Mercury Retrograde Is Over, and Things Can Finally Go Back to Normal

Should I cut my hair into a bell-bottom bob? DM the guy who gave me his number at the outdoor concert? Grab my friend’s extra ticket to Burning Man?

Not exactly existential questions, but ones that might make your heart race a little. And after August 11, it’s a lot safer to answer “hell yes” or “hell no” to just about anything. Mindful Mercury is wrapping up its summer retrograde, which has complicated every decision matrix since July 18. For the past three weeks, you may have agonized over every choice, remaining frozen like a homemade ice pop or melting into an emotional puddle at the idea of having to pick just one path.

Does all this sound a touch dramatic? It definitely is—or should we say was, now that the retrograde is in our rearview. (Whew!) This time around, Mercury’s backspin took place in Leo, a passionate, theatrical fire sign known for amplifying every feeling. As such, a good deal of the retrograde mayhem may have been focused on Leo themes of romance, style, and wild-child adventures.

While Mercury retrograde may have helped boost ratings of The Summer I Turned Pretty, watching Belly’s Conrad vs. Jeremiah saga play out hit a little too close to home, astrologically speaking. Mercury retrogrades are known for causing communication breakdowns and misunderstandings. And yeah, these haven’t been the easiest few weeks for couples. If you weren’t spatting outright, you may have been hesitant to express your feelings, worried that they may not be reciprocated or that your message would come out all wrong.

Summer crushes hovered in the “will they or won’t they” zone too, with Mercury retrograde making everyone tentative about pushing ahead. Celebrities even got in on the game, spotted together in non-obvious pairings. But as Mercury turns direct this August 11, we can’t wait to watch the sweet unfolding of Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson’s new relationship.

In flamboyant, fashion-forward Leo, Mercury loves a style dare, especially one that communicates your authentic personality. But not during the retrograde! As we advised earlier this summer, Mercury retrograde in Leo was not an optimal time to make any radical changes to your look. If you proceeded at your own risk, we hope you’re happy with the outcome. If not, you may need to go in for a touch-up after August 11.

And to be fair, we haven’t always taken our own advice here. During a prior retrograde, Tali decided to have a “tiny” glyph of Jupiter inked on her left wrist. She even approved the temporary tat before the artist pressed the needle to her skin. As she left the studio, she realized that the tattoo was about four times bigger than she imagined. (The irony of Jupiter being the planet of abundance was not lost on her.) A few weeks later when Mercury was direct, she returned to have the glyph adorned with leaves and line art so it didn’t look like a giant number 4.

Since July 18, exes may have returned and relationships may have been rocked, but take heart: Once Mercury corrects course, it remains in direct motion in Leo until September 2. That means we have a good chunk of summer left to make up for lost time. Don’t put that mermaidcore minidress away just yet.

In the love department, it looks like the Biebers are going to show us how it’s done. After rumors of marriage trouble swirled for the past few months, the twosome seems to be back on track. On August 5, Justin dropped a surprise video for his song “Yukon” featuring wife Hailey and their baby, Jack, cozying up (and looking hot) on a family boating odyssey.

While the waters aren’t placid during Mercury retrograde, they give us a chance to dive below the surface and deal with whatever’s been making communication so damn choppy. And while problems can’t be glossed over in a high-fashion, black-and-white video shoot, the willingness to at least try to talk them out can signal maturity.

So go ahead—text your summer situationship, book the microblading appointment, or say yes to the invite that makes your pulse quicken. Mercury’s direct, Leo’s in the spotlight, and you? You’re the star again.