Hello again and indeed we are beginning a new zodiacal month with Sun entering Leo. I have always enjoyed Sun in Leo. Favorite activities, such as camping, swimming, enjoying the outdoors, and definitely still relishing the last days of summer vacation, are among what I enjoyed about Sun in Leo growing up. Watching the transiting Sun in comparison to your natal chart is also revealing. Transiting Sun opposes my natal Jupiter with Sun in early Leo, and transiting Sun conjuncts my natal Venus with Sun in late Leo. The power of the Sun highlights the benefics in my chart when he is transiting through Leo, no doubt contributing to good times and happy days during the same month each year.
The ingress chart for this month shows a tense cardinal grand cross pattern including Uranus, Mars, Moon, and Pluto. Saturn is also aspecting Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter by sign and often aspect over this Sun in Leo. Sun in his home sign combined with the heavy energies in the ingress chart suggest that those who are willing to give effort and orient themselves towards achievement can be successful this month. Sun in Leo and Mars connected by an opposition to his overlord, Pluto, in a major pattern, also gives the impression that personal energy and power are of major importance this month. The fiery, fixed nature of Leo Sun is favorable for creativity, finishing what was started, competing and taking risks, and a bias towards taking action. The grand cross blends well with the Leo Sun in some ways, with determination to initiate projects (think “ambitious, innovative, and powerful need to balance” with the cardinal t-square, plenty of opportunities for increasing returns) working well with Leo Sun’s determination to finish them. Saturn also provides a sense of structure. No doubt that the grand cross and Saturn influence are also tough. I have the impression that a successful month depends on a mighty effort to make it so.
Venus begins to retrograde soon after Sun enters Leo, and Sun and Venus will conjunct this month. Anecdotally, I have found that Venus retrograde can indicate returning to a lover. The ‘on or off’ condition of the retrograde signifies a lot of collaboration, or not much at all. I have Venus in Leo natally (direct) and I have found this Venus placement to contribute to a more independent personality. So it seems that with Venus retrograding back through Sun’s sign, the inclination is towards independence. Jupiter also enters the Virgo sign this month. Jupiter is a bit muted in the Virgo sign, but this can be beneficial as excesses are not so prominent. Yet another planet, Mars, also changes signs with Sun in Leo. The quick Mercury is actually in three signs this month! Occasionally he does that. Plenty of varied and changing energies this month, overshadowed by Saturn and the cardinal grand cross in the ingress chart.
Let’s see what else the heavens portend for this month.
Finance
Typically the Sun in a fire sign means more outflow than inflow, other things equal. However, I also am enthused about possibilities for entrepreneurship and starting a business, or even accumulating “accidental income”. Risk is typically thought of as “bad” (or at least I sometimes think of it that way), but considering benefits of risk in the form of greater rewards is a useful way of reframing the idea of risk. Mars entering Leo on August 8 intensifies the idea of outflows and taking risks. Venus entering Leo again (July 31) also weakens the chances of saving money during this month, although it’s always a matter of choice. (Thanks to Michael Munkasey for financial astrology ideas.)
Mercury in Leo contributes to the “easy come, easy go” feel regarding money in the transits this month. As many as four planets will be in Leo at given times this month. My guess is that a lot of spending will take place with Mercury in Leo. Waiting until Mercury enters Virgo (August 7) seems logical; detailed analysis regarding purchases works well with Mercury in Virgo, and Mercury will no longer be squaring Saturn by sign. One problem with Mercury entering Virgo is that he will oppose Neptune until the end of the month. I like Jupiter’s influence on Mercury (they will be conjunct in Virgo) from August 11 to 14. If large purchases are made after Mercury enters Virgo, being very sure of what you’re purchasing and the terms of the agreement are very important factors with Neptune weighing in. Neptune’s influence can also contribute to being swayed in the salesperson’s favor. Dealing with a real estate agent, car dealer, or other mediator merits caution with Mercury-Neptune. One possibility is relying on a friend for help in that type of situation (recall the ingress chart – Moon in Libra as part of the grand cross pattern).
The S&P has been unable to push past its all time high recently. Yellen is signaling an increase in interest rates this year. Anything can happen in the markets, but Sun in Leo and the stellia of planets in Leo would be symbolic of pushing past the all-time high in the S&P. Saturn in the S&P birth chart is lining up with the cardinal grand cross in the ingress chart this month, but I’m not sure how to make an inference regarding that.
Career
This month is definitely one for pushing your interests forward at work. Sun and Mercury are conjunct until about August 3, and Sun easily overshadows Mercury in Leo. Commerce and communication are largely ego-centered from July 23 (Mercury enters Leo) until Mercury enters Virgo on August 7. Mercury in Leo can be useful for creative ideas, attacking problems in a logical manner, and showing confidence at work. The “behind the scenes authority” continuing theme in the heavens with Saturn and Pluto in each other’s signs becomes an increasingly important issue in the workplace starting around July 31, with Mercury squaring Saturn. Nonetheless, Mercury will transit over both Venus and Jupiter, who also square Saturn this month, before he enters Virgo. Paying attention to what authority wants and needs, and navigating rough patches from authority, is potentially very productive with Mercury taking on characteristics of Venus and Jupiter. Mercury-Venus-Jupiter will form a conjunction from August 2 to 7, and all will be squaring Saturn at that time. This denotes fun and teamwork overshadowed by stern authority, so perhaps some decisions to be made. Generally speaking, pleasing authority allows for enjoyment in other areas of work.
