Mercury Retrograde in Leo: July 17–August 11
Mercury turned retrograde in Leo on Saturday, July 17, and will stay there until August 10. Usually, we brace for the start of Mercury retrograde, the delays, tech issues, and communication breakdowns. But this time, the ending might be what stings most. Why? Because while Mercury prepares to station direct, it does so opposite Pluto in Aquarius.
Mundane World:
This retrograde is lighting up tensions around leadership, media, and national identity. Leo rules visibility and legacy, expect people in power to be forced into uncomfortable clarity. Think: gaffes from major figures, exposed communications, ego-driven errors. Mercury in Leo doesn’t whisper. It performs.
From August 4-11, Mercury will oppose Pluto retrograde in Aquarius while Mars opposes Saturn in Aries. That is not soft. That’s a power struggle over speech, surveillance, and control of information. Whistleblowers, leaked emails, censorship debates, and corporate silencing tactics are likely to escalate. Watch for:
Aggressive moves from governments or tech giants
Crisis communication failures from major companies
News anchors, celebrities, or influencers being “called out” or going off-script in ways that backfire
Pop Culture:
Retrograde Mercury in Leo loves a dramatic comeback or meltdown. Expect retracted statements, surprise returns, and artists revisiting unfinished projects. But don’t expect smooth delivery. The Mars-Venus square through late July adds sexual tension, creative friction, and relationship drama to the mix. The New Moon in Leo (July 24) followed by the Mercury/Moon conjunction (July 25) could mark a moment when someone “tells all,” only to regret it a few days later.
By the end of the retrograde, we’re watching celebrity contracts implode, unexpected reunions or breakups, and shocking statements made under pressure. The Mercury cazimi on July 31 offers a brief window of clarity before we descend into a final week of public fallout. The opposition to Pluto? That’s secrets ripped into the open, power plays made visible, and the beginning of a much bigger narrative unraveling.
Personal Lives:
This Mercury retrograde pushes you to revisit how you speak, create, and take up space. Leo is about presence. Retrograde Mercury in Leo asks: Is your message really yours, or are you performing what you think others want? The New Moon on July 24 helps you plant new intentions around self-expression, but the conjunction with Mercury the next day may reveal a misstep or an important truth you weren’t ready to voice before.
The first half (through July 31) is more about reflection. After the cazimi, the second half turns more external. August 4-11 brings a collision course: Mercury opposite Pluto forces uncomfortable conversations, revelations, and finality. Meanwhile, Mars in Libra opposing Saturn and Neptune in Aries activates frustration in partnerships and creative collaborations.
This isn’t a smooth fade-out. The retrograde ends, but the tension doesn’t. If anything, it magnifies. So even though Mercury will station direct August 10, don’t expect immediate relief.
Aries Rising
Mercury is retrograding in your 5th house. This pulls back the curtain on creativity, sex, joy, and kids. You're reviewing what you thought was fun but might now feel forced. The opposition to Pluto in your 11th says: group dynamics are shifting. Maybe your audience has changed. Maybe the people around you don’t reflect your values anymore. Mars in your 6th squaring Venus in your 2nd = money stress meets burnout. Watch your workload and your wallet.
Taurus Rising
Your 4th house is the stage: home, family, roots. Something is stirring there that won’t stay under the surface. Mercury’s retrograde here pokes at old family dynamics or unfinished house-related issues. The Pluto opposition in your 10th means whatever’s private could suddenly go public. Professional reputation tied to personal matters? Tread carefully. Mars in your 5th squaring Venus in the 2nd: tension between your pleasures and your spending.
Gemini Rising
Mercury retrograde is in your 3rd house - communication, siblings, local community. Something you said (or didn’t say) is coming back around. Pluto in the 9th throws pressure from above: authority, legality, education. You might be caught between needing to speak up and fearing the consequences. Mars in your 4th vs. Venus in your 1st says: family is testing your peace. Respond with clarity, not chaos.
Cancer Rising
Money talk. Mercury is retrograding in your 2nd house. You’re reviewing value: financial, personal, emotional. What do you really want to invest in? Pluto in the 8th brings external pressure- debts, joint accounts, taxes. This isn't just about what you have, it's what you're entangled in. Mars in your 3rd squaring Venus in the 12th could bring hidden frustrations into daylight. Don’t let old patterns rule your voice.
Leo Rising
It’s all in your 1st house. You’re the story, and Mercury retrograde wants edits. You’re seeing how people perceive you and what they misunderstood. The Pluto opposition in your 7th? Others are pushing back. Partnerships, contracts, or rivals are demanding your attention. Mars in your 2nd vs. Venus in the 11th = money fights meet social friction. Know who’s in your corner before spending energy.
Virgo Rising
Mercury is retrograding in your 12th. It’s quiet, but sharp. This is the kind of retrograde where you lose sleep, overthink, or suddenly remember something that haunts you. Pluto in the 6th brings real-world consequences: work, health, responsibility. Mars in your 1st and Venus in the 10th? You want control, but your career or reputation might be softening that edge. Let tension inform you, not define you.
Libra Rising
Mercury retrograde in your 11th = friend groups, collaborators, and your wider social vision are up for review. Who’s helping? Who’s holding you back? The Pluto opposition in your 5th shows where power struggles with creativity, dating, or children are emerging. Mars in your 12th vs. Venus in the 9th could expose resentment you’ve buried, maybe toward a mentor, teacher, or belief system. Expect confrontation where you’ve avoided clarity.
Scorpio Rising
Your 10th house is where Mercury is retracing. This retrograde hits your career, public roles, and long-term ambitions. What’s working and what’s performative? Pluto in your 4th drags private matters into the spotlight. This is about legacy and how personal choices bleed into public image. Mars in the 11th vs. Venus in the 8th = tension between your ambitions and what you owe others. Be strategic, not impulsive.
Sagittarius Rising
Mercury’s retrograde in your 9th - travel, legal matters, publishing, teaching. Old plans or applications may resurface. But the opposition to Pluto in the 3rd makes this a battle between theory and reality. Don’t just talk big. Make it tangible. Mars in the 10th and Venus in the 7th means tension in professional partnerships or with authority figures. If someone’s talking over you, speak louder, but smarter.
Capricorn Rising
Your 8th house is getting the Mercury retrograde. It’s uncomfortable territory: shared resources, death, power, sex, and trust. Old financial or emotional entanglements return. Pluto in the 2nd house calls out how your values are being compromised. Mars in the 9th and Venus in the 6th brings tension between your beliefs and your duties. Your worldview is shifting, but don’t throw your routine out the window.
Aquarius Rising
Your 7th house is where Mercury turns back. This is about others: relationships, contracts, enemies. Something unsaid returns for reckoning. The opposition to Pluto in your 1st means it affects you, personally and visibly. Mars in your 8th and Venus in the 5th = tension between intimacy and pleasure. You may need to get honest about what you're offering and what you're demanding.
Pisces Rising
Mercury is retrograde in your 6th - work, health, routines, service. It's all under review. Something’s not working and needs restructuring. Pluto in the 12th brings consequences from behind the scenes. You may uncover sabotage. It could be your own or someone else’s. Mars in your 7th squaring Venus in the 4th? Conflict at home plays out in your closest partnerships. This is personal. Address what’s been unspoken.
