All the 2025 Mercury Retrogrades and What They Mean for your Sign
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, watch out.
- The next Mercury retrograde in 2025 will be from July 17 to August 10.
- The fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) will be most impacted by July’s Mercury retrograde.
- Mercury retrogrades can cause delays and miscommunications, but they’re also a time for reflection and realignment.
Whenever Mercury goes retrograde, it gets a bad reputation for causing everything from travel delays to miscommunications and even technical difficulties. And while these things can certainly happen while Mercury backtracks, the period also offers us a valuable chance to check in with ourselves and reassess our situation before moving forward.
Mercury is the planet of communication and information, and as the planet closest to the sun, it moves through our skies pretty fast. A few times a year, Mercury likes to “retrace its steps,” so to speak, so we can double-check anything we might have missed the first time around.
We’ve already had one Mercury retrograde so far in 2025, and we’re set to have two more before the year is out. Keep reading to find out what all 12 signs need to know ahead of this summer’s Mercury retrograde in Leo.
What Mercury Retrogrades Bring
When a planet goes retrograde, it isn’t actually moving backwards, but it appears as such from our vantage point here on Earth. Since Mercury moves so fast, it passes Earth as we orbit around the sun, creating the illusion of retrograde motion a few times a year.
During this roughly three-week period (plus the shadow-period!), Mercury’s signals get scrambled and we all feel a bit more hazy, scatter-brained, and even anxious. Since Mercury governs communication, technology, and travel, it’s also known for causing issues on those fronts, as well as forcing us to revisit lessons we may have missed. (Yes, sometimes that includes exes hitting you up out of nowhere.)
“Emails might go missing, travel plans might get delayed, and devices may misbehave,” explains astrology and human design expert, Amy Lea, who adds, “It’s also common for people from the past, especially old flames or friends, to reappear.”
This isn’t always a sign to re-engage, Lea notes, but rather an opportunity for reflection or closure. “[Mercury retrogrades are] a vital part of a much larger cycle. There are ways to work with this energy, rather than resisting it,” she says.
For instance, when you’re running into a travel delay or technological issue that’s setting you back, you might take the opportunity to slow down and rethink your options.
“Think of it as a time when Mercury’s usual outward flow turns inward. This retrograde motion supports deep reflection, revisiting the past, and realigning your thinking,” Lea tells InStyle. “It’s a beautiful time to edit, review, and refine, for returning to a study you previously started, refreshing your brand messaging, or taking a second look at how you’re communicating in your business or relationships.”
Upcoming Dates
We already had one Mercury retrograde so far this year, from March 14 to April 6. The other Mercury retrogrades to watch out for this year are:
- July 17 to August 10, 2025
- November 9 to November 29, 2025
July’s Mercury retrograde will be in the sign of Leo, and November’s will start in Sagittarius and move back into Scorpio on November 18.
The Signs Most Impacted
According to Lea, July’s Mercury retrograde will be moving through the sign of Leo (15-degrees back to 4-degrees, to be exact).
The fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, and Scorpio), are likely to feel this retrograde the most intensely, she says, “especially if you have planets or angles in your birth chart between 4 and 15 degrees.
So if you’re a Taurus, Leo, Aquarius, or Scorpio, Lea adds, expect this retrograde to “stir up reflection around creativity, authenticity, self-expression, identity, and desires—especially in Leo placements.”
How to Deal
Instead of thinking about Mercury retrograde as a cosmic punishment, Lea suggests thinking of it as a recalibration. “Whatever is coming up for you is doing so for you, not to you. This retrograde is helping you see what’s been overlooked so you can move forward with more clarity and alignment,” she explains.
Of course, knowing what to expect can help you navigate this three-week period with more ease, so consider backing up your devices, double-checking all the details, and of course, thinking before you speak. “If possible, I also avoid signing contracts during this time, but if it’s unavoidable, be thorough, review the fine print, and if you can, have someone else look things over too,” Lea recommends.
Ultimately, Mercury retrogrades aren’t a time to push forward full steam, but to slow down and expect those delays. “This isn’t a time for starting something new, insight-gathering, or forcing clarity. Let your awareness unfold naturally—Mercury retrograde helps you see what you may have previously missed,” Lea notes.
Here’s which area of your life will be impacted by July’s Mercury retrograde based on your rising sign:
- Aries: Creativity and self-expression
- Taurus: Home and family life
- Gemini: Communication and local travel
- Cancer: Budget, finances, and material investments
- Leo: Sense of self and identity
- Virgo: Subconscious beliefs and shadow
- Libra: Larger community and networks
- Scorpio: Career and public image
- Sagittarius: Wisdom and travel plans
- Capricorn: Intimate relationships and shared resources
- Aquarius: Close relationships and contractual agreements
- Pisces: Self-care and daily routines
No matter your sign, Lea says that Mercury retrograde periods invite us into radical self-responsibility. “Sure, things might go awry, but instead of defaulting to blame, ask: What is this showing me? Mercury isn’t trying to trick you—it’s trying to help you grow.”
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