My mind of late has been wrapped- round my “worldly life.” The blurred edges and soft focusing of my familiar place in the world  has suddenly sharpened and the stark relief of seeing “what is” has left me rather stunned. I neither expected to sever the tenuous cord attaching me to my mother- ship, the sacred vessel of my sorrows, nor to float free from the burdens of my past, but on January 13, two days before the Sun and Moon conjoined in Capricorn near enough the Moon’s nodes to reflect a Solar Eclipse, and Mercury  our cosmic messenger stationed direct, I was given the gift of sight seeing clearly the heavy imprint of my past upon my present and the irrefutable evidence of my participation in creating the life that I am living. 

Stark reality and irrefutable evidence are the worldly treasures of Capricorn and the recent Solar Eclipse in Capricorn guarantees the coming six months to be a revelation of cosmic truths dressed in the rags and riches of our material reality. Mercury in Capricorn defines and structures our perception of what is real, and on January 15, this Mercury stationed direct and shifting our attention from the inside out helped us see what we have accomplished in our life. While Mercury was retrograde our mind turned inward allowing us to re-examine the mental boxes housing our thoughts and feelings during which time we  were given the celestial opportunity to look back at our life with the pragmatic eyes of Capricorn  and witness the internal structures supporting our perception of reality.

When we are under the influence of Capricorn we understand how to use the best of our resources to our advantage. Chances are that we have been relying upon a past perception of ourself that has become a misfit and needs adjusting if we are to use our resources wisely. The stellium of planets in Capricorn highlight this time for setting new goals that will require our patience and a slow and steady effort to accomplish. This is not the time to make a grand gesture. Better to follow the advice of the I Ching and take small actions and natural movements toward our goal.

Saturn, the planetary ruler of Capricorn and archetype of the world leader, the tribal elder, the introspective hermit, and the petty dictator, is testing our inner resolve and commitment to achieve our goals without loosing our self-confidence or self- assurance of our “right” choice. The dark face of Capricorn reveals the petty tyrant residing within ourself condemning and judging our accomplishments as  inferior to others. It is important in the coming months to let go of the negative thoughts and feelings that ultimately undermine our self-confidence and weaken our determination to achieve our goal. Often with Saturn our fear of failure over shadows our joy of success and we unwittingly sabotage our effort before we have even begun.

Saturn is retrograde in Libra suggesting a time to re-structure our relationship goals by nurturing our differences and allowing for paradox and ambiguity to exist counter-balancing the rigid controlling and straight-jacketing of our partnerships. Venus in Capricorn in mutual exchange with Saturn in Libra further enhances our ability to give solid form to our values. Venus conjoined the Solar Eclipse guaranteeing that a significant change will occur in our most intimate relationships either liberating us from a prior commitment or solidifying a newly forming commitment. Either way, we are well advised to use this opportunity to create less ego driven relationships that are dependent upon demanding restrictions that ultimately inhibit the personal growing of our individuality and the individuality of our partner. With these transits we are learning to follow the wisdom of our inner authority with grace, dignity, and fair play.

]]> http://laurenlesko.com/2010/01/17/rags-and-riches/feed/ 0 laurenlesko Saturn http://laurenlesko.com/2009/07/23/new-ways/ http://laurenlesko.com/2009/07/23/new-ways/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:19:04 +0000 Lauren Lesko http://laurenlesko.com/?p=7004 ]]> click on the image to read about the art

“Find new ways of handling old issues.”* How true the timbre of these words guiding our conscious awakening to the possible significance of this season’s Solar Eclipse. On July 21 the cosmos offered us a second consecutive Cancer New Moon only that Moon passed between the Sun and Earth triggering a passionate plea for change felt at the cellular level of our being where unconscious motives swim amorphously in the primal waters of human experience. Considering that the Sun and Moon were in Cancer this plea may have something to do with changing instinctual behavior inherited from our past, rooted in unnameable fears and anxieties, nourishing our  present need for emotional security. Cancer is that aspect in each of us that intuitively nurtures the tender, tenuous unfolding of life unfortunately all too often by enclosing life itself within a protective shell. When this happens our self- protecting habits feel like an emotional straight jacket preventing us from touching or being touched by the needs of others. It is possible that in the coming months unresolved issues surrounding our home, family, and culture will occupy more of our waking and sleeping hours than usual. Ordinary events may unfold  in ways that prick our unconscious motives, and in so doing, offer us a rare opportunity for self-inquiry, which can foster a change in our behavior  and instead of reacting out of fear and insecurity we can respond with care and genuine concern.

