MIDYEAR CHALLENGES

Can you believe, half the year is over? And if you are focused on linear time, this doesn’t make sense… because it seems the year 2025 was just getting started with the tons of things that needed to be done.

I remember talking to someone early in the year, attempting to do a three-year strategic (strat) planning… and I said, maybe try for a year instead? Only because things will be changing so fast that a strat plan on paper will be obsolete in a couple of months. Okay, maybe, I am being dramatic. But what I would like to underscore is the fast energy trends that we are in the midst of.

I will use Astrology to explain this shift in energy, which affects us on both the personal and collective levels. For the past years, most of the planets were in two elements that are yin/female, internal and slower: Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) and Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) elements were more focused on internal processing, emotional depth and practical foundations.

Then this year, majority of the big outer planets all entered Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) and Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) signs. Pluto the transformer, entered Aquarius (Air), Uranus the rebellious awakener entered Gemini (Air), Saturn the disciplinarian, and Neptune the dreamer, are both in Aries (Fire). Fire and Air signs are more yang, masculine, outward and action-oriented. So for the second half of the year, we will expect more external expression, intellectual engagement (especially with so much of Artificial Intelligence or AI supporting this) and dynamic initiatives.

The confluence of all these moving energy changes are also disruptive, restless, but innovative and exciting. This will definitely not sit well with people who are attuned to stability, or refuse to change their ways. At the core of these disruptions we may face in personal or our professional lives is the challenge to stop and look at what the disruption is telling us. We often get caught up in the obvious effects. But go deeper… reflect on the lesson or message being given by the disruptive experiences.

We may have entered the year with an idea of doing a shift and re-aligning ourselves to more positive energies. At mid-year, we may see that these old limiting patterns and mindsets may have been abruptly disrupted by a loss of a job, a breakup of a relationship, the end of a friendship, a corporate tussle, a health issue. On our collective level, just look at all the wild global events happening, as well as the new innovations emerging.

At mid-year, we accept that all that is dying, being taken away, being disrupted, are all for our growth and awakening to a higher perspective. Globally, an old world is dying as a new one is trying to break through.

Now, we face a checkpoint through Mercury (the mental planet of communication) going retrograde in the sign of Leo (25 July-18 August). It’s a natural time to reassess everything! Just as this introspection hits, we will expect classic retrograde challenges: communication breakdowns, tech glitches, travel delays, and contract snags, often centered on creative projects, pride, romance, or leadership. In the sign of Leo, a fire sign, this means egos flare easily, too. We need to use this slowdown to review plans, especially around self-expression and passion projects, rather than launching new ones boldly.

Other planetarial transits add flavor to this introspective period of three weeks. Old wounds around identity, initiative, or anger can resurface, making Mercury’s retrograde feel more personal.

Practical plans (Saturn) feel foggy or undermined by confusion or escapism (Neptune). Mercury retrograde can amplify misunderstandings or reveal where structures (work, health, routines) built on shaky foundations need adjustment. Saturn/Neptune highlight areas where our discipline falters or our vision lacks grounding. Let’s hold off any bold actions and focus on honest reflection, revising plans, repairing communication, and strengthening core self-beliefs.

This Mercury retrograde also connects to two other planets presently slowing down: Saturn and Neptune. Something unique is happening here. This triple retrograde whammy in mid-year is so potent as it is a consciousness upgrade. It is aligning us to our authentic soul signature, a much deeper conscious space to live and express from. So use the period wisely! Let’s release whatever is no longer serving us. Every form of expression that is not aligned with our soul’s purpose, let’s let it go! So we have space for new, higher, more positive energies and frequencies of light that we can receive and embody.