Yes, Mercury retrograde can make you feel all the feels—and right now that’s a good thing

To some people, “Mercury retrograde” is an all-purpose villain that’s out to get you stuck in traffic, make your phone go dead during a conference call, or generally disrupt your everyday routines. But that’s not *really* what it’s all about, astrologer Jennifer Racioppi explains. Here’s how to reap the (deeply emotional) benefits of this much-maligned alignment. 

On Sunday, July 21, retrograde Mercury aligns at the same degree of the sun, marking one of the more intense moments of the retrograde journey: the inferior conjunction. While, yes, the classic technological and communication snafus that Mercury retrograde is known for are likely in play, this alignment is a good moment to ponder what Mercury retrograde is teaching you on an emotional level.

Remember, a Mercury-in-retrograde period asks you to review, revise, rethink, and reconsider issues. What are you learning about your values?

What’s becoming more apparent to you as it relates to making your dreams a reality? Are there issues from your past that you are gaining a new perspective on? Remember, a Mercury-in-retrograde period asks you to review, revise, rethink, and reconsider issues. Often Mercury in retrograde will even bring back people from our past, to reflect on those relationships.

So consider this: What are you learning now and how does it apply to where you want to go next? How can you use this information to advance your growth? How is it helping you to be more aligned, authentic, and spirited on your path? Most importantly, what are you learning about your values?

At the same time, Sunday also brings another critical aspect. Venus, which travels in Cancer too, opposes Pluto. While this aspect can deliver a power dynamic, it also asks you to examine your most sincere values. Venus represents what you love and value. With Pluto in opposition of this planet, the cosmos puts pressure on you to take a stand for your truth.

Pluto in opposition to Venus asks you to step away from the trap of being liked as a form of self-validation and take a stand for what you believe.

Letting other people’s values drive your life is not only exhausting, but it causes your self-esteem to be approval-dependent. Pluto in opposition to Venus—happening at that same time as the Mercury-sun conjunction, and just a few days after the recent lunar eclipse—asks you to step away from the trap of being liked as a form of self-validation and take a stand for what you believe.

Thankfully, owning your confidence becomes easier as the week moves on.

Here comes a Leo love bomb

Late in the day on Monday (10:50 p.m. Eastern) the sun leaves the emotional waters of Cancer and moves into the lighthearted, love-filled land of Leo, just in perfect time. As things were starting to get heavy, the self-confident, generous, warm-hearted, and powerful Leo energy comes into play. Yes. This is much needed in the aftermath of such intense eclipses.

With the sun in Leo, allow yourself to feel a bit more lion-hearted and step into an expanded sense of enthusiasm. Turn up your charm.

Even with Venus still in Cancer, making a square to Eris (the dwarf planet of discord, which is also now retrograde), the energy of the week significantly shifts towards optimism and growth. You can, and will, accomplish what you put your mind to now, especially if it aligns with your deepest, most authentic values.

With the sun in Leo, allow yourself to feel a bit more lionhearted and step into an expanded sense of love-filled enthusiasm. Turn up your charm. And on Wednesday, Venus aligns with Mercury, helping you to infuse all that you are learning about your values and helping you update your mindset.

Oh hi, sunny mood (I’ve missed you)

Thankfully, we have another stellar aspect on Thursday when Mars, who’s also in Leo, makes a luscious trine to Jupiter, the planet of good luck and good fortune. Awesome! It’s time to let your generous nature shine and share your abundant goodwill with others. Mars is the warrior planet, and in this position to Jupiter, we receive a heavy dose of optimism. Even the most introverted among us may feel the call toward socialization under this influence. This fire trine ignites your passion, enthusiasm, and growth.

Even the most introverted among us may feel the call toward socialization under this influence.

Then on Saturday, Venus leaves the sign of the crab too, entering into the sign of the lion. With Venus inching closer and closer to the sun also—Venus will play a prominent role in the very positive Leo new moon on July 31—you’ll start to feel that beautiful momentum build now. And the icing on the cake? All of this happens while the sun makes a positive and healing water trine to Neptune on the July 28.

So keep this in mind: The week begins with an intense focus on what you love, why you like it, and your ability to go more in-depth on behalf of your values. Meanwhile, with Mercury and the sun conjoining, you are getting to the heart of you, thanks to Mercury retrograde lessons. Speaking of heart, with the sun moving into Leo on Tuesday, the vibes of the cosmos shift and ask you to live and lead from the heart. This becomes even more highlighted when we experience the fire trine between Mars and Jupiter, even more so when Venus moves into Leo on July 27. And best of all: There’s a potent new moon on July 31 in Leo, the same day Mercury stations direct.

Jennifer Racioppi is the creator of Lunar Logic—a philosophy that integrates the deep wisdom of both science and spirituality, and blends her expertise in astrology, positive psychology, and women’s health—to coach high-achieving female entrepreneurs to reach their next level of success.