Leo New Moon Newsletter🌑

Happy New Moon in Leo!

The astrology influencing today’s New Moon is fabulous — her annual rebirth in the sign of the Lion is always a playful romantic catalyst, an opportunity for glamorous self-expression and dramatic individuation via style and/or art, but her synergy to Jupiter today amplifies the moment’s potential dramatically: taking a risk, self-promoting, self-celebration, declaring your true feelings, releasing a piece of artwork that’s close to your heart and/or initiating a triumphant return to the dating scene are fantastic ways to celebrate. Whatever you do in the way of new beginnings today (especially if it has anything to do with the Leonine themes of leadership, fashion, drama, romance and/or creativity) is essentially #blessed. It’s also a fabulous day for a worthiness and/or self-confidence spell: wear a bold lip color, rock something yellow and tuck a citrine into your pocket for an extra burst of Leonine warmth and luck in all your ventures today (particularly those involving the area of life ruled by your natal Leo House!)

Two Week Astrology Report:

Thursday, July 28th: On the day of the New Moon, Mercury and Uranus square which is awesome for progressive and forward-focused thinking, appraising a situation from an emotionally-detached perspective, verbalizing usually erratic or out-there concepts, or evolving an aspect of a mindset, perspective or a go-to communication strategy. With Mercury in dramatic Leo, anticipate bold, unexpected announcements or plot-furthering reveals which dramatically defy expectation and revolutionize stagnant situations. Quirky, innovative genius and out-of-the-box solutions are favored by this contact, and sudden realizations and game-changing epiphanies are likely. But because this is a square, the few days surrounding this transit could be messy, awkward or even turbulent; only a few days later is the full creative brilliance of the moment made clear as opportunities arise and we realize the benefits made possible by the mental, creative or communicative recalibration. Jupiter also turns retrograde in the sign of Aries until late November where the largest planet in our solar system has resided since May (but he’ll return to Pisces briefly in late October for the final month of the retrograde, where he spent the majority of 2022’s winter and the spring of 2021.) When the outer planets turn retrograde, we aren’t as impacted at the personal level as we are by inner planetary activity, but we will be invited to reflect on the ventures and new beginnings initiated since Jupiter’s entrance into Aries early in May. While this energy is awesome for aggressive self-backing and uplifting motivation, it can be a little impulsive, drawing us into premature action fueled by a haughty sense of self-importance. Assess how any risk-taking of the last few months has seemed to assist or hinder you as you approach your long-term goals, specifically within the context of whatever house occupies the later degrees of Aries in your birth chart. Take the next few months to pause with regard to these projects (if possible) and ideally, move forward late fall with the same pioneering spirit and enthusiasm, matured and tempered by an awareness of the bigger picture.

Sunday, July 31st: Mercury opposes Saturn today which remains a prevalent influence throughout early August but is felt most strongly now. We may oscillate between self-censoring insecurity, squelching our innate genius out of fear and self-consciousness, and having absolutely no filter while lacking an organized, strategic and informed communication style. Negotiating this balance will be challenging but is the key to making the most of this potentially discouraging transit: resist an urge to overthink or indulge in a self-deprecating thought spiral, but also consider timing before impulsively dropping a big reveal or pre-emptively introducing an immature or still-gestating idea. Do express a point, idea or perspective which you find absolutely genius — especially if you’re sure that it’s fully developed and appropriately timed — but anticipate the arguments both for and against it, obtaining the sufficient data, research and intel to eloquently and thoughtfully silence any doubt (and if you realize the idea is still forming creatively, don’t bring it to Shark Tank or introduce it to the focus team — if you can’t speak as an articulate authority figure on the subject, enthusiasm alone won’t garner the desired feedback loop.) Have a plan and be informed, and even in casual conversation, a strategic and calculated approach is best to avoid miscommunication or interpersonal conflict. Also possible: Mercurial glitches, mishaps or annoyances arise but in doing so, offer practical life wisdom. That popped tire, untimely parking ticket or dreaded jury duty notice may seem ill-timed, but Saturnine dilemmas (though decidedly not fun in the moment) equip us to handle the same situation with more grace, authority and wisdom next time. And today’s wider astrology isn’t indicative of total Saturnine malaise: a vivacious alignment between the sun and Jupiter supports creative flair, theatrical largesse, and the bold conception of big ideas. It’s a cosmic confidence booster, a romantic catalyst, and a playful invitation to disregard whatever decorum dictates (especially if it inhibits the full expression of fun, leisure and/or sensuality.)

