August 4 7:13 AM EST
This is another significant new moon that invites us to get clear on what is most important to us, and adjust any communication or logistical matters accordingly. Mercury is stationing at 4 degrees of Virgo, about to go retrograde less than 24 hours later. So throughout the upcoming new moon cycle all matters of communication will be highlighted in importance. Virgo asks us to keep it clear, clean and simple. If we are temped to overcomplicate things, or embellish them with drama or flair (as Leo is want to do) we would be wise to pause, breathe and get to the heart of the matter instead. This can help us avoid unnecessary miscommunications down the road.
The sun and moon are united at 12 degrees in the sign of the proud, courageous lion. Leo is all about putting our heart and creativity front and center and embracing the fun, play and inspiration of life. Leo is also the sacred sovereign heart energy center that connects us to our highest and most divinely aligned path forward. So whatever stirrings we may be feeling now, Leo wants us to take a risk and go for it!
So we could have a fun, and potentially romantic, month ahead. Especially because we also have Venus, the planet of love and money, at 29 degrees of Leo. There is a potency to the 29th degree- the final degree of every sign- known as the anaretic degree. There is both a fated quality to the anaretic degree as well as “kitchen sink” quality where things that have been simmering want to come to the surface before the planet changes signs. So there could be lots of activity in Leo matters of the heart, games (hello, Olympics), speculation, creativity and children. It’s time to consider what in these areas of our lives wants to bloom and express.
We have come a long ways in the past year since we had a potent Venus retrograde in Leo in summer 2023 that invited us into powerful revision of our values, desires and capacity to advocate for ourselves from this deep heart space. It may be worth re-visiting that article so we can cheer ourselves on in our development and progression and reclaim our alignment to what we have articulated as most meaningful and sacred to us. Especially in the Venusian realms of love, beauty and satisfaction.
But yet again, Mercury is poised to go retrograde, and is conjunct Venus. Even though the conjunction is out-of-sign (Venus is in Leo and Mercury is in Virgo) it is nonetheless a tight conjunction within 5 degrees. And after Venus enters Virgo later on the day of the new moon, and Mercury begins it’s retrograde, it is a short few days before the Venus/Mercury Rx conjunction occurs on August 7th at 3 degrees of Virgo. So that’s a significant day to watch for especially in terms of which relationships and situations will be front and center for us for the month.
Another planet that is stationing is Pluto, at 0 degrees of Aquarius and getting close to retrograding backwards into Capricorn towards the end of this lunar cycle, on September 1st. As the slowest moving planet Pluto’s transformative effect is deep and subterranean. Things that have been coming up for us since Pluto first began dancing with the 0 degree Aquarius point in March 2023 are back up for revision. What choices have we made since then that we can now see we are ready to pivot or adjust? We have just enough hindsight to begin course correcting.
We also may still have some “unfinished business” to attend to this autumn when Pluto is back at 29 degrees of Capricorn, wrapping up a chapter in that sign which began way back in 2008. So anything that we are ready to shed that feels like it’s part of this 2008-2024 chapter may be surfacing, and that could be part of the 29 degree Leo Venus. Those old romantic or financial situations are back up so we can decide if they are part of our life moving forward or not.
Mars is currently in mid-Gemini and approaching a conjunction with Jupiter who is camped out there until mid-2025. Jupiter in Gemini is putting LOTS of ideas, possibilities, and connections on the table. With Mars approaching we may be alternately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of possibilities, OR coming to a crucial decision point about which choice we want to pick up off the table and “run with”. Mars likes to take action and get on with things. So after a period of indecision or scattering our energy, we may have the clarity and motivation necessary now to make our move in the direction of our most heartfelt desires (Leo).
But, yet again, with Mercury about to go retrograde, careful attention is required to HOW we pursue what we want (and communicate about it). Sticking to Virgo’s “simplicity wins” maxim is helpful. But we are also wise to remember that Leo is dramatic, and the Mars/Jupiter conjunction can likewise have BIG energy and sometimes go over-the-top. So watching where we, or others, may be going in this direction and keeping things steady, will help us remain even-keeled.
This is especially significant since the Mars/Jupiter conjunction in Gemini is also square to Saturn in mid-Pisces. Pisces is a nebulous and intuitive sign so Saturn does not necessarily “speak loudly” when in Pisces. Yet this entire 3 year period of Saturn in Pisces (2023-2026) is about re-configuring our inner operating system to be more in alignment with our soul’s path and spiritual truth. So when things are NOT in harmony with that, the Mars/Jupiter conjunction square to Saturn could make that very clear. This aligns with Venus at 29 Leo bringing up new and old relationship and financial issues to be observed through this lens. As well as Mercury Rx facilitating the necessary conversations or clarifications.
The more we can observe what needs to be seen now and course correct as necessary the smoother things will flow for the remainder of August and September. This is because we are adjusting now rather than waiting for perhaps more pressing obstacles to emerge later in the summer/early fall when the parade of planets that are poised to pass through Virgo at that time form oppositions to Saturn. We can adjust now and move on rather than trying to force any square peg/round hole situations or getting carried away by sheer excitement and enthusiasm that we later have to backtrack on.
That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t go for what we want! The Leo new moon is very supported by the Mars/Jupiter conjunction in Gemini. So leading with the heart and fun and enthusiasm is what it’s all about. It’s just when we ignore the red flags or try to dismiss communication issues (Mercury Rx) or reality checks (Saturn) that we can run into issues down the line. It’s better to let this big fire energy give us the courage and confidence to face things head on and adjust (and enjoy!) as we are guided.
When we show up from that place, then magical things can happen! The new moon is trine to the north node at 8 degree of Aries. And it is also activating by trine the 19 degree Aries solar eclipse point from our ultra-potent eclipse in April. That eclipse was all about the birth of the new that is wanting to be born in our lives, and how we are showing up in the unknown. This new moon can be a giant step forwards for us on that path into the NEXT when we know we are ready and say YES to what we want! Then we can truly show up revitalized now as the co-creative King or Queen of our emerging and upgraded lives..
*artist unknown
vibrational-astrology.com 