In the Pacific Time Zone, the New Moon will occur at 7:41 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18. This New Moon finds the Moon and Sun in conjunction (0°) at 27° of Cancer. To further clarify how this New Moon will impact you on a personal level, locate 27° of Leo in your birth/natal chart. The issues associated with that house are going to be most influenced by this New Moon’s presence.
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NOTE: I continue to be steeped in tasks related to the closure of my brick-and-mortar store, so this Moon Update will, again, need to be briefer than I would like. However, unlike the last Moon Update, the messages aren’t as urgent. I do encourage everyone to review the last Moon Update because much of the information (and warnings) are still relevant now.
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As is true with all New Moons, we are being provided with an opportunity for a new emotional start in the areas associated with the sign. This time, our focus is Leo. The higher expression of Leo’s energy is self-confidence, big-heartedness, leadership, loyalty, and family focus. The lower expression can be excessive pride, being overly dramatic (e.g., imagine that male lion roaring!), focusing exclusively on our own needs at the expense of others, and seeking attention for attention’s sake.
This Leo New Moon is closely conjunct (0°) Mercury. This typically means that we will have an increased capacity for using words to powerfully convey our emotions and thoughts. Our wants (Moon) are often aligned with our thoughts (Mercury). Having the Sun, Moon, and Mercury closely conjunct in the sign of Leo means that, at our best, we can exhibit amazing leadership qualities. However, our efforts will only be truly effective if they are coming from a heart-centered place and not from an ego-driven need for control or recognition. Given the Moon is involved, this is asking us to also evaluate whether we are being an effective leader in our personal lives. For example, are we setting appropriate boundaries? Or if we tell ourselves we are going to do something, do we do it? Are we doing what we need to do to take care of ourselves, including putting the proverbial oxygen mask on ourselves first? This is an important time to take into account our own needs and to take action to meet them.
This threesome of the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Leo are all inconjunct (150°) a trio of planets in Capricorn (i.e., Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto). We don’t talk about inconjuncts that often, but we need to in this Moon Update because there are six planets involved. Inconjuncts are considered a “minor” aspect by many astrologers. They are a tough aspect to deal with. They don’t indicate that change in direction is needed, which would be a square (90°). They don’t involve finding a compromise that will resolve the problem, which would be an opposition (180°). The best way to describe their impact is that they require “adjustments” to be made. Inconjuncts can leave us feeling unsettled and edgy because they can’t easily be resolved. They usually indicate that both sides of the equation aren’t going to be completely satisfied. In order to gain something, we may need to let something go. This could involve physical possessions, relationships, beliefs, anything! So, how will this will play out with this current Leo New Moon? It’s hard to predict. However, because these inconjuncts involve the three powerhouse planets located in Capricorn, I can say that we will need to approach any resolution with maturity and a sense of responsibility.
Additionally, all 6 of the planets mentioned above are also in aspect to Mars. Mars was the primary focus of our last Moon Update, and it will be a prominent feature in all of our Moon Updates through the end of 2020 and into 2021. At the time of this Leo New Moon:
- The Sun, Moon, and Mercury are in trines (120°) to Mars. Trines are very supportive. This means that we will likely experience a free flow of energy that leaves us feeling energized and ready to take any necessary actions. This is especially true because all of the planets are located in fire signs (i.e., Leo and Aries, respectively), and fire signs want to go, go, go!
- However, before we take a leap forward, it’s important to know that Mars is also squaring (90°) Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto in Capricorn. As mentioned above, squares often indicate that a change in direction is needed. Mars is a planet involved with independence and the use of personal power. This square is encouraging us to think about how we are using our energy and about issues related to authority, both inner and outer. For those who aren’t sure what this means, we can think about and observe how we respond to any controls or limits that are placed upon us by authority figures or institutions. Do we respond in a healthy manner and understand that sometimes these are necessary? Or are we overly compliant and fail to stand up for ourselves or for others? Or are we rebellious, not because of the issues being presented but simply because we refuse to let someone think they can control us? Both of these latter extremes can have negative consequences and run counter to Leo’s higher expression of heart-centered, loving energy. This is a time when we should all be making any “course corrections” in how we deal with authority, especially if we swing toward one end of that continuum or the other.
