Reaching for the heart of the matter, Luna stretches her feline legs and dreams of lighting up the sky. Dark and nascent, she sidles up to Sol, a master of originality and flair in his Leonine domicile. Loving flames flicker with creative possibilities across the empty canvas of their den walls.
Perfecting on August 4 at 4:11 a.m. PT (your time), life burns dramatic at this New Moon. Passion and purpose are on display as Luna flaunts her elegant fur-tuft tail, a radar for instinctual knowing. Picking up Mercurial messages, she transfers headstrong visions from Jupiter in Gemini to Venus’s aneretic 29th degree in Leo. From air to fire, there’s a larger-than-life energy raising the stakes. It’s a ten-act play in a standing-room-only theater.
Loyal to the core, our Jungle Lady licks red-stained lips—a farewell kiss to an empowered Venus, who reluctantly will leave this flamboyant theater for a more conscientious journey in Virgo. Losing royal attributes, Venus will dissect the fruits of her labor, fine-tuning and learning as she goes from August 5 through 29. Feverish dreams may be edited down with a perfect love in mind.
Reflect on Venus’s time in Leo over these past 3+ weeks. How have your priorities changed? Anything taking hold now may have begun last summer when Venus made her epic retrograde in Leo. What’s shifting in your relations? Your values? Make a list, lest you take for granted these monumental transmutations. Venus, visible once more in the night sky, has much to impart.
Taking place in the Jupiter-ruled second decan of Leo, Luna strikes a triumphant pose and shakes her crimson mane. Victory is assured, marked by humble overtones. Opportunities for courageous self-expression are plentiful thanks to the Moon and Sun’s sextile to Mars and Jupiter in the sign of the Twins. Playful intentions may leave tracks of congeniality, but caution is advised. Even a lunar lion is a flawed creature and may survive in the jungle best by avoiding excessive displays of primal hubris.
Renn Butler from The Archetypal Universe writes about Mars and Jupiter together: “Journeyers can feel powerful surges of cosmic energy carrying them through their emotional material and out the other side.” During this New Moon, focus on being in the right place at the right time instead of having to do everything, everywhere, all at once. Your nervous system will thank you.
Hidden in the fauna and flora, Mercury will station retrograde hours after the New Moon. Louder isn’t always prouder, especially when strutting your convictions. Moving from Virgo, its place of rulership and exaltation, back to Leo, Mercury offers many opportunities for revisions. Inner and outer critics have much to say about passionate plans and far-off adventures. Conjoining Venus on August 7, love bombing is out. Meticulous, courageous conversations are in.
Mercury RX Dates
August 3 - Mercury Stations Retrograde at 4 degrees Virgo
August 14 - Mercury ingresses back into Leo
August 18 - Mercury Cazimi
August 27 - Mercury Stations Direct 21 degrees Leo
Sept 8 - Mercury re-enters Virgo
Consider this…
The Leo lunar cycle brings all the drama one could ask for, punctuated by the long-anticipated exact square between Jupiter and Saturn and a Mercury Cazimi at the Full Moon on August 18/19. (Stay tuned for Michelle’s Full Moon article). Set your intentions toward grand ideas. Step out in the spotlight. Consider great works with diverse collaborators. Then, ready yourself for the unfolding story of the “Great Conjunction.”
Jupiter and Saturn’s opening square is the first hard aspect between these two Giants since they sparked the “age of air” in December 2020 at 0 degrees Aquarius. The structures of belief are on display in the public sphere in various forms of extremism, hypocrisy, impulsive actions, and over-exertion.
You may already be feeling the energy like a hot fire in the distance. If not, August 14 features the Moon, our Lady of Fortune, forming a mutable T-square to these planets from Sagittarius. Practice healthy skepticism while remaining receptive to edgy influxes of creativity.
Neva Welton is a published author, editor, and co-founder of Astrum Opus. She combines her MA in Counseling Psychology with decades of esoteric and astrological studies to provide astro-counseling sessions. Neva also builds websites for solo entrepreneurs.
As always, beautifully crafted and narrated!! Thank you so much Neva for the poetic heads-up!! Looking forward to Michelle’s full moon narration! Much love & gratitude to the AO team 💛
I am feeling the Leo warmth.
Beautiful as always!