Mercury has stationed retrograde in Leo this morning. This occurred at 05:44 BST, marking the start of a period of intense reevaluation regarding how we express ourselves, particularly in emotional and creative matters. The retrograde ends on 11 August, but its influence continues through 25 August, as Mercury retraces the degrees it moved over in shadow.
We are working with the Legacy of the Divine Tarot (affiliate link) for today’s Mercury Retrograde in Leo pick-a-pile readings. Choose the pile you feel most drawn to above, and go to your chosen pile to explore where your communication style may be due for a reset.
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Leo is a sign concerned with heart-centred expression, authenticity, and personal pride. When Mercury turns retrograde here, we are called to examine where our communication may be coloured by ego, defensiveness, or the need to be admired. It’s a time to ask: Am I being real, or just going through the motions?
This cycle is especially relevant in the run-up to the Leo New Moon on 24 July, which invites new intentions around sovereign self-expression, confidence, and love. But before planting new seeds, it’s wise to prune what no longer supports sincere, heartfelt communication. These pick-a-pile readings are designed to help you do just that.
Pile One – Mercury Retrograde in Leo
1. Who or what needs clearer emotional communication now?
The Emperor points to a situation where authority, structure, or emotional restraint has taken precedence over connection. This may be someone in your life who holds a leadership role—or it may reflect your own inner stance. You may be taking responsibility for everyone else’s emotional well-being without expressing your own needs. The desire to be respected has overridden the need to be known. This is a call to speak with vulnerability rather than control.
2. Where has pride or ego blocked connection?
The 8 of Cups suggests that pride has kept you emotionally disengaged or distant from something your heart once longed for. There may be sadness beneath the surface—a sense of having to walk away without truly being seen or understood. The retrograde invites you to return to that place emotionally and ask whether the departure was fuelled by integrity or by fear of rejection. It’s not too late to express what was left unsaid.
3. How can you bring warmth and authenticity back to the heart space?
The 6 of Wands offers encouragement: when you open up, you’ll likely find more support than you feared. This is a card of being seen and acknowledged. Authentic emotional expression can feel risky, especially when you’ve learned to lead with competence instead of vulnerability. But you’re being shown that true confidence comes not from performance, but from sharing your heart—even if your voice shakes.
Pile Two – Mercury Retrograde in Leo
1. Who or what needs clearer emotional communication now?
The 10 of Pentacles brings attention to long-standing family dynamics, inherited beliefs, or a connection where security has become a stand-in for emotional depth. It may feel as if everything looks fine on the surface, but something essential is missing in the emotional landscape. This card urges you to ask: What expectations or roles are being upheld that prevent honest emotional expression?
2. Where has pride or ego blocked connection?
With the King of Wands, there may be a strong desire to lead or influence others—but this can easily slip into dominance when not checked by humility. You might be the one setting the emotional tone and expecting others to follow suit, or you may be dealing with someone who always has to have the last word. Pride here comes from a fear of losing status or control. The retrograde is offering a chance to step back and listen, not just speak.
3. How can you bring warmth and authenticity back to the heart space?
The Ace of Swords calls for truth. This is the sword that cuts through illusion and clears the fog of assumptions. A single, honest conversation may be all that’s needed to re-establish trust, but it must come from a place of clarity, not defence. Speak what’s real, even if it challenges the status quo. This is your opportunity to reset the emotional script and bring your full self to the table.
Pile Three – Mercury Retrograde in Leo
1. Who or what needs clearer emotional communication now?
The Queen of Swords suggests you’ve been clear, but possibly too guarded. You may have mastered the art of rational communication without letting your emotional truth come through. This may be self-protective, especially if you’ve felt judged for expressing emotion in the past. However, this retrograde invites you to explore how that clarity could be softened to invite connection rather than create distance.
2. Where has pride or ego blocked connection?
With The High Priestess, pride shows up not as loudness, but as secrecy. There may be a reluctance to reveal your inner world—even to those closest to you. You may be withholding insights, feelings, or intuitions that could bring healing, simply because you don’t want to appear too vulnerable or too “much.” Pride, in this case, has turned into silence. The retrograde encourages you to trust that what you know and feel is worth sharing.
3. How can you bring warmth and authenticity back to the heart space?
The 2 of Pentacles invites you to find a workable emotional rhythm. You may be juggling too much—emotionally or practically—and there hasn’t been space to check in with your heart. Restoring warmth starts with prioritising emotional balance. You don’t have to choose between truth and harmony—you just need to create the conditions for both to exist. Slow down, and let the inner waters settle.
Final Thoughts
Mercury retrograde in Leo challenges us to move from performance to presence. These pick-a-pile readings offer a mirror for the ways pride, habit, and fear may have shaped your emotional expression. Use this time to listen to what your heart has been trying to say—and when you’re ready, let it speak.
During this period, you may also enjoy trying my Mercury Retrograde in Leo Tarot Spread.
You can find more pick-a-pile tarot readings by clicking this link.
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