Mercury Retrograde in Leo: How to Make the Most of It

Your Summer 2025 Guide to Expressing Yourself with Intention

The most talked about retrograde is here, and yes, I am referring to another Mercury Retrograde.

We have 3 to 4 Mercury retrogrades each year, so not as common as a new moon but not uncommon either. Though there are lots of cultural references to Mercury retrogrades, such as getting a text message from an ex or sending an email to the incorrect person, Mercury retrogrades are necessary and can be quite beneficial.

Mercury represents our mind, thoughts, logic and reason. It’s also about communication, speech and writing. When Mercury is in retrograde, it gives us a chance to pause and evaluate what we are thinking and saying. It allows us to go back and review the information we have gathered in the past. Mercury retrogrades are like taking a test for the second time with the opportunity to get better results or clarity. So even though culturally, we may associate them with unpleasant encounters or a big oops, they really serve to check our facts, recalibrate our understanding and revisit information that may need to be examined more closely.

But each Mercury retrograde has its own flavor, and the one that starts on July 17th is bold and expressive, being in the sign of Leo. For some, this will be a time when we review the more dramatic things that we may have said to others, and could circle back with clarification, explaining the overshadow of passion where our point may have been lost. There is a possibility of reflecting on things we thought which we are not proud of, and determining why we may have been too forceful or domineering in our approaches.

Getting down to logistics, Mercury begins its retrograde at 15°34' at 11:45 PM CDT and will not go direct until August 11th when Mercury reaches 4°14' at 2:30 AM CDT. Keep in mind, you may feel some of the impacts of Mercury before and afterwards due to its shadow and post shadow phases.

Mercury is not limited to thought and communication, but since it is the messenger, Mercury also is involved in travel, commutes and commerce. Since this retrograde is smack dab in the middle of summer, it would behoove travelers to allow extra time, pack snacks and bring some cash. Even if your travel is to and from the office, you may want to leave a little earlier, just in case there is a traffic snarl along the way. Getting to the office early can help you clear out your inbox before the day begins and allows you the extra time to ensure your communication is warm, informational and going to the correct co-workers.

With this retrograde, we cannot forget the zodiac influence of Leo, which is warm hearted, loyal, generous, and creative but can be ego-driven, dramatic and proud. With Neptune in retrograde in the sign of Aries, there is a possibility of relooking at some of the words of our leaders and if what they have said in the past is aligning with their current words. For instance, Pam Biondi, Trump’s Attorney General commented last February that she had the Epstein file on her desk but recently stated that there is “no incriminating client list,” which is causing a stir on both sides of the aisle. There could be additional backtracking or other conspiracies that are revisited during the Leo Mercury Retrograde, especially around bold or brazen statements made by our officials.

One of the trickier parts of this Mercury retrograde is figuring out what’s real. Do we trust the past version of a statement or the current spin? Old drama may resurface during this time, but the response may not play out in predictable ways. A particularly charged moment arrives on the evening of July 31, when Mercury forms a cazimi with the Sun. During this alignment, Mercury and the Sun sit in exact conjunction, often symbolizing a moment of insight or clarity. However, this cazimi will be influenced by a square to the Virgo Moon, which can stir emotional responses, especially when sensitive, data-driven information is presented.

Mercury will also oppose Pluto in Aquarius, adding pressure for secrets or hidden truths to emerge. This isn't only about political headlines. Often, we are hiding from our own truths. Personal revelations can surface now, offering a chance for transformation if we are willing to face the past with honesty.

There will also be a trine from Mercury to both Neptune and Saturn, currently retrograde in Aries. This brings a need to read between the lines and look at what may be missing. Whether it’s a news story or a memory from your own past, the full truth may not be revealed all at once. Be mindful of redactions, selective narratives, or fuzzy recollections. If personal memories arise during this time, they may come through a veil of distortion or a subjective recollection, which can still serve a purpose if approached with a mindset rooted in healing and growth.

While I’ve focused on the cazimi and some of the key transits, each day of Mercury retrograde brings its own rhythm. To better understand how this cycle might impact you personally, look to your rising sign and where Leo falls in your chart. The following breakdown is based on whole sign houses.

