After three signal-jamming weeks, Mercury retrograde is over on August 11, closing its dramatic tour through flamboyant Leo. Here’s what it means when the communication planet moves forward again in this expressive sign.
The Summer 2025 Mercury retrograde ends August 11
If it felt like a feral cat had your tongue these past few weeks, you might be shy about letting out so much as a “mew.” Blame it on mouthy Mercury, who went on a retrograde stalk through Leo’s jungle starting July 18. There’s nothing healthy about holding in emotions forever, and fortunately, you won’t have to. This dramatic arc takes a turn for the positive as Mercury shifts back into direct motion on August 11
In the quieter moments of the summer Mercury retrograde, you may have found yourself turning inward—whether to process some long-shelved feelings, reconnect to a creative passion, or tune in to a deeper part of yourself that’s been calling for your attention. If you found yourself ugly crying (with or without a quantifiable reason), hopefully those tears did their job and helped you release. Maybe your travel plans turned into travel delays. Enough of this drama!
When Mercury ends, expect this
Once Mercury retrograde is over on August 11, the chronic misunderstandings and adventure hiccups that disrupted your early summer can pave the way to healing reconciliations and smoother plans for late summer—at least until the next Mercury retrograde this fall. (Sorry!)
But don’t panic: Mercury, the silver-tongued celestial flirt, roams Leo’s jungle until September 2. What felt like a Greek tragedy earlier this month might not become a comedy overnight (or ever). But maybe you’ll finally be able to laugh about it…a little…or glean the golden lesson from the experience.
Noticing gaps in leadership since July 18? Don’t ignore the call of the crown—if you’re meant to take charge, own it. And if you’re trying to get a clear read on a love interest, signals become way more obvious starting August 11 when Mercury retrograde ends!
The deeper lesson? Don’t ignore what Mercury retrograde revealed—especially the consequences of rushing, glossing over details or avoiding uncomfortable questions. Even if the insights came through a little tough love, they’re worth their weight in gold. Carry them with you once Mercury retrograde is over. Ask the extra question. Read the fine print. And trust that slowing down was the shortcut you needed all along.
Mercury retrograde is over, but it’s not full-speed-ahead QUITE yet
Mercury retrograde officially ends August 11—but don’t rush it. The shadow period lingers until August 26, so think before you speak and give yourself space to process what’s surfaced.
For a couple days before or after a planet is retrograde it goes through a period called “stationing,” when it’s adjusting to the U-turn. You may feel the effects from winding down (or ramping up), like the lingering fumes of a car with a bad exhaust system.
That’s not the only adjustment. For approximately two weeks after Mercury retrograde is over, the planet lingers in its “retroshade”, AKA the shadow period and the term we coined years ago. Here’s how we explain the shadow:
• After moving backwards through the zodiac from July 18 to August 11, Mercury has to make up the distance it lost.
• This retrograde began at 15°34’ of Leo on July 18. Mercury will have retreated all the way back to 4°15’ of Leo on August 11, ending the retrograde.
• The cosmic messenger will take until August 26 to return to 15°34’ Leo—the degree it was at on July 18, when the retrograde began.
Your Mercury Direct Horoscope
Below are horoscopes for every zodiac sign for when Mercury retrograde is over in Leo on August 11. You may read for your Sun sign or your Rising sign (ascendant). Visit our Cosmic Calculators if you want to calculate your Rising sign or discover more about your personal astrology.
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Aries (Mar 20-Apr 19)
Love on pause—or on blast? Since July 18, Mercury’s been retrograde in Leo and your passionate fifth house, stirring up old sparks and unfinished storylines. An ex could have slipped back into your DMs, or some past drama might have spun the plotline in circles. Feeling drained by the reruns? On August 11, Mercury retrograde is over, letting you step off this emotional carousel. Time to clear the smoke, rewrite the script, and bring back the heat—the kind that feels white-hot and brand-new. Aries horoscopes, read more!
Taurus (Apr 19-May 20)
Since Mercury hit reverse on July 18, even your closest interactions may have felt like walking on very thin ice. With the messenger planet retrograding through your fourth house home zone, tensions could’ve flared over the tiniest things—and no amount of “sorry” seemed to stick. Take a breath, Bull. On August 11, Mercury retrograde is over, dialing down the drama in your inner circle. Give things a little room to settle, then revisit those olive branches in about a week—when the air is truly clear. Taurus horoscopes, read more!
Gemini (May 20-Jun 20)
Say what? Communicator Mercury, your cosmic caregiver, has spent the last three weeks backsliding in retrograde, throwing your conversations, technology and travel plans into a tailspin. On the upside, with your third house highlighted, you may have reconnected with an old friend or healed a rift with a sibling. On August 11, Mercury powers forward again, sweeping away the misunderstandings and breakdowns in your best-laid plans. While it’s been fun reuniting with old friends, it’s also safe to branch out again. Commence to networking! Gemini horoscopes, read more!
