Maybe you’ve noticed that no matter how clear you think you’re being, it’s increasingly tricky to feel understood recently. Or as much as you try to move forward on projects you’d like to build momentum on, you feel stuck in place — or even dragged backward. If you’re feeling this way, take heart that you’re far from alone. You’re just feeling the effect of the Mercury retrograde shadow, which occurs ahead of each Mercury retrograde, and is currently in full swing. The pre-retrograde shadow (or retroshade) serves as a period during which you’ll get a sneak peek of the challenges and opportunities you’ll be presented with during the retrograde itself. And the shadow occurs because Mercury, typically the fastest planet in the solar system, is slowing down ahead of its backspin, which officially kicks off on Thursday, July 17 (PT)/Friday, July 18 (ET).
If you’re frustrated to learn that Mercury retrograde’s at times aggravating effects last for even longer than you might’ve realized, I can reassure you, as an astrologer and the author of Mercury Magic: How to Thrive During Retrogrades and Tap Into the Power of the Messenger Planet All Year Long, that it’s possible to capitalize on a pre-retrograde shadow. Read on for all the details on the latest Mercury retrograde shadow period, which has been in full effect since Sunday, June 29.
What is the Mercury retrograde shadow period?
The pre-retrograde shadow happens before every Mercury retrograde, offering a sneak peek of what you’ll be dealing with when Mercury is officially retrograde for three weeks. The shadow presents situations, themes, projects, conflicts and interactions that over the course of the upcoming Mercury retrograde will require revision, reflection or an edit of some kind.
The pre-retrograde shadow can often be felt just like the retrograde itself, leading to glitchy tech, crossed wires, deliveries going rogue and transportation slowdowns. On the plus side, you might feel compelled to commit to more self-work, reflection or meditation and to slow down, rest, recharge and prioritize restorative activities.
Mercury retrograde itself is the result of the trickster planet appearing to move backward from our vantage point on Earth, and these phases happen three to four times a year for about three weeks at a time. The pre-retrograde shadow is the result of the fact that, before Mercury can officially go retrograde, the planet of communication needs about two weeks to slow down. That’s because when Mercury is direct, it’s the fastest planet in our solar system, speeding around the sun every 88 Earth days.
And whenever Mercury’s zippy pace is curbed — even if it’s only decelerating versus moving backward through the constellations — communication, transportation and technology just don’t function as speedily or smoothly as usual.
That said, you don’t need to act like Mercury is retrograde just yet. Instead, simply being aware that you’re in a pre-Mercury retrograde shadow period can be helpful for understanding and moving through the inevitable crossed wires and glitches that are more likely to occur now.
When is the pre-retrograde shadow in July 2025?
This summer, Mercury is in its pre-retrograde shadow period from Sunday, June 29 at 10:54 p.m. PT/Monday, June 30 at 1:54 a.m. ET until Mercury officially goes retrograde on Thursday, July 17 at 9:45 p.m. PT/Friday, July 18 at 12:45 a.m. ET.
The pre-retrograde shadow kicks off when Mercury hits the exact degrees and minutes of the sign at which it’ll ultimately go direct (aka end its retrograde). So, on June 29-30 — and then again on August 11 — Mercury will be at 4°14’ of Leo.
What are the themes of the pre-retrograde shadow in July 2025?
With Mercury moving forward and then backward through fixed fire sign Leo, this pre-retrograde shadow spurs lessons related to your sense of self, identity, confidence, self-expression, creativity and romance. Pro-tip: For some sense of what this Mercury retrograde could look like for you, think back to the middle of August 2024 when Mercury last moved backward through Leo.
How the pre-Mercury retrograde shadow in July 2025 will impact your sign
Here is how the pre-Mercury retrograde shadow in Leo will affect you — and what you can do now to make the most of the upcoming retrograde, based on your sign. (Be sure to read your rising sign, if you know it. If you don’t, you can find it in your birth chart or by using this CafeAstrology calculator.)
Aries
Ahead of this Mercury retrograde, you’ll be compelled to muse about creative projects you previously hit pause on and possibly even relationships from the past. If you’ve been putting having fun on the backburner for far too long, you’ll have the chance to reimagine how to infuse your life with more pleasure and lighthearted, artistic joy. Make the most of the moment by thinking about how you might like to take walks down memory lane with someone special or by planning to revisit a beloved vacation spot with your significant other or loved ones.
Taurus
Mercury initially slowed down in your home zone, making this period all about reassessing your domestic life. There may be heart-to-hearts you need to have with loved ones in order to smooth over ongoing conflicts, or you could be mapping out your approach to tackling a home redecoration or renovation project. Get clear on your objectives, then remind yourself that, as challenging as the work might be to reach them, any results that bolster your sense of security are worth the discomfort that you might encounter along the way.