*Bernadette Brady’s monthly newsletter, Visual Astrology

And so………... it was two weeks ago that we set our intention for the next six months by deciding how we want to contribute our unique individuality to humanity. The influence of Aquarius is helping us understand that change comes from the effort of separate individuals working together on behalf of the greater whole. Today, two weeks after the Solar Eclipse, we glimpse the other face of the ecliptic cycle as we turn our gaze 180 degrees to face the Lunar Eclipse. A Lunar Eclipse is a Full Moon, a Sun and Moon opposition, illuminating a  unique time when the Moon gently moves into the Earth’s shadow and the Earth positioned between the Sun and Moon casts a shadow over the face of the Moon. When this happens we on Earth are made aware that an aspect of our individuality has eclipsed our unconscious and in order to grow in self-awareness we need to become consciously aware of that aspect of our self and whether it is a constructive or destructive force in our life.

The Moon in Leo emphasizes our emotional need for recognition from others reassuring us that who we are and what we are doing is making a valuable contribution to humanity. When we are under the influence of Leo we are hyper- sensitive to what others think about our individual uniqueness, and while we generously give our life vitality for others to enjoy, we tend to suffer self-doubts and insecurities concerning the true value of our self. When we experience a Lunar Eclipse in Leo the time has arrived for us to make an honest self- evaluation of how we express our self, and in turn, what we are contributing to the continuum of human consciousness.

One of the unabashed gifts of Leo is our learning to appreciation our process of  creative self-expression as the spiritual act of watching our self creating our self. It is all too easy to dismiss this process as self indulgent but  in so doing we deny the importance of affirming our unique individuality in tribute to the living intelligence of which we are apart. The Buddha taught that we are creating our self in each moment lived. Once we affirm our creative self-expression we can affirm the creative expression of all others and truly manifest the Aquarius aspect in each of us seeking to honor the diversity and differences of humanity.

This next six months may garner times when our ego flaring like a wild fire insists on unbridled freedom of expression.  At these times it is best not to take our self too seriously, instead, mindfully observe that we have set ablaze our self-doubts and insecurities. It might be helpful to consider this Lunar Eclipse as a tremendous healing for humanity. Chiron, the wounded healer, is in Aquarius and the Lunar Eclipse will make an exact conjunction and opposition with Chiron suggesting that our individual and collective healing has something to do with eliminating self-doubts and insecurities that are the source of defensive and brutish bulling of others. It is time to set aside our childish fears of doubt and inadequacy without sacrificing our child-like joy and pleasure in self-creating. The challenge facing each of us is gaining a true appreciation for the unique gift that we are contributing on behalf of the collective human experience of being alive in the world.

]]> http://laurenlesko.com/2009/02/08/cosmic-purifying/feed/ 1 laurenlesko Lunar Eclipse http://laurenlesko.com/2008/08/25/peaceful-negotiation-at-the-dnc/ http://laurenlesko.com/2008/08/25/peaceful-negotiation-at-the-dnc/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:20:50 +0000 Lauren Lesko http://laurenlesko.com/?p=320 ]]> click on the image to read about the art

This week brings with it many changing faces: the balsamic “face” of the monthly lunation cycle emphasizing the internalizing of our experiences following the Leo and Aquarius eclipse cycle; the waxing Gemini Moon’s conflicted celestial faces turned to Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Pluto; and thousands of hopeful faces at the Democratic National Convention gathered in force to generate enthusiastic support for a Democratic victory in November. Traditional astrology talk will say that the days before a new Moon are spent in contemplative calm reflecting on what has recently transpired while preparing for a new cycle of action beckoning the coming lunar cycle. The days before a new Moon can be fruitfully spent meditating on our future intentions, but it is most definitely not a week for taking action which makes me wonder about the intentions of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Astrologer, Julie Demboski, sees passive-aggressive behavior in this weeks celestial atmosphere blanketed with low lying hyper criticism and turbulent self-defensive. This does not bode well for generating a spirit of unification required for the healing of deeply incurred wounding necessary to victoriously carry the Democratic Party to the White House; unless all concerned heed Julie’s warning that “there’s hope for a more tranquil atmosphere, found in several other influences, if we can just shift our energy away from shooting those ego-loaded arrows out into the world.” Unfortunately, “ego-loaded arrows” has been, in my opinion, the unfortunate mantra in the Democratic Presidential race, undermining a golden opportunity for the Democratic Party to actualize significant historical and cultural change in the Unite States by honoring that party’s commitment to liberal social changes underwritten in affirmative action stupendously manifest in this years Democratic Presidential race featuring a woman of Anglo heritage and a man of Anglo and African heritage. A terrible shame that so much bitterness soured the majestic possibilities of this coupling.

