With Mercury sliding back in Leo on August 14th, be prepared to feel the effects on your relationships…
Joy to the world, Mercury retrograde has come. Technically, the trickster planet has been in retrograde since August 5, when it was stationed in Virgo, but it will slide back into the sign of Leo on August 14 and that’s when things will start getting chaotic. Mercury’s position in Leo will unveil many things that you’ve been trying to avoid thinking about, including your deepest desires. The period will also have you redefining your relationships, especially ones that held importance in the past.
Zodiac signs across the board will feel the effect of Mercury being in retrograde and, till the planets are aligned properly once again on August 28, we’ll have to be extra careful with the way we communicate and build interpersonal relationships.
For those of you not in the know, Mercury retrograde happens when the planet moves slower than the Earth around the sun. When this happens, it creates an astronomical optical illusion that it’s moving backwards. Astrologically speaking, Mercury is supposed to rule communication, news, travel, technology, gossip and information. This is why, when the planet is in retrograde, you can expect incidences of miscommunications, technology breakdown and conflicts.
In 2024, there are three periods of Mercury being in retrograde. The first one happened in the sign of Aries back in April. We’re currently in the middle of the second one in the signs of Leo and Virgo. The third one is slated to occur from November 25 to December 15, 2024, in the sign of Sagittarius.
Since Mercury retrograde has long been associated with chaos and a period of miscommunication, it’s important to note that clarity with others and your inner self needs to be achieved for a peaceful way ahead. August’s retrograde will have you redefining key relationships in your life and even looking towards the past to reignite lost passion. Here’s how each zodiac sign’s relationship sector will be affected during the period…
Aries, Mercury sliding back in Leo will throw your work-life balance out of whack. It’s up to you to prioritise self-care and health during this period. For some, it will also open up the possibilities for revisiting the past and remembering things that used to spark joy.
Be prepared for drama during this Mercury retrograde, Taurus. Conflicts on the domestic front will crop up. Just remember, it will serve you well to steer away from matters that don’t involve you directly. On the positive side, new romantic prospects are on the horizon, so look out!
Mercury being in retrograde will provide you with ample opportunities to put your foot firmly in your mouth. Aside from being careful with your words during this period, remember to keep your focus on spending enough time on building foundations of relationships with the people around you.
Like Gemini, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in hot soup thanks to saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. However, it won’t be anything that some good old-fashioned communication cannot clear up. Mercury sliding back in Leo will also have you immersed in a contemplative mode. You’ll find yourself looking back to the past and thinking about reviving old prospects.
This period asks you to introspect, Leo. Mercury retreating to your sign means the impact will be the strongest for you, but amidst all the confusion and chaos, there’s a chance for self-improvement. The relationship you should focus on during this period is with yourself. Ask yourself where you’re headed in your journey. What are the goals you’re working towards? Give yourself some time to reflect on these and try to be your most authentic self.
The baggage from your past is weighing you down, Virgo. This Mercury retrograde is going to allow you to let go of guilt, regret, and anger that is no longer serving you and is only holding you back from achieving all that you can. For many, this period will also be ripe for self-expression.
Expect a blast from the past during this period, Libra. Perhaps this is a sign from the Universe to reflect and make amends? Your network will flourish and it will allow you to make room in your life for newer connections but this can only happen smoothly if you’ve made peace with the past.
People who you think are a permanent fixture in your life might end up leaving and new people might enter and settle in for the long haul. This bittersweet feeling will make you feel off-centre for a while but if you process it properly, you can make the most out of the situation.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, Sagittarius. The Mercury retrograde will put things into perspective for you and make you see that dealing with issues head-on will help matters better than brushing things under the carpet. This is also the time to compromise and adapt to your transformed circumstances.
Beware, Capricorn. The Mercury retrograde can resurrect some emotional issues that you thought you had conquered a while ago. It promises to be an emotional and intense period for you but it can also be a chance to heal properly and look at your problems from a different perspective.
Your intuition is heightened and you need to trust it to navigate this confusing period with ease. Love can be found in the most unexpected of places and you must listen to your instincts to make sure you don’t let an opportunity slip from your hands.
This period could bring up old issues and traumas for you, Pisces. Remember to not focus on the pain that these bring up but on the healing that they highlight. You’ve come a long way from where you were in the past and revisiting old wounds can allow you to marvel at your journey and achieve closure.
Salva Mubarak is the Digital Editor of Manifest. In her free time, she likes to read murder mysteries, discover new KitKat flavours, and rank movie makeovers (not necessarily in that order). View Profile
