Let’s talk loose ends and the blessed end of Mercury retrograde.
While Mercury, our fleet-footed, silver-tongued, trash-talking and mayhem-making planet of the mind and the mouth officially stations direct on Aug. 11, the shadow period will last until Aug. 25 — giving us a few more days to reflect and reset before we, too, move forward.
“Rather than rushing into new plans or trying to catch up at full speed, this time is best spent on thoughtful closure. Here’s how you can navigate these final retrograde days with clarity and purpose,” Tetiana Tsvil, psychic at Nebula, a spiritual guidance platform, told The Post.
According to Tsvil, the first thing we should all do when Mercury goes direct is take a beat and consider who and what has been stirred up since the retrograde began in mid-July. What long-buried issues, relationships, projects, and quarrels were exhumed and demanded to be dealt with?
“Mercury retrogrades are known for triggering these types of returns. But with the retrograde happening in the sign of Leo, it may focus more on your personality, appearance, and character,” said Tsvil.
“You may have been prompted to re-evaluate how you present yourself to the world, whether you’re truly showing up authentically, and where your pride or ego might be blocking connection or clarity.”
Tsvil recommends making a list of the themes that have emerged since July 18. “Think of it as a personal check-in to identify patterns that may still need attention.”
Tsvil insists there is meaning to be mined from the messiness that accompanies a retrorade cycle.
To aid and abet the digging, she suggests the following prompts for self-inquiry:
This summer’s Mercury retrograde has gone down, or back, in Leo, a sign associated with bold expression and reactive, emo egos.
“If the past few weeks exposed moments where emotions ran high or pride got in the way, think of it as a valuable mirror. You’re being given a chance to respond differently next time.”
In the spirit of thoughtful responses, Tsvil recommends taking time over the next few days to edit and finalize before setting your sights on a fresh endeavor.
“This could include responding to old messages, finishing postponed projects, returning borrowed items, or updating your files and calendar. If you’ve been working on creative content, use this time to edit or refine it. Mercury in Leo emphasizes self-expression, so this is the perfect time to make your message more honest, aligned, and powerful.”
If one of your plans turned out to be more of a failure than a triumph during this retrograde period, don’t let disappointment stop you from gleaning valuable insights.
“Look at what you can learn or improve. Fixing it now may save you from repeating the same cycle later.”
Mercury retrograde is notorious for bringing back people from the past to torture our present/test our growth. But as Tsvil notes, what returns does not need to remain.
“Did you truly want that person back in your life? Was it a true reconnection, or just nostalgia? Did that old idea still inspire you, or did it remind you why you moved on? Use this time to make conscious decisions. Ask yourself: ‘Is this still right for me? Is it aligned with where I’m going, or just a pull from where I’ve been?'”
Once Mercury clears its post-retrograde shadow on Aug. 25, we’ll be back in a smoother swing, and our halted plans will gain momentum.
As Tsvil explains, how you maximize that momentum depends on how well you button s–t up in the here and now. She recommends closing out the shadow period with the following guidelines
“Instead of rushing into something new, take these final retrograde days to do the following:”
“Mercury retrograde isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a reset. These last days before it fully clears are your chance to slow down, clean up, and come back into alignment with who you are and how you want to communicate that. Handle things with care and take the pressure off yourself to ‘fix everything.’ Trust that a smoother path is just around the corner.“
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.