As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) comes to life the Moon in Gemini opposes Pluto establishing the psychological undercurrents of this event. I direct your attention to astrologer, Eric Francis, for a must read analysis of this celestial signature. I encourage you to keep in mind, as you read Eric’s insights, that Senator Obama was born when the Moon was in Gemini, as it is tonight, closely square Pluto in Virgo.

About two hours into the DNC the Moon enters Cancer bestowing the opportunity for a carefully considered nurturing of family; at home, abroad, and ancestral. This is a fertile time for each of us to consider constructive ways of providing care and protection that will bestow nourishment to mind, body, and soul without falling into the all to familiar mode of hardened self-protective defense. It feels hopeful for the DNC that it is happening at a time when the transiting Cancer Moon conjoins the United States natal Cancer Sun assuring the people of the United States that the Democratic Party is deeply committed to serving and protecting both the emotional security and individual sovereignty of the American people. Danger lurks behind patriot rhetoric and sentimental slogans reducing the significance of this political forum to a solipsistic pandering to convention. It is also worth noting the one degree conjunction of Venus in Cancer between the natal charts of Senator Obama and the United States conferring the celestial signature of strongly shared values, a desired aspect in the synastry between any couple, but one which needs careful monitoring in this relationship to prevent becoming overly sensitive to the slings and arrows of others.

When the Moon enters Leo on the 27th, if we listen with our heart, we may hear the recent Solar Eclipse whispers of authenticity, and the Lunar Eclipse encouragement to give the gifts of our unique individuality in a mutual working together with others, which if heeded, may have auspicious results for the Democratic Party. The Leo Solar Eclipse conjoined the natal South Node in the United States chart and the natal Sun in Senator Obama’s chart clearly suggesting that the unique gifts the Senator will bring to the U.S. Presidency are valuable assets for the future evolving of the United States. The additional fact that Senator Obama’s natal Sun falls in the natal 12th house of the United State’s chart is a haunting cord that the Senator has plumbed the depths of the United States psyche offering possible healing for the unconscious wounding of the entire Nation if those wounds are allowed to be brought up from the turbulent waters of the unconscious into conscious light.

When we are under the influence of Leo our creative self- expression shines brightly illuminating our dynamic leadership abilities seasoned with unabashed pleasure. It is always important with Leo to be mindful of not falling foul of our insecurities making us vulnerable to the approval of others and blinding us to the evolutionary growing of Leo which brings self-assured self-confidence regardless of the opinion’s of others. I can’t help but feel that this theme is in high relief at the DNC considering that Leo fills the 2nd house, the house of self-worth, in the Solar Eclipse chart for Washington,D.C., as does Senator Obama’s natal Sun, Mercury, and Uranus.

Senator Obama’s natal Uranus plays a significant role in his presidential candidacy contributing to his electrifying oratory, mantra for change, and image of a man heralding the future. His natal Uranus opposes his natal Aquarius Ascendant, as well as, opposing the United States natal Aquarius Moon. Both Ascendant and Moon were conjoined by the Lunar Eclipse anointing Senator Obama’s already intuitive understanding of the emotional temperament of the United States: at best a deeply felt humanitarianism and concern for the equality of all people, and at worst a cold hearted rejecting of individual needs in favor of a faceless, mindless mass. Perhaps the message here lies in the ability of candidate and country to connect with the needs of the ordinary people.

The last aspect from Mercury, just before our celestial messenger enters Libra, is a square to Pluto adding psychological probing in our communication with others.* The Mercury and Pluto square definitely marks the occasion with the necessity to transform the way people are using their communication skills. Libra is that aspect in our psyche that intuitively understands diplomacy and the social art of compromise insuring that the needs of everyone involved are considered and negotiated before reaching a firm decision. Libra is a cardinal sign, ruled by Venus, speaking the virtuous language of human dignity for every action taken on behalf of human justice. It is possible that this theme will crown the DNC when we consider that Mercury in Libra conjoins the Mid -Heaven in the Lunar Eclipse chart for Washington,D.C., hopefully setting the intention for the Democratic Party of peaceful negotiation through a reconciliation of differences.

*This sentence has been revised from the original post due to my mis-calculation when Mercury made a square to Pluto.

