Monday 7/14/2025: Week in Progress; Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide

PLUS: Why Rosie O'Donnell & Why NOW?

Here we are, halfway through a long lull of no contacts between the planets except for those involving the Moon. Based on past experience, we may expect sudden system collapses, in the way that an ice shelf collapses into the sea without warning, forever altering the landscape.

Highlights this week are:

• Third Quarter Moon on Thursday

• Mercury goes retrograde at 12:44 AM ET on Friday

• Venus sextiles Mercury on Friday

That's it.

Next week, the action will be driven by the Sun's ingress into Leo. That happens next Tuesday, July 23rd. The planet that rules leaders and willpower will engage with Uranus, Saturn-Neptune, Pluto, and Jupiter in a concentrated time period. The Sun's appointment with Pluto is likely to coincide with exceptional power plays and news from underground.

Meanwhile, we have a New Moon in Leo on the 24th. It has seismic potential, because 0f that Sun-Pluto appointment -- and even more, with respect to the United States. We can discuss the New Moon chart in the Zoom Q & A at 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT this Wednesday, July 16th. If you can't join in person, a link to the recording will be sent to patron subscribers of Why Now News.

It goes like this:

• MONDAY: Happy Bastille Day! Moon in Pisces drives us with a need to work with impressions. Go with the intuitive flow. Moon's trine to Jupiter at 9:45 AM ET starts the day swimmingly. Adjustments involving money, values, women, and the arts may be required around 3:52 PM ET, as Moon squares Venus in clever, multitasking Gemini. Keep an eye on any tension between the sexes this evening, as it may be a sneak peek of adjustments required next Wednesday, when Venus will square Mars. Meanwhile, Moon's next stop is a face-off with Mars at 12:15 AM ET on...

• TUESDAY. Mars in Virgo demands a detailed action plan, and while a Pisces Moon is inclined to be accommodating, it appreciates a little care and consideration (empathy anyone?). Twelve hours later, it seems as if things are on an even keel, as Moon trines Sun at 1:09 PM ET. And then....CHILL for the next 11 and 1/2 hours, as the Moon will be void. Stick to routine concerns. Roll with the twists and flakes that interfere with efforts to move in a straight line. Remember that Moon void crises are often much ado about nothing.

Here's an example of two Moon-void incidents from Sunday's all-day Moon void in Aquarius.

I spent the weekend in the country, visiting friends. At a charming lunch spot yesterday, I ordered the soup and 1/2 sandwich combo, saving my 1/2 BLT for the train trip home. Before leaving for the station, I checked Amtrak to make sure the train was leaving on time. Its arrival in NYC was delayed five minutes, but otherwise, we were good to go.

Then my friend checked the Amtrak app on her phone...and it said the train was canceled! This did not match what my app was telling me, and it created a cloud of confusion, especially since there were no other trains for the rest of the day! But since the Moon was void, I suggested we follow the guidance on my version of the Amtrak app and go to station. We did. The train was on time. The confusion was much ado about nothing. BUT...thanks to the flaky chef at the charming lunch spot, my BLT was made without the T.

A BLT without tomato is sad. Mind the Moon void!

Got any Moon void stories to share?

• WEDNESDAY: At 12:32 AM ET, Moon ditches Pisces for Aries. Because Uranus is now in early Gemini, Moon's first stop is a cooperative connection to the planet of innovation and disruption at 1:11 AM ET. This is a change in patterns we've have in recent weeks, when Moon first engaged with Neptune or Saturn. Whatever inventiveness occurs, the next two stops for the Moon are to Saturn and Neptune at 3:52 AM ET and 4:15 AM ET, respectively. An Aries Moon needs to lead, preferably as a pioneer. Yes, Aries may be impulsive and naive, but gosh, they can be fearless and inspiring, even if their courage seems to be taking them straight over a cliff. If you know anything about Tarot cards, the image of The Fool might spring to mind...and darned if that isn't Beth Owl's Daughter's always-in-sync Tarot Card of the Week. At 5:23 AM ET, Moon sextiles Pluto. Translation: we may be waking up to a fiery, focused, autocratic assertiveness that may be inspiring or bonkers, but runs deep. And whatever it is will play out on a bigger stage around midweek next week. Your coping strategy is to remember who you are and what's real.

