Rethinking + Reconnecting: Mercury Retrograde
Mercury begins another retrograde cycle on tonight, August 4th. This one is a little different from the one we had in April. While all the Mercury retrogrades in 2024 largely involve the fire signs, this one will straddle earthy Virgo before ending in Leo. For three weeks, the planet of communication, commerce, and mental processing will appear to be moving backwards. It is just part of the natural celestial landscape. While Mercury retrogrades get a bad rap for causing scheduling headaches and verbal flubs, it also shines an opportunity on a chance to slow down and iron out processes. All the “Re” words are in focus during retrogrades: rework, rethink, reconnect, and redesign.
With this cycle, it may feel like two distinct phases. While Mercury moves through Virgo from August 4th – 14th, it is a chance to really concentrate on scheduling, competing resources, organization, and the efficiency of time. Verbal flubs or email snafus may be classic for this particular part.
As he moves into Leo for the rest of the retrograde from August 14th – August 28th, Mercury gives you a chance to revisit relationships, motivation, and a sense of inner purpose. Use the time to reconnect with the “why” behind your joy. Leo is the sign associated with the heart and why it’s important to be our own best cheerleader. It’s a time of connecting with children and their needs as well.
Look for a particular bright spot on August 18th when Mercury will be in the heart of the Sun in Leo. This is a particularly lucky day to work on a creative project, do a vision board, or write or talk about what you want going forward. Mercury Cazimi’s signifies a rebirth of this planet and it is like having the “ear of the king”. Capitalize on the energy to get clarity of what you truly want in your heart of hearts.
Flexible Priorities: A Mutable T-Square
During the third week of August, you might experience characteristics such as nervous energy, feeling the pressure to make a right decision, and lessons in adaptability. A mutable t-square will form between Venus in Virgo, the Mars/Jupiter conjunction in Gemini, and Saturn retrograde in Pisces. Each of these placements deserves a little enlightenment.
Jupiter and Saturn are social planets that govern the larger cultural context. These two planets meet up every 20 years and the opening square between them represents a crisis of how idealistic beliefs and realistic boundaries mesh. Their conjunction in December 2020 was fitting symbolism for the first COVID vaccine getting rolled out to healthcare workers and the US coming to terms with the election results with the Biden/Harris ticket as the victors. This August will feature their first hard aspect since their conjunction. It is a tension point between hope for the future and time-honored traditions. They will square at 17 degrees of Gemini and Pisces.
But we can’t just look at Jupiter in isolation. Mars and Jupiter form a tight conjunction in Gemini on August 14th. While it can be wonderful hearing the roar of the applause with Jupiter supporting Mars’s efforts, it can also be a case of too much of a good thing. Jupiter and Mars can get bored in the sign of the twins and may not stick through the boring parts of the work. Planets in Gemini tend to default to gathering endless alternatives as a safety net so they can be prepared for all outcomes. These two also don’t know how to stop. Jupiter is the planet of “Yes!” and Mars is the planet of “Now!” Together in Gemini, they either like to jump to conclusions or keep seeking more and more options without someone to provide a reality check: enter Saturn in Pisces.
Saturn is the natural planet of boundaries and containment. He wants things to endure, so he asks for pauses. Saturn in Pisces (especially retrograde) is about finding your inner authority, honoring your own limitations, and recognizing when things are improbable.
In the meantime, Venus in Virgo is asking everyone to honor decorum. She is concerned with what is prudent, accepted, and can be a little formal in her approach. When she enters the mix, she is asking everyone to back up their choices with solid reason. It can be tiresome for her to keep going through the checklists, but she will have receipts when the day is done. She edits down choices and has a bias for things that are reliable.
These planets will form a t-square in the sky in the mutable signs. Think of it like having a table missing a leg. In order to balance the table and keep it from wobbling, it is important to notice which sign is missing. This month, the key to making things stable is leaning into Sagittarius. The sign of the archer keeps the quest fun. He seeks alternatives with optimism and has faith that things will turn out better in the end. Sagittarius adjusts his expectations and centers his heart on inner wisdom. There is a strong sense of belief and purpose that helps keep the focus on the horizon in the distance.
If you feel overwhelmed this week, look for opportunities to reframe your perspective. It is definitely time to lean into the qualities and expressions of Sagittarius to bring about a balance. Do this by connecting with people who have Sagittarius placements or be intentional about building in ways to broaden your horizons. Connect to your humor, focus on what is unifying versus fracturing, and explore ways that affirm your own independence. The thing about mutable aspects is that everyone has the same goal, but how they accomplish the steps is a little different.
Historical Echo’s: Similar Configuration to 1906
Those eagle eyed cultural mavens may notice that this alignment of the t-square coincides with the Democratic National Convention, which begins on August 19th in Chicago. It’s rather interesting that this is the opening square from just 4 years ago when the US was coming to terms with the Biden/Harris ticket winning and now leadership is shifting a bit, with Kamala at the helm.
Once again, these two political figures come on to the stage, but in a different light. Jupiter in Gemini will bring the rhetoric and hype while Saturn will bring responsibility and gravitas to the table. It almost feels fitting that the torch of authority will pass to a new generation. I would anticipate there might be some conflict between ambition and experience, as well as a restructuring of priorities within the party.
Interestingly enough, the skies had a similar configuration between Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn that was present in May 1906. Mars and Jupiter were in Gemini at 13/14 degrees while Saturn was at 13 degrees of Pisces. At that point in history, Teddy Roosevelt was in office and progressive reforms were in play. Mud-racking journalism raised awareness about issues of corruption in big business, resulting in the establishment of consumer protections and the beginning of the FDA through key legislation. These were all powerful components of the “square deal” – a hallmark of Roosevelt’s success. Keep in mind, not everything is the same as the other planets are in different signs, so 2024 will echo a bit differently than 1906.
