Mercury Retrogrades

Mercury Retrogrades- Individual Mouthpiece

"Who am I anyway?
Am I my resume?
That is a picture of a person I don't know

— Who Am I Anyway - A Chorus Line
Marvin Hamlisch & Edward Kleban

The creative, individual self-expression of the Leo Sun drives a powerful 'will to action' this week. Nonetheless, last Thursday's Leo New Moon (12:10 PM PDT 2° Leo) was tightly connected to the broad, global shifts that are underway. As the Moon waxes in light, we are working extremely hard to find our individual voice within a much larger framework. The power struggles initiated at the New Moon seem to simmer in the background this week. As Mercury retrogrades back through the early degrees of Leo, our ability to use the mercurial energy as a powerful 'mouthpiece' for our individual self-will remains under revision. This week's challenges are centered on developing better understanding of who we are as individuals. Although we may feel that we're 'ready to go', our path is not yet clear even as the Leo desire to 'Think Big' propels us forward. Intuition and instinct provides the best sense of direction that we can expect this week. However, the Leo energy may encourage us to try to step in and 'Run The Show' but if we do, we are more likely to find ourselves with our 'hand stuck in the wheel'. Tuesday's Libra Moon suggests a foreshadowing of next week's Aquarius Full Moon (August 9 12:57 AM PDT 16° Aquarius/Leo) when Mars will create an extraordinary 'Kite' formation, opposing Saturn/Neptune while in a Grand Air Trine with Uranus and Pluto. The Moon's action this week is likely just a whisper — Mars will hit this spot much harder, longer and with more emphasis next week. Venus sextiles Chiron from Gemini early this week before establishing a comfortable repose in Cancer on Wednesday. Venus actually offers a great deal of charm and amiability this week after participating in the opening of 'old wounds' on Monday. Venus in Cancer seems to help us discover a kind of internal refuge from the broad, grand shifts that are underway. Even so, Venus squares the Saturn/Neptune conjunction on Friday, challenging our ability to stay positive and keep 'looking on the bright side'. Chiron stations retrograde in Aries on Wednesday, further confounding the Leo desire to demonstrate our individuality. Both Mercury and Chiron are pointing us towards further review instead of supporting definitive pronouncements that fully demonstrate who we really are. Nonetheless, the Sun-Mercury inferior conjunction on Thursday does begin to suggest an improving ability to show off our 'best' qualities even though our level of comfort, security, and confidence remains unsteady. There is an element of 'fake it till you make it' in the Sun-Mercury conjunction that at least seems to offer some productive optimism and a 'positive attitude'. By the end of the week, the Scorpio Moon encourages us to take off the Leo 'Mask' or 'slip off stage' for a quick break before returning to the 'Stage' to engage with next week's momentous Full Moon.

The optimism that we feel on Sunday isn't easy to communicate to those around us. This is quite a 'mystical', intense environment that is better handled with observation, discretion and circumspection. Monday's aggressive streak has the potential to open some 'old wounds'. Ultimately, there is a great deal of resolution offered if we can sustain at least of bit of faith and objectivity. We may hear a few 'whispers' of next week's Full Moon on Tuesday. There is a temptation to take chances but, win or lose, we need to be willing to accept the consequences and stay alert for further opportunities. Broadly, the mood seems rather amiable and perhaps a bit lazy or apathetic on Wednesday. It isn't easy to escape a feeling of aimlessness. There is an element of 'fake it till you make it' on Thursday that seems to offer some productive optimism or at least a 'positive attitude'. We have an opportunity to show off our 'best qualities'. We can begin to develop a capacity to find some 'internal refuge' on Friday. However, it is not an atmosphere where we can easily sidestep 'truth' and 'facts'. We need to navigate a 'blind corner' on Saturday, related to how much reliance we place on those around us. There is little inclination to open up enough to 'talk it through', although there is plenty of support to find resolutions if we can convince ourselves to share our concerns.