Image: Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687) German-Polish astronomer
Note: All the Leo planets form an inconjunct (150deg.) aspect to the sextile (60deg.) between NeptuneRx/Pisces and PlutoRx/Capricorn. This configuration is called a YOD or “Finger of God.”
The Leo planets are at the far midpoint of the sextile and become the pointer to focalize and emphasize collective energy in the direction of Life, Love, Individuality, Children, Creativity, Heat, Romance, etc. In other words, what all of us need to believe that we are living a joyful authentic, self-determined life.
9. 7/21/23 – Sun/Cancer opposite PlutoRx/Capricorn @ 29 deg. – Coming to terms with inevitable change is hard, it is necessary, and it is emotionally transformative, even draining. Four times a year, the Sun meets Pluto in hard aspect. This is the Full Moon version of the 4-part cycle, indicating that some powerful issues will be fully revealed and demand emotional accountability. Pluto and the Sun speak to how power, money, sex, and influence are used (or abused). Because this is an opposition aspect, there are sure to be confrontations between opposing factions. Personally, if this aspect is intimate with your chart (by degree), you too may be challenged around expressing your power. You’ll have to decide whether to stand your ground and generate your sense of empowerment in some way. Yielding when necessary and purging whatever is toxic or has outlived its cycle are additional attributes.
10. 7/22/23 – A day with 2 major aspects.
-- Venus/Leo turns Stationary Retrograde @ 28deg. (until 9/3/23). Venus appears to stop and change course, retracing previous degrees back to 12deg. where it will stop again and move forward (Stationary Direct) on 9/3/23. You can read a detailed description of this powerful summer event in another posted article. Venus retrograde strives to teach us to love one another and that can only fully happen if we love ourselves. Venus retrograde gathers together the other planets transiting Leo: Mars now nearly at the end of its cycle, Mercury, and the Sun to amplify the message with action, communication and will. The emphasis on the heart (Leo), love, creative self-expression shows us a sharp contrast to what we lack these days. I’m reminded of a quote by Martin Luther King, "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Let us do the work of the heart, life, and love. It’s what is asked of us in this cycle.
-- Sun enters Leo (until 8/23/23). The Leo Sun contributes to the heat we are feeling on all levels and the work before us. We cannot forget the power of play, and free joyful abandon, which children display so easily and innocently. Be sure to schedule in those lazy, hazy days of summer and soak up the goodness and simplicity of being fully alive. It’s such a gift and we only walk this earth for a short time. It’s to be remembered that just as children must learn that they cannot always have their way, so too as adults we need to tame the ego and stubborn pride that blinds us from leading with love and respect for others and their version of freedom to be the individuals they are.
11. 7/23/23 – Mercury/Leo square Uranus/Taurus @ 22deg. – This third important condition within three days makes for highly charged atmospheres and unpredictable expression. An opening square between Mercury and Uranus speaks to the urge to create and build something new with language, ideas, and a vision for the future. What will it be? A fire/earth fixed sign combination is an urgent thrust for manifestation, something baked in the kiln of our desires wants expression. There’s an inherently abrupt and unpredictable quality that can morph toward disruption instead of creation. Strong words, even if they are true, can wound and destroy. Working together with like minded individuals to progress and solve urgent problems is a better way to use this energy.
12. 7/27/23 – A day with 2 major aspects.
-- Mercury/Leo inconjunct NeptuneRx/Pisces @ 27deg. – What we think and the information we consume may be dissonant, leading to confusion and misinterpretation inadvertent or deliberate. We might feel that nothing we say or do makes a difference to the chaos surrounding us. Guard against becoming jaded or melancholy. Pause to recharge your batteries and keep the faith. Each sincere infusion of goodwill through word or action helps to tip the balance from our collective ailment and instead nourishes the energies of soulful unity.
-- Mercury/Leo conjunct VenusRx/Leo @ 28deg. – Relationships, all of them, need honest, heartfelt communication and this is a perfect aspect to have one! Mercury meets the retro Venus in a fiery union and all sorts of creativity breaks loose. If you believe in your creativity on any level whatsoever, ideas are blessed and prolific with this meeting. How do you want to express who you are, the role you wish to play or are playing in life, how do you want to shine? What do you want others to know about you?
13. 7/28/23 – A day with 2 major aspects.
-- Mercury/Leo inconjunct PlutoRx/Capricorn @ 29deg. – Where is the pressure coming from? That’s the first basic question. Are you pressuring yourself about something? Are you obsessing? Inconjuncts are often disconnected energy and in the process of working with them something new emerges. In this case, expression wants validation, recognition and a sense of security and protection. Stubborn thinking may deny us the ability to correctly assess what is really going on. We might be blinded by our need to be right, to prevail or even on some level to survive. Before concluding do your due diligence.
-- Mercury enters Virgo (until 10/4/23!) – Mercury enters the sign of its next retrograde and that’s why it lasts so long. Mercury turns Retro on 8/23/23. Sifting out the debris is the task with this Mercury retrograde – cleaning up your mental landscape for accuracy. Sorting comes with this essentially Fall or preparation for Fall energy. Some of the heat may turn to dryness. Fun and games shift to practicality, criticism and generally cleaning up messes of one sort or another. The devil will be in the details and it’s the details that will make all the difference in your creative endeavors. In the world at large some situations we’ve been puzzling over become clearer, the pieces fall into place and new pieces are revealed. Try not to be too judgmental – only when necessary!
14. 7/30/23 – VenusRx/Leo inconjunct NeptuneRx/Pisces @ 27deg. – Pride is softened by understanding and compassion – this is a better expression. We might feel confused by what is happening in a relationship. We might feel fooled or betrayed or simply misunderstood or we misunderstand the love language of the other. Sensitivity is needed, inspiration and kindness too. If you’re creating, go with the flow instead of where you had planned. Amazing things happen when you get lost in your creative process. Underneath it all is the need for relationships to have time to recharge and to remember what they mean to each other.