Mercury Retrograde in Leo - Reworking Creative Projects

On July 17, 2025 Mercury stationed retrograde at 15 degrees of Leo. This current retrograde period will last until August 11, when Mercury will station direct at 4 degrees of Leo. Mercury retrogrades have become one of the more notorious astrological transits known to the general pubic. It has been blamed for all sorts of mix ups, accidents and blunders. But does it really deserve such a negative reputation? Some people have put plans to start new ventures or travel on hold, or have even refused to sign contracts during this time. Please know that you do not have to resort to such extreme measures and that Mercury retrogrades can be a positive and even productive time. 

Astro Codes Oracle

 

 Mercury retrogrades occur three times a year and last for about three weeks at a time. A retrograde is when a planet appears to move backwards in the sky. Of course the planet does not actually move backward. Rather, it is an optical illusion created by the fact that the Earth and the other planets are moving at different speeds, similar to when you pass a car on the highway and it appears to move backwards. Retrograde periods are a time for pause and reflection, a time to reassess the topics the retrograde planet covers. Mercury is about communication and travel, so when he goes retrograde, it can cause issues with communication, travel delays and breakages of communication equipment like phones and computers. This is Mercury's way of telling us to slow down and think before we speak and to review our plans. We may need to take another look at something or revisit the past before we move forward again.

This current Mercury retrograde is in the sign of Leo, a sign about creativity, self expression and leadership. This year all three Mercury retrogrades are in fire signs - Aries earlier this spring and Sagittarius in November. While all Mercury retrogrades can cause communication and travel issues, the sign the retrograde is in will set the tone for the retrograde. For the current retrograde, watch for drama in yourself or others causing misinformation, as Mercury in Leo can exaggerate or make things more dramatic than they are. Also watch for gossip and scandal as this is another way it can get expressed. If we are keeping a secret, we just might get outed now. Mercury retrograde in Leo can also be about travel issues around a summer vacation. Make sure to give yourself extra time, double check your tickets and be prepared that you may have to adjust plans. 

So how can you use this transit to your advantage? Mercury retrograde in Leo can be a great time to re-look at old creative projects. Do you have a draft for a novel that you put down and didn't finish? Now might be the time to pick it up again and see how it can be improved. Is there an old hobby that you abandoned? This can be a good time to re-look at some of the things we loved to do when we were kids and see if we can try our hand at it again. Mercury retrogrades in Leo can be a good time to reconnect with old friends. Is there someone you haven't seen in a long time but would love to get in touch with? Now is a great time to reconnect with someone, so don't be afraid to reach out. It's also a good time to travel to familiar vacation spots and places that hold fond summer memories. You never know what you might rediscover.

The key to any Mercury retrograde, no matter the sign, is to slow down and reassess things. In communication think before you speak, double check all written communication and ask for clarity from others. In travel give yourself lots of extra time and double check the details. We can't put our lives on hold for a three week transit, so don't sweat it if you have to take a trip or sign important papers, just pay more attention to the details. Remember that the retrograde helps us to re-look at things and revisit people and places. Sometimes we have to do things over to make it better than it was the first time around. 

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New Moon in Leo - Self Expression vs Conformity

 On Thursday July 24 we have a New Moon at 2 degrees of Leo. New Moons occur when the Sun and Moon are in the same sign and are a time of new beginnings. This is a great time to plant the seed of an idea or set a goal for the coming lunar cycle. As the Moon waxes to Full you should see your idea grow and start to beome a reality. Leo is a fire sign ruled by the Sun and is about self expression, creativity, leadership, the performing arts, children and generosity. This is a great New Moon for setting intentions around creative projects, taking on a leadership position, finding the courage to express yourself, or setting goals around children or childhood issues. 

