So, when there's a Leo New Moon, and Mercury goes into a retrograde in Virgo right after, it's a cosmic shake-up.

With the Leo energy of the New Moon, you might feel a strong urge to express yourself, be creative, and step into the spotlight.

It's all about embracing your inner lion and owning your uniqueness.

But then Mercury retrogrades in Virgo, the sign of details and communication. This combo can bring some mixed vibes.

You might find yourself revisiting past conversations, dealing with misunderstandings, or facing tech glitches.

The Universe asks you to slow down, focus on the details, and communicate clearly.

During this time, it's essential to stay flexible, double-check everything, and avoid making impulsive decisions.

Take a breath, review your plans, and use this energy to refine your ideas and projects.

Embrace Leo's confidence while being mindful of the Mercury retrograde challenges.

Remember, it's all about balancing your fiery creativity and your communication's need for precision and clarity.

So, to begin, let's now look at the week ahead and New Moon energies through readings.

Your week ahead tarot reading:

1. Your week as a whole - The Hermit

2. Something unexpected that will arise - Eight of Swords

3. How to stay grounded and balanced - Two of Cups

4. Important emotion that you will feel this week - Strength

5. Something that will inspire you - Six of Pentacles

6. How your spirit guides speak to you this week - Judgement

7. How to best support yourself this week - Ace of Cups

Card One: The Hermit

So, your week ahead starts with the Hermit card, suggesting a time for introspection and seeking inner wisdom.

You might take a step back and focus on self-discovery.

With the energies of the retrograde, this is the best thing you can do. You must wait to make any quick decisions.

Card Two: Eight of Swords

Watch out for something unexpected popping up with the Eight of Swords.

It could be a situation that makes you feel restricted or trapped in your thoughts.

Communication challenges may make you feel this way when the retrograde happens.

Remember, you have the power to break free from any mental barriers. 

Card Three: Two of Cups

To stay grounded and balanced, the Two of Cups reminds you to nurture your relationships and connect with others on an emotional level.

It's all about finding harmony and mutual support.

However, be careful how you communicate with them, as the retrograde can cause misunderstandings.

However, you can resolve it if an issue does emerge.

Card Four: Strength

You'll likely feel a surge of inner Strength this week, tapping into your courage and resilience.

Trust in your abilities to overcome challenges and stay steady in adversity.

And yeah, issues will crop up because it is par for the course during this retrograde, especially since it is retrograding for the time being (until the 14th) in its sign of dignity and exaltation.

Just remind yourself why challenges are happening right now, which will ease things.

Card Five: Six of Pentacles

The Six of Pentacles inspires by highlighting the importance of generosity and giving back.

Look for opportunities to share your resources or lend a helping hand to others.

If you can help someone in a time of need during the retrograde, that would be great, and hopefully, someone will do the same for you.

Card Six: Judgement

Your spirit guides communicate with you through the Judgement card, urging you to reflect on past experiences and make choices that align with your higher purpose.

It's a time for self-evaluation and transformation.

That also fits with the retrograde, as you'll be introspective and see what doesn't align with you. 

Card Seven: Ace of Cups

For self-care and support, turn to the Ace of Cups, which encourages you to nurture your emotional well-being and open your heart to love and compassion.

Allow yourself to feel and receive positive energies this week.

It is crucial because you will be facing a lot of frustration that will cause you to be unfairly hard on yourself.

The cards drawn for this week's energies align with the themes of the Leo New Moon and Mercury heading into retrograde in Virgo.

The Hermit card resonates with the reflective power of the New Moon, encouraging self-reflection and inner wisdom.

The unexpected restrictions of the Eight of Swords may symbolize the potential challenges or miscommunications that can arise during Mercury retrograde.

The Two of Cups emphasizes the importance of emotional connections, mirroring the Leo energy of self-expression and connection with others.

Strength and the Ace of Cups remind us to tap into our inner courage and emotional well-being during this period of cosmic shifts, while the Judgement card speaks to reflecting on past experiences and making decisions that align with our higher purpose, which is in line with the reflective nature of Mercury retrograde.

The Six of Pentacles encourages generosity and giving back, highlighting the importance of sharing resources and supporting others, which can be a positive way to navigate retrograde energies.

These cards guide staying grounded, connected, and resilient during this time of cosmic influence.

Now, let's explore this further by looking at the New Moon energies:

1. What can you let fade out of influence? - Four of Pentacles

2. What idea is growing within you? - Knight of Swords

3. What can you commit to creating going forward? - Three of Wands

First up, the Four of Pentacles suggests it's time to let go of holding onto things too tightly.

Release any fears or restrictions that are limiting your growth and abundance.

Next, the Knight of Swords indicates that a bold and dynamic idea is stirring within you.

It's all about enthusiastically charging forward and embracing new perspectives, even if action needs to be delayed during the retrograde.

Looking ahead, the Three of Wands encourages you to commit to creating a vision for the future.

Focus on expanding your horizons and setting long-term goals that align with your passions and aspirations.

Remember, with Mercury going retrograde, it's best to plan and strategize rather than take immediate action.

Use this time to clarify your intentions and prepare for when the cosmic energy is more supportive of forward movement.

Trust your inner fire and creativity as you navigate this New Moon phase.

I would add more to my newsletter to spice it up with more about past life astrology and tarot writing prompts in different sections.

However, with Mercury in retrograde, I will wait until September.

But I can brainstorm how to do this and what more I can add to my premium features for the time being!

Thank you for being patient with me.

I am here for a reading if you like as all you need to do is head over to miriamreadstarot.com.

Also, do you like this deck? It is gorgeous as it is the Tridevia Tarot deck from Calmoura.

If you want to grab it, head over to calmoura.com and for a 10 percent discount, use promo code TAROTMIRIAM10.

Don’t forget to listen and subscribe to my podcast The Tarot Table every Friday, on Spotify (also on Apple, Amazon Music, etc).