Astrology by Lisa Stardust

This summer’s Mercury retrograde begins on July 17th at 9:45 PM PT and July 18 at 12:45 AM ET and ends on August 11 in dramatic Leo. During this time, we will be forced to embrace our secret and clandestine actions — or fall back on old desires. Embracing the taboo is essential now, as we can dive deep within and find the courage to address and assert our passions for the next few weeks.

Power can be an aphrodisiac, as the Leo energy tends to be attracted to those who are infamous or successful. But now we use our authoritative energy to attract others we deem equals (and vice versa). The only caveat is that old relationship issues may resurface in a battle of control. Pro tip: Take the drama with your S.O./crush to the bedroom and allow each other to take turns taking the lead between the sheets.

Mercury retrograde in Leo urges us to re-evaluate what our hearts need and want. Meditate on what and who makes you happy to assist in the process. This is a moment of reflection and contemplation — but we’ll have our passionate disputes because Leo loves theatrics.

As usual with Mercury retrograde, be careful in your wording and think about the context before sending a text. Arguments over misinterpretation is a common tendency at this time, so be mindful of your tonality. Travel delays, tech issues, and past emotions coming out are common. The only thing that matters is how you choose to deal with the situation. Go with the flow and do not overreact. Most problems are correctible — just blame the retrograde.

Important Dates:

June 30 to July 18: Mercury’s pre-shadow starts the story that we’ll be dealing with during the retrograde.

July 18: Mercury retrograde commences in Leo.

July 31: Mercury retrograde and the Sun connect in Leo, creating “cazimi,” a powerful aspect that energizes the communication planet. This is a prime time to make plans, travel, and sign contracts.

August 11: Mercury retrograde in Leo ends.

August 11 to 25: The post-shadow phase, known as retroshade, allows us to work through miscommunications and other drama from the retrograde. Mercury might be moving forward, but it’s retracing the degrees from the retrograde to bring us clarity.

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Don’t let this retrograde drag you. Learn how to work with it, not against it.