Whispered strategies, a trusted advisor, charismatic leaders & the pain of humanity: Mercury goes retrograde from July 18 to August 25, 2025

Specifically, in this post, we’re narrowing in on Phase 1 of this long season to the timeframe between today, July 18th, and July 25th, 2025.

Mercury is the planet that rules communication, technology, how we think, how we adapt, how we express ourselves, and also travel.

Today, July 18th, it goes retrograde.

Here’s how it could affect you and the world around you, so that you know how to make the most of this energetic frequency and can shield yourself from any of its low-vibrational effects.

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Who’s Leading the Leaders?

July 10-25, 2025: Mercury transits Gate 7, the Gate of the Army, activating our G-Center.

Mercury’s transit in Gate 7 actually began in earnest on July 10th,

but it does an about-face to retrograde back through it this energy beginning today, July 18th, and continues there through July 25th.

But when it stations direct in August, it hits Gate 7 all over again, from August 23rd through 26th.

So we’ll get triple the time spent in Gate 7, the Gate of the Army, a.k.a., the Advisor, a.k.a., the Role of the Self in Interaction.

Which is why I’m writing this lengthy post — because this is gearing up to be a doozy of a transit.

With Mercury igniting Gate 7 in our G-Center, as shown in the image above, we will be influenced to communicate messages that are on-brand for this Gate of the Advisor vibe;

and/or we’ll be hearing a lot of reports about the themes of who’s really behind the strategies that are being put into place that are carrying us, the Collective, in a certain direction.

Our technology and travel plans, too, will be influenced with this particular flare as well:

Gate 7, The Army/Advisor, is the energy for analytical, strategic, direction-setting, behind-the-scenes-planning kind of leadership.

It’s here to use its cunning skills, big-picture vision, ability to guide, and its innate sense of knowing which way to go can determine which pathway will be best for the Collective to follow.

If, that is, it’s operating in the highest vibration.

You may notice, looking at the bodygraph, that 7’s partner is Gate 31, the Gate of Influence, which is the energy of the charismatic figurehead;

the well-liked, trend-setting leader that gets appointed or elected to speak as the representative mouthpiece for their people.

31 is the president you’d like to have a beer with.

The one everybody loves.

That’s 31.

But behind him or her stands a trusted advisor.

Every front-man, or front-woman, needs their clever, wise, behind-the-Scenes strategist. That role is fulfilled by Gate 7.

And Gate 7 has an instinct about where the group ought to be going.

With Mercury, the planet of communication, in this position, I expect to hear more in the news — either from or about — those who hold this kind of behind-closed-doors, strategic, Advisory power.

And there may be a glitch in communications regarding who, exactly, is steering this ship.

Who’s actually making the influential decisions that are determining the direction our country is going?

Some more queries this transit will likely bring up:

• What direction are we going in our own, personal lives?
• Who’s calling the shots?
• What stories have we been telling to try to influence others?
• How have we been using our voices to speak out?
• Who’s determining what we’re allowed to say and not say?
• Is the story we’re telling still applicable? Is it actually the whole truth?
• Who’s telling the figurehead, who speaks on behalf of the Collective, what they’re allowed/not allowed to say?
• What words will be uttered that shouldn’t have been uttered?
• What messages will get dropped?
• Whose vision of the future is determining what could be our reality for the next several decades?

My gut, because of this transit, tells me we’ll be hearing a lot more from and about these behind-the-scenes strategists.

In particular, I’m keeping my eyes and ears on the curiously-timed drop of Dumpy Pants’ seemingly benign diagnosis and the sudden directive to ‘release the grand jury testimony in the Schmepstein case:

Who crafted those narratives?

Guess who has Gate 7 defined in his chart? Stephen Miller.

And it just so happens to land in his Mercury placement (at 7.1, specifically, which I’ll outline below, because you’ll shit your pants when you find out what it’s called).

But hold on a sec. Because we don’t want to paint a one-sided picture of Gate 7. Remember, there’s a high-vibe and a low-vibe to every energy that exists.

Brene Brown also has Gate 7 defined in her chart. So do Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, Elon Musk, Greta Thunberg and Adele.

Each of these people, love ‘em or hate ‘em, has an extraordinary power of knowing which direction to go and the ability to strategically plan for their future.

With this energy, one can have a profoundly strong sense of Self and a certainty about where to go next.

But don’t let Mercury igniting this energy trick you.

If you find yourself suddenly fueled with certainty about what to do or where to go, give that impulse a beat to rest.