The moment Mercury goes into Retrograde on July 17th, 2025 at 11:45 PM CDT in Dallas, Texas, USA

Mercury Retrograde in Leo by Rising Sign and House Placement

The scenarios below are based on the energy of the retrograde, not your specific chart. Keep an open mind and focus on the themes rather than the details to get the most out of the following reading

Aries Rising and Mercury in the 5th House:

With Mercury retrograding in your fifth house, you may be rethinking about the things that bring you joy. There is a chance of you picking up past creative projects. If you like to sing and perform, you may be inclined to go out for an evening of Karaoke.

Themes of childhood or children may be at the forefront. If you have scolded your children harshly, you may be reexamining your past actions and looking for more helpful words going forward.

Overall, this is you understanding what it means to be dramatic and when it is and isn’t helpful. We love a little spice, but too much can be overwhelming. Take this time to think through your words and dial down the extremes.

Extra insight here: There is a chance that a past flame could reach out to you or vice versa. Just know that often during retrograde pairings, the reunion could be short lived.

Taurus Rising and Mercury in the 4th House:

You may have been acting like the King or Queen of the castle, but what does that mean to those around you? If you are benevolent and speaking from a place of love and care, then your royal perspective is sound. However, you may want to rethink what you are saying if you’ve been authoritative or demanding.

If you had started a home project that went by the wayside, this could be a good time to pick it back up. However, it is not a time to start a new project but it is a perfect time to plan for it. Let’s say you want to spruce up your kitchen. Create a budget, look at supplies, compare cost and get estimates on time. When Mercury goes direct, you could have a solid project plan ready to go.

For the most part, this retrograde is about understanding what home and family means to you. Is it a two-way street? Do you allow others to speak up and be heard? Reflect on what it means to be part of your household and how you could allow space for everyone while maintaining your important role in the dynamics.

Gemini Rising and Mercury in the 3rd House:

The way you communicate is front and center, and this could be a time where you revisit your text messages and emails, which could be plenty. Focus on the questions that you ask others and if you communicate more from a subjective perspective or from truly wanting to get to know others.

During the retrograde, you could be inclined to reflect on current news stories or the happenings in your locale. You may be wondering whose voices are being heard, and if only those in power have the proverbial microphone. But just as you ponder what is happening outside of yourself, it is important to examine how you play a role in the current hierarchies.

These few weeks may be more introspective than usual and you could be embracing a prior time period when everything felt more innocent and connected. You could reach out to people from your past, childhood friends to reminisce. Or, you could be the one that is sought out for some camaraderie. If you have had a falling out with a sibling, this could be the time to lose your pride and rectify the situation by carefully using your words for healing and listening with compassion as opposed to focusing on what you will say next.

Cancer Rising and Mercury in the 2nd House:

You may have been too prideful when it comes to your financial situation. If you have an abundance, you could be misaligned to the plight of others. But, if you are struggling, you may have been keeping it a secret. Now is the time for you to rectify how you perceive money and how it applies to your self worth.

During the retrograde is a good time to delve into what you value, both monetarily as well as on a soul level. What is it that you want to impart onto your children, grandchildren or future generations? How do you foresee the future and what can you do to make it align with your sense of self worth?

Besides self reflection, it is a good time to review your income resources. Sometimes we spend an exorbitant amount of effort on what doesn’t payoff and neglect what does bring in revenue. Check your expenses and ensure your invested time and resources are being used wisely. This is also a great time to research other revenue avenues, just don’t make any decisions until after the retrograde is complete. You could also revitalize something that brought you revenue in the past.

Leo Rising and Mercury in the 1st House:

The retrograde will impact your identity and how you see yourself. You may have been thinking about your appearance and a new look. This is not the time to make changes but instead, take the time to determine what it is that you want to project. Are you being seen for who you are or are you creating a persona based on what others expect of you?

Themes of parenthood could come to the forefront during this retrograde or you may be longing for the simplicity of when you were a child. This is a time to recognize and revive the simple pleasures of life that bring you joy. You may long to take up a childhood pastime or go out to the park and play ball or climb a tree.