Dates of Note:
August 2: Venus square Uranus. You might feel the urge to do something different and shake up your relationship. It’s a good day to have a conversation about shifting values or exploring biases. Just be aware you may hear something that wasn’t expected. With the balsamic moon in Cancer, make sure you have some alone time scheduled at home to rest and restore.
August 4: New Moon in Leo + Venus ingresses into Virgo + Mercury retrogrades in Virgo. Traditionally, the Leo New Moon is all about connecting to your creative fire and renewing what sustains your joy. This lunation is fired by a very wordy and verbose Mars and Mercury. They are asking you to rethink some plans and get some ideas sketched out before taking a leap into the dark, sight unseen. Mercury is stationing later this evening to begin his retrograde through Virgo and Leo. The scheduling mishaps and communication flubs might be a bit more pronounced today, but that’s only because your mind is going a million miles an hour. Try to slow things down and take stock of what you can count on. Venus moves into Virgo today as well. For the next 25 days, she will weigh how projects can serve her highest self. It is a time of self-examination and going back to what you can count on as you adjust your plan forward. Take advantage of this time to organize for the school year, refresh old skills, and make sure everyone’s calendar is synchronized.
August 7: Sun sextiles Jupiter + Venus conjoins Mercury. Today sparkles with potential, as you may find the courage to speak up or make some incredible connections. This is a great day to rekindle an old flame or hang out with a group of friends you haven’t seen in a while. With the Moon opposing Saturn, nostalgia could set in. Take a minute to recognize the personal growth you’ve had.
August 8: Moon conjunct South Node in Libra. It’s a great day to be intentional about cutting off old emotional habits that don’t serve you anymore. Stop keeping score in relationships or recognize how constantly going with the flow could actually hurt your union in the long run. With the Moon sextiling the Sun, if you put in the effort, you can reap a lot of reward.
August 9: Moon trining Mars + Jupiter. This is my pick for a date night. Well timed compliments boost your partnerships tenfold. Sharing your feelings of how your partner made a difference cheering you on. It’s also a great day to have wonderful conversations with women who have nurtured your growth.
August 14: Mars conjoins Jupiter + Mercury retrograde moves into Leo. A mutable grand cross forms in the sky today, showing us where our information sources are a little out of date. The key here is to adjust to the evolving demands and use discerning logic. Today asks you to sift through information before you take action. While the Mars/Jupiter activation will push you forward with enthusiasm, check with your gut on what rings true. When the Moon is in Sagittarius, it’s important to find your inner compass before launching into a new adventure. There’s a lot of pressure on Mercury as he moves into his second phase of this retrograde into Leo.
August 16: Mars squares Saturn. Adjust the “shoulds” into workable plans. You may feel the pressure from old problems or having someone force their expectations onto you. How you respond will be key: frustration or flexibility. Be aware of your non-negotiable boundaries and other’s ideas. Perhaps there is some middle ground when negotiating. This may be the hardest day of the month.
August 18: Mercury squares Uranus + Mercury Cazimi. Having too many irons in the fire can cause a lot of anxiety. It’s hard to focus when you don’t know how to prioritize what’s important. Edit your options down. It can be really hard with this particular Mercury retrograde to know which projects bring you genuine joy and where you are just going through the motions. Come this afternoon, you could have a flash of brilliant insight and burst through your creative block when Mercury is in the heart of the sun. This is the start of a new Mercury cycle that will govern the next three months and marks the halfway point of the Mercury retrograde.
August 19: Full Moon in Aquarius + Venus squares Jupiter + Venus opposes Saturn + Sun squares Uranus + Jupiter squares Saturn. A retrograde Saturn in Pisces rules this full moon. Watch for the insecurities that may lurk in the shadows. People tend to choose their known struggles over an unknown possibility. Today may highlight the inner conflict you feel about daring to improve and level up, only to be met with challenges not yet seen. Be aware of getting lost in the lists of pros and cons. Listening to your intuition is the only way to overcome indecision.
August 22: Sun ingresses into Virgo + Venus squares Mars. Flirting becomes the main event today. Double entendres could be hot today as witty remarks set the conversation ablaze. Mars is extremely powerful, wanting to explore fresh territory in attractions. Be open to experimentation.
August 23: Mars sextiles Mercury. You can work mental agility and inner processes to your advantage today. Studying a challenging subject seems to be ripe for integration. Take advantage of doors opening even a crack and take a risk.
August 27: Venus trines Uranus. Take stock of what happened on August 2nd as today brings an easing of themes that may have emerged that first week of the month. Break free of conventionality, spend time with a new social circle, or celebrate what makes you unique and sparkle. Social charm shines brightly today.
August 28: Venus opposes Neptune + Mercury stations direct. Be aware of how you may give too much benefit of the doubt with others today. It might be time to confront the real versus the ideal in a relationship. Mercury stations direct today in Leo and the mishaps may be loud. Watch out for prideful mistakes and own up to your personal accountability if needed.
August 29: Venus ingresses into Libra + Venus trines Pluto. The planet of relationships gets a glow up moving into her home sign of Libra today. In the sign of the scales, Venus can diplomatically balance everyone’s opinions without committing to their cause. Everyone feels valued and heard. Over the next 3 weeks, flitting about social circles comes easy. Increase your social connectivity and put your best foot forward. As soon as Venus moves into Libra, she trines Pluto in Aquarius for the first time today. This brings an ah-ha moment of how social standing and personal influence go hand in hand. The possibilities of larger social circles and the new alliances you can form might excite you. This can feel like getting an elite membership to the executives club or getting invited to sit with the cool kids at lunch. Say yes to all social invitations.