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Killing the Ego: What to Expect When Mercury Goes Retrograde this July

On Sunday, July 7th, Mercury will go retrograde at 4 degrees Leo, before heading backwards into the sign of Cancer, where it will station direct at 23'56 degrees on Wednesday July 31st. Here's what to expect, both in general and for your sign.

By Kaitlyn MauraPublished 5 years ago 14 min read
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On Sunday, July 7th, Mercury will go retrograde at 4 degrees Leo, before heading backwards into the sign of Cancer, where it will station direct at 23'56 degrees on Wednesday July 31st. Here's what to expect, both in general and for your sign.

What is Mercury in Retrograde?

A retrograde planet is one that appears to be moving in the opposite direction. Astrologically, this means that the energies represented by the planet are directed backwards or inward.

Retrograde periods are often riddled with delays and disruption, but they don't have to be. These periods are not so much a time for action, but a time for reflection. Retrograde periods are also loaded with synchronicity and karma.

So, they can also be periods of magic and manifestation if you just focus within rather than without. Things from the past will return to us. This could be people from our past, including from our past lives, situations, or memories that we thought we had forgotten about, or maybe just lessons that we're getting a second chance at learning after having failed the first time around.

And what kind of energy does Mercury represent?

Mercury is the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology. Like Venus, Mercury is a social planet, but unlike Venus, which is more about intimate relationships, Mercury is more about communication in general. This includes letters, emails, and even divination.

Mercury is also associated with commerce, travelers, and in astrology, it represents the mind (especially the logical mind), intelligence, and the way we think. Look out though: known for its speed and swiftness, Mercury is also the trickster god, associated with both tricksters and thieves.

Ruled by the mutable signs, Virgo (the virgin) and Gemini (the twins), there is a dualistic nature to the planet, that gave birth to the word "mercurial," (meaning unpredictable or changeable).

It makes sense then that Mercury would travel between two worlds, being the only Olympic god with the ability to travel between the realm of the gods, and the realm of the underworld, where his job was to accompany souls on their journey to Hades.

As the planet closest to the Sun, and also the planet with the fastest orbit, Mercury goes retrograde about three or four times a year, for periods of about three weeks. Mercury in retrograde periods are generally riddled with delays and mishaps around communication, travel, and technology.

For example, your flight might be inconveniently delayed, or your computer may freeze at the most inconvenient time. To use my own life as an example, just about every time Mercury is in retrograde, my phone charger breaks.

Miscommunications and misunderstandings are common during this time, so try to be as clear as you possibly can when speaking to others, and avoid making assumptions. Astrologers generally advise that you avoid signing any major contracts during this period, for it may backfire on you once Mercury goes direct.

These periods are often loaded with unexpected, unplanned, and seemingly inconvenient events that will make you think of Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

It really isn't as bad as it sounds, however. Honestly, it really isn't as bad as people make it out to be, and this period also comes with numerous advantages. While Mercury direct represents the logical mind, Mercury retrograde represents the intuitive mind. As the messenger of the gods, its retrograde period is probably the best time for divination. These periods are also often loaded with tons of strange coincidences and synchronicities. There may be messages in your dreams, including messages from ancestors or guardian angels.

To some extent, this is true of every planet in retrograde, but in my experience, it's more true with Mercury than with any other, given its nature. The "unexpected" and "unplanned," events mentioned in the last paragraph are not always "inconvenient." More often than not, you'll find that these events are serendipitous and wonderfully fated, presenting you with opportunities of good luck, like being at the right place at the right time. As I said, Mercury is a very dualistic and tricky planet.

You just need to know how to work with it. If you believe in the law of attraction, or other forms of manifestation, this is a better time than ever to take advantage of it. Even without the magic and the metaphysical, however, this is a good time to reflect on things; the kind of deep thought, reflection, and consideration necessary to yield powerful ideas and insights, insights that you can put into practice once Mercury goes direct.

Mercury Retrograde in Leo 2019

Mercury will station retrograde at 4'27 degrees Leo on July, 7th, 2019 at 7:14 PM EST.

Leo, the lion, is a fixed, fire sign ruled by the Sun. The Sun, of course, represents our identity, our ego, whatever it is that sets us apart from others, and makes us individuals. The ego isn't a bad thing, per se, but with Mercury Retrograde in the sign of Leo, I believe we may find that we are identifying ourselves a little too much with it.

Leos tend to see themselves as the king or queen of their jungle. Their confidence and flair for drama make them very lively, fun, and entertaining people to be around. But the downside is that, for some, they're "confidence" isn't always what it appears to be. For some Leo-influenced individuals, their self-worth depends strongly upon how other people view them. They adopt a bossy, arrogant, and domineering persona to make up for their insecurities, and overall lack of confidence. To quote Marina & The Diamonds, "they feel like they're the worst so they always act like they're the best."