Test your hypothesis before making any sudden moves;

don’t take the impulse as gospel.

It may just be Mercury in Gate 7 sending you false flags.

Like that sham of a diagnosis and the decoy directive about grand jury testimony that, by law, cannot just be released, even by Madame Secretary or Tangerine himself.

An embodied, seasoned Gate 7 is known for being one who is particularly well-equipped to lead leaders.

They’re capable of acting as incredible mentors, trusted advisors, sought-after SME’s.

I think of Gate 7’s sometimes as the people who run business leadership incubator pods;

spearheading groups of would-be entrepreneurs,

advising on how to get funding for your startup or how to build a winning pitch deck,

offering tried-and-true sales strategies and introducing them to the right investors,

because these Gate 7 types either have so many decades worth of real-life, business acumen,

or because they just know what strategies need to be implemented to carry the charismatic figurehead in the right direction.

But that’s just one way Gate 7’s shine.

7’s can offer stability and support. They can be calculating and cunning in a way that ensures that plans get rolled out smoothly.

They aren’t distracted by shiny objects.

They don’t thirst for the limelight.

And they don’t require popularity or praise.

Instead, am embodied Gate 7 is comfortable blending into the background, where they keep themselves busy making tough decisions and meaningful strides that actually make a positive impact on society at large.

Do you have this one defined in your Human Design chart?

If so, you’re here to learn how to wield it in the highest expression.

If not, The Army isn’t on your life’s syllabus. So, during this Mercury transit, you have two choices:

A) Shield yourself from its influence, standing strong in the energies you DO hold in your body, or

B) make the most of this transit by practicing using the energy of Gate 7 in the high-vibration, but commit to letting it go once this transit passes.

Here’s what a high-vibe 7 looks like:

• acting as a self-assured, secure, strategic advisor, even if that’s to a figurehead whose picture gets shown on all the social posts & whose name gets all the credit in the headlines
• carrying out your work behind-the-scenes and being cool with that because you know you’re making a meaningful impact
• exercising your powerful & deeply influential decision-maker role with a good conscience and integrity
• demonstrating trustworthiness
• providing direction, support & guidance to leadership
• acting in the service of others
• using your authority in a way that takes everyone under your care into account
• showcasing your analytical, strategic, direction-oriented skills
• having the courage to make hard decisions for the good of the group, even if it means making some people upset
• being fair and impartial
• being elected or appointed to represent; being entrusted with the responsibility to guide others
• acting as a unifying force for the collective

Here are the red flags to watch out for with Gate 7, which indicate someone may be using this energy in a low-vibe way:

• forcing their leadership onto others
• demanding attention and insisting others do what they say, without question
• getting power hungry; wielding force over others just because they can
• caught up in trends; leading only by what the masses seem to want at that moment, rather than having the guts to do the right thing or do what’s actually needed;
• tending to be inauthentic; showing up just to be liked, not to be a decisive leader
• afraid to make tough decisions
• devaluing the important role of behind-the-scenes strategist, and envying the figurehead who gets all the praise/recognition/fame
• jealousy, resentment toward the figurehead leader
• making decisions that lead the collective down the wrong path

I’m not gonna lie. This transit is giving me the feeling that we may hear a lot more in the coming weeks about the Russel Voughts of the world. The Carl Roves. The Steve Bannons and Stephen Millers —

i.e., the Worm Tongues.

Those seemingly quiet, less charismatic, less headline-worthy, non-figurehead kinds of players on the board,

the ones you don’t typically find standing at podiums giving colorful addresses before loyal supporters.

Rather, we’ll hear directly from or about the ones who are content with staying out of the limelight,

because they know their true power lies in steering the ship from someplace out of view,

in making secret plans and devising strategies that will affect everyone nevertheless,

and they won’t ever have to trifle with the circus of the paparazzi.

Until perhaps during this retrograde!

Mercury has already been boosting the signal of Gate 7 over the past week, but now, in retrograde, it’ll further highlight these themes to make sure we don’t miss any messages that might not have been heard the first time around.

That means we’ll be picking through a few of the Lines of Gate 7 three fucking times.

Once forward, once backward, and a second time forward before Mercury moves onward for good and out of Gate 7 (until next year).

Here’s what you need to know about the specific Lines we’ll be experiencing:

Gate 7.1 is called The Authoritarian.

This is the one Stephen Miller has activated in his design; ironically, in his Mercury…

Soooo like, Authoritarianism is what he’s here to communicate. 

Holy shit, right?

I’m not making this up.

That name is from the old texts. I didn’t come up with it.

