Lessons from Mercury

IRL examples to help you ground into the energy

The vibe is changing.

Not just here, or in the outside world, but with you. Are you feeling a little less serious and a little more experimental? Is there a way you could cultivate that energy?

Mercury has stationed retrograde in Leo, which I find to be a deeply unserious sign. (This isn’t about Leos NOT engaging in serious endeavors, but instead about the energy of Leo as a whole). Leo loves to shake out its mane and slide into center stage.

OK, so here’s the thing with Mercury, and why it gets so much attention every time it stations retrograde: it impacts the way we communicate, interact with each other, and our short-distance travel (think: the ways you get around day-to-day). And so when it slows down and retrogrades, it pulls your attention to what is breaking down and what needs your focus.

So for you, where Leo falls in your chart is where you lead. Leo is ruled by the sun, which is the ego, the fire, and the very center spark of you. It is, in turn, ruled by the zodiac sign and house that your sun is in. Without getting too far into the weeds, to get a sense for what you’ll be looking at the next few weeks, look for what house Leo is in for you, and also consider the themes of the sign and house where your sun lives.

How Mercury retro-rolled me

Given the context, I am NOT AT ALL shocked that while I traveled an hour and a half to see Kesha and the Scissor Sisters last week that my car got something attached to its tired that gave me a flat (in wall-to-wall traffic). The next day, I spent around 7 hours at my parents’ place waiting for a repair that took 10 minutes to complete.

When I arrived at the repair shop, the tire had actually flattened again, because the (very busy) mechanic team didn’t check their work. (Here’s a reminder to all of us—that taking your time saves times.) Second time’s a charm, and around 6pm, I was on my way home. To me, this was all the elements of a perfect Mercury storm, demanding my time and patience.

IRL lessons from Mercury

Here are some IRL retro-rolls.

1. Don’t text your ex (or at least wait until it’s over)

Essays and ESSAYS have been written about “Silver Springs,” and through it how Stevie Nicks bound herself to Lindsey Buckingham for life. These two just posted coordinating lyrics to Instagram within the shadow of the retrograde. Whether this is a tease that takes advantage of the rapt attention upon it or some peek into the past, now’s not the time.

I mean, do what you want, but it speaks to a fleeting rekindling. It’s nothing that sticks around, or, maybe it does in a way you didn’t expect. Honestly makes wonder if the breakup/makeup cycles of my past would match up with retrogrades, but alas, it’s too far in the past. If this is or has been the case for you, I wanna know.

2. Don’t launch a big project, unless you want to do it twice

Twice might be what the project needs, but re-doing your work is never fun. The Astrology Podcast just released this fascinating episode about the first Back to the Future and how the project began under a Mercury retrograde in Aries with a different Marty McFly than the portrayal that we all know and love by Michael J. Fox. Much of the movie had to be re-shot after the cast change (and after Mercury stationed direct), but it all fell into place.

In this go round, wait until after August 11 to make your mark. You can absolutely prep your work, but double/triple check and be patient.

3. Be messy, or don’t be messy, but know that the truth will reveal itself soon enough

The Coldplay concert heard ‘round the world revealed something (by modern technology, mind you) that wasn’t supposed to be seen. Calling this messy is an understatement.

The lesson here is to know that your results aren’t going to be perfect. Creative projects? Try things out and make a mess. It through mistakes that we see unexpected results. If you’re keeping something under wraps, don’t running your mouth about it right now.