Mercury's entry into the sign Leo puts a greater than usual emphasis on the need to speak from one's heart as Leo is the home sign of the Sun. Ideally, this suggests that we are now in a period when direct communication is highly likely. Fiery Leo is less interested in analysis and filtered communication than in direct, pure, self-expression. Expect, then, that enthusiasm may carry the conversational day over objective reason and logic.

Mercury in Leo also touches on language as a form of entertainment. Leo loves the show, and now has the Messenger planet ready to do its bidding. We can expect more colorful speech with its focus on impact exceeding its interest in facts. Enjoy the images the mind will conjure now, but try not to be taken in by your own (or anyone else's) hype. It's amazing how seriously we can take ourselves, even when the goal is play. A little extra time to filter through the noise, and a little bit of detachment from the ego, can make this period one that is both joyful and productive.

Those born with Mercury in Leo include expressive rockers Bono, Mick Jagger, Jerry Garcia, David Crosby and Ringo Starr. More than just a touch of the bizarre is found in Merc in Leos Michael Jackson, Andy Warhol and Roman Polanski.

Actors Ben Affleck, Charlie Sheen, Sean Penn, Antonio Banderas and Anjelica Huston belong to this group, as do comics Lily Tomlin, Robin Williams and Peter Sellers. Mercury in Leo sports greats include Jimmy Connors, Mike Tyson and Magic Johnson, as well as ex-basketball star Bill Bradley and his fellow politicos Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Ironically, Clinton nemesis Kenneth Starr also has Mercury in Leo.

Other grand personalities who belong to this group are Jacqueline Onassis, Fidel Castro, Kathie Lee Gifford, financier Michael Milken, Virgin billionaire Richard Branson, newscaster Connie Chung and writers Alex Haley and Ray Bradbury.

For more on Mercury see An Interview with the Messenger by Alice DeVille.