Sign changes are ahead for Mercury, Venus, Mars and the lunar Nodes. On July 26th, the Nodes will leave the peace and quiet of the Pisces Virgo axis for the electricity and swagger of the Aquarius Leo one. Their presence, between August of 2026 and March 2028, will add more air and fire to already combustive skies. Reverberations from Uranus, Neptune and Pluto connections, from air and fire signs, will continue resonating as the Sun travels through the fixed fire of Leo. Add some exacerbation or expansion, depending on one’s perspective, from newly arrived Jupiter in Leo and the onset of the next set of eclipses, and temperatures are expected to rise. The forthcoming full and new Moons will see a confluence of some of this Sun cycle’s most noteworthy points, so let’s zoom in on them.
Setting the stage for July 29th’s, full Moon in Aquarius, Mercury will station direct on the 23rd, Neptune will sextile Pluto on the 24th, Saturn will begin its retrograde on the 26th, as the Nodes change signs. and the ferocious Leo Sun will oppose Pluto, trine Neptune and sextile Uranus on the 27th (yes, all in one day). Would dramatic Leo want it any other way? The Lion’s renowned and effervescent optimism will be on full display when the Sun conjoins an ebullient Jupiter at 6° Leo 24′ on the full moon. However, at 6° Aquarius 30′, the Moon will be almost exactly opposite of the Sun and Jupiter, with destructive Pluto in tow, 2° away, and on its side of this cosmic tug of war. Who will win this epic battle? Probably those wise enough to stay completely out of it.
The Sun cycle’s next focal point is the new Leo Moon on August 12th. This one is clocking in at a vigorous 20° Leo 02′ and comes with a solar eclipse, the first in the Leo Aquarius series that will take place through early 2028. Inner planet sign changes happen beforehand, and they include Venus moving into Libra on the 6th, Mercury’s ingress into Leo on the 9th and Mars entering Cancer on the 11th. As Mercury exits the 26° Cancer 15′ shadow point of its recent retrograde on the 6th, Venus will begin an unusually long stay in her native Libra, one that will last until December 4th. The extended visit is due to her upcoming retrograde in Libra and Scorpio this autumn. Though she will feel right at home in diplomatic Libra, the complete Rx cycle suggests that some relationships may be due for review, revision and even termination. Mercury will be in Leo until August 25th, long enough to light a few birthday candles and liven up celebrations, and Mars will be in Cancer until September 27th. The key difference between the full and new Moons is that the former is preceded by intense outer to outer planet contact while the latter will see the big three outer planets mingling with inner planets at a number of agreeable angles. For example, Mercury will sextile inventive, innovative Uranus on the eclipse, sextile harmonious Venus on the 13th and conjoin benevolent Jupiter on the 15th, at 10° Leo 09′. The timing of these collaborations indicates that the turmoil that accompanied Jupiter’s Leo entrance, as Mercury was stationing retrograde, under that intense Capricorn Full Moon of June 29th, is finally resolving and that some good news and positive developments are emerging. This fresh breath of celestial air arrives as the Sun prepares for its August 22nd ingress into thoughtful, devoted Virgo, and that cooldown will be most welcomed.
