How to Survive Mercury Retrograde (July–August 2025)

Ah, Mercury Retrograde—our favorite cosmic scapegoat for every dropped call, glitched GPS, unsent text, and completely avoidable argument. From July 17 to August 11, 2025, Mercury appears to move backwards in the sky, stirring up chaos in communication, technology, and travel. But is it really all doom and disaster—or could it be a divine invitation to slow the hell down?

Whether you’re a seasoned Mercury RX survivor or brand new to its cosmic mischief, this guide will help you ground your energy, protect your peace, and maybe even thrive in the mess. You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it—you can work with it.

Wait, WTF is Mercury Retrograde?

Mercury rules communication, travel, and technology. Three times a year (sometimes four), it appears to move backwards in the sky—a cosmic illusion with very real consequences. During this time, expect delays, misunderstandings, tech failures, and exes rising from the dead like it’s emotional zombie season.

Mercury retrograde is not a curse. It’s a slowdown. A spiritual buffering wheel. A cosmic “do not disturb” mode.

Key Themes of This Retrograde

Each retrograde hits a little differently depending on the sign it travels through. You can check that for the specifics—but generally, Mercury retrograde asks us to:

Reflect
Review
Revise
Reconnect (carefully)
Release

Think: editing, not launching. Processing, not pushing.

Mercury in Leo → Cancer: Spotlight to Softness

This retrograde begins in Leo, stirring up themes around self-expression, creativity, and ego. You may feel called to revise how you show up, how you share your voice, or how you express your desires.

Around August 1, Mercury retrogrades back into Cancer, shifting the energy inward. Expect themes around emotional safety, family, home, and boundaries to rise up. Conversations may get tender—but healing.

Lean into this shift by softening your approach, tending your inner world, and making space for real emotional honesty.

Survival Kit: Tools + Rituals

1. Protect Your Energy

Carry protective stones like black tourmaline, obsidian, or labradorite.
Dab a bit of a protective oil blend or moon water behind your ears or on your phone case (hello, tech magic).
Visualize a mirror shield bouncing chaotic energy back out of your space.

2. Slow Down

Double-check messages before sending.
Leave early for appointments.
Don’t make major purchases or sign contracts unless you have to—and if you do, triple-check the fine print.

3. Digital Cleansing Ritual

Give your devices a little love:

Clear out old emails.
Delete ghosted DMs.
Back up your files.
You can even smoke cleanse your devices for extra protection if you want.

4. Communicate with Care

Say what you mean, clearly and kindly.
Re-read texts and emails before sending.
Don’t assume tone—Mercury loves a misunderstanding.

5. Journal Prompts for Retrograde Realness

What old stories are coming back for revision?
Where am I being asked to slow down?
What needs closure—or a reboot?

Mercury RX Ritual

What You’ll Need:

🕯 White or silver candle (for clarity and communication)
💎 Protective stone like black tourmaline or obsidian
📱 Your phone or laptop (for a digital cleanse)
✍️ Journal + pen
🌿 Optional: Herbs/incense for smoke cleansing or moon water

Step-by-Step Ritual

1. Cleanse Your Space

Light your incense or herbs and waft the smoke around your space, especially your phone and any mirrors or screens. If you prefer, use moon water or Florida water to anoint your altar, tech, or hands.

Say aloud:

“I clear the static and invite in clarity. This is sacred space.”

2. Set the Candle Intention

Place your candle in front of you. As you light it, visualize the flame burning away confusion, miscommunication, and energetic noise.

Say aloud or whisper:

“I call in calm, clear communication. I honor the slowdown. I align with the truth beneath the noise.”

3. Ground with Your Stone

Hold your protective crystal in your hand or place it between you and your devices.

Close your eyes and take 3–5 deep, slow breaths. Feel your energy settle. Imagine a shield forming around your aura—mirrored, soft, but strong. Nothing chaotic gets through.

4. Digital Cleansing

Take a few intentional minutes to:

Delete old messages or apps
Unfollow or mute draining accounts
Organize your digital clutter
Set new boundaries around screen time or social media

Let this feel like energetic hygiene—not just digital housekeeping.

5. Journal Prompts

Now, in your journal, reflect on any (or all) of the following:

What themes keep repeating right now?
Where is life asking me to pause, review, or release?
What communication patterns am I noticing (and healing)?
What do I actually want to say—but haven’t?

Write freely. This is for your clarity, not anyone else’s consumption.

6. Close with Intention

Blow out your candle gently, thanking the flame for its insight. Hold your stone again and whisper:

“I move forward with clarity, patience, and power.

What’s meant for me will return.

What’s not will fall away.”

Mercury retrograde isn’t here to ruin your life—it’s here to realign it. Like a cosmic editor with a red pen, it forces you to pause, revisit the past, and clean up your communication.

This retrograde, give yourself grace. Don’t panic when things fall apart—they might just be falling into place.

Stay witchy, stay grounded, and for the love of Mercury—back up your damn phone.

xoxo,