8/24/2024: Mercury Retrograde in Leo

Today, we’re going to explore a topic that may resonate deeply with many of us on our recovery journeys—Mercury Retrograde in Leo—and how it invites us to reflect on how we express ourselves, protect our hearts, and reclaim our true voices.

Think of Mercury Retrograde as a period of reflection, particularly on past events, miscommunications, and the parts of ourselves that need healing. Leo, on the other hand, is the sign of the lion—full of creativity, heart, and a desire to be seen authentically. During this retrograde, we’re being called to look at how we have—or haven’t—allowed ourselves to shine, and how we can bring forth our true selves in ways that honor both our growth and recovery.

Mercury Retrograde in Leo can stir up many feelings, especially around confidence, self-expression, and self-worth. It can bring to light old wounds related to how we’ve expressed ourselves in the past—perhaps times when we felt silenced, misunderstood, or judged. For many of us in recovery, these themes are familiar as we work on reclaiming our true selves and healing the parts of us that have been hidden or hurt.

In the same way that recovery encourages us to revisit old patterns in order to heal, Mercury Retrograde invites us to pause and reflect on the stories we’ve told ourselves about who we are. This is a time for us to examine the ways we’ve dimmed our light to fit in, to please others, or to protect ourselves from rejection. It’s an opportunity to take stock of those moments and to consider how we might show up differently moving forward.

Think about moments in your life where you’ve felt like you couldn’t express your true self—where fear, shame, or guilt held you back. Or perhaps you’ve experienced times where you tried to speak your truth, only to feel misunderstood or unsupported. These are the kinds of reflections that Mercury Retrograde in Leo asks of us. It’s not easy work, but it’s deeply rewarding as we move toward greater alignment with our authentic selves.

Now I’d like to introduce you to some optional prompts for sharing today. 

1. Where in your life have you felt like you couldn’t fully express your true self?
2. How have old fears or wounds around being seen or heard held you back from sharing your gifts with the world?
3. What does your heart long to express that you’ve kept hidden out of fear of judgment or rejection?

I’d like to share a personal story about how this energy has shown up in my own life. There was a time when I struggled to express myself authentically, especially in relationships where I felt like I needed to keep the peace. I remember feeling torn between my desire to maintain harmony and my need to stand up for myself. It felt like no matter what I did, part of me had to compromise—either my voice or my relationships.

This tension reached a breaking point during a period of Mercury Retrograde in Leo. I realized that I had been silencing myself out of fear of rejection, not allowing my true voice to come forward. I wanted to protect myself from conflict, but in doing so, I was also shutting down my authentic self-expression.

In that moment, I knew I needed to find a way to balance both my need for connection and my need for self-respect. I took time to reflect and decided that my voice—my true voice—was worth protecting, even if it meant facing uncomfortable conversations. When I finally did speak my truth, I tried to do so with love and compassion. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step toward reclaiming my voice, and that was incredibly freeing.

What I learned from this experience is that Mercury Retrograde in Leo can be a powerful time for reflection and healing. It’s not about dwelling on the past, but about revisiting it with the intention of growth—allowing ourselves to be seen and heard, even when it feels difficult. This retrograde period can be challenging, but it can also be an opportunity to reclaim our power and align with our true selves.

As we move forward in this retrograde period, I encourage you to reflect on how you can bring more of your true self into the light. Where have you held back? Where can you begin to reclaim your voice, your creativity, your heart-centered energy? These are the questions that Mercury Retrograde in Leo invites us to explore—not just during this gathering, but as part of our ongoing recovery journeys.

Thank you all for being here, for your openness, and for your courage to explore these deeper parts of yourselves. Let’s continue to support one another as we navigate this retrograde and our paths to healing.

You can keep up with my gathering host schedule at https://www.exhotmess.net/she-recovers.