As Mercury moves through Virgo from September 2nd to September 18th, prepare to get your geek on. The planet of analysis and communication is right at home in Virgo’s queendom. Mercury is also exalted in this mutable earth sign, meaning it has all the resources it needs to thrive here. Think: a fresh supply of the sharpest pencils and smoothest pens. Take this opportunity to explore your nerdiest interests to your heart’s content, and fall down some research rabbit holes while you’re at it. This attentive sign loves the fine print, the footnotes, and all the little details in between. So renew your library card, annotate your recipes, and polish your spreadsheets until they sparkle.

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Calling all overthinkers

Virgo can get a bad rap for nitpicking, but there’s a reason for this sign’s tendency to focus on flaws. With every spelling correction and spontaneous fact-checking session, the perfectionist of the zodiac inches closer and closer to approaching its ideals. But if you don’t read the room before expressing your critiques, you might just come across as needlessly judgmental. So give others extra grace when they make mistakes, since the best way to learn and grow is often through trial and error. And notice any situations where you’re overly harsh with yourself. You don’t need to fret about every awkward pause or clunky sentence. Achieving excellence is a never-ending process, so keep it moving. Mercury in Virgo understands that even the smallest efforts can help us reach the finish line.

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From June 26th to September 2nd, Mercury — the planet of communication — moves through Leo. This fixed fire sign is known for its bravery, its brashness, and its tendency to act a little pouty when it’s ignored. And why not? The lion of the zodiac teaches us that it’s not a bad thing to wear your heart on your sleeve and ask for what you want. When Mercury is here, it pays to express your ideas boldly and assertively. Over the coming weeks, the messenger planet is offering extra oomph to help you get your point across and reach a receptive audience — as long as you’re willing to take the risk of putting yourself out there.

If you usually keep your thoughts to yourself, this is your opportunity to find out what happens when you say what you mean and mean what you say. And if you’re not shy about offering your opinion or seeking attention, Mercury in Leo is here to remind you that you don’t need constant feedback to prove that people take you seriously. Working with this transit is a matter of give-and-take: Don’t be afraid to claim the spotlight, but remember to share the mic.

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Mercury retrograde: Time to rewind

Then Mercury stations retrograde from July 17th to August 11th. Yes, all the usual Mercury retrograde hygiene tips and tricks apply. (Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need! Triple-check your calendar for accidental double-bookings! Back up your files! Laugh at your mistakes!) But this period also invites you to reflect on the times you’ve censored yourself or underplayed your talents. To reconnect with the younger versions of you that got overwhelmed by butterflies or worried about being “too much.” And to give yourself permission to take up space and shine as brightly as possible. This is your chance to rethink how you want to take center stage. It’s never too late for your close-up.

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After the mile-a-minute chats and frenzied brainstorms of Mercury’s transit through Gemini, the cosmos is turning our attention to our EQ. Translation: It’s not just what you say but how you say it — and how it makes you feel. When the messenger planet moves through Cancer from June 8th to June 26th, it’s time to talk about our feelings. And get nostalgic. So prepare to bust out those old photo albums, Tumblr archives, and childhood memories.

In this cardinal water sign, Mercury holds a magnifying glass over the emotions that are implied in our words and turns of phrase. Mercury in Cancer has a subtle communication style that may come across as passive-aggressive — for example, telling you “it’s fine” when it’s clearly not fine. But on the flip side, this combo has an exceptional gift for picking up on the undertones beneath the surface of every message.

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Say what you mean, and mean what you say

Over the coming weeks, practice closing the gap between what you say and what you actually mean. Sure, keeping your guard up and sticking to superficial small talk works — sometimes. But how would it feel to express yourself openly and earnestly? Mercury in Cancer has a unique talent for weaving honesty, warmth, and vulnerability through all our conversations — even when it makes us cringe. If you say how you really feel, you’ll save your future self from sighing with regret whenever you think about what you could have, would have, or should have said in the summer of 2025. Take a cue from Mercury in Cancer and dare to share.

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