• WEDNESDAY (cont.): Whatever initiative you're working on today, it may seem larger than life around 3:02 PM ET, when Moon squares Jupiter. The push for expansion is received easily enough in the evening, as Moon sextiles Venus and trines Mercury at 12:43 AM ET and 3:20 AM ET on...

• THURSDAY. Aries Moon travels through the day without interference, building in size and scope like a snowball -- or fireball -- rolling down a mountain. Moon squares the Cancer Sun at 8:37 PM ET, and an idealistic leadership initiative serving home and homeland security interests makes an adjustment. Whatever it is, you are free to take the night off and CHILL during the 7+ hour Moon void. Meanwhile, you did remember to BACK UP YOUR COMPUTERS this week, right? Because at 12:44 AT ET on...

• FRIDAY:... Mercury -- which has been slowing to a virtual stop all week and demanding we focus on regal edicts and such -- goes retrograde.

A pause, while we discuss the Mercury retrograde phenomenon and what it means for YOU:

So many people who know nothing else about astrology have heard of Mercury retrograde. Often it elicits curses and groans, and that’s a shame. Yes, all of the flights on American Airlines may be grounded because of a computer glitch, and the entire country of Finland may be offline because of a transportation strike. These things actually happened on the first day of Mercury retrogrades past. But there’s much good that can be accomplished when the Messenger Planet appears to be retracing its steps.

Mercury—which in the language of astrology refers to mindset, travel and communication—will appear to move backward through the sky until May 14th. It’s not really moving backward, but that is how it looks from our perspective here on Spaceship Earth. Mercury goes retrograde 3-4 times each year, for a period of 22 days.

Contrary to popular belief, Mercury retrogrades are no reason to freak out. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because we are geared, in this crazy modern age, to always be thinking, doing, moving FORWARD. You know what that gets you? BURN OUT. We need our down times, and Mercury retrograde is a perfect time to give our minds a rest. Why else would your computer, phone and/or car choose THIS time to malfunction? Because you are supposed to be slowing down. And as you slow down, it is vitally important that you FOCUS.

When Mercury is retrograde, be prepared for travel delays, scheduling screw-ups, mechanical breakdowns, computer crashes, having to repeat what you’ve just said, misunderstandings, the past coming back for a second look, surprise reunions and having to repeat what you just said. Use your FOCUS and double check important details, like email addresses, instructions for assembling IKEA furniture. Read the instructions more than once — and don’t hesitate to ask for help. FOCUS!!!!!!!!!

If you are looking for a job, Mercury retrogrades are a perfect time to reach out to people from your past. Mine your address book and trust that your contacts will be happy to hear from you. However, do not be frustrated if your target is away on vacation or keeps rescheduling meetings. Also, triple check your emails and resumes before you hit “send,” as there is a higher probability of typos and other sloppy snafus.

In your business, you’ll need to make sure all communications have been received and are clearly understood. Be mindful of the higher potential for communications equipment to go on the fritz. MAKE SURE YOUR FILES ARE BACKED UP. Also be aware of a higher-than-average probability for delays in shipping and travel arrangements. For this you will need an extra dose of patience.

You may also find it profitable to REview a project from the past. Maybe you shelved it then, but now is the time to REconsider. However, be advised that a spontaneous, “out-of-the-blue” idea for advancement may not be so sound when Mercury turns direct. This is why the conventional wisdom advises against finalizing and/or signing contracts on deals during Mercury retrograde. An exception might be supported if you are REnegotiating or RElocating. If you absolutely must close a deal, triple check everything.

This is a good time to schedule a corporate REtreat. Any activity that affords the opportunity to REview past performance is encouraged. REsearch on a new strategy is also favored.

Mercury retrogrades are not favored for launching a new website or a new communications system. There is a higher-than-average probability of technical glitches and confusion. I can tell you horror stories about a certain prestigious college’s lackluster launch of a website/communications portal which occurred several years ago, on a day when Mercury was stationary retrograde. The portal was completely redone the following year. No surprise there.

Adopt a playful attitude of flexibility to whatever twists you encounter. Avoid making major purchases (especially electronic ones), but don’t freak out if an appliance dies and must be replaced. Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the papers. Rumors have a higher probability of spreading during Mercury retrogrades. Avoid losing patience — that’s a big one.

