After weeks of intense celestial movement—including the Capricorn Full Moon, the 7/7 Portal, Saturn’s retrograde station, and last week’s Pluto-ruled revelations—we finally arrive at a much-needed cosmic exhale.
This week offers a softer tempo. The planetary alignments are fewer but purposeful. With Mercury stationing retrograde in Leo and the Sun squaring Chiron, the Universe invites us to slow down, reflect, and process the emotional and mental shifts that have recently surfaced. This is a week of integration, inner dialogue, and preparing for deeper healing.
Weekly Transit Breakdowns:
Friday, July 18 – Mercury Stations Retrograde in Leo (15°34)
Tarot Archetypes: The Devil + Eight of Wands
Collective Themes: Mental entrapment, ego narratives, sacred pause, truth vs illusion
Mercury’s station at 15° Leo signals a dramatic mental checkpoint. At this moment, Mercury is neither moving forward nor backward—it’s suspended. It’s as if the conversation hits a wall or the script is paused mid-scene, offering us a brief stillness to listen rather than speak. In Leo, Mercury highlights communication around confidence, leadership, creative expression, and heart-driven desires. But the shadow of this placement reveals performative ego, control through words, or obsessive thoughts.
The Devil card energy reflects the illusion of being stuck—while the Eight of Wands usually indicates momentum, Mercury’s station puts the brakes on that forward motion. We may feel like we're racing internally but blocked externally.
Shortly after stationing, Mercury forms a sextile to Venus in Gemini, giving us an opportunity to reframe the narrative, especially in relationships, finances, and creative ventures. Venus in Gemini encourages lightness, curiosity, and rethinking our values—but Mercury's station insists we do so without rushing into answers. Conversations may stall temporarily, but meaningful realizations are brewing in the silence.
Personal impact:
You may find yourself overanalyzing, overthinking, or revisiting a recent conversation or decision. Let the mental fog settle. What seems unclear now will reveal itself in time.
Saturday, July 19 – Sun in Cancer Square Chiron in Aries
Collective Themes: Emotional vulnerability, ancestral healing, identity wounds resurfacing
Chiron is in pre-shadow for its upcoming retrograde on July 27
This square activates a sensitive intersection between our emotional identity (Sun in Cancer) and our core wounds around selfhood and independence (Chiron in Aries). This is not about breaking down—it’s about acknowledging where we still feel exposed or unsupported.
Cancer wants comfort, but Aries craves courage. When these archetypes clash, we may be asked to look at childhood wounds, mother/family dynamics, or protection mechanisms that now block our personal growth.
Expect triggers around belonging, emotional safety, and personal courage. This transit could also resurface themes you’ve worked through earlier this year—think of it as a check-in with your healing journey, particularly around your inner child and how you self-soothe vs. self-isolate.
Personal impact:
You might feel raw or overly sensitive without knowing why. Don’t dismiss these feelings—trace them back. What do they reveal about how you protect your heart or assert your truth?
Most Affected Zodiac Signs:
- Leo & Gemini – Mercury’s retrograde activation brings communication reevaluation and emotional recalibration. You may feel pressure to speak your truth but struggle to find the right words.
- Cancer & Aries – The Sun-Chiron square hits your sense of identity and vulnerability; old emotional wounds may feel fresh again, but they carry deeper lessons.
- Virgo & Sagittarius – Mercury is your ruler or opposite sign; your plans may be paused. Use this time to revisit creative projects or realign intentions.
- Taurus & Libra – Venus in Gemini is influencing how you express love and make decisions—this is a powerful week to observe your relationship habits and money mindset.
Integration Tips:
- Journal the thoughts that feel obsessive or looped. What fear, illusion, or desire is underneath them? Bring them to light—Mercury in Leo wants honesty.
- Sit in stillness before you respond. Mercury is at a standstill—let your words be intentional, not reactive.
- Nurture your inner child. With Cancer-Chiron energy, revisit childhood memories with compassion. Do something this week that made you feel safe or joyful as a child.
- Talk to your shadow. The Devil archetype invites you to witness your fears, not fight them. Where are you giving your power away to old patterns or mental prisons?
Final Thoughts:
Though the astrology this week is subtle, it is deeply potent. The cosmos is offering us space to pause, reflect, and rewire from the inside out. Mercury’s retrograde station is the Universe’s way of saying: “Wait. Don’t rush. There’s more to see here.”
This week is less about external movement and more about emotional clarity, shadow awareness, and preparing the soil for deeper integration. Allow stillness to speak. What you uncover in the quiet will become the foundation for your next empowered move.
Tenacious Taurus Tarot & Astro Insights