There is a chance of someone from the past coming back into your life during the retrograde or you may be yearning for the feeling you had with a past romance. Our memories tend to be more rosy than realistic, so tread slowly and evaluate why this person hasn’t been in your life. But if you do want to forge ahead, and you want something special, you may want to wait until the retrograde is over.

Virgo Rising and Mercury in the 12th House:

With the retrograde going through your 12th house, you may feel more introspective about the way you express yourself. It is a good time to slow down and think about how you choose your words when you communicate. Are you being boastful or flippant? Or are you being warm-hearted?

You also may be rethinking your spiritual practice. While Mercury was direct, you may have made some bold statements regarding your beliefs but during the retrograde, you could be revisiting some of the things you said with confidence. Were you being true to your own personality or were you pushing your agenda without much thought, because it was fun to be entertaining as opposed to your more precise and exacting self?

The retrograde will help you to recalibrate how you want to speak about spiritual matters and there is a possibility that as you examine your communication, you may also discover that your beliefs are more fluid. You could tap into the joy that you knew as a child, that life is about wonder, exploration and expression. Take the time to journal or walk in nature and notice the little things that bring you to your own bliss.

Libra Rising and Mercury in the 11th House:

The focus here is friendship and networks and how you can enjoy life. With the retrograde, think about things you can do to feel like you are a part of something bigger than yourself. You may take the time to think about humanitarian causes and how you can contribute with your words or through your connections.

This is also a great time to examine your friendships. Are you living up to your commitments when it comes to your social group? Are you inviting friends to go to places with you? Are you attending parties and having fun? Or, have you fallen into a utilitarian relationship within your circle, helping each other out but not taking the time to experience the joy of life?

During the retrograde, you may want to research groups you can join or things you can plan to do with your friendship group. Maybe it is time to plan a party, be it for your own birthday, a partner’s or a friend and make it something that everyone can enjoy. Ensure that whatever you plan allows people to express themselves and has a carefree nature. It could even be a retro theme based on things you enjoyed when you were kids.

Scorpio Rising and Mercury in the 10th House:

When it comes to your career, you may have been making bold moves and dramatic statements. At times, this works in your favor, especially if you are confident and have the expertise and knowledge to back up your stances. However, there are scenarios where being front and center can cause issues.

The good news is that the Mercury Retrograde will give you an opportunity to review your past strategies and give you the opportunity to assess if you were being overbearing or passionate. Gaining insight can help you with your long term career objectives. Remember, no one likes a "show-off" and even though you may have keen solutions, it comes down to not what you said but how you said it.

Review past emails and communications, listening for your tone. If you were brazen, think of a long term plan on how to soften your approach while still incorporating your enthusiasm and drive. Be careful not to come off as paternalistic, but instead show your loyalty to the team by being a team player. Going forward, reread your communications before hitting send, and ensure you add a spirit of warmth. If you have had a conflict at work, examine what you could do differently and if apologies are needed, make them.

Sagittarius Rising and Mercury in the 9th House:

With Mercury in Retrograde, you will need to double check your itineraries and allow extra time when it comes to travel. There could be delays or hiccups, so having copies of your documents could be key. It is good for you to be aware of your surroundings and have respect for others, especially those that may come from a different culture.

Also, when it comes to education, you may need to assess your progress and which courses you are taking. The retrograde is a great time for writing, especially when it comes to making edits and revisions. Just take your time when it comes to anything that deals with education, allowing yourself to examine everything before you submit. This also includes if you are publishing professional information.

From a more spiritual perspective, you may be reviewing what it means to come from your own culture and the history associated with it. You could be looking at how you fit into the current world, what changes you would like to make and what you can learn from others. Expanding your mind beyond your immediate world is the theme for you; just ensure you don’t make hasty conclusions that come from past beliefs that may no longer serve you.

Capricorn Rising and Mercury in the 8th House:

If your parents are older, you may need to have a heart to heart talk with them in regards to their finances and the upkeep of their home. When we age, we may not recognize details that are being overlooked. Just make sure you are careful with your approach and remember to them, you are still their child, regardless of your current age. It may be hard to see you as an equal and someone who could provide support. The role reversal is not easy.