When in doubt, be silent!

Do plan on RElaxing, REviewing, REsearching, REorganizing, REgenerating, REconnecting and REcreating…and REviewing your life with your astrologer.

Mercury turns retrograde at 15 degrees of Leo…and retraces its steps all the way back to 4 degrees. It turns direct on August 11th and arrives at 15 Leo again on August 25th.

Astrologer Robert Wilkinson (who wrote the book on Mercury retrograde) sees Mercury Rx in Leo as an opportunity to reflect and review our creative process. How does it enable us to shine? Leo refers to royalty and the heart. Perhaps our ways of thinking and communicating could come more from the heart, less from inflated pride? Perhaps we could allow ourselves to become more playful thinkers and communicators? Might this be more effective than Leo's other mode, which involves drama for the sake of drama, or stubborn, regal entitlement? We have until September 2nd, when Mercury leaves Leo for Virgo, to find out.

The Sabian Symbol for this Mercury retrograde is “sunshine just after a storm." Sabian expert Blain Bovee sees this as "the first opening of cloud cover, allowing in radiant light and warmth, after a violent atmospheric disturbance. 'Just after' suggests a heavy sky with a small fissure in the otherwise seamless cover." It's interesting to have this image appear now, when other patterns suggest fractures and collapse. "Fractures and system collapses" sound intimidating, but this Sabian Symbol suggests a glimmer of enlightenment -- dare we call it hope.

Sabian Symbols are often thought to work in pairs. The other half of this Symbol's pairing is "a big businessman at his desk," and I last wrote about it on the New Moon of February 2019. Perhaps we'll gain some enlightenment -- or massive dirt -- on things that were in development back then.

You are more personally affected by Mercury's retrograde station if you have planets or angles around 15 degrees of Leo, Scorpio, Taurus, or Aquarius. Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone among the Usual Suspects, but I'm sure we'll be reading about them in the news later this week. Meanwhile, wherever 4 - 15 degrees of Leo falls in your horoscope is where you may benefit from a review. Consider thinking more creatively, playfully, and with heart.

Back to the forecast:

• FRIDAY (cont.): Moon enters Taurus at 3:58 AM ET, seeking to building something sustainable and comfortable after the Aries Moon's pioneering RAMpage. That quest may be driven to extremes, as Moon squares Pluto at 8:37 AM ET. A power play, catharsis, or seismic purge would not be surprising, especially for people with planets around 3 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. Given that Mercury just turned retrograde, be patient and extra-focused on matters of transportation, communication, schedules, and electronic gizmos. With respect to this morning's intensity, it may be presented in various shades of rose, given the fairly rare sextile (cooperative connection) between Mercury and Venus, exact at 9:36 AM ET. Moon travels through the day without interference, which could reflect a sense of peace and calm, boosted by Moon's sextile to Jupiter in Cancer at 6:57 PM ET.

• FRIDAY (cont.): Generally speaking, a Taurus Moon is an excellent backdrop for taking good personal care of yourself. Indulge in experiences that create comfort and security: good food, drink, music, beauty -- a snuggle with your sweetie. Count your blessings while you can -- and stock up on supplies you might need in case of emergency.

• SATURDAY: Moon squares Mercury (now retrograde) at 6:07 AM ET. Is someone dramatically trying to retract something they said? There's plenty of assertive energy today for any project requiring earthy, practical attention to details, as Moon trines Mars at 11:36 AM ET. No long Moon void means you're free to shop without considering that what strikes your fancy now may not live up to expectations. A quiet night, perhaps, reflecting harmony between Moon and Sun at 2:43 AM ET on...

• SUNDAY. Chill -- or sleep through the approximately four-hour Moon void. Moon enters Gemini at 6:21 AM ET, ready to talk about everything, and -- surprise! There could be a surprise around 7:15 AM ET, as Moon meets up with rebel Uranus. And then...a rush of information and communication, perhaps, building on whatever seeds were planted on Wednesday afternoon. Moon sextiles Saturn-Neptune at 9:30 AM ET and 9:52 AM ET. Then it trines Pluto at 10:51 AM ET and calls it a day.