Monday, August 1st: Happy Lunasa! One of the biggest astrological events of the year — a Mars, Uranus and North Node alignment — is exact today. Uranus will remain within a few degrees of the North Node for the rest of 2022 and into the first few months of next year, so this rare event (which only occurs once every 167 years) remains relevant well into the new year but is experienced most overtly from mid-July to mid-August, supercharging the rest of the summer with Uranian ingenuity and a Mars-inspired desire to accel and self-actualize. A lot of astrologers have discussed this event as essentially turbulent or even catastrophic but as someone who doesn’t consider Mars an automatic malefic* planet I heavily disagree: at the personal level, this astrology promotes self-backing or prompts a dramatic reinvention, and it’s an opportunity to create or transform something completely original to you, to deepen a sense of emotional and/or financial security via innovation, authenticity and resilience. The North Node’s involvement adds weight and implies that the next few months are relevant within the scope of our wider hero’s journey and life path, while Uranus always presents unexpected twists and Mars (especially in Taurus) is closely concerned with the ways in which we identify with our successes, belongings, and anything which we feel we’ve built, secured or created from nothing. The next few weeks are potentially foundational and enterprising: start a project that feels emotionally important and aligned to your identity but be open to Uranian discoveries, surprises or life-changing realizations about yourself and/or the venture. This transit is unlikely to play out interpersonally or inform the vibe of even our closest relationships: instead, it’s a deeply personal revolution, an individual experience which will zap us all differently, bringing shifts in our understanding of who we are and how we define the Taurus/Mars themes of success and security respectively. If there is a warning, it’s that already turbulent personalities in your sphere could go full-on rogue around this time— rebellious spirits are energized by this transit including both noble humanitarians and opinionated individuals with no clear cause or validity to their disgruntled claim. Otherwise, though, look forward to the next few months as pivotal to your growth with cool realizations or plot-furthering insight coming now.

*A malefic planet — aka, Mars or Saturn — is an old-school astrology term which essentially implies (as the word suggests) that a planet’s influence in an alignment or contact is essentially bad, unhelpful, and actively counterproductive to the outcome we’d likely want. While ancient astrology is often fear-based and hyper-simplified in this way, we now have a much more nuanced understanding of planetary energies and the ways in which they work together and motivate us, and as a result, modern astrology has pretty much completely disregarded the notion of malefic and benefic planets, with this terminology very rarely surfacing in the context of professional interpretations and/or academic texts. Nonetheless, this outdated sensibility still informs a lot of pop-culture astrological buzz (so I never overlook an opportunity to address it!) While Mars expressed in a low-vibe way can absolutely trigger petty competition, haughty self-interest and the kind of rugged, senseless aggression which leads to unproductive conflict, it’s also the very same influence which motivates us to self-actualize and achieve, supporting the development of healthy self-esteem and a bold commitment to our personal truth, autonomy and agency. An overabundance of — or disconnect from — any planetary energy in the birth chart — including also Venus, the Sun and Jupiter, traditionally regarded as benefic planets — is now understood to come with it’s own unique challenges, quirks and blind-spots to consider as well as gifts, superpowers and talents to maximize.

Tuesday, August 2nd: Venus harmonizes with the Mars, Uranus and North Node alignment which emphasizes it’s creative potential and ability to affect change. An artistic revelation, a Venusian revamp or a complete transformation of romantic sensibilities and/or financial strategizing are a few possible ways this essentially pleasant influence could infiltrate your experience of the day. It’s also a good moment to gracefully tackle even a mini injustice — Mars brings courage, Uranus aligns us to our greater values, and Venus introduces an element of tact, diplomacy and charisma. Whether you need to bring a work injustice to the attention of a higher-up or create a difficult boundary with a needy friend, this astro prevents awkwardness and allows you to access a newfound level of calm assertion and polite firmness. It’s also good for a dramatic style morph to reflect 2022’s rapidly-evolving version of you.

Thursday, August 4th: Mercury leaves audacious Leo for meticulous Virgo, one of the two zodiac signs over which the Messenger God rules (and therefore one of his favorite annual stops!) Mercury functions especially well in the articulate, organized and detail-oriented sign of the Virgin, so this is an excellent three-week period for basically all Mercurial pursuits including writing, speaking and/or editing projects or engagements, and anything requiring us to use our analytical mental faculties or involving the assessment of data is energized and made easier by this transit. It’s also a good time to tend to the details of your life or get ahead on your daily, monthly and/or weekly systems and routines: Virgo loves to plan and thrives when presented with a mess to untangle, an errand to run, a drawer to organize or data to analyze. The only downside of this transit is that it can subject us to more frequent bouts of analysis-paralysis but should this occur, organize that cluttered corner of your space where unread mail and random household items seem to gather: doing so will restore your brain to optimal function, extract unhelpful thoughts and return you to a state of balance, clarity and ease. If you have a lot of Virgo in your chart, you may find yourself buzzing with mental energy which could become neuroses without an outlet through which to express itself: should this occur, engage the body by going for a run or incorporating some other movement practice, and/or make a list.