Moonology Oracle

 

This New Moon forms a basket aspect with four of the outer planets, Pluto, Neptune, Uranus and Saturn. The Sun and Moon in Leo are opposite Pluto in Aquarius forming the top of the basket, and are sextile Uranus in Gemini and trine Neptune and Saturn in Aries, forming the base. This aspect is about the potential to hold something new and brings abundance and opportunity. The Sun and Moon in Leo are about self expression and creativity, and the opposition with Pluto in Aquarius is about the tension to conform with the group and the power of the collective or peer pressure. However we are supported in our creative expression by our personal dreams and spirituality (Neptune in Aries) and sense of self discipline (Saturn in Aries). This is further supported by Uranus in Gemini who brings fresh new ideas and innovative approaches. This New Moon is one in which we are being asked to have the courage to bring our creative ideas and dreams to light, even in the face of power structures or groups that would have us conform or be silent. Personal self expression can be both an act of resistance and courageous self empowerment.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is "A Woman Getting Her Hair Bobbed." When the Sabian Symbols were created in 1925, women cutting their hair was associated with youthful rebellion and freedom. It may seem nothing to us now, but back then, women cutting their hair and wearing shorter skirts was considered scandalous and pushed the boundaries of what was socially acceptable. It was part of a trend towards greater rights and freedoms for women and symbolized breaking away from traditional gendered expectations. This New Moon asks us to find ways to assert ourselves through creative self expression like fashion. It may seem like a trivial thing, but the way we dress sends signals to others about how much we conform or do not. It is important that we find ways to assert our individuality as it not only empowers us on an individual level, but gives others permission to do the same. And aren't we all better off when we are allowed to be ourselves rather than stifling who we are for the sake of conformity. 

 

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Saturn Conjunct Neptune - When Structures Dissolve

 This July we see one of the most important transits of the year, Saturn conjoining Neptune in the sign of Aries. The two planets will not from an exact conjunction until February 20, 2026, however from July 15 - 17 they will be only 1 degree apart. This is a very slow moving transit, so we are going to see its effect not only on these days. It is important to note that these two planets will be close to each other throughout 2024 - 2027, so these themes will be in play for a while. Saturn is the planet of rules, structures, boundaries and traditions, while Neptune is about dissolving boundaries, a sense of oneness, idealism, fantasy and delusion. When the two planets meet every 36 years, we often see structures and norms we took for granted dissolve and disappear. On a positive note, this can be about breaking something down in the hopes of building something new and better for the future. 

Astro Codes Oracle

 

The last time Saturn and Neptune were exactly conjunct was in 1989, although they were very close through 1988 - 1990. This cojunction was in the sign of Capricorn, which is about government, large organizations and literal walls. This conjunction saw the dissolving of the Iron Curtain and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It also led to the end of the Soviet Union, once one of the most powerful countries in the world, something that seemed impossible just a few short years before. Saturn and Neptune conjunctions often take us by surprise as what seemed so sturdy and solid (Saturn) just seems to vanish overnight (Neptune). Things end with a whimper, rather than a bang, and we are left to try to build something new out of the remnants. 

The time before that was in 1952 - 53, in the sign of Libra.  Libra is about balance, harmony, fairness, and diplomacy.  In 1953 Stalin died, changing the Soviet Union's leadership. Under Stalin millions of people died, due to his purges, campaigns of starvation and sending citizens to the gulag. His death in 1953 led to hope for change in the Soviet Union and more moderate leadership. After his death some of the citizen's rights, like women's rights, which had rolled back under Stalin, moved forward again. In China there was the end of the Korean War and the first of the 5 year plans, to try to industrialize the country. Both countries saw massive changes in how their society was organized. This was also the early stages of the Cold War with the world being divided between being allied with either the Soviet Union or the United States, between capitalism and communism. The world was divided between the two ends of the scales.

The one we are experiencing now, is in the sign of Aries, which is about independence, leadership, individuality and war. Structures that we took for granted will disappear, leaving us to have to potentially be more independent and self reliant. As Aries is about leadership and warrior energy, we may see prominent leaders either die, retire or be overthrown. We may also see armies dissolve or organizations that once seemed all powerful fragment and crumble. Often with Saturn Neptune conjunctions, these changes seem to come out of nowhere and things end in surprising ways. It's like what we once believed in so passionately and took for granted, suddenly we just don't anymore. 