No sleeping in on Monday, if you're working. The Gemini Moon will not be void until 3:51 PM ET (when it goes void for over 16 hours). Otherwise, rest up...because next week is scheduled to be...interesting.

ICYMI:

Beth Owl's Daughter's always-in-sync Tarot Card of the Week is The Fool. 'Tis an apt reflection of this week's Mercury retrograde.

And now, the news.

This started during last Tuesday's all-day Moon void in righteously opinionated Sagittarius:

• "Elon Musk's chatbot Grok goes full Nazi; calls itself 'MechaHitler'" The headline is from Rolling Stone, which has earned my financial support because of its refusal to sanewash the news. After the Moon void, Grok was apparently put back in order, and...

• "X CEO Linda Yaccarino steps down." ...the very next day...prompted, perhaps, by transiting Mars provoking her natal Uranus-Pluto conjunction in Virgo. But days later (as I'm writing this)...

• "Grok adds pornographic anime girlfriend; lands $200 million defense contract" (and still identifies as Adolf Hitler). So...yeah...no real consequences for that Moon void twist.

Meanwhile...

...on the day that Yaccarino resigned (without giving a reason), the Moon was fully engaged in patriarchal Capricorn. We expected the morning to be both sobering and wiggy, as Moon squared by both Saturn and Neptune. The most-read story on the The Guardian's home page at that time was:

• "My father the fake. Was anything he told me ever true?"

Wow.

The confusion over whether people are for real is a reflection of Saturn and Neptune in Aries. If you're just tuning in to Why Now News, the above pattern suggests that matters of identity, conception, and citizenship are likely to be simultaneously confusing and controlling. They may be idealized, especially in matters of men, heroes, and warriors, because those are Aries keywords.

• "'Superman' soars to $125 million; third-biggest box office opening this weekend". Superman is the man of STEEL, which is ruled by...Aries. And would you believe that one of the creators of this film is names James...GUNN? Who is writing the reality show for Spaceship Earth, is what I want to know.

• "Texas Man Born to U.S. Soldier on U.S. Army Base Abroad Deported." He has no citizenship to any country. None! We had a lively discussion about multiple examples of suddenly stateless people in the last Zoom Q & A.

• "Donald Trump threatens to revoke Rosie O'Donnell's citizenship; calls her a 'threat to humanity." This happened during Saturday's all-day Moon void in Aquarius. Maybe that explains the reference to "humanity." But the convicted felon has no legal authority to revoke anyone's citizenship (though under current planetary patterns, that may not matter), as historian Heather Cox Richardson explains in her always must-read daily Letter from an American.

But why go after Rosie O'Donnell? And WHY NOW? Obviously, something is happening in her horoscope. I remembered that she is an Aries...and thus surmised -- correctly -- that her Aries Sun is getting hit by transiting Saturn and Neptune. Her Sun is 0 degrees Aries -- and her Moon is at 3 Libra, so that's getting hit, too. The transits to her Sun complete in February, but the wiggy action of Neptune opposing her Moon continue all through 2026. Meanwhile, transiting Uranus is squaring her MC and IC, zapping matters of home/homeland and public status with lightning bolts that may catalyze change.

As for why the convicted felon is so fixated on O'Donnell, there are clear sticky karmic connections between their horoscopes.

• Her MC/IC are within one degree of his Descendant and Ascendant-Mars, respectively.

• His Leo Mars is on her IC; of course, he's attacking her home and citizenship status.

• Her Uranus is within one degree of his Leo Mars-Ascendant; of course she provokes him.

• His Sun and North Node are on her 22 Gemini Ascendant; his Sagittarius Moon and South Node are on her Descendant.

We can look at these charts in Wednesday's Zoom Q & A -- 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT. They are superb case studies, and O'Donnell's chart is a poster child -- along with the United States -- for marking the effects of Saturn-Neptune in Aries on a horoscope.

In other news...

Right now, Saturn and Neptune are as close as they're going to get to each other this year. They won't actually meet up (the technical term is perfect -- with the emphasis on the second syllable, not the first, as in "per-FECT"), until February 20, 2026. They will be at 0 degrees of Aries, at the bottom of the US horoscope (and right on O'Donnell's Sun).

