Mercury Turns Direct: Order Returns?

Mercury turns direct

August 28, 2024 (22:14 GMT+1)

The planet which rules communication, post, transport and trade, Mercury, turns direct this week. Expect new information to come to light and sort out any misunderstandings. Whatever’s gone wrong in your life over the last three weeks, it’s the perfect time to try and fix it.

There may be important news that’s revealed as Mercury switches direction in the zodiac. This could be related to events back in July as new information or insights come to light. Mercury has been retrograde for most of August.

Dates & Degrees

Here are the relevant dates/degrees:

• July 17: Mercury reached 21° Leo – the shadow period began
• August 5: Mercury turned retrograde [04 Virgo 06]
• August 15: Mercury returned to fire sign Leo
• August 28: Mercury turns direct [21 Leo 25]
• September 9: Mercury returns to earth sign Virgo
• September 16: Mercury reaches 4° Virgo – the shadow period ends

The shadow phase is when Mercury is back at the same degree in the zodiac at which it turned retrograde. Sometimes, the ‘shadow’ dates can be relevant to what’s happening. 

This week’s turning point and green light moment will be extra significant for you if you have key planets/angles close to 21° Leo.

What To Do Next

• try again – second chances are a classic Mercury direct theme
• sort out any misunderstandings
• consider what Mercury retrograde taught you, i.e. where have you been wasting your time?
• initiate a conversation
• do what you say you will, recommit to a promise
• handle any technological or transport issues
• grab someone’s attention
• plug back in, renew your energy and focus

The Uranus Factor

Mercury may be turning direct on August 28th but wild-card Uranus is turning retrograde on September 1st. This is important as Mercury is currently in a square aspect to Leo, both planets in fixed star signs.

This is the major planetary aspect which has dominated this Mercury retrograde phase, a clash between chaotic, unpredictable Uranus in Taurus and communication planet Mercury in Leo. Therefore, even though Mercury turns direct this week, it may take a while longer for things to settle.

Things can go a little crazy when the planet of communication and the mind Mercury gets lead astray by live-wire Uranus. This combination is impulsive and bonkers and favours free speech and controversial opinions. 

It’s a left-field combination which can be surprising and unconventional. Mercury clashed with Uranus on July 21st during the Full Moon in Capricorn, they clashed again while Mercury was retrograde on August 18th, close to the Full Moon in Aquarius. They will go crazy one more time on September 7th.

Therefore, you may have to wait until Mercury moves into Virgo on September 9th before order returns.

What It Means For You

Here are the areas of your life under the spotlight now Mercury is beginning to move forward. Read both your Sun sign and Ascendant sign:

• Leo: image and body, appearance and profile, personal goals
• Virgo: retreat, solitude, quiet time, sacrifice, inner work
• Libra: friends, groups, wider society, politics
• Scorpio: career, reputation and status, future goals
• Sagittarius: travel, education, philosophy and beliefs
• Capricorn: joint finances and shared resources, all things hidden and taboo
• Aquarius: relationships, both personal and professional, your one-to-ones
• Pisces: work and routine, health and lifestyle, your well-being
• Aries: your ‘fun’ sector: love affairs, children, sex, creative projects, entertainment
• Taurus: home and family, your past and ancestry
• Gemini: communication, local community, transport, neighbours and siblings
• Cancer: money, assets and possessions, values and self-worth

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