Mercury will begin its retrograde orbit in the sign of Virgo on August 12th and then move into Leo on the 31st and remain there until it turns direct on September 5th. Virgo works hard; it is driven to perfect the skills it acquires so that it may be of service to the whole. Having Mercury retrograde during Eclipse season is definitely a cautionary tale to slow down and not be in a hurry to act. It also means that more information is likely to be revealed when Mercury goes direct again.
Mercury is the natural ruler of Virgo (and Gemini) and its normal expression provides us with a discerning and analytical mental nature. Now that Mercury is in this sign, you have the golden opportunity to revisit areas where you might have rushed passed the fine print, finalize a rough draft or perhaps break through writer’s block. I have found in my many years of dealing with this period is not to dwell on what I can’t do, but focus on what I can. This mind-set relieves some of the frustration associated with the transit. I’m not saying it’s all smooth sailing, but it is certainly an improvement over beating my head against the immovable wall. And with all the effort you have put into the revisions you be assured that once Mercury turns direct whatever you're paying such remarkable attention to will shine.
Another point I’d like to make here is that Mercury affords an example of how far we’ve come in our life or maybe how far we still need to go. Bumping into the ex or other folks from another time and being reminded of a missed opportunity or the relief felt of a bullet well dodged is part of the process. Who are we now? Have we gone off in a direction that distances us from our heart’s desire or are we moving closer to it?
When Mercury moves into Leo at the end of August, it activates the eclipse (more on the eclipse will be forthcoming) degree 29º Leo. This is extremely significant as the last degrees of a sign are points of crisis energy. There can be some super Leo energy at that time. We may be desperate for attention, but refrain from doing anything rash to get it. And with Leo being a fire sign, energy can be high and tempers can flare, especially if our pride is wounded. The retrograde Mercury in Leo triggers passionate displays of expression that are sure to cause reactions from you and from others. This fiery planetary influence inspires more emotion behind words and thoughts, which inspires passionate responses, which in turn, ignites the airspace with electricity. Internalize your passion and release it through artistic mediums such as painting, writing, or music. Revisit an old creation that could use more time and attention then you previously allotted.