
If Leo is prominent in your natal chart (Leo Ascendant, Sun, Moon or other planet), you might feel this more. Consider also which house belongs to Leo in your natal chart. This is the area of life that could be affected. Your Sun sign too, might also be affected, since your Sun is overseeing Leo, where all the shenanigans will take place.
It is said to back up your hard drive, or refrain from signing contracts during this time – or at least to be extra careful with these types of things. Are you planning a trip? Beware of flight delays or cancellations, for example.
Traditionally, Mercury rules the signs Virgo and Gemini. Locate these in your natal chart and pay attention to any disruptions in these areas. Mercury is responsible for overseeing their operations, and it won’t be able to make up its mind until August 11, when it completes the retrograde process.
In the middle of it all is the moment of the cazimi, when Mercury has its inferior conjunction with the Sun (when it is between the Sun and Earth). In this moment we often experience a sudden sense of clarity or insight, so pay attention to July 31 for something mentally illuminating.
An important component of this retrograde cycle to keep in mind is Pluto. Pluto is the heaving-hitting planet of the Underworld representing power, secrets, transformation, death and rebirth. It could be called our collective shadow. Pluto is sitting at 2 degrees Aquarius, which has been and will be opposing Mercury the whole time. To say this will add some tension, heaviness, and high stakes is putting it lightly.
In a natal chart, this signature can proffer a compulsion or paranoia to know the truth, a probing intensity, especially in the context of authority or power. Mercury will not revisit its exact opposition with Pluto during this retrograde, but it will come quite close – within 2 degrees.
This opposition occurred on June 28, and though our skies will look quite different in August, just be aware that this date featured such displays of subversive power as Israel invading Gaza and the (banned) Hungarian Pride march.
This time when Mercury gets close to opposing Pluto, we will have other things to contend with – like Mars newly in Libra, opposing Saturn and Neptune in Aries. We can only hope that the “re” words of the retrograde will not include “wreak havoc” (or the horror movie “re-re-re”)!