Friday, August 5th: Today is the Scorpio waxing crescent moon, square Saturn and opposite the still-strong Mars/Uranus/North Node config. When the moon passes through the sign of the Underworld God for her twice-monthly square to the sun, she seeks out transformation and rebirth; levity and calm can feel frustratingly like stagnancy, drawing out Plutonian snark or a looming sense of restless annoyance, but don’t be so growth-centered and stagnancy-averse today that you manufacture unnecessary change or needlessly disrupt areas of your life currently blessed by healthy ease and flow. Our desire to rebirth ourselves is essentially right on but could be mistaken as an immediate cue to act, and doing so prematurely could be at odds with our conscious goals of the moment (Mars) and out of alignment with the person who we’re actively evolving into (Uranus and the North Node.) Channel the moment’s intense vibe into good sex, deepening intimacy with the self and others, enhancing metaphysical awareness and fine-tuning financial know-how (especially regarding shared money ventures), but avoid an inclination toward Scorpionic snark or a sudden but not necessarily beneficial craving for extreme emotional responses and circumstances. Instead, embrace the moment’s desire for depth and poignancy and work with it to rebirth through limiting and/or adversarial circumstances, unearthing hidden depths or secret corners of your being which inform and inspire the newfound confidence the moment’s alignment wants to help us access.

Sunday, August 7th: Mars in Taurus squares Saturn in Aquarius which is fantastic for planning and re-structuring, helping us to set approachable and realistic yet high-achieving goals. Lasting behavioral and/or life upgrades are possible today via a little enthusiasm and the implementation of daily systems and routines which facilitate a slow and steady incline. If there’s missing data or unexpected barriers regarding a recently-formed plan, venture, project or ambition, they’re likely to surface or pose as problematic today but try not to get too discouraged; even if it’s humbling or seems like a dramatic set-back from which you can’t rebound, don’t close up shop just yet. If practical Saturn squelches your enthusiasm, realize that it’s actually a blessing that it’s being brought to your attention now and simply attend to those micro-details you didn’t think mattered (or which seemed irrelevant at the time in light of your excitement.) Pay attention to constructive criticism today, particularly from respected higher-ups or authority figures in your field whose work you admire; while your initial instinct may be to argue on behalf of your perspective or in defense of your product, others aligned with the intention of your success could have valuable and game-changing insight today (even if it’s difficult to hear or painful for the ego to acknowledge.) If you find yourself in a position today to dispense criticism or offer constructive feedback to others, choose your wording and delivery with intention: egos are more sensitive today than usual and others are more likely to become defensive and/or arrogant. Unrelated but adding a pleasant vibe to the day is a Venus/Neptune synergy which is sensitive, watery, ethereal and romantic. It’s fab for intimacy, art, fashion and/or spirituality: you might catch a glimpse of God/Goddess/Universal energy within the petals of a flower or have a soul-satisfying exchange with a perfect stranger in a parking lot, but understand that this energy is fleeting and often quite temporary. Enjoy it as a magickal blip without trying to prolong the experience, to understand and process it intellectually or to attempt to fit it into any existing narrative.

Tuesday, August 9th: Today, Venus in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn which I’d actually argue is essentially favorable. If dating, watch out for sneaky power-plays, emotional gaslighting or other toxic control dynamics but otherwise, enjoy this aspect as a moment where really intimate, deep-diving relationships enjoy the potential to steadily grow and build upon themselves in delightfully surprising ways. Venus oppositions are always romantic catalysts while poignant Pluto is transformative and significant, and together, these two planets have a particular affinity and are strengthened in their respective roles — the result is extremely dynamic, attracting relationships which feel spiritually nourishing and emotionally authentic but are also capable of long-term sustainability. Work with it to manifest dynamics complete with good sex and dramatic intimacy but which also garner public respect and offer the kind of practical lifestyle overlap which allows steamy pheromonal interplay to casually translate into a good, meaningful and ultimately compatible union. In business, this aspect supports the formation of mutually-beneficial power alliances and collaborative duos, but if shadowy Plutonic themes plague an essentially good relationship — whether personal or professional — figure out what’s driving the anxiety, jealousy and/or paranoia and initiate honest dialogue (being cagey, private or suspicious could blow things up or give life to what was essentially a non-issue!)

Tarot Card for the New Moon in Leo: The Two of Cups!

