Mercury Retrograde in Leo

From July 17th through August 11th, 2025, Mercury will be retrograde in Leo. This isn’t a rare phenomenon. On average, Mercury retrogrades three times a year. So why has this transit become so popular? Just like knowing your star sign is mainstream because people resonate with the core values represented by their Sun sign, Mercury retrograde has grown in public recognition because people experience some of the themes that are associated with this transit.

If you have been looking up at Mercury the past few weeks, you will have noticed that it has been losing speed. On July 17th, Mercury will have appeared to be stalled. As the days progress, you will see it moving backward; however, that is merely an optical illusion that occurs when the Earth, moving in its own orbit, laps Mercury, which orbits closer to the Sun and moves faster. Imagine it like this. You're in a car (Earth) on the highway. Mercury is in the lane closer to the center (the Sun) and normally zooms ahead. But at a certain point, Earth catches up and passes Mercury. As you pass it, Mercury appears to move backward against the background of the stars, just like a car seems to move backward as you pass it, even though it's still moving forward in its lane. So, although Mercury isn’t really moving backward, its appearance serves as a mirror of what we’re being invited to do.

Just like Mercury slows down, stalls, and goes in “reverse,” that is the intention for the next 3 weeks. During Mercury retrograde, you’re being invited to slow down and go inward. In astrology, Mercury is the planet that symbolizes the mind, how we receive and transmit data, and how we communicate, amongst other things. When it is moving “direct,” things are business as usual, but when it is moving “backward,” Mercury’s themes aren’t operating at its “normal” speed; we’re not able to process information as easily, there can be miscommunication, and hiccups can throw off our plans. This is why it’s important to be mindful about how you move through the world during Mercury retrograde, so you can minimize frustration, overwhelm, and exhaustion. Ideally, you can capitalize on this period, which is to rest, recover, review, reflect, and recalibrate.

Did you notice that the words I chose to describe what Mercury retrogrades are best for all start with the letters RE? That’s a good rule of thumb when navigating through this transit because Mercury REtrograde is REversing, REtracing its steps, and it is REturning to the past. In the same token, it’s inviting you to do the same.

Here are some general Mercury retrograde themes to watch out for:

• Car issues

• People rainchecking

• Travel setbacks

• People from the past are trying to come back into your life

• Technology frustrations

• Impulsive decisions that you later regret

• Miscommunication

• Missing important information

I know most of you already believe in astrology, but let’s say you didn’t. I always like to remind my clients that I’m not a fortune teller and can’t predict the actualities of your biographical life. I believe you have the free will and power to decide what decisions you make. What I can predict are the possibilities that will arise for you. My job is to help you understand your treasure map (represented by your birth chart and also your transits and progressions) so that you know what it looks like when you’re going down the shadow path and the higher road.

The reason why Mercury retrograde has become almost just as popular as knowing your big 3 is because people have experienced some of the general themes I associated with this transit. Don’t take it from me; experience it for yourself. Over the course of this transit, if you find yourself exhausted, confused, or plans not going according to plan, then you will have felt Mercury retrograde’s presence.

Whatever Mercury retrograde experience you find yourself in, the higher road would be to first remember that you’re in the middle of this transit, and it is happening to remind you to take a deep breath, surrender, and laugh it off. When you’re rushing things, being impulsive, or not being present, Mercury retrograde can present one of its tricks up its sleeve. Not because it’s mischievous and wants to see you suffer, but because it is trying to send a message to slow down and be present.

Here are some helpful tips during Mercury retrograde:

• Stay on top of your travel plans (making sure you have the right date and time)

• Give yourself extra time when traveling

• Proofread important emails or messages

• Back up important information if updating your computer or phone software

• If an ex or someone from the past is trying to come back into your life, ask yourself if it is a healthy choice to let them back in or if you should instill a boundary

• Be extremely cautious about buying big purchases (like a house, computer, car, expensive purse), because you might miss the fine print, have issues that you will later have to return, or just get over the item quickly

How About Mercury Retrograde in Leo 

So far, I’ve covered what Mercury retrograde periods are all about, no matter what sign it is in. But what does it mean when it is occurring in the sign of the Lion? If Mercury retrograde signifies a time of reflection, then when it is happening in Leo, you’re being invited to reflect on how authentically you have been expressing yourself. Are you speaking from the heart, or are you just you putting on a show to keep up a false image of yourself? 

Leo’s evolutionary goal is to develop its personality to its fullest expression. The key with Leo, however, is whether it is expressing itself authentically. Leo thrives on receiving recognition from its audience, but if it's just to garner attention for attention's sake, then that’s when Leo misses the point. Leo can get in trouble by getting applause for making loud noises. In other words, inauthentically expressing itself to feed the ego. So, Leo must learn to create, speak, and perform from the heart. In the words of Steven Forrest, “If you don’t have butterflies in your tummy, it doesn’t count.”

If you’ve been having challenges with your creativity, then this is a time to address some of those blockages. Since this isn’t the most auspicious time to initiate new projects, a productive choice could be returning to an old creative project or hobby. Some people get it confused and think they need to wait for the muse to be creative. You never know when lightning is going to strike, so you need to show up regularly to capture it when it arrives. If you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready! But sometimes you’re not feeling your best when you show up to your blank canvas or your desk. In that case, change your frequency, and in Leo fashion, dance it out! Be audacious about it. Be performative about it. Be silly about it. Honor that inner child of yours and have some fun with it. If you didn’t know by now, dancing is a cheat code on how to change your energy.

For the next three weeks, find yourself thinking about whether what you're saying is an honest representation of who you are. Mercury is the planet of communication, which means that we express ourselves beyond what comes out of our mouths. We also communicate with how we dress, how we act, and the choices we make. Therefore, we’re currently being provided with the opportunity to recalibrate to be a more genuine version of ourselves.