Ready for more joy & playfulness in your life? The Sun is now in its own sign, LEO – and you can expect a lively, solar-powered month ahead! It’s time to crawl out of your shell, center yourself and allow your unique individuality to shine forth. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” (Shakespeare). So…play your role to the max and allow that divine spark within you to radiate outward. Express yourself!
The Sun is the source of all life and light on this planet — welcome this revitalizing force, recharge your batteries and soak up some rays (carefully, since LEO is a fire sign and this tends to be the hottest month of the year in the northern hemisphere). Avoid burnout, and be especially careful with candles & campfires, as wildfire season is already exploding on the west coast.
Just as the Sun is the central pulse of our solar system, you, too, are the heartbeat of your personal universe and the source of your own experience. Whatever (and whoever) is revolving around you can provide important feedback about the quality of energy you’re projecting.
What do those in your close orbit tell you about yourself? Are you happy with the “I am” that you are projecting? Are you comfortable with the life you’re living? Or are there some aspects of your personal identity, self-image, appearance or lifestyle that require some attention? Acknowledge that you are both the co-creator and the star of your own drama – and that you have the capacity to rewrite both the script and the characters in it. Let your heart be your guide!
This new solar month will be a lively one — and may even be somewhat overwhelming at first. There could be more communications, social commitments, comings & goings than before due to the overblown Venus-Jupiter opposition and the unrestrained Sun-Jupiter inconjunct, both on July 22. Then, life will take an even more dramatic turn as the Full Moon in LEO & AQUARIUS comes to a head on July 23 at 7:37 pm PDT. How appropriate that the opening ceremony of the long-awaited Summer Olympic Games takes place on this day!
Don’t be surprised if you experience unusual encounters, changes of plans, sudden separations, amazing flashes of insight or lots of drama with this particular Full Moon. Increased self-understanding can be realized through feedback from your one-on-one interactions, pay attention to the mirror your relationships are providing you and strive for teamwork interaction. Don’t let your ego get in the way, and downplay any of the negative LEO impulses (like narcissism, arrogance or stubbornness). Instead of projecting your issues onto another, “BE the change you want to see happen” (Gandhi).
Set aside some time to nurture yourself, exercise, stretch, relax and catch up on your sleep with the healing Mercury-Neptune trine on Saturday, July 24. Take it easy on the 25th, however, as the stressful Mercury-Pluto opposition could stir up some tensions or relationship pressures related to finances, food or feelings. Look for a positive outlet to let off some steam so you don’t take it out on loved ones.
Mars is also in LEO as this month begins, inspiring lively social interactions, celebratory gatherings with friends and stimulating entertainment opportunities. This will be amplified once Mercury leaves CANCER and enters LEO on the evening of July 27. Spread the joy, but avoid going overboard due to the accompanying Mercury-Jupiter inconjunct — and the excessive Mars-Jupiter opposition which builds to a peak on July 29. This aspect is well-known for burning the candle at both ends, so make an effort to chill out a bit and restrain yourself from taking on too much!
On July 28, Jupiter finishes its 2-1/2 month stay in sensitive PISCES and retrogrades back into unpredictable AQUARIUS, where it will remain until December 28. This represents an abrupt change of pace and a shift in lifestyle & attitude, hopefully bringing increased freedom & enlightened thinking — and more of a “we” consciousness. Significant partnerships and teamwork interactions could be developed during this cycle. The furthering of social justice, racial & gender equality and progressive ideas is definitely in our near future. It is to be hoped that the reticence (or inability) to get vaccines will be reduced as a result of this more awakened approach. It may be time to upgrade your computer, software, phone or other electronic devices. Embrace change & innovation!
Mars leaves LEO and joins Venus in VIRGO on July 29; lots of energy will be available for cleaning, sorting & filing during the upcoming 6-week cycle. Focus on putting your life in order and getting your act together! A little self-analysis will go a long way, and any efforts made to help another will end up helping you, too. Redefine your priorities.
The month of August begins with the analytical Sun-Mercury conjunction, which forms a challenging opposition to Saturn on the 1st. Some obstacles, disappointments or frustrations could arise in relationships, requiring patience and honest communication. Long-term partnerships may undergo a major reality check, stirring up issues involving respect, equality, consensus and commitment. Don’t take things so seriously and cut yourself and your partner some slack — this, too, will pass! 