A few days before this New Moon (Saturday, August 15), Uranus turns retrograde, which will last until mid-January 2021 (i.e., about 5 months). At the time of the New Moon, Uranus will be in a supportive sextile (60°) to Venus, which could mean that we are better able than usual to flow with any changes or instability that might come up as Uranus changes direction. Also, a sextile with Venus could indicate that we receive support from unexpected sources, such as help from others or possibly financial assistance.
During Uranus’s annual retrograde phase, we often find ourselves reflecting on the changes that have occurred during the preceding 7 months; and, Lord knows most of us have been going through a lot of changes lately! Given Uranus is currently located in earthy Taurus, some of these changes may have rocked our sense of security at a deep level. We may be feeling like we need to find our footing again on the Earth plane. All retrogrades focus on “re” words, so we may be using this time to reassess events that may have recently rocked our world. Other re-words might include recalibrate, restore, reinvent, revamp, revise, revisit, rework, etc.
But because Uranus is now retrograde, this means that all 5 of the planets that are furthest from the Sun are currently in retrograde: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. As a group, these 5 planets are referred to as the “outer planets.” Remember, there is nothing to fear with retrogrades. The easiest way to think of retrograde is that the issues associated with the planet are “turn inward” for a period of “review.” But, given that all 5 planets are outer planets, many of us could find that our “review” might be more focused on issues related to society and even bigger issues of spirituality.
Additionally, given that we will be reviewing issues related to the 5 outer planets, at least some of the changes we’ve recently experienced may feel “beyond our control.” We can use these next few retrograde-focused weeks to adjust to all these changes and explore how they are personally leading us in positive new directions that will benefit us (and probably others) in the long run.
The day after the New Moon (Wednesday, August 19), Mercury will move out of Leo and into Virgo, where it will remain until September 5. Mercury is the ruler of Virgo, so Mercury feels right at home in this sign. Our thinking and communication will become more precise and analytical now. We are interested in what is practical, realistic, and useful. Our ability to deal with details is enhanced; however, we do need to avoid getting lost in the details so that we don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.
Overall, any Leo New Moon provides us with increased self-confidence. We are encouraged to be proud of what we have accomplished, especially if we have found a way to give our unique gifts to the world in a heart-centered way. During 2020’s New Moon in Leo, Mars provides us with a lot of energy. We can choose to use this to put forth some very dynamic leadership that is imbued with integrity and graciousness. However, to be effective, the leadership needs to come from a heart-centered place and not from a place of arrogance or ego. Mars also adds a dose of courage, which will be helpful as we find ways to adjust to what is our personal “new normal.” Due to all the retrograde energy swirling around us, the end of this summer is a good time to review and reflect on the last few months. It will likely be helpful for many of us to step back, focus on breathing, and avoid any Mars-motivated knee-jerk reactions. If we are unsure what to do in a specific situation, a good approach is to ask what our heart tells us. The heart has an intelligence all its own, and it often knows the truth. The Leo New Moon tells us that this is a good time to tap into this wisdom!
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THIS BLOG POST WAS WRITTEN BY
- Anne Reith, Ph.D. (AnneReith.com)
- For information about Dr. Reith’s downloadable ebooks and meditations, feel free to visit her online Store
SOME INFORMATION TAKEN FROM
- The Mountain Astrologer (magazine)
- Various online sources (e.g., www.cafeastrology.com)
REMINDER
- New Moons and Full Moons often influence us for the 3 days before and 3 days after the actual event.
NEW MOON
New Moon at 27° of Leo
- Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 7:41 p.m. PDT
- Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 10:41 p.m. EDT
- Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 2:41 a.m. GMT