Mercury will station retrograde while conjunct Mars at 3'48 degrees Leo, emphasizing some of the angrier, more fiery, and potentially lower vibrational aspects of the sign. We could find ourselves too quick to anger. We may find that our egos are easily bruised, and become defensive, and rash, as a result. This is further accentuated by Mercury's square to Uranus at six degrees Taurus. We may find ourselves adopting a contrarian attitude, opposing anything anyone says to us, responding defensively to any perception anyone has of us, even if they're not meaning to criticize. Mercury's trine to Chiron at five degrees Aries, brings back old wounds related to self-esteem, identity, and self-confidence.

Many of us will definitely struggle to take criticism at this time. We might find it hard to empathize or consider another person's point of view, taking it too personally, rather than actually listening to what they have to say. This is something we all have to change.

Meanwhile, the Sun in Cancer will be conjunct the North Node on the day Mercury stations retrograde, reminding us of the things we need to change to become better people, and that involves killing the ego, and instead, surrendering to the greater spirit.

We have to remember that the self is an illusion. Nothing in life is permanent. Everything in life is temporary. When we identify too much with the transitory feelings of the moment, we cause our souls further harm. When we identify ourselves too much with any label or school of thought, our experiences, even our names or our bodies, and definitely our astrology charts, we are effectively limiting ourselves, and making it easy for others to insult us. Using astrology as an example, if I see a meme online insulting people with their Sun in Libra, I could be offended, but if I stop identifying myself too much with that, I stop taking it personally. The same goes for anything, if you identify yourself too strongly with any label or characteristic. We have to remind ourselves that our true Self, our spirit, our soul, goes beyond any of this.

Mercury Retrograde in Cancer 2019

July 2019's Mercury Retrograde period might start out in Leo, but the majority of its retrograde journey will take place in the sign of Cancer. Mercury will enter Cancer again on Thursday, July 18th.

Despite being a cardinal water sign, the sign of Cancer is actually very similar to Leo in many ways, and many of the same themes that occurred while Mercury was Retrograde in Leo, will carry on to its time retrograding through Cancer. While Leo is ruled by the Sun, Cancer is ruled by the Moon. The Moon is the Sun's feminine counterpart, making Cancer the Yin to Leo's Yang.

Cancer is a very caring sign, but unlike the sign Libra, which it squares, it cares more about its personal well-being (which does often extend to the well-being of the close friends and family members that make you happy) than the group as a whole. Cancer is a very emotional sign, and with Mercury is Retrograde in Cancer, we may think too subjectively, rather than objectively. Focusing too heavily on feeling rather than fact.

While Mercury is Retrograde in Cancer, we may find that our feelings have no basis in fact at all, but are based purely on misunderstandings. In this case, we need to make sure we understand the whole picture first before communicating our feelings. When we act too quickly on our emotions, rather than considering the bigger picture, we may find that we lash out at people and burn our bridges in the process, and often regret it later. It may be better to consider other people's perspectives first, and actually talk to the people we feel hurt us before making any assumptions while Mercury is Retrograde in Cancer, that way we can avoid any misunderstandings.

Rather than identifying too strongly with our feelings, it's best to just let them come, and remember that they are transitory. Whatever pain we might be experiencing at the moment will not last forever, but before you know it, will be replaced by pleasure.

Mercury Direct

Mercury will station direct at 23 degrees Cancer on Wednesday, July 31st, at 11:57 PM EST.

This will happen shortly after the New Moon in Leo, helping us wrap up any lessons we learned while Mercury was in Retrograde, and ushering us into a brighter new month (August) filled with clarity and self-assurance.

The difficulties won't fully be resolved, however, until Mercury leaves the Retrograde zone (ending its post-retrograde shadow period) on August 15th.

Mercury will station direct while opposite Pluto at 21 degrees Capricorn. This could potentially bring manipulation and/or power struggles. Secrets and hidden messages.

But ultimately, what Pluto opposite Mercury will bring is insight. Psychological insights into both ourselves and others, that will bring about positive changes. Ultimately, what Pluto opposite Mercury brings us is transformation, a positive change in the way we think, the way we process information, and the way we communicate with others.

This is further accentuated by Mercury stationary direct's conjunction to the North Node in Cancer.

Mercury's opposite to Pluto shows us that any manipulation or power struggles that happened while Mercury was in Retrograde will be brought into the open now that Mercury is direct. Any secrets that were kept then will now be brought out into the open, and any hidden or subtle messages will now become clear.