The scintillating Venus-Uranus trine on August 2 will brighten things up — socially & romantically. Expect some magical connections with friends and serendipitous meetings with strangers. Love at first sight is known to happen with this aspect, so put on your sparkle!
The edgy Mercury-Uranus square on August 3 will provide an opportunity to see things from a different perspective — open your mind for some positive changes ahead! Be prepared for further disruptions, interruptions or power outages as the unpredictable Sun-Uranus square comes to a peak on August 6. 
Life will be full of surprises! Home, family & domestic affairs could undergo some changes or rearrangements; you may be inclined to explore alternative approaches in your living situation. The spacey Mercury-Neptune inconjunct on the 7th could require an adjustment in thinking; be charitable, kind & forgiving (and don’t believe everything you hear).
A new day dawns on August 8 with the New Moon in LEO (at 6:50 am PDT) — trust in the universe and live life fully & confidently. As Robert Louis Stevenson so aptly put it, “To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end in life”. Open yourself up to new possibilities and unexplored avenues of self-expression — be the sunshine in your own life! Approach life wholeheartedly (LEO rules the heart, spinal cord and eyes). Allow the life force to permeate you and view the world through a cheerful lens!
Chaos & confusion may reign in work-related matters around August 9, due to the nebulous Venus-Neptune opposition. Clarify procedures, strive for clear communications with co-workers and maintain well-defined boundaries to avoid getting used or abused. Social relationships could be somewhat challenged at this time, too. On the 10th, the blathering Mercury-Jupiter opposition could cause you to make mountains out of molehills, so don’t jump to conclusions, wait until all the facts are in and don’t pass on non-certified information.
August 11 will be a day of reorientation and a change of focus. The challenging Mars-Lunar Node square will confront us with what needs to be fixed, resolved or healed. Mercury leaves LEO and joins Venus & Mars in VIRGO on the same day, providing the tools for bringing order out of chaos. From this point on, you’ll want to take a more analytical approach to things ‒ make plans, pay closer attention to the details and detoxify your body, mind & spirit. The creative Venus-Pluto trine, also on August 11, will inspire us to join up with like-minded individuals to get the job done. Some potent & productive new friendships could be developed around this time.
Life could feel out-of-whack between August 13-15 due to numerous inconjunct planetary aspects, along with the irritable Mercury-Lunar Node square. Make any necessary adjustments to keep things functioning and on track. By the evening of August 15, Venus will have left VIRGO and moved onto its own sign, LIBRA. A more peaceful, harmonious attitude will prevail from this point on. Make time for more sweetness & sociability—get together with your favorite people, embark on a collaborative project and add some culture to your life.
You can expect a little extra drama on August 17 with the tumultuous Sun-Pluto inconjunct, followed by the reckless Sun-Jupiter opposition on the 19th. There may be many demands on your time & attention, making you feel scattered and overwhelmed — try to rein yourself in! The sharp-minded Mercury-Mars conjunction, in the midst of all of this on August 18, can assist you in clearing up any misconceptions or miscommunications. Avoid making assumptions and think before you speak!
Uranus begins its annual 5-month retrograde on August 19, causing things to be uncertain & unpredictable for a few days. This retrograde cycle initiates a time for re-evaluating partnership & teamwork interactions, releasing any limiting relationships and investigating alternative approaches to solving problems. Free yourself up from whatever is holding you back! With both the intellectually-stimulating Mercury-Uranus trine (on August 20) and the electric Mars-Uranus trine (August 21), this process will get off to a lively start — and bring this solar month to a satisfying closure.
The challenge provided by this LEO month is to acknowledge the divinity within yourself and within others – open your heart and let your spirit soar! You’ll have the opportunity to experience this fully as the second Full Moon in the LEO month comes to a head in the final degrees of LEO-AQUARIUS (on August 22 at 5:02 am PDT). As Swami Beyondananda so playfully puts it, “The best way to illuminate the darkness is to make light of it.” SHINE ON!!
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY & SOLAR RETURN to my LEO friends!
© 2021 Diane Elizabeth Clarke