]]> http://laurenlesko.com/2008/08/25/peaceful-negotiation-at-the-dnc/feed/ 3 laurenlesko Hermes Trismegistus http://laurenlesko.com/2008/08/22/perfected-man/ http://laurenlesko.com/2008/08/22/perfected-man/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:32:06 +0000 Lauren Lesko http://laurenlesko.com/?p=317 ]]> click on the image to read about the art

Today, as the Sun prepared to enter Virgo, we had a lovely earth trine between Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon; a celestial blessing guaranteeing that we can bring creative form to our emotions. The Moon in Taurus tickles our tactile sensibilities encouraging us to reach out and grab hold of the sensual pleasures of life. When we are under the influence of Taurus we hunger for the simple pleasures abounding in Mother Nature; our radar on the alert for physical security we seek comfort in the realm of our senses. Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, each an earth sign, each deeply aware of our physical needs, each directing our attention to our bodies, especially with so many planets presently in earth signs; Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. Under the current influences of Virgo, we are paying close attention, albeit unconscious for many of us, to how well we integrate the daily rhythms of our body with those of our mind.

Mercury, our celestial guardian of the mind, as well as, ruler of Virgo is adding extra emphasis on how well we communicate who we are. Not surprising that we are challenged today as Mercury opposes Uranus to pay closer attention to our mental attachments; the ideas we cling to that may be preventing us from a more fully realized independence in thought and action. Remember, this Virgo Sun , coupled with the recent eclipses, is asking us for an honest self-evaluation in the face of our past choices. The last aspect the Taurus Moon makes before moving into the waxing Moon is a square to Neptune in Aquarius alerting us to our very human tendencies for mental fantasy and illusion which can set up unrealistic expectations in our communication with others and ultimately lead us into emotional isolation.

The waxing Moon in Gemini square the Sun in Virgo further accentuates the possible split between our mind and body as Mercury, the ruler of both Gemini and Virgo, is pitted between the two. Regardless of the celestial mayhem this situation causes each year, if we shift our perspective and look at a situation in our own life which is confusing or conflicting we may find resolve in the space between; what the Buddha referred to as “the middle way”. Both Gemini and Virgo can express in extreme ways; Gemini can destabilize our attention out of mental restlessness and boredom, and the mental obstinacy of Virgo can constipate our capacity for communication. On the other hand, Gemini makes us youthfully inquisitive and Virgo meticulously records our pluses and minuses each spurring us on to grow more fully self-realized. Every waxing Moon garners internalized self-reflection, but this Moon heralds the waxing phase of the Solar Eclipse, and turning our gaze within means experiencing a deeper connection to the core of who we are. I am speculating that this waxing Moon reflects our need to integrate our abstract idealizing with our concrete realizing to create a more perfected self reflected in our imperfection.

“A total eclipse of the Sun in Leo stands as a direct invitation to wake up and pay attention to who we are. But rather than trade one Self-Concept for another, we have a bold calling to trade a Self-Concept for an actual sense of self. ” I have been reading amazing insights from other astrologers about the meaning of the August 2008 Solar Eclipse and all are pointing fingers at gaining a deeper understanding of who we are by surpassing what we identify as our ego. The quote above is from the astrologer Eric Francis who, in the same article, pointed out that the last time we experienced a Solar Eclipse on the Leo South Node was in 1971 a time in recent history when people were willing to give up how they identified themselves for something new and unknown. It seems possible that once again we are given the same celestial opportunity to drop the prescriptive veiling of our individuality for something more authentic and rooted in the core of who we are.

On Friday August 8 we experienced the waxing phase of the new Moon Solar Eclipse, the Moon in Scorpio, alerting our attention to survival. Few celestial signatures are as intense as a Scorpio Moon and when coupled with the Leo Solar Eclipse it seems likely that we are preoccupied with the survival of our individuality. This of course can take on a myriad of faces and easily account for any number of worldly events all of which seem to point at a fearful ego terrified of sitting on the side lines. When under the influence of Scorpio our insecurities can flare manifesting raging jealousy and manipulative possessiveness. Certainly not the prettier faces of Scorpio but perhaps the faces we need to face in order to discover the rich treasures buried deep within our Scorpio nature; self honesty and profound self-transforming.

This Scorpio Moon bestows celestial harmony except on the Sun, Neptune, and Mercury offering us on Earth a curious déja vu when earlier in the week Mercury opposed Neptune and communication was rife with uncertainties and mis-understandings. Moon square the Sun brings conflict with how we emotionally express our self and Moon square Neptune can provide creative communication if we can stay afloat of emotional innuendos. The last aspect the Moon makes before leaving Scorpio is a square to Mercury adding additional stress on changing the way we emotionally communicate. The square aspect harbors creative change disguised as tension or stress, and this particular square, coinciding with Mercury’s ingress into Virgo, is heralding a definite time for thoughtful communication taking full advantage of implementing the many useful skills acquired in prior years.

