On August 31, Mercury Retrograde makes its way back into Leo! This will represent a big opportunity for a “do-over” where it comes to something you feel like you should have done, wish you’d done, a few weeks ago — retrogrades are all about time-warped thinking, and sometimes opportunities to “go back” and readdress something you didn’t think you’d have the chance to. Mercury’s slow crawl back into Leo will allow you to make an important change, something that gets the “sun shining” back on every corner of your new endeavour. This will allow a puff of bright new energy and sunny self-confidence — the tarot cards for Mercury and Leo are I – The Magician and VIII – Strength, offering empowerment to our ideas and knowing that our “team” is there to support us as we start to make things work. There are just a few details left to sort out before this is brought into reality, put everything “necessary” to completion is in place — it’s time to get ready to stand up and really put things in motion, after gathering your energy and resting a bit to build up your literal “strength” to get the work done.
The following reading is drawn from Crystal Reading Cards, Connected and Free: The Alchemist’s Oracle, and the Revelations Tarot, and focuses on how to make the best use of this “chance for a re-do” energy surrounding Mercury Retrograde re-entering Leo! This is an example of what’s included with the $45 Planetary Transit Readings tier on my Patreon page, the tarotscope subscription option which includes a “one-card”* reading like the following every time a planet changes signs (~4/month), a 3-card reading for the New and Full Moons (2x/month), a 5-card reading when the Sun changes signs (once a month) and a one-card monthly kick-off reading! For this reading, I laid out a crystal grid with rose quartz for compassion for your self and others as you get ready to start this intense leg of your journey (the first card I saw from Crystal Reading Cards when shuffling was Rose Quartz | Inner Child <3<3), sodalite for powerful and clear self-expression, three large carnelian for boundless creativity, black tourmaline for protection from past issues, snow quartz for clear thinking and protection from mental obstacles, smoky quartz for energetic clearing, two yellow jasper for protection of personal power and energy, and clear quartz for continued higher self connection and further mental clarity.
*this is actually a two-card reading because Retrogrades need “extra help,” haha!
For this reading, I acted on an urge I’ve had for a while now and included the pictures of the Shadow cards/ Higher Self cards — it’s always so amazing to see the way the imagery and colours across decks “work together!”
Squeeeal!!! These Shadow cards’ “communication” stunned me. Look at the similarities in colours between Pyromorphite | Patience and the 2 of Pentacles — all those light greens and yellows! And then Loudspeaker‘s sacred geometry within a circle echoes the pentacles in the 2 of Pents and the sort of “multiplying” effect of the crystal in Pyromorphite… I can’t get over it! And the Higher Self cards — Clear Quartz | Purification and Receiving Frequency are very similar messages — that’s pretty much what clear quartz is used (“receiving frequency” from your Higher Self), and then the red of the Buddha robes completely echo all the reds and oranges in the Knight of Pentacles card! And the lotus and the KNight’s pentacle echo all the disk-y-ness in the Shadow cards! And the Clear Quartz pillar echoes the two stacked pentacles! And the lines emanating from the Buddha and the sort of brickwork pattern in the back of the 2 of Pents… okay.. I need to calm down.
But these are very clear messages as well — This reading is very much about trusting that you have found the balance you need to “grow” on. Your message is being heard, received, and worked with in your favour! This is the “waiting period” before all the real action happens, before you find yourself in the middle of it, with all hands on deck and far beyond the biggest luxury you have right now: time. You still have time to think and plan, and now is the time to maximize on that! Take as much time as you can to tweak your actual “plan,” to meditate, to relax, to take care of yourself and prepare yourself to work, work, work and flap your wings when it’s time to take that “leap of faith” out of the nest that is your comfort-zone. Savour these last moments of cocoon-time and cleanse your soul — your perspective is what’s needed in the world, and you are almost ready to share it.
Oracle Cards: Brazilianite | Flexibility + Transition
Yes, you are moving towards the point where you open up like a butterfly and share the wonderful thing you’ve been developing! But right now, really really, it’s just time to roll with it all in the meantime, keeping your little heart safe, resting up and opening your mind to the many challenges that will come with meeting your plan with reality. Never fear, because as you know even deeper in that heart, this vision is protected — you have taken down so many old “structures,” rebuilding in such a way that this is something new and good, that will inspire a new way of thinking for other people too. You know you’re ready for this, so allow the last bit of your metamorphosis to take place — hold tight! — and trust your plan to carry through the “behind-the-scenes” action taking place now.
Tarot Cards
Card 1: What theme will be revisited when Mercury Retrograde re-enters Leo? Knight of Swords
You may be nagged by the feeling that part of what’s being put in action wasn’t “thought through” well enough — put your finger on it and correct it now!! You feeling that way is your intuition speaking, and it is able to be “heard” louder and clearer during retrogrades. No need to let loose ends dangle — snip them up, sew them up, and don’t let them prickle at you any more. You are preparing to fly, make sure all the screws are tightened!
Card 2: Advice/Focus for Mercury Retrograde re-entering Leo? XVIII – The Moon
No doubt, it’s hard to see what’s “ahead” at this point — you are entering this new landscape somewhat blind, guided by a different way of thinking about things, necessitating learning to think on your feet and navigate totally unfamiliar surroundings. Take a page from the Flying Fish and flow with it all — if the waves throw you out of the water, flap your wings, and when you plunge back in, swim with all your might! Remember, you are protected on this journey, and you have “help” surrounding you on every plane! Your support network of people is tight, your spiritual team is cheering, and even you have been feeling darn okay with yourself in spite of the minute challenges stubbing your every metaphorical toe as you wade through this retrograde season and wait, wait, wait for your dawning excitement!
Yes, right now you’re being provided with time to act on any corrections you want to make to your plan. Remain balanced knowing that things are “cycling” exactly as they should — a reoccurring card when I was shuffling was Moonstone | Cycles, then The Moon is the main card! The Moon has been stalking me lately, both in tarot decks, out the window, in images I see… people, we are growing and getting ready to “catch the light!” Your vision is getting “full” in such a way that you’re ready to let it shine. Just a few more sleeps!
Connected and Free: The Alchemist’s Oracle. Lauren Aletta. Illustrated by Tegan Swyny. First Edition. Inner Hue, 2014. (link is for 2nd Edition)
Crystal Reading Cards. Rachelle Charman. Sterling Ethos, 2016.
Revelations Tarot. Zach Wong. Llewellyn Publications, 2005.
Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.