The last time we had a Saturn Neptune conjunction in Aries was in 1702. That year saw the death of England's King William III and Queen Anne come to the throne. It was also start of the War of the Spanish Succession, in which England and the Dutch declared war against France and Spain. They were later that year joined by the Holy Roman Empire (Germany) in their war against the French and Spanish. This war featured several prominent naval battles, which makes me wonder if this theme will re-emerge again this time around. In North America the Queen Anne's War was fought (also known as the Second French Indian War). This was a war between the English and French along with their Indigenous allies. France and England were the two emerging super powers at the time, (Spain was in decline). This time around will we see declining super powers like the US and Russia, or emerging ones like China in conflict?

Its hard to say exactly how the Saturn Neptune conjunction will play out over the next few years. However I do expect some of the long standing structures and organizations we took for granted to disappear, or change drastically. I also expect that themes around independence, self reliance, self expression and leadership to be highlighted more. In each of our own lives it in important to look at the Aries part of your chart to see where outdated habits, structures or beliefs might need to be discarded and how you can become more independent and expressive. You are being asked to take the lead in this part of your life now and to dissolve what no longer serves you.

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Full Moon in Capricorn - Proving Your Worth

 On Thursday July 10 we have a Full Moon at 18 degrees of Capricorn. Full Moons occur when the Sun and Moon are in opposite signs and is the height of the lunar cycle. This can be a time of culmination of projects, an increase in activity and a time of heightened emotions as the Moon represents our subconscious and feelings. The Sun in Cancer has us focus on our internal world, the home and family connections. Cancer season can be a time to slow down and reflect on the past and our close relationships. The Full Moon in Capricorn reminds us to look at the material world and what we would like to achieve in that realm. What is it that we want to build, to attain and to accomplish, especially in a career or in the public eye. While connecting with our heart is important, we are reminded of the need to do practical things in the world too.

Moonology Oracle

 

This Full Moon does not have a lot of aspects to it, but it is being supported by a trine with Mars in Virgo. This lends a practical and pragmatic energy. Mars in Virgo likes to make lists, to break down a project into achievable goals and then cross each task off as it is achieved. The ambition of the Capricorn Moon combined with the will power and focused energy of Mars in Virgo means we can accomplish a lot if we get organized and start taking even small steps toward our goals. The only caveat is that Mars in Virgo can be critical and perfectionist. Try to remember that done is better than perfect, and to not be overly harsh with yourself or others now.

This Full Moon is also forming a t-square with Chiron in Aries. Chiron is about our wounds and how we can heal them. As squares are stressful aspects, this may represent a feeling of trying to accomplish things outwardly in order to repair or heal an emotional wound. We may feel that in order to be seen and valued (Chiron in Aries) we have to achieve something (Capricorn Moon). We mistake external validation for our own inward approval. The other end of the t-square is the Sun in Cancer, showing that we sometimes tone down our independence and unique identity (Chiron in Aries) to fit in with those around us (Sun in Cancer). There's nothing wrong with achieving things or belonging to a group, but we must also be ourselves without people pleasing or feeling we have to perform for approval.

The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon is "A Small Child With a Large Bag of Groceries". This symbol is about the desire to be helpful and contribute. When we were little we often wanted to show that we could do the things that the "grown ups" could do. We wanted to be a valuable member of the team and this sometimes resulted in us showing that we are more capable than we ourselves, or others thought, and sometimes resulted in us biting off more than we could chew. This again advises us that this Full Moon we can accomplish a lot, especially if we focus on service and break things down into more manageable tasks. Don't take on too much in an effort to prove yourself. Remember you are already worthy and valuable just as you are. 

If you would like more astrology, you can sign up for my free newsletter on my website. I also have detailed weekly astrology reports on my Patreon and you can book a personal reading on my Etsy shop.