Our Tarot Card for the Leo New Moon is the Two of Cups from Lisa Sterle’s Modern Witch Tarot (and it’s so fitting that the zodiacal Lion is overlooking the lovers depicted in the card’s image in the artwork for this particular deck!) As the imagery suggests, the Two of Cups is the card everyone wants to see turn up in response to any question regarding love, romance and/or relationships, and while it’s totally appropriate to squeal with excitement and glee upon seeing the clear skies and giddy occupants featured in the card’s image, it’s not totally accurate to say that love and romance are necessarily imminent every single time it appears. It’s more fitting to compare the Two of Cups to an opposition aspect in astrology: it often plays out interpersonally in the form of relational harmony or even a distinctly healthy and/or romantic feedback loop (and this is certainly possible with today’s New Moon in the sensual and open-hearted sign of Leo, which often magnetizes new relationships and deepens existing bonds!), but this is only because of the inner shifts that this card indicates are taking place at the individual level. When we move through the energy of the Two of Cups, we’re experiencing a distinct kind of inner harmony wherein different aspects of our being feel appreciated, respected and wholly integrated: this then leads to greater confidence and certainly the kind of outer radiance and magnetism which often leads to new romances developing and friendships forming or deepening. If we view the Cups suit as a journey to deeper self-love and emotional abundance, then the Ace of Cups is the beautiful first step of that journey and the Two of Cups is the second *, the difference being that we’re now starting to experience improved daily living as the result of our ability to emotionally self-regulate and come back to center, and our full cup is now magnetizing new and healthy relationship dynamics which mimic the inner harmony we’ve routinely started experiencing. This isn’t to say that we’re ever really able to “master” the Two of Cups fully or in a totally permanent way, but it does mark an important emotional transformation from which we won’t simply revert. Once we’ve become more internally aligned and emotionally intelligent, the quality of our emotional dilemmas — and the confidence with which we will ultimately handle them — changes dramatically and permanently. This card’s appearance as our teacher for the Leo New Moon indicates that these profound emotional shifts are imminent. To speed the process along, contemplate the aspects of yourself which you consider difficult to love and accept — your burnt dinners, quirky moles or even your weird, ridiculous outfit ensembles — and aggressively celebrate them as ritual on today’s Leo New Moon (focusing especially on those qualities which other people — early caregivers or past partners, for example — didn’t accept or approve of, or perhaps they even mocked, teased or shamed you for them.) How healing it is to joyfully reclaim these very things other people (and society at large, which makes a quick buck from us feeling like we’re flawed, broken or otherwise in need improvement!) have lead us to believe are un-loveable. This is the challenge of the Two of Cups — to aggressively be our own lover, which both feels amazing and offers the delightful side effect of improving the quality of our external relationships tenfold.

*Obviously life isn’t this simple or linear, but I find it helpful to think of the Tarot’s suits as individual narratives which tell a specific and unique story. That doesn’t mean we can’t interact with multiple cards at once, or be in multiple plot-points or emotional experiences at a time, and we’re never simply “done” with a particular card or the lessons and wisdom it provides (you won’t, say, “graduate” from the Two of Cups and then never pull it again or need to engage with it’s wisdom in a different way at another time.) The Tarot tells the ongoing story of being human: it’s inherently a life-long journey, a circular narrative which unfolds constantly with certain archetypes surfacing at specific moments as especially relevant for that unique season of life. Our relationship to the individual cards and our understanding of them may change (and ideally, improve!) but their roles in our lives remain a beautiful constant.

Things I Love:

Watching Shark week on Discovery Channel! 🦈 Combier rose liquor — added to a glass of chilled bubbly moscato, it tastes like a sweet, decadent, pale-pink love potion! 🌹 Returning to my daily magickal morning gratitude practice, and how quickly I notice results when I do it routinely! ✨ Re-watching Gala Darling’s Wonderland Sessions while making dinner (and the fact that they’re free to stream on Youtube!) 🙏 My boyfriend’s new single, Coming of Age (the link to listen is below — true I’m bias, but it’s such a good summer jam!) ☕Having coffee in my super private backyard on a cool/sunny summer morning, laying on my lounge chair, chatting with my man and listening to the birds! 🌺The fact that the moonflowers out front are starting to climb! 📺The Bear on Hulu — what a beautiful and gripping account of toxic masculinity and rampant mental health issues within restaurant culture (and a hopeful vision of a gentler, kinder future for this complicated industry!) 💄Watching the newest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars (the talent and the looks are amazing!) ☀Planning next summer’s vacation with my man and researching luxurious places to stay in Cape Cod! 🔮The giant chunk of amethyst sitting on my bar cart (next to the St. Germaine and Chambourd where it belongs!) 🌸The zinnias all over my house! ⚡A good late night summer storm 💜That magick moment when the seasons just start to change but ever-so-subtly

Happy Lunasa!

-Ali

Thank you for being a part of this community! If you would like to support me and my writing in this space, you can now opt to become a paid subscriber on a monthly or yearly basis by clicking the button below. Doing so unlocks additional bonus content, and intentionally channeling your abundance into something you believe in opens your channel to receive and serves as a mini prosperity spell in and of itself! And please free to share this newsletter with your coven.