August's Mercury Retrograde

A Relationship-Arc in Backspin

Mercury Retrograde starts Sunday on the Leo New Moon, greatly impacting our relationships for better or worse.

Not only does the Mercury Retrograde backspin in its student sign Virgo, Venus enters Virgo the same day! August’s Mercury Retrograde snags on romance more than any other pie in our lives. We had 3 Mercury Retrogrades in 2023 and have 4 in 2024, but this current Rx is quite in cahoots with Venus… and with a vengeance. Considering that Autumn Eclipse Season is right around the corner honing in on relationship imbalances with the Libra Lunar South Node, we’ve unfortunately got a LOT of damage to dodge.

Mercury Retrograde is notorious for messing with communication, tech, travel, home harmony and the workplace, but our relationships - whether familial, platonic or romantic - will be on the main chopping block. A fun, retro-aesthetic, info-rich, 48-page zine is available for access at the end of this most for a broader general view. Let’s Get Retrograde covers all the areas Rx affects, lore and science + tips and tricks to prepare for the backspin. A little strategy for strengthening the chaos that Mercury unleashes in our lives!

This post specifically covers Mercury Rx’s romantic conflict angle.

Why is this Mercury Rx particularly chaotic for relationship issues?

Mercury and Venus are inner planets that greatly affect our personal lives. During the August Mercury Retrograde, Venus is incredibly present making many trifling aspects to other planets all throughout the month, stealthily side-by-side or in same Signs as Mercury (see the Leo New Moon Muse for more). The ex-hex of Mercury Rx is potent around August 6-8th a la the Virgo Venus-Mercury Conjunction. While this conjunction gives sparkle and oomph to flirting and dating, it also can lead astray in “Dr. Feel Good” delusions while 3 huge planetary retrogrades this Summer pull the wool over our eyes. Rose-colored glasses might seem a good look, but they’ll leave you blind in the end.

It’s not that the Virgo Venus-Mercury Conjunction CAN’T be lovely: it’s a blessing for those who want to express gratitude and see wholesome connectivity in our communal spaces. It can be a sweet uplift but it does ask for a ward around our inner castle and a heavy dose of logic to navigate stealthily. While this temporary boost is fleeting in its fanciful folly, the Conjunction is a temporary leg-up in a month that is mostly a let down.

Harsh reality sets in again for the latter half of the Rx, especially while in Leo, and we could be left lonely picking up pieces of our hearts. For coupled folks, misinterpreted politeness can actually be masking resentment and secrets that dwells underneath. Getting to the bottom of core issues is better than pouring over small signals… but airing the strife out will be best after Rx.

1 in 4 people get dumped during Mercury Rx. 71% of people see negative impact in their relationships during Mercury Rx. 46% of people perceive “off” behavior from their partners during Mercury Rx.*

The increased anxiety, worry and potential for pitfalls during Retrograde of course harms the most intimate aspect of our lives: our romantic relationships. When irritability is increased, our interactions are sullied with intensity. A partner’s poor mind-state can easily rub us the wrong way, worse if both individuals are GOING THRU IT. However, evidence in a study of 2k individuals find reconciliation in the cards after an Rx-influenced split-up as long as the issue(s) navigated during the murkiness of Mercury’s monstrosity are played with smart strategy. And by this, I mean biting your tongue.

Mercury Retrograde is comfortable in its aligned sign of Virgo and we must consider Venus in Virgo as an influential helper.

The pre-Rx Venus in Leo square to Uranus in Taurus serves as a wild card willing us to break free, adding hasty frantic fuel to Pleasure Housed, Sun-ruled Leo Season. The Venusian switch between Leo and Virgo can be a critical jump-start if too in our Egos. Spiraling in the Venus Signs’ push-pull of bravado and brainstorming, reactivity and intentionality, will make for unfavorable residuals. When Mercury Rx switches back into Leo on August 14, the backspin will NOT be as organized and smooth as its its start. Venus in Virgo wants to keep the vibes pure and precise for as much of a clean slate as possible when the Mercury Retrograde begins.

Still there is no one size fits all. Each Sun Sign is affected differently by this Mercury Retrograde. We will discuss how Mercury Rx intrudes each member of the Zodiac, pinpointing angles that may specifically be bothersome for you. You may have felt it the Retrograde Shadow for the last 2 weeks before the official back-spin on Sunday August 4th and the Leo New Moon may rile us up along with it. When I tell you I have REALLY been going through it, I also know I am not alone. I have stories of clumsiness and drama all around me as friends deal with bad juju and weird flights, silly mistakes and petty fights.