On the 31st of August, the day before the Solar Eclipse, Venus in Leo opposed Neptune in Aquarius and offered us a timely warning against dissipating the effective using of our individuality especially for improving the quality of our life. We are warned not to idealize some situation in our life, nor, feel overwhelmed and confused about what we can actually contribute. Mars, the God of War, is in Virgo approaching an opposition with Uranus in Pisces suggesting that we can willfully assert our knowledge in ways that will disrupt our illusions of separateness. The Pisces aspect in our self is seeking union with something greater than our self which often confers an uncanny understanding of mass consciousness that can be overwhelming to our independent thoughts and feelings. This is a time well used to discern what we are being told by others and consider contributing to the whole by analyzing the significance of each part. Is there some issue in your life that you are ignoring because it is overwhelming you, and which, if you dissected into pieces might be easier to assimilate and mentally digest?

Eclipses are major events in astrology, and no wonder, they are the intimate aligning, the celestial “ménage á trois”, of the three most significant players of the zodiac; the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth. Our ancestors considered eclipses to be “harbingers of calamity” for the simple reason that human consciousness experiences change with fear and foreboding. But this is not the only reason. Our ancestors worshiped the Sun and the Moon as God and Goddess who created, nourished, and sustained life on Earth, and witnessing the bright face of either deity suddenly blacken or turn blood red must have seemed tantamount to witnessing the wrath of the Universe. Today, most western cultures pride themselves on a mechanistic ordering of life, the Sun and Moon benign within the physical comprehending of phenomenology, and yet, observing an eclipse can still fill the human heart with awe and wonder at the numinous power of the same Universe of our ancestors of which we are a living part.

Astrology is the charting of the eternal cycles of change, the same cycles that govern the ebb and flow of our individual lives, navigating three distinct cycles of time: the annual cycle of the Earth through the zodiac, the monthly cycle of the Moon through the zodiac, and the daily cycle of the Earth rotating upon it’s axis through the zodiac. If we consider the significance that interweaving all three cycles adds to the meaning of our life experiences then we can appreciate the cosmic forces of change presented to us with every Eclipse.

In astrology the Sun represents our life force, the core of our essence, our unique individuality; the Moon our instinctual need to survive, our intuitive sense of security, and our emotional seeking to belong; and the Ascendant our window onto the world through which we see our perceptions and expectations of life reflected back to us. When we experience a Solar Eclipse the Moon has moved between the Sun and the Earth and our life force is momentarily consumed by our instinctual need to survive and disrupting our view of the world we are offered the opportunity to set new agendas and patterns in our life. When we experience a Lunar Eclipse the Earth has moved between the Sun and the Moon and our perception and expectations in life are casting a long shadow on our emotional need to belong stimulating us to break old habits or eliminate past conditioning in ways that will enhance our self-awareness and unique individuality.

On August 1 we will experience a Solar Eclipse at 9 Leo 32 and on August 16 a Lunar Eclipse at 24 Aquarius 21. The theme of Leo and Aquarius eclipses is the conflict between the creative expression of the individual verses the ideology of the group. Two fruitful questions we can ask ourselves are: how can we integrate the creative expression of our unique individuality with the hopes, wishes, and aspirations of our community; and, are the communities that we have created successfully honoring and respecting the ideas and opinions of each individual? Astrologer Marielle Croft recently wrote that the greatest theme for this New Moon is global peace and I absolutely agree, in fact, the August Eclipses are harbingers of hope not calamity if we can truly open our hearts and minds, the realm of Leo and Aquarius, and enthusiastically embrace working together in global consciousness to improve the quality of life for our collective community, Earth.

A Solar Eclipse sweeps away the old offering the possibility for something new to rise in conscious light at the Full Moon Eclipse. The Leo- Aquarius Eclipse axis is directing our attention to the necessity for individuals to step up and challenge corporate decisions dictating global policies which foster the interests of a “royal few”. Now is the time for a social revolution which requires the full participation of every individual united together as world citizens regardless of gender, race, and religion. When we are under the influence of Leo the core of our essence, our radiant light, our unique individuality generously shines forth for the well being of all others. We can use the coming months observing when we act from insecurities and self-doubts which we have unconsciously projected onto the behavior of others. We can use this time to observe within ourself when we mentally scapegoat, bully or intimidate anyone who does not agree with our thoughts, wishes, or ideals.