Horoscopes

Now it's time to see how it will affect your sign. I suggest reading the horoscope for your ascendant or rising sign, first, instead of the sun. I find the rising sign horoscope to be more accurate than the sun, as these horoscopes are based on the houses. If you don't know your rising sign, click here to generate a birth chart. Yes, you will need your birth time for this. If you don't have your birth time, Sun sign horoscopes are fine.

People with angles or personal planets between 23 and 29 of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) and between 0 and 4 of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) especially be affected by this transit.

Aries

Mercury will station retrograde in your fifth house. While as an Aries, you are normally very assertive, you may find that this transit inhibits your self-expression. You're reassessing how you express yourself at this time, especially the way you communicate with family members. Your honesty and directness is an admirable trait, but it's also important you think before you speak, and don't burn bridges too soon.

Taurus

You can be stubborn Taurus, and right now, with Mercury Retrograde in your fourth house, your stubbornness can be preventing you from understanding your family members. There could be grudges against family members, particularly siblings as Mercury enters your third house, over what are really just silly misunderstandings. Make sure to communicate your feelings clearly, and don't let pride get in the way of resolving any grievances. There could also be changes with your home, or issues with roommates.

Gemini

With Mercury Retrograde in your third house, pride could be having a negative effect on your communication with others. You're usually an open person, Gemini, but right now, pride could be preventing you from communicating what you should. Subconscious insecurities may be putting you on the defensive, causing you to lash out, or hide how you really feel. Now is the time to reevaluate the way you interact with others. There might also be mishaps with travel or siblings.

As Mercury goes into your second house, you might be reevaluating your budget. Make sure you have enough money left over in your bank account to be spending on the things that bring you joy.

Cancer

Mercury will station retrograde in your second house, causing you to reevaluate your budget. There might be issues with money, spending, and possessions, but don't forget, the second house also represents self-worth. This is further accentuated by Mercury's journey into the sign of Cancer. Mercury Retrograde in your own sign, in your first house, can trigger issues with insecurity and low self-esteem. You may find that your insecurity and low self-esteem has a tendency to push other people away. Now is a time for healing.

Leo

Mercury will station retrograde in your first house, before traveling into your twelfth house. Mercury Retrograde in your own sign could trigger issues with insecurity and low self-esteem, causing you to reevaluate the way you present yourself to the world, and the way you interact with others. As it travels back into your twelfth house, you may find yourself more deeply investigating matters of the subconscious—why do you feel the way you do about yourself? Where are these insecurities coming from, and how can you heal them, so you can present yourself to the world in a better, truly more confident light?

Virgo

Subconscious issues relating to your own self-worth could be affecting the way you communicate with friends. Perhaps you care too much about what they think of you, or the opposite. Perhaps you're not treating them as well as you should. Are you considering the view of the group? Are you listening to your friends' voices? Now is the time to reexamine that.

Libra

With Mercury Retrograde in your house of friends, before heading backwards into your house of reputation and career, it looks to me like you've been caring too much about what other people think, Libra. You're not going to get people to like you by acting show-off-y, and pretending to be someone you're not. When you're true to yourself, your qualities will shine through, and the right people will take notice and appreciate you for who you are.

Scorpio

With Mercury Retrograde in your house of career, before heading backwards into your house of belief, it looks to me like outdated belief systems might be preventing you from reaching your goals and succeeding in the work place. Maybe beliefs related to self-esteem, and how you should treat others. If you want to reach the top, you need to be diplomatic, and you need to consider other people's point of view as well as your own.

Sagittarius

You may find that you've been identifying too strongly with your belief systems, and it could be limiting you. If you've been basing all your life's decisions and personal opinions based on one set of ideology, now something may force you to call it into question. Rather than stubbornly holding onto something, allow your beliefs to shift and change. Our opinions don't have to stay the same forever. Life is about learning and growing.

Capricorn

It looks to me like there are misunderstandings between you and your partner. You may be too stuck in your ways, unwilling to swallow your pride, and understand their side of the story. Listen to what they have to say. You may find that you've got the story all wrong.

Aquarius

Are you treating your partner fairly? Mercury right now is stationed retrograde in your seventh house, your house of partnership, before heading back towards your sixth house, the house of health, but also servitude. The sixth house is not about equality, but service. Have you been talking to your partner like they're a servant or an equal? It could also be that you're not treating yourself fairly in relationships, acting more like a servant than a partner, and in that case, it's time you stand up for yourself.

Pisces

It looks to me, Pisces, like you have been underestimating your creative abilities, as well as your performance in the workplace. You have so much to offer, and it's about time you realize all that you're capable of. Stop limiting yourself.

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About the Creator

Kaitlyn Maura

My name’s Kait. I would define myself mainly as a truth seeker. I write about a lot of things, primarily astrology, religion & spirituality, relationships and social issues.

Website: https://www.astrologybykait.com/

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