Translation: an effort to collapse the foundation of the United States and replace it with something else is likely. If you've been reading this forecast for a year, this notion is not unfamiliar. For clues to what the "something else" might be, we should look at what's going on right now. Threatening to revoke citizenship rights on a whim is one thing. But also...

• "IRS says churches may endorse political candidates despite a decades-old federal statute barring them from doing that" Soooo -- dissolving (Neptune) the separation (Saturn) between church and state with Saturn-Neptune at the beginning of Aries, the beginning of something entirely new? At the foundation of the US horoscope? You see why we should watch this story, as well as this one:

• "Supreme Court allows Trump to continue gutting the Education Department". Soooo -- dissolving our national standard of education -- what and how we are taught to think. What replaces it, hmm?

Let's see where we are in February.

Saturn and Neptune -- real and unreal -- in Aries suggests a "because I said so" justification for authority. No reason is given. Precedent is irrelevant. Whatever is said about one entity doesn't necessarily apply to another because the involvement of Neptune suggests bewilderment and inconsistency.

Since April 4th, notes Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck, SCOTUS has:

• "...issued 15 rulings on 17 emergency applications filed by Trump (three birthright citizenship apps were consolidated)." Only three majority opinions were issued. Today's ruling re: the Department of Education is the 7th that was issued...with no reason at all.

It's bonkers. But there is an astro-logic to it. Impulsive rulings on emergency applications reflects the impatient "Ready! Fire! Aim!" quality of Aries (with credit to astrologer Rick Levine).

And now, with Uranus in Gemini, we are seeing stories of lightning bolt fracturing in addition to collapse, as in "the development of an extraordinary rift in MAGA world" over the weekend, as Heather Cox Richardson explains:

For years now, Trump and his loyalists have claimed Epstein was murdered to protect the rich and powerful men who were preying on children. This theory dovetailed with the QAnon conspiracy theory that Trump was combating a secret ring of cannibalistic child molesters who included Democratic politicians, government officials, film stars, and businessmen. MAGA influencers, including Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, pushed the Epstein theories, and MAGA followers believed them, hoping to bring down Democratic politicians like the Clintons.

Once in power, they vowed, they would release the client list and provide the truth about Epstein’s death. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi told the Fox News Channel that the client list was “sitting on my desk right now.” Patel is now director of the FBI—in part because MAGA senators like Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) believed he would release more information on Epstein and child sex trafficking rings—and Bongino is the FBI’s deputy director. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) called for Americans to vote for Trump in 2024 because “Americans deserve to know why Epstein didn’t kill himself.”

The announcement that the DOJ would not provide further information and that Epstein had died by suicide set off a firestorm among MAGA. Far-right influencer Jack Posobiec wrote: “We were all told more was coming. That answers were out there and would be provided.”

But...but...but...

Does this mean.... could it be.... that Trump (a convicted felon) and his loyalists, some of whom who are forcing FBI agents and other government workers to take lie detector tests to prove they never, ever had a mean thought about their employers in the Executive Branch...are actually perpetuating lies themselves?

Say it ain't so, Joe.

The DOJ memo was released on the day Uranus entered Gemini. Fascinating.

Note that Aries is ruled by Mars, which refers to anger. With Saturn and Neptune now retrograde in Aries, one apt subject for review is how anger has been used as a means of sustaining belief (Neptune) and maintaining control (Saturn).

Maybe some will conclude, upon review, that they've been directing their rage at the wrong people.

What do you think?

Avid Readers who attended the June Zoom Q & A should not be terribly shocked by the timing of recent developments. We’ll continue the discussion on Zoom this Wednesday -- 7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT. Please put your topic requests in the comments section or email them to me. Upgrade your free subscription to participate — cost is less than a fancy coffee each month. I'll send the link to join beforehand.

To schedule a personal consultation about your unique horoscope, here's the 411. Your life continues in these all-too interesting times, and astrology can help you chart a practical course.

For some reason, writing a forecast about Mercury Rx in Leo, along with Saturn-Neptune in Aries inspires me to share "I Am A Child" by Neil Young. Enjoy.

THANK YOU for the likes, shares, restacks, client referrals, support, and comments. It is a joy to give and receive.

"Sunshine just after a storm" is the Sabian Symbol for the July 18th Mercury retrograde.