When: August 4th – 28th, 2024
What: Mercury retrograde in Virgo and Leo
Takeaway: When Mercury appears to reverse course in the sky, tech glitches and miscommunications abound. This particular backtrack begins in meticulous Virgo and then rewinds into showboating Leo. This transit reminds us that when we refine the ways that we share our creative gifts with the world, we attract our ideal audiences.
Revisit and revise the details as Mercury stations retrograde
Mercury stations retrograde in practical Virgo on August 4th. When the messenger planet appears to zip backward in the sky, it tends to correspond to mixed messages, forgotten appointments, and fried hard drives here on Earth. But as far as retrogrades go, this one begins on a smoother note than most, since Virgo is a dignified placement for Mercury. In this mutable earth sign, the planet of ideas and communication has robust access to its analytical strengths. Though minor scheduling chaos and misconstrued text messages can never be ruled out during a retrograde, there’s generally less friction (and fewer dropped calls) when Mercury is supported in its essential nature.
Still, Virgo’s eagle eye for mistakes could cause small flaws to appear magnified during this period. But that zoomed-in lens can be a gift if you treat it as such. When imperfections seem more glaring than usual, they motivate us to spend extra time troubleshooting potential problems, editing with a fine-tooth comb, and/or polishing our ideas until they shine. These same details can trip us up if we neglect them, though. So use this time to zero in on the footnotes and fine print of all your endeavors, and be as precise as you can in your exchanges with others.
Double-checking information during a Mercury retrograde is never a bad idea. Confirming that your punctuation marks are in the right places could be the difference between your email making positive waves or getting lost in translation.
Recover lost inspirations from your inner child
Mercury swaps its reading glasses and bulleted lists for flashy costumes and not-so-humble brags when it backtracks into Leo on August 14th. Take this stretch as an opportunity to go back to the vision board and rework the ways you strategize and share your creative gifts with the world. This is an ideal moment for decluttering your paint sets, workshopping potential stage names, or reclaiming a hidden talent or forgotten childhood hobby. Regardless of what you get up to, pay special attention to the ways you do or do not center yourself in your conversations with others. Whether you’re hogging the mic or downplaying your gifts, adjust the metaphorical stage lights accordingly.
The cazimi: lights, camera, revelation
You have an opportunity to rewire any naysaying beliefs you hold about the value of your artistic gifts on August 18th. On this date, Mercury and the Sun come together in an event called a cazimi. During a cazimi, Sol’s rays cleanse the Mercurial themes in our lives, burning through confusion and illuminating clarity. Because this celestial purification is happening in the sign of the performer, stay alert for revelations about your relationship to your self-expression — and anything blocking the most glorious version of it.
A key lesson to be learned during this transit, which is highlighted during Mercury’s cazimi: Your creative worth isn’t determined by the accolades you do or do not receive. Your creations don’t all need to go viral or win prizes to matter. When you give yourself permission to boldly pursue your inspirations, you regain your organic vitality, radiance, and sense of playfulness. That’s its own reward. (If you don’t know where to start, might we suggest taping encouraging affirmations to your mirror, lighting a candle for Mercury, or performing shower karaoke to roaring imaginary applause?)
Your Mercury retrograde survival guide
While offering your gifts to a receptive audience opens the door to satisfaction, during this retrograde period, it’s more than fine to stay in rehearsal mode. You’ll know when you’re ready for the stage. In the meantime, here are a few tips for navigating this period as smoothly as possible:
Do…
- Expect delays. Schedule buffer time for everything. When things do go smoothly, you’ll have room to relax. And when they don’t, you’ll be grateful to have plans B and C.
- Back up your files. Emails, photos — all of it. Get ahead of potential technology glitches. (Your future self will thank you.)
- Reflect, edit, organize, review, and take note of anything you repetitively think about during this period. There is meaning in what you keep circling back to.
- Return to abandoned creative projects, hobbies, and/or forms of play you loved as a child. Even if your efforts seem slow or imperfect, honoring your inspirations in any way, shape, or form quiets your inner critic.
- Affirm the value of your artistic gifts and talents. Imposter syndrome and self-doubt are only as strong as you allow them to be.
- Laugh at yourself when you make obvious mistakes. The point of this transit is to keep you humble and open to learning.
- Listen to the Astrology of the Week Ahead podcast and Your Reading in the “This Week” section of the CHANI app. There, you’ll also find journal prompts and other resources to help you work with Mercury’s lessons this retrograde season.
- Check the Transits tab in the CHANI app to discover if and how Mercury’s movements are impacting your natal placements. You can also read your free Current Sky horoscope for Mercury in Virgo to learn how your rising sign will be affected during this time.
Don’t…
- Fear Mercury retrograde. It may be annoying, but remember that worrying is simply focusing on what you don’t want. Instead, treat this period as an opportunity to reassess your strategies.
- Let the uncertainty of this period dampen your enthusiasm or curtail your courage. You can still make bold moves behind the scenes. Allow the knowledge of what’s not working to embolden your pivots, course corrections, and system upgrades.
- Buy tickets, sign contracts, or plan events during this time, if you can avoid it. If you can’t, stay flexible. Assume that adjustments may be needed after the retrograde cycle is over — and maybe even during it.
- Plan for important launches or make major changes to the way you do things during this period if you can help it — unless you time them for the Mercury cazimi on August 18th. (That said, you may still want to work with an astrologer to pinpoint the most fruitful moment possible.)
- Put your life on hold. There are some things you should put off if you can, but otherwise, just make room for hiccups. Again, you shouldn’t fear this moment — just be wise to it.
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