Gemini
Your ruling planet Mercury’s shadow is likely already stirring up at least a little bit of chaos tied to your everyday communication, transportation and interactions with friends, colleagues and neighbors — as well as siblings, if you have them. You might feel like you have to work a bit harder to be understood or to avoid misunderstandings. Preparing yourself mentally for more of this energy can preempt stress. You’ll also do well to fire yourself up to double-check seemingly minor details, like ensuring that text actually went through, confirming you’re on the same page as a friend when making plans or revising your approach to a team effort on the job.
Cancer
Mercury’s shadow is happening in your money zone, which means it’s time to take even more care when in the midst of earning, saving, investing or tackling any other everyday income-related plans. Take stock of what’s coming in and going out, as this incoming retrograde could lead to confusion around those concrete facts and figures. You’ll also do well to start thinking about how your self-worth and values tie into your bottom line. You could find you’re on the brink of intriguing breakthroughs that are ultimately setting the stage for you to feel even more fulfilled in this area of your life.
Leo
The Mercury pre-shadow begins in your intimacy and joint resources zone, so any head-butting or misunderstandings with a loved one or significant other that come up now is actually fertile ground for working through your differences and deepening mutual understanding. Sure, it might feel like you’re attempting to run against the tide at times, but take heart that you excel at finding the positive side of even the roughest challenges. This period also activates your adventure sector, which means you’ll be refining your connection to your gut impulses and reflecting on how you can tap into and satisfy wanderlust.
Virgo
With Mercury, your ruling planet, slowing down in your spirituality sector, you could feel a bit drained and called to pour the energy you do have into rest and restorative mind-body practices. As much as you love to plan and dive into pragmatic, step-by-step strategies, you’re getting the sense now that there’s a lot about this moment that’s simply out of your control, and it’s time to take your hands off the steering wheel. At the same time, you have the opportunity to reimagine how you’re tending to your psychological well-being (think through therapy, journaling, meditation app exercises, et al.).
Libra
Mercury is about to move backward through your networking and long-term wishes zone, which means you’re likely already feeling slowdowns related to group activities and communal efforts. Instead of continuing to hit the gas to cross the finish line on a team objective or a longheld personal dream, think about how you might go back to the drawing board in some way. Revising your approach over the next few weeks could bolster your ultimate success.
Scorpio
The Mercury pre-retrograde shadow period activates your career zone, so you’ll do well to anticipate slowdowns, crossed wires and the need to tend to old business and loose ends related to your professional path. You could feel a bit stuck, frustrated or lost, like you’re in limbo and the path ahead is hazier than you’d ideally like it to be. But you can make the most of this moment by tuning into your heart to get a better sense of where you want to go from here. Then, remind yourself of your power to manifest your goals. In general, preparing yourself to do more inner work over the next few weeks will work to your benefit.
Sagittarius
The pre-retrograde shadow is impacting your adventure and higher learning zone, cranking up restlessness while potentially making it a bit harder than usual to get out, address your wanderlust and soak up knowledge in the way you’re generally fired up to do. Instead, you’re being called to do self-work related to this area of your life. Over the next few weeks, you’ll be thinking about how you’ve satiated your desire to spread your wings in the past and to see if you can zhush any details that will make it easier to do that even more going forward. For example, you might map out a plan to go to bat for more flexibility on the job or reconnect with friends who adore travel just as much as you do.
Capricorn
You may be thinking about how you can be more vulnerable within your closest bonds and how you can best achieve shared financial goals, given that Mercury is about to go retrograde in your intimacy and joint resources zone. Your instinct is to be super-practical, but with Mercury’s impending backspin clouding facts and figures and this event occurring in such an emotional sector, you’ll do well to connect with your intuition and heart now. Take a step back from your typical, industrious schedule to find more quiet and prioritize spiritually-gratifying practices. You might also find that carving out more time for connecting with someone special in a physical, mental and emotional way benefits your well-being even more than usual now.
Aquarius
You could feel like what’s old is new again when it comes to experiences within your one-on-one bonds — for better or worse. The pre-retrograde shadow impacts your partnership zone, so old conflicts that were previously unresolved could be resurfacing, or you might feel compelled to rethink your approach to a goal you share with a dear friend, loved one, colleague or significant other. Either way, take heart that you can come at any of these challenges with a refreshed perspective and, despite short-term setbacks, you’re on your way to finding solutions, harmony and progress.
Pisces
With Mercury about to go retrograde in your health and everyday hustle sector, you could feel like your typical routine isn’t working for you at the moment. You need to shake things up or revisit a beloved practice you’ve put a pin in for some reason. Maybe it’s time to reconnect with a yoga teacher or acupuncturist you haven’t seen in a while, or to work with a friend or loved one to find more space in your day for restful breaks. Allowing yourself to slow down and step back from moving lightning fast through life has you feeling more centered and capable of taking on whatever twists and turns each day brings.
