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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