On Monday August 5, Mercury goes retrograde. It will start its retrograde in Virgo and move back into Leo, so this cycles comes with more opportunities than if it stayed in one sign the whole time.
Mercury retrogrades are like speed bumps in life. They are meant to slow us down and allow us to review, reflect upon and revise the way in which we approach the themes of the sign that is being traversed.
Mercury is the planet of communication and information processing. It is also involved with short trips. When is is retrograde, Mercury's energy is directed internally. It is generally not a time to push forward or stand firm. Usually there is some piece of information that is missing. I know many people who have signed contracts and gone on vacation during Mercury retrograde periods and were none the worse for wear. We are talking about energy expression here, not fated victimization.
Mercury starts its retrograde at 4 degrees of Virgo. On August 15, it reenters Leo, where it will finish its retrograde cycle on August 21 at 21 degrees of Leo. Virgo is the mutable earth sign, concerned with being of service. It is detail oriented and wants to make things more efficient and effective. Because it is a mutable sign, it takes more of a systems approach. Virgo is great at organizing and identifying which piece of the puzzle is not quite fitting. In fact, it's Virgo's super power - making things run more smoothly. The benefit if this is it frees up time. Virgo truly dislikes wasting resources.
For the initial phase of this retrograde cycle, consider how you can streamline the way in which you approach and tackle tasks. In its lower expression, Virgo energy is critical and anxiety ridden that it might miss some key piece of information and make a mistake. It can become so focused on making things perfect that it becomes overwhelmed by all the details to manage and ultimately is exhausted and often plagued with analysis paralysis.
Consider if you are falling into the trap of self judgement because of unrealistic expectations. Are you so worried about "getting it right" that you make yourself miserable and spend inordinate amounts of time anticipating all the things that could potentially go wrong? It is important to have a realistic appraisal of potential challenges, but micromanaging each situation is exhausting and ineffective. Does your critical voice hijack your focus? Are the concerns being raised realistic? Are you in a loop of tinkering endlessly and not actually completing the job? How can you streamline your to do list? You want to free up some time for when Mercury moves back into Leo. The emphasis on productivity will shift to the desire to have more fun.
Leo focuses on your leadership skills and personal power. Leo is here to shine. It is a fire sign, so its energy is warm and inviting. Leo has a lot of charisma; people enjoy being around Leo energy and vice versa. Lower expressions of Leo are the petty dictators who are easily offended. Because they are mistrustful of their power, they look for validation from external sources and can be quite demanding about receiving it. Fully realized Leo energy is comfortable with its own power and is not threatened by another's power. It is not here to compete or dominate. Leo knows each of us has inherent worth. Leo's light is not dimmed by being around others who are also shining their light. For Leo, the more the merrier.
As Mercury moves into Leo from Virgo, the focus shifts towards how you cultivate and extend your personal power. Are you comfortable with it? Do you trust yourself to show up for yourself? Is there a set of values you use to guide your life and your choices? Are they still relevant? Do you honor them with your actions? Do you find yourself denying parts of yourself to "get along" or have others feel more comfortable in your presence. It's time to stop that. The world is not served when you refuse to show up. Leo energy is self affirming, not self denying. Now is the time to try new ways of expressing yourself while appreciating how others express themselves.
Mercury will resume forward motion on August 28 and will leave its shadow on September 12. Of course it's always prudent to take the standard Mercury retrograde precautions of confirming appointments, double checking schedules, backing up data, building in extra time for travel and generally slowing down.
"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” ― Audre Lorde