Monday, the Moon remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo all day; it will journey there until Tuesday late afternoon, turning our focus toward the practical and wholesome.
We are generous with our time and services and love to help others. We also have a fondness for science and anything that makes sense in our world — things and knowledge we can apply and use.
Health might also come into focus at this time. We notice the parts that make up the whole; this is a great time to see if our daily routines (eating, work, self-care, etc.) align with our long-term goals.
Monday around 2:15am EDT, Mercury enters its pre-Shadow phase, when it reaches 4º16′ of Leo; this is 2 weeks prior to its Retrograde phase (which starts on July 17/18th at 15.5º of Leo).
Mercury is the planet of communication and information exchange. Communication starts within our minds — our inner dialog is the seed for all outer communication.
What is the Shadow phase?
The period immediately before and after a planet’s Retrograde phase is referred to as the “Shadow phase”; at these times, the planet travels through the same degrees of a sign (or signs) it will also pass through during its Retrograde phase.
Mercury is usually in its shadow for about two to three weeks before and after a Retrograde phase.
If you want to buy, sell, or ship big-ticket items — especially connected to transportation (cars, airline tickets, etc.) or communication devices (phone, computer, iPad, etc.) — be aware of the Shadow periods as well as the Retrograde phases.
If possible, get these things done before Mercury enters its pre-Shadow or wait until after the post-Shadow phase is over — post-Shadow phase will end on August 24th, 2025 (in this case).
Of course, if something must get done during these phases, don’t put your whole life on hold just because Mercury is Retrograde or in its Shadow. Sometimes, things line up precisely at the right time; as best as you can, trust that it’s all “perfect.”
When Mercury moves through its pre-Shadow phase in Leo, it’s important to pay attention to what arises in our lives related to joy, self-expression and creativity or taking risks. This is a time to connect with our inner joyful child-energy
Ask yourself: Could I allow myself to be joyful, happy and appreciate myself and life? How playful could I allow myself to be?
Whatever mental connections, thoughts, or conversations we initiate between June 30th and July 17th must be reviewed during the Mercury Retrograde phase (July 18th – August 11th).
Monday around 9am EDT, when the Sun reaches 9º of Cancer, it squares the Solar Eclipse degree from March 29th, 2025 (which was in 9º of Aries).
This signals a potential turning point in our awareness of our personal goals and passions, our ability to forge our own path, and our sense of Self in this incarnation. Watch for important developments today.
The ability to be fully ourselves and pursue our desires and passions is a crucial factor in all endeavors — and we strengthen this ability when we allow ourselves to receive nurturing and take care of our “inner baby” — the most vulnerable part of our psyche.
How has your connection to your human identity shifted since March 29th? How about your connection to your goals? Or your physical fitness?
If you really stopped and checked, might you find you are ready to receive additional support for the next step of your journey?
Ask yourself: What might shift if I allowed myself to receive support? What (or who) might be part of this shift? What could I gift to myself to support my journey of self-realization?
What might I experience if I began to step out of my comfort zone and go after my passion goals? What might my “inner baby” need from me to feel safe and cared for so it can support my passions? How about the “inner mother archetype” — how might “she” help me nurture myself?