Cancer (Jun 20-Jul 22)
Cooperation and compromise? Since July 18, with Mercury retrograde, even agreeing on the tiniest detail has felt like pulling teeth. And while the messenger planet’s been sliding back through your second house money zone for the past few weeks, budgets may have gone sideways—perhaps due to a few surprise expenses. Work vibes may have been equally unclear, with clients or coworkers misreading each other left and right. On August 11, Mercury retrograde is over, bringing clarity back to your cash flow and conversations. Deals can finally land, and that stalled job application or client negotiation will soon be back in play. Cancer horoscopes, read more!
Leo (Jul 22-Aug 22)
Can we double‑click on that? Since July 18, Mercury’s retrograde in your sign has been jamming signals and leaving you feeling misunderstood. Negotiations stalled, and figuring out where anyone stood was like trying to decode a fuzzy prompt. On August 11, Mercury pivots direct, clearing the static and letting you land your message without all the rewrites. No more hovering over every word. The green light is on to push projects live and step back into the spotlight. Ready, set, launch! Leo horoscopes, read more!
Virgo (Aug 22-Sep 22)
Life has felt like a hall of mirrors since your ruler, Mercury, turned retrograde on July 18, backing through Leo and your dreamy twelfth house. Good news: the illusions start to lift on August 11. As Mercury pivots direct, those walls you’ve been bumping up against begin to look more like open doors. It’s your move whether to step through, but if you set clear intentions, what unfolds next could feel surprisingly fresh. Step through with curiosity— the path ahead is clearer once Mercury retrograde is over, and more inviting than you imagined. Virgo horoscopes, read more!
Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22)
There’s no “I” in “team,” but for the past three weeks, it may have felt like there wasn’t much else in it either. Since July 18, Mercury’s retrograde has stirred up patchy dynamics and left your inner world feeling anything but balanced. Take heart: on August 11, Mercury pivots direct in your eleventh house, restoring harmony to your mind, heart, and crew. Lead with your signature diplomacy when Mercury retrograde is over, and watch the vibe recalibrate. Sometimes all it takes is one graceful move to reset the whole system. Libra horoscopes, read more!
Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21)
Since July 18, getting a straight answer has felt like shouting into the void. A promising client may have ghosted, or green lights turned into an endless string of yellows ones mid-process. On August 11, Mercury pivots direct in your professional tenth house, untangling the crossed wires and pulling momentum back into play. It may take a beat to sync your goals with the current conditions, but don’t get discouraged. The channels are open once Mercury retrograde is over—and everyone will soon be ready to move forward again. Scorpio horoscopes, read more!
Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21)
Since July 18, keeping the faith hasn’t been easy. With Mercury retrograding through the most ambitious parts of your chart, green-lit plans may have been hung up in red tape. Even your gentlest feedback seemed to land like an aggressive hot take. If you’re being honest, you’re sorry/not sorry—but there may be some ruffled feathers to smooth starting August 11 as Mercury pivots direct in your global ninth house. If the big picture’s been blurry, clarity starts clicking back into. Travel and tech snags begin to untangle once Mercury retrograde is over, too. Time to plot that fall escape—or finally invest in the gear that helps you tell your story loud and clear. Sagittarius horoscopes, read more!
Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 20)
Sweet relief. On August 11, Mercury wraps up its three‑week retrograde, untangling the crossed signals and murky conversations that have been swirling. This backspin cut deep, moving through Leo and your eighth house of intimacy, secrets, and power plays. If you’ve felt like a detective chasing shadows, real answers start surfacing now. Jealousy and trust issues begin to settle once Mercury retrograde is over. If an ex came sniffing around, you’ll soon know whether to invite them in or close that door for good. Capricorn horoscopes, read more!
Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)
Since July 18, “two” hasn’t exactly been your magic number. Mercury’s retrograde through your seventh house relationship zone stirred up tension, crossed signals, and second‑guessing. Trying to lock in a deal or get a straight answer may have felt like a comedy of errors—and maybe you had your own doubts about the connection. On August 11, Mercury pivots direct, helping steady your closest bonds and clearing the air. Time to archive that disruptive ex and invest your energy in the people who actually get you. Aquarius horoscopes, read more!
Pisces (Feb 18-Mar 20)
Time to clear the decks. Since Mercury turned retrograde on July 18, getting on the same page with others—much less making sense of your own thoughts—has been an exercise in frustration. Tiny details may have taken on outsized weight with Mercury backing through your sixth house of wellness, and staying grounded has been no small feat. On August 11, Mercury pivots direct, helping you sweep away the static and regain your rhythm. With your system running low after this backspin, fortify yourself with vitamin C, probiotics, and plenty of dark leafy greens to restore balance. Pisces horoscopes, read more!
When is the next Mercury retrograde?
The buzzy planet powers forward until November 9, 2025, when it slips back into Sagittarius for its last of three Mercury retrograde cycles in 2025: November 9-18, 2025 (Sagittarius), November 18-29, 2025 (Scorpio).
Learn more about Mercury retrograde in astrology.
Check this page anytime to find out: Is Mercury Retrograde Right Now?
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