But here’s the thing: 7.1 can be fatherly energy;

loving, gentle, guiding-the-family kind of vibes.

It can serve as a powerful and stabilizing force that others rely on and trust to make solid plans and create experiences that are fulfilling, safe, and lead to prosperity.

OR, in the low-vibe, it can be, well, Authoritarian.

Exactly everything we’re seeing now:

squashing the truth, silencing dissent, spreading hatred and instilling fear.

As the old texts say, 7.1 in detriment has a “distorted intellect…that believes only it knows best.”

Mercury hit 7.1 on July 10, it’ll be there again July 24-25, and for the third time, on August 23rd.

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Gate 7.2 is called The Democrat.

See how, as we move through the Lines, we build, evolve, and mature?

7.2 is ‘the ability to lead by serving the will of the majority.’

In the high vibe, it’s leadership that’s been chosen by the people.

It’s being fairly elected. Invited to represent. Asked for guidance.

It’s the Collective saying to the one who’s playing the Role of the Self in Interaction,

“Please show us the way, oh trustworthy advisor! You really have great ideas and seem to understand what society truly needs right now. You get the big picture and we like your vision for the future. We pick you to step into power and guide us along the correct path!”

But in the low-vibe, 7.2 is the tendency to take for granted the people who put you in power.

It’s a superiority complex.

It’s the Advisor, once in the role of leadership, saying, “These idiots are so stupid they need me to tell them what to do because they’re incapable of figuring out what to do on their own.”

It’s seeing the masses as less-than. Inconsequential. Expendable.

Case in point: consider this gem from Tuesday:

“I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country’s history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!”

-Donald J. Trump, Truth Social Post, July 15, 2025

Mercury hung out in 7.2 vibe between July 12 and 14, hits this spot again July 21-23, and for the third time, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. August 24th.

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Gate 7.3 is called The Anarchist.

This specific nuance of Gate 7 is couched in the old texts as, “The rejection of any institutionalized order.”

Line 3’s are always the experimenters. They’re fine with making a mess of things because that’s how they learn: by digging their hands in, feeling around, and learning what not to do so they finally understand what to do.

In the high vibe, 7.3, is the ‘constant need for change,’ and the ‘drive of the Self’ to wear whatever hat is necessary to lead your people and take them to the next right place.

It’s a fearlessness and willingness to do whatever it takes;

to act as the advisor and strategist in whatever way is necessary to guide the masses to a better tomorrow.

But in the low-vibe, 7.3 is nihilism; seeing no value in life; no purpose or meaning.

It’s having no regard for the power you behold;

no acknowledgement of your own ability to lead;

and having no regard for anyone’s leadership role.

Devaluing those in power.

Um, lawlessness, anyone?

Mercury hovers here, in 7.3, the Anarchist, from about 4 p.m. July 14 through about 9 a.m. July 21, and hits it again on Aug 24-25.

It transits the final three Lines of Gate 7 (7.4, 7.5, and 7.6) from the 25th of August through the 27th before finally moving onward into Gate 4, the Gate of Answers/Youthful Folly, which we’ll get into when the time comes!

Real quick, if you love geeking out on this stuff:

7.4 is called The Abdicator

7.5 is called The General

7.6 is called The Administrator

If you’d like a breakdown of what those specific frequencies mean, just shout. This post is already long enough, so I’ll stuff it for now;)

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Preview of what’s coming next:

Mercury goes deeper into retrograde for Phase 2 on July 26, when it hits Gate 33, the Gate of Privacy/Retreat.

Stay tuned for that post, set to publish July 25th.

Then Mercury deepens even further into retrograde for Phase 3 on August 2nd, when it hits Gate 31, the Gate of Influence.

I’ll get that writeup done and scheduled to post for Aug. 1st so you know what to expect from ‘the charismatic leader we’ve chosen to represent us.’

Mercury stations direct, finally, on August 11th, so it’ll jockey through Gates 31, 33, and 7 all over again until it completes this season of wild messaging on August 27th, 2025, in 7.6.

After that, Mercury moves onward into Gate 4, the Gate of Answers, a.k.a. Youthful Folly.

We’ll cover that sucker, which I like to call the Cliffy Clavin of the Gates, when we get there!

It’s smooth sailing from there on out — or something like that;) Time will tell!

In the meantime, buckle up.

Stay strong, stay grounded, stay aware, and let us know what you see happening that screams Gate 7 throughout these next few weeks.

As always, I hope this analysis is helpful. Thank you so much for reading and growing with me!

Janeen