Aries, if an ex or old friend you haven't spoken to in five years suddenly texts you, it's because Mercury retrograde is notorious for bringing unresolved issues to the surface. Be prepared to deal with long-suppressed emotions, as well as some people you thought you'd left in the rearview mirror a long time ago.

"With the messenger planet reversing through your house of love, an ex-flame could reappear on the scene, with tempting promises or a repentant mea culpa," the Astro Twins revealed on Astro Style. "Remember, Aries: There's a reason it didn't work out the first time. You need solid proof that you won't have to go through the same chaotic drama again."

Taurus, while the totality of this summer's retrograde energy has you moving forward like a boss, Mercury retrograde is here to remind you to slow your roll. While your normal stance is to make a list and check it twice, and you subscribe to more of a wait-and-see mantra than a fly-by-the-seat-of-your pants motto, once you get going it's hard for you to put on the breaks.

However, if you ignore the stop signs from Mercury retrograde, you might regret it later after you come to your senses. "Attention to home and family matters increases towards the end of July, and any imbalances between personal and professional pursuits become glaring, demanding that a balance is found," Cafe Astrology warned. "If you focus on slowing yourself down, this can be a very rewarding month."

Gemini, if you've been having a particularly rough summer-retrograde season, I have good news. This particular Mercury retrograde is going to be your new best friend. While everyone else is mired in myriad misunderstandings, for you, everything will finally come into focus. "You can absorb a lot of information so this is a good time for studies and exams," Partridge revealed on Astrology King.

What's more, aside from you not getting bogged down in miscommunications with others, people will totally understand where you're coming from. It's kind of like you're wearing a shield of teflon that deflects all of the dark and twisty retrograde energy. "You can express yourself strongly and clearly without upsetting anyone. This is the best time of the month to buy and sell, apply for a new job, and ask for favors."

Cancer, you've had a pretty easy summer retrograde season so for, and all good things must come to an end. For you, the July 2018 Mercury retrograde is going to be an exercise in frustration, which is why being prepared is mandatory. Adopt the motto "hope for the best and prepare for the worst" because this Mercury retrograde will throw up roadblocks for you at every turn.

"Watch for misunderstandings with clients and coworkers, budget snafus, and computer crashes at the job," the Astro Twins cautioned. "Early in the month, take precautions by backing up your data to the cloud and deleting any questionable emails, especially ones sent on the company server. A promising financial lead could ghost you, or a key meeting could be delayed." Try to weather the storm the best you can, and hold onto the knowledge that this drama will only last three weeks.

Leo, because Mercury is retrograde in your sign, you can use its energy to your advantage if you pay attention. During the pre-retrograde shadow period, others will seek you out for advice and be eager to listen to what you have to say. If anything is weighing heavily on your mind, get it off your chest before Mercury turns retrograde July 26 because after this others might not be as receptive and could become immune to your charms.

"Mercury turns retrograde, the day before the [lunar] eclipse. This indicates that you might have to play a longer waiting game with regard to love or partnership until Mercury is back up to speed mid-August," Astrology Sally Kirkland explained on her website. "This could feel unbearable if you’re dealing with strong emotions but rein in your Leo appetite for leaping into action."

Virgo, the July 2018 Mercury retrograde cycle is going to require a lot of self awareness on your part if you don't want to alienate everyone around you. It's no secret that you love to be in control, and when Mercury is retrograde this is next to impossible. Accept the fact that you might be late, electronics will malfunction, and others won't bend to your will. Take an extra beat before saying or doing something you'll surely regret later.

"Mercury will be retrograde in Leo and your foggy twelfth house, potentially creating a minefield of confusion and passive-aggressive behavior. Trying to get a straight answer out of anyone will be an exercise in futility," the Astro Twins cautioned. "You could also reach a breaking point — probably a necessary one — wherever you've made sacrifices that aren't in your own best interest or tried to control a situation in vain. Enough!"