Mercury Retrograde also gives you an opportunity to revisit your own investments, and to identify what is working and what is not. Going through bank statements and reviewing your joint purchases can also be a good use of the retrograde energy. Just be careful in jumping to conclusions; sometimes the name of a business is listed differently than the actual store. Look more at your discretionary spending, and whether or not you are getting entertainment value from it. If so, and there are no financial issues, that’s great. But if you are spending lots of money on little things and denying yourself of something larger, this could be a wakeup call.

You could also spend the time gamifying your assets. For instance, reward yourself every time you and your partner create a specific threshold or use an app to automatically invest your spare change. Do the research first and plan, and then implement after the retrograde.

Aquarius Rising and Mercury in the 7th House:

Don’t be surprised if you have interactions with an ex partner over the next few weeks. It could be something benign, like an issue with one of your kids that has to be addressed. What may be surprising is that the ex is acting in a reversal to your usual post break up routine. For instance, let’s say they have a habit of disparaging you in front of others or the children, they could instead say something supportive. Now, I am not saying they will be a completely different person, but if they were a jerk, they may be less jerky. But the opposite could also be true, so be aware of that as well.

And you could also be thinking of past partners and what you want from a relationship. If you haven’t dated for a while, you could be reimagining what matters in a relationship. Most likely, you are hoping for something more light hearted and playful, and a relationship that has a sense of ease. You may also be trying to figure out why there was so much drama with your past partnerships. You could have been attracted to them for their bravado as opposed to being like minded and kind.

Played right, you could uncover what it is that makes you happy. Take your time to reflect the good times in the past and what was the cause to make the energy shift. Be careful not to romanticize the past, otherwise your next partnership could just be a repeated dynamic. And if you are currently in a relationship, take this time to discuss with your partner what you can do for fun, and allow each other to tap into their inner child. Building a blanket fort in the living room for the two of you could help you capture some magic.

Pisces Rising and Mercury in the 6th House:

Be extra careful with your emails, communications and technology during the retrograde. With Mercury in the 6th house of routine and work, things could go a little haywire. Allow yourself extra time each day to log into your computer or activate the equipment you use. Read before hitting send, and if you have a big project, ask a trusted colleague to review it before you submit it to the boss.

Commutes could also take longer as well. Mercury doesn’t give nonstop disruptions but it wants you to take your time and not be on autopilot. Instead of looking at the retrograde as an annoyance, think of it as a time to polish up your daily activities and allow your day to flow as opposed to being rushed and hectic.

It is time for you to be mindful. Pay attention when you are in the kitchen or exercising. Mercury in Leo is here to remind you to be fully present, to be less distracted and to embrace the beauty in your day to day activities. You may reflect on the times when your life was more simple and less cluttered. During the retrograde, you could work on a plan on how to be more intentional, and create a schedule that allows for playtime, connection with your kids and events that ignite your creativity.

A lion representing Leo with the Mercury retrograde symbol in space, symbolizing Mercury retrograde in Leo 2025.

Final Words on the Mercury Retrograde

Shifting our perspective on Mercury retrogrades can help us appreciate the change in energy. Don’t get me wrong, I do prefer direct motion, but I often gain a deeper understanding of the past during retrograde periods. That reflection helps me grow, heal, and transform.

It’s not as if retrograde energy is unfamiliar. While each Mercury retrograde has its own nuance, especially in relation to our natal charts, the core message stays the same. It invites us to review, reexamine our perceptions, and revise how we take in and process information in the present.

Make the most of this retrograde by looking at your chart and noting where Mercury is currently located. Ask yourself whether you are leaning into the positive traits of Mercury in Leo, such as being dynamic and self-expressive, or slipping into less helpful patterns like being domineering or demanding attention. You may not control how the energy impacts your chart, but you do have the free will to respond with warmth, kindness, and generosity.

---

If you want to understand how this Mercury Retrograde is influencing your personal chart, I offer one-on-one astrology sessions tailored to your unique placements.

Visit GrandTrineAstrology.com to book a reading with me, Theresa Touhey, and gain practical insight into how to move through this period with clarity and intention.

---