When: July 17th – August 11th, 2025

What: Mercury retrograde in Leo

Takeaway: When Mercury appears to loop backward in the sky, miscommunications and tech glitches tend to surge. This retrograde brings the usual mix-ups and mayhem — and encourages us to recycle the old habits that keep us playing it small.

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The trickster planet has us taking chances, making mistakes, and getting messy (again)

Mercury appears to spin in reverse three or four times a year. The messenger planet doesn’t actually backpedal in the sky, but this optical illusion tends to wreak real havoc here on Earth, so get ready to double-check your texts and back up your hard drives. Mercury stations retrograde on July 17th, and this time around, it stirs things up in Leo.

The lion of the zodiac thrives in the spotlight. It’s proud, unafraid of drama, and willing to lead with an open heart. When the planet of communication is in this fixed fire sign, it encourages us to assert ourselves more intentionally. What we say matters, and Mercury in Leo reminds us that all our words and ideas can make a major impact.

Because Leo isn’t exactly subtle, any mistakes we make during this Mercury retrograde might be louder, more obvious, or more public than we’d like. Cringe? Maybe — but what’s so embarrassing about our errors? The next few weeks offer valuable lessons about giving others — and ourselves — more grace and compassion when we fumble.

If stage fright has been holding you back lately, this retrograde is a great opportunity to review your fears of being perceived or making yourself known. Notice the creative practices you pick up during this period or the situations that require you to get behind a literal or figurative mic. By the time Mercury stations direct on August 11th, you’ll have learned new ways to get a little braver, bolder, and feistier in your self-expression — this is Leo we’re talking about, after all. And give yourself permission to slip up. You don’t need to be flawless to be worthy of attention or care.

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A Leo cazimi highlights your Mercury retrograde lessons

Clarity briefly enters the chat on July 31st, when Mercury cozies up to the Sun in a helpful and hopeful event called a cazimi. This is the moment when the messenger planet is close enough to Sol to be bathed in its light. The key lessons you’re learning during this retrograde period show up more vividly for you on or around this date, so stay alert to any signs, cues, or pearls of wisdom you stumble upon. Dreams, recommendations from friends, or even attention-grabbing billboards may have crucial insights for you. Important messages can arrive through many channels, so remain open. Keep a journal or your notes app on deck to jot down any words or phrases that strike a chord. Absorbing this knowledge is essential for sharpening the way you think, communicate, organize, brainstorm, and act on your ideas.

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When in doubt, laugh it off

Getting your ducks in a row ahead of time can help you navigate this Mercury retrograde period more smoothly. Still, even if you’ve tied up all your loose ends, you can’t entirely avoid confusion — but whenever it arises, you have a superpower on your side: your sense of humor. Laughing off awkward misunderstandings and choppy internet connections is the surest way to get through this potentially bumpy transit. And in case you need more suggestions for these weeks, here’s our official list:

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Your Mercury retrograde survival guide

Do…

• Expect delays. Allow plenty of buffer time in your schedule. When things go smoothly, you’ll have space to relax — and when they don’t, you’ll be grateful to have plans B and C.

• Back up all your files. Documents, emails, photos — everything. Get ahead of potential technology glitches. Your future self will thank you.

• Reflect, review, revise, reorganize, and take note of anything you repeatedly think about. There is meaning in what keeps entering your mind.

• Streamline your life and update your internal and external systems. Triple-check your appointment dates and times. Comb through your calendar. Confirm (and re-confirm) the details. If things get messy, try not to be too hard on yourself. Prep to the best of your ability, then roll with the surprises.

• Focus on long-term solutions. Off-the-cuff decisions don’t always support your highest self. Commit to making deliberate choices that align with your broader goals.

• Pause, rest, and belly-breathe through the frustrations. ICYMI: The CHANI app has an audio library filled with guided meditations and affirmations that are tailor-made for those moments you need some extra grounding.

• Edit your ideas before you express them. The fiery arguments you’re tempted to start or spicy quips you want to share might not be the most tactful or accurate. If you’re not sure whether it’s the right time to give an impromptu TED Talk, read the room first.

• Laugh at yourself when you make obvious mistakes. The point of this transit is to keep you humble and open to learning.

• Listen to the Astrology of the Week Ahead podcast for the week of July 14th, 2025, and Your Reading in the “This Week” section of the CHANI app. There, you’ll also find journal prompts and other resources that will help you work with the lessons that Mercury retrograde is teaching you.

• Learn how Mercury retrograde is impacting your natal placements by checking the Transits tab in the CHANI app. You can also read your free Current Sky horoscope to find out how Mercury in Leo will show up in your life.

Don’t…

• Fear Mercury retrograde. It may be annoying, but remember that worrying is simply fixating on what you don’t want. Instead, treat this period as an opportunity to reassess your strategies.

• Buy tickets, sign contracts, or organize events during this time, if you can avoid it. If you can’t, stay flexible and assume that adjustments may be needed after — or even before — this retrograde cycle is over.

• Plan any big launches or make major life changes, if you can — unless you schedule them around the Mercury cazimi on July 31st. (That said, you may still want to work with an astrologer to pinpoint the most fruitful moment possible.)

• Put your life on hold. If you can postpone some things, great, but if not, just brace yourself for hiccups. Again, you shouldn’t fear this Mercury retrograde — just approach it wisely.

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