The week starts under a Capricorn moon, bringing a serious note to the lively, outgoing Leo rays that have begun flowing so freely. It’s not so much that these energies disagree with one another as it is that they are distinctly different and share little in common. With conjunctions to sober Saturn and reforming Pluto, this moon may illuminate matters needing careful consideration. When problem solving, Tuesday’s Sun Venus conjunction can show us what matters most. Next up, the moon moves into Aquarius where it will be full on Thursday, the day that also sees Mercury finally move past the shadow point of this summer’s emotionally intensive retrograde. Right on the heels of the full fixed-sign moon, Uranus in fixed Taurus is set to square Mercury in fixed Leo on Friday. These aspects will likely expose hard lines and hard-liners. But under a moon in the compassionate realms of gentle Pisces, our decisions, words and deeds can be infused with the intention of healing the situations we encounter. By the weekend, provocative Mars leaves fiery Leo for studious Virgo where it will be in residence through October 4th. Best look: hands, hearts and minds holding fast to sacred texts and the wisdom of their teachings.

The astrological sun showers of the past two months continue giving way to sunny Leo skies this week. With the Sun, Venus and Mars now shining brightly in cheerful Leo and receiving optimistic boosts from benevolent Jupiter, the skies continue their shift out of moody Cancer and into confident Leo. Informative Mercury initially entered Cancer all the way back on June 4th. Though it will remain in the cardinal water sign until August 11th, on Wednesday, its long, laborious retrograde concludes. Giving us even more reason to celebrate, earlier in the day the new moon dawns at 8 degrees and 37 minutes of Leo. Signifying the availability of new opportunities and pathways, the moon and Sun find themselves in the motivational presence of Mars, the planet capable of infusing aspirations with extra stamina. The week’s challenging aspects show up on Monday and Thursday when unruly Uranus squares the Sun and then Venus from determined Taurus. Examine the choices that these push comes to shove moments present, and choose with a view toward long term peace, harmony and happiness. Best look? Folded umbrella thrown in the back seat.

For further insights into the present Leo cycle as well as an overall context to current trends in astrology, check out my visit with Kristina Walsh on “Surfing The Psychic Waves“.