Libra, you already spend way too much time dwelling on what you should have said or done because you want to make everyone happy. Unfortunately, the July 2018 Mercury retrograde cycle is going to bring you even deeper into the well of dwell hell. Try not to beat yourself up. You can't make everyone happy. After all, you're not pizza. When you start to feel dark and twisty, close your eyes focus on your breath.

"You might dwell on things, reminisce about the past, or unexpectedly meet up with people from your past," Partridge revealed. "Business negotiations will be in a state of flux. Some important details may not yet be available or other parties won’t be reliable or honest." Keep in mind that it's not you, it's Mercury. Everything should resolve itself when Mercury goes direct.

Scorpio, the July 2018 Mercury retrograde is going to force you to resign yourself to the fact that no matter how hard you try, little can be accomplished. It might feel like you're pushing a rock up a hill every day only to have it roll back to the bottom every night. For you, Mercury's backspin is going to be hella frustrating so make sure you take some extra time for self care.

"Clients and bosses may be royal pains, changing their minds or delaying decisions with bureaucracy. If you're thinking of investing in a new laptop, phone, printer, or email or website host, wait until after the retrograde," the Astro Twins advised. "If you can, spend the few extra bucks for the insurance and full warranty. Back up all your files, and always review before hitting 'send' or 'publish.'"

Sagittarius, your go-with-the-flow nature means that you'll adjust to the changeable energy of Mercury retrograde more quickly than other signs. However, you'll still want to trust your gut and exercise a little bit more patience than normal. Anything you try to push through during Mercury retrograde will likely fall apart later. Use this time to relax and recharge so you can resume your regular pace once Mercury goes direct.

"You're naturally inclined to adjust, build, and observe in July," Cafe Astrology noted. "The trick now is to avoid pushing things that need some more time. Brand-new endeavors may not get off the ground, but work in progress can benefit significantly from your attention now."

Capricorn, if you have unused personal days or vacation time, Mercury retrograde is the perfect time to take a break. However, instead of going on a trip you might want to hole up at home with your favorite Netflix series. If this isn't an option for you, exercise extreme caution and try to fly under the radar as much as possible because this one's going to be rough.

"You really might want to hang the 'Do Not Disturb' sign starting July 26, when Mercury — the planet of technology, communication, and travel — turns retrograde in Leo and scrambles signals with your closest people," the Astro Twins noted. "Back up any sensitive data, from racy photos to classified documents. Increase your privacy settings, strengthen passwords, and guard against identity theft while tech-titan Mercury's awry."

Aquarius, the July 2018 Mercury retrograde cycle could have you getting in your own way to the point that you unintentionally sabotage a project or relationship that's near and dear to your heart. While you might feel compelled to shoot first and ask questions later, this tactic will definitely backfire. If you just can't stop yourself, consider taking a break from projects and spending more time alone until Mercury goes direct.

"You may very well reach an impasse with a significant someone or experience other forms of misunderstandings or delays," Cafe Astrology revealed. "Watch for impatient communications and a self-destructive way of shooting yourself in the foot. Also this month, you could be wrestling with something from the past or insecurities that undermine your performance, which results in occasional choppiness."

Pisces, Mercury retrograde is here to remind you that it's important to slow down and do one thing at a time. If you don't stay grounded and pay attention to what you're doing, you're likely to send an inappropriate (and highly embarrassing) text or email to the wrong person. Try to get more sleep and engage in physical activities that both ground your esoteric energy and help prevent you from getting sick.

"Back up electronic data and cut down on multitasking because this signal-scrambling retrograde can wreak havoc on your workflow," the Astro Twins advised. "Watch your stress levels and boost your immune system, as you could be prone to catching a summer cold or virus during this powered-down time."

Overall, the July 2018 Mercury retrograde cycle is going to be a huge pain in the butt for almost everyone. However, if you surrender to the fact that things are going to wrong no matter what, and you let go of control, you'll get through it just fine.