On August 5, 12:03 PM —
On August 5, 2024, 12:56 AM EST, Mercury stations retrograde in its home sign of Virgo beginning a period focused on self-observation and reprioritization. During its retrograde period, the Messenger is going to come back to Leo between August 14 and September 9. Mercury stations direct on August 28, and after returning to Virgo is going to remain there until September 26. Mercury’s retrograde journey through Virgo is an invitation to sharpen our discernment, be more observant, and pay close attention to how our bodies communicate with us.
Mercury’s retrograde journey through Virgo is especially relevant for those of us born with planets or angles in Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces). The individuals personally impacted by Mercury’s retrograde transit through Virgo will have opportunities to improve their ability to observe their inner and outer reality, refine their discernment skills, and redefine their thinking and communication patterns.
Retrogrades: Opportunity to Reflect, Reassess, and Reconnect
Western Astrology is based on the study of planetary movements as they are seen from our perspective on Earth. Retrogrades happen when a planet appears to gradually slow down, stand still, and begin to move backward for some time, before reaching a standstill again and slowly resuming forward movement from there. This is due to changes in the planet’s speed and its relationship to the Earth’s orbit.
Even if planets are not actually moving backward, retrogrades hold a clear symbolic meaning. When a celestial body is at a standstill it is said to be stationary and is closer to Earth than usual, hence, its energy is felt more intensely. This is a time for us to slow down, pause, and take a breath as we look around. Instead of following the inertia or moving forward in autopilot, we are invited to take some time and observe what is happening, both internally and externally, and ask ourselves where we are going and why.
The retrograde phase of a planet is a time to deal with unresolved issues from the past, take care of unfinished business, and reflect on what happened in the previous weeks and months, when the planet was direct. It is an opportunity to take a step back and spend more time looking inward rather than outward, reconnecting with ourselves and our true intentions and motivations. For this reason, retrograde planets contribute to accelerating our evolution as well as our journeys of individuation and deconditioning.
Mercury retrograde in Virgo: Redefining Health
The planet of communication, learning, and problem-solving, Mercury was named after the mythological Messenger, trickster, and patron of travelers. In Astrology, Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo. The sign of Virgo is connected with the Yin side of Mercury, which is directed inward, toward self-observation and self-understanding. The Yin side of Mercury is also associated with the organization of the information we already possess and the process of discerning what is useful or relevant and what isn’t.
Mercury is now stationary retrograde in Virgo: this is an opportunity to pay more attention to details, reflect on our habitual thinking patterns, and ask deeper questions. In Virgo, Mercury is naturally internally focused and highly drawn toward self-analysis and self-observation. Mercury’s retrograde period emphasizes these qualities, sharpening our ability to self-reflect and understand what needs to be refined, redefined, and restructured in our mindset, communication style, and perception of reality.
This transit is an opportunity to pay more attention to how our bodies communicate with us and renew our way of relating to our health, thinking about health, and taking care of all dimensions of our health and wellness.
Retrograde Mercury conjunct Venus in Virgo
On August 7, retrograde Mercury crosses Venus in the early degrees of Virgo. Their alignment represents an invitation to reflect on our communication habits in our past and present relationships. This conjunction brings opportunities to have pending conversations about past matters, reframe our perceptions of past events, and renovate the way we think about love, relationships, and financial matters.
The conjunction between retrograde Mercury and Venus underlines the importance of discernment, particularly in our romantic, social, and financial lives. Their alignment inspires us to reevaluate, rethink, and redefine how we communicate and connect with others, while helping us recognize how our external experiences give us information about our relationship with ourselves and our inner dialogue. The retrograde Mercury-Venus conjunction challenges us to renovate how we think about relationships and facilitates a new understanding of the dynamics that manifest in our interactions.
Mercury retrograde in Virgo: Self-Observation and Reprioritization
Mercury’s retrograde period through Virgo and Leo will offer us opportunities to question our habitual ways of thinking and communicating, refine our discernment skills, and see our reality from another vantage point.
The Messenger’s retrograde time in Virgo is a reminder to be observant, selective, and pay close attention to detail. This combination of energies inspires us to explore different ways of relating to our health and wellness, reflect on how we organize our days and our time, and reprioritize according to what is most important. This transit motivates us to deepen our self-understanding and refine our ability to focus on what is relevant in the present moment. Nevertheless, in the upcoming days, we will have to be careful not to fall into the traps of perfectionism, overthinking, and excessive criticism of ourselves and others.
Learn how you can harness the powerful energies of every Mercury Retrograde to help you illuminate your life path from the inside out with our free Mercury Retrograde e-book gift! ♥