When we are under the influence of Aquarius we are keenly aware of our individual participation within a group of our choosing preferring to focus on the interests of the group rather than the interests of the individual. However, it is worth remembering, as the deeper expressing of Aquarius understands, the interests of the group reflects the individual interests of the members, without which there would be no group. Aquarius is that aspect in our self which can be open minded and inclusive of all points of view if we are willing to let go of our intellectual attachments to what we believe. We cannot afford to continue as before overwhelmed by the complexities of contemporary life allowing a hand full of individuals to determine policies for the majority. Many of us have allowed ourselves to be lulled into complacency considering the material comforts of ourselves and our families more important than the quality of life on Earth, and in so doing, we have unwittingly undermined the very thing that we were seeking. Leo and Aquarius working hand in hand understands that the strength of any group is dependent upon the heart of the individuals within that group. The August Eclipses are offering us the courage to open our hearts and minds to the unknown and risk going beyond the familiar.

I highly recommend reading Julie Demboski’s insights into the August Eclipses especially if you are interested in knowing about the contribution of the asteroids.

Another insightful inquiry into the August Eclipses is found at Cafe Astrology which includes excellent information on the meaning of the Eclipse axis in each zodiac house.

]]> http://laurenlesko.com/2008/07/29/go-beyond-the-familiar/feed/ 0 laurenlesko An Eclipse http://laurenlesko.com/2008/07/22/luminous-light/ http://laurenlesko.com/2008/07/22/luminous-light/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:06:43 +0000 Lauren Lesko http://laurenlesko.com/?p=280 ]]> click on the image to read about the art

Today, the Sun, the luminous light of our unique individuality, enters the sign of ruler ship bestowing strength and vitality to our spirit of creativity. If we view this month through the lens of the pure manifestation of the energy of a Leo Sun, then this is the month to express ourselves doing those things which bring pleasure and contentment into our lives. It is not by chance that July and August, when the Sun is in Leo, are the traditional months of the year when people indulge their impulse for adventurous play with family, friends, or on their own, venturing into the wild of seaside resorts, mountain retreats, or the exotic habits of unknown cultures. It is certain, regardless of what we do this month we will become fully aware of the spark of life which is eternally ignited at the core of individuality.

The first aspect the Sun makes in Leo is a quincunx to Jupiter Rx in Capricorn highlighting our necessity to expand our light within before we can manifest our creativity without. We need to become more open to our capacity to be creative in the world, and give honor to something unique and special within our self which only we can creatively express. Astrology shows us that each one of us are a unique expression of the life force that is manifest in every particle of matter. When the Sun and Jupiter are quincunx we are witnessing our need to make some adjustment to how we expand our individuality out into the world; Jupiter retrograde is telling us that the adjustment has something to do with our internal self image. Perhaps we can see only our flaws, our ineptness, our dullness, and our ordinariness. When under the influence of Leo we are seeking an inspired, romantic relationship with life, one filled with risk, extravagance, and above all else, luxurious superlatives of undying love.

The warmth and exuberance of Leo’s love can inspire even the most cynical of souls, and this month is all about discovering self love in a big, very big, way. I am not advocating that we amplify our self-interest, on the contrary, I am encouraging all of us to experience the depth of our capacity to give and receive love. On August 1 we will experience a solar eclipse at 09 Leo 32, and on August 23 a lunar eclipse at 23 Aquarius 21. One way of understanding the passionate forces released during an eclipse is to visualize the Sun, Moon, and Earth, the three major players in astrology, enjoying a momentary “ménage á trois” and our creative juices are flowing, our instinctual needs are aroused, we struggle finding a socially acceptable mode for releasing our passion. Is it any wonder that our ancestors for saw calamitous ruin and drastic changing in the wake of an eclipse? I will have more astrological commentary for each eclipse in August.

Something else to become aware of this month are the celestial conversations between the Sun, Chiron, the Nodes, Neptune and Pluto; each one directing our attention to cosmic expansion and transformation. This month we are offered an opportunity to integrate, at the core of our individuality, our capacity to shine the warmth of our heart outward in concern for the humanitarian needs of each living individual. Do not be surprised if during the month you experience some event which opens your mind and challenges your ideas about how well, or not, traditional social structures are taking care for the needs of all of the people. The gift of Leo shines brightest when the love we feel for a few is generously given to all.