Coincidentally, Mars enters Leo on the day after Mercury enters Virgo. Mars in Leo has a different feel, especially at work. Watch for renewed ambition, competitiveness, and various people attempting to take charge in their own ways. Mars in Leo emphasizes a renewed energy and vigor in finishing projects and focusing energy on what is most important. Based on aspects to Transneptunians in late degrees, August 7, 8, and 9 might be very productive. Increasing your standing at work, using persistence and stamina to complete projects, and concentrating power and using controls is an effective way to use thought and communication (Mercury) and will, drive, and ambition (Mars) on those days. Jupiter entering Virgo on August 11, and several days leading up to Jupiter’s ingress (starting around August 4) are also fortuitous based on Jupiter’s connections to several Transneptunians. My favorite aspect is Jupiter sextile Apollon. Jupiter expands and Apollon is a multiplier. Looking sharp, using charisma, increasing your sphere of influence, learning and implementing knowledge, and generally thinking about what can be expanded or multiplied in work has great potential for early to mid August. Jupiter entering Virgo is also generally favorable for work.
Paying attention to a few other dates might also be useful. Sun makes an exact aspect to Pluto on August 6. Power plays at work becomes a salient theme. Dealing with struggles at work involve an admittedly abstract idea of “tangible perspectives” to be used in your favor. Sun will trine Uranus exactly on August 13. This can be fun, but has potential for disruptions as well. It gives the image of a spontaneous, vivacious person. The few days before Sun exits Leo (August 21 and 22) shows Sun forming a tight square with Saturn. However, Sun will also aspect Apollon, Admetos, and Vulcanus. Thus “putting your nose to the grindstone”, having persistence, using mighty force, and determination to expand your efforts can be very productive as Sun exits the Leo sign, at work or elsewhere in life.
Relationships
Much is made of retrogrades, but retrogrades are a necessary part of life. Retrogrades give the sense of stepping back and making evaluations, which can be a valuable and insightful exercise. Relationships might be seen more objectively when a person steps outside of them and observes their dynamics and direction. Venus is not often retrograde (only about 40 days within every 18 months – source: Understanding Retrogrades by Helen Adams). The idea of returning to a lover can certainly apply to Venus retrograde. However, “reevaluating” current relationships is also a strong potential. Reevaluating doesn’t suggest leaving a lover, necessarily. Venus starts retrograding into the Leo sign on July 31 and will remain square to Saturn until the end of the month. Venus square Saturn is tough. Some friction in relationships due to reevaluating them certainly might occur. Determining who is “in charge” and power struggles might also be among the unhappier themes of Venus retrograding this month, due to the square with Saturn. On the lighter side, more of a focus on one’s self and role in relationships might serve to strengthen them. I also have a sense of culling unproductive relationships with this Venus retrograde. While this can be painful, it clears the way for healthier relationships! It definitely won’t be a boring month with relationships, based on the transits after July 31. I do also consider the retrograde effect with collaboration and cooperation (Venus) as being very attuned to group activities or teamwork, or at the other extreme, acting very independently. With Venus in Leo, the bias is towards independence, so independent streaks can be very strong after July 31.
Juno (relatedness) is suggesting an intense month regarding relationships. She aspects Pluto all month. Mercury starts to conjunct Juno around August 11, so communication in close relationships tends to be prominent and using logic to solve problems with a significant other is of greater use starting on August 11. Juno is opposite Neptune for most of the month. The Neptune effect on close relationships is essentially gone at the end of the month, however, with Neptune’s acolyte, Venus, retrograde, close relationships are under the influence of Venus and Neptune to a large extent this month. You might find it beneficial to reach a greater collective through close relationships, but this itself suggests that boundaries in close relationships might receive scrutiny this month. Being creative or enjoying the arts with a significant other is a productive outlet for the Juno-Neptune opposition.
Venus will trine Cupido (Transneptunian) from about August 12 to 15. This partially overlaps the Sun’s trine to Cupido (August 14 to 17). This is a time of ease and romance, even with Venus retrograding. Enjoying family, togetherness, marriage, and functioning as part of a group work well from August 12 to 17. Venus-Uranus has always given me an odd impression, but the trine between the two is useful for being spontaneous and generating useful ideas in relationships.
Spirituality
Jupiter’s ingress into Virgo has interesting implications due to his opposition to Neptune by sign. Neptune is much stronger by sign. With effort, experiences of spiritual growth can be attained with Jupiter opposite Neptune. Karma and service to other people becomes more emphasized with the “spiritual opposition”, but it’s contradictory in a sense because it doesn’t have a heavy feel. Determined effort to adhere to religious rituals might result in purely spiritual experiences. While Sun is in Leo, the Jupiter-Neptune pair supports a radiant authority figure presiding over religious services. Familiar rituals have a more fiery feel this month.
Poseidon (Transneptunian) is not in the picture much this month. One exception is Sun squaring Poseidon from August 1 to 3. That is very opportune for conscious insight and expressing yourself to reach large groups of people. Paradoxically, it also gives the impression of surrendering the ego to the highest wisdom. Perhaps that is the most effective way to develop it (the ego)!
Happy solar return to friends with Sun in Leo! Let your light shine brightly this month. Mike
Disclaimer: please consult the appropriate professional in regards to any area of your life discussed in this horoscope, as it is not intended to replace them. This is for entertainment purposes only and contains the personal opinions of the writer. Offense to any reader is unintentional. Any problem or protest with the newsletter or the opinions of the author should be relayed to triplewaterastrology@yahoo.com.
