Leo New Moon + Jupiter in Leo

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Several shifts mark this New Moon and there is a strong dose of faith and hope pushing us forward so for many it will feel like moment of triumph and release even when encountering challenges that are also part of the profile of this time period. 

Leo the Lion marks the turning point after it's summer climax in the sign of Cancer. Even though it's where there Sun is most exalted, mythologically it signifies the sacrificial slaying of the Sun King (Osiris, Christ, ect) and marks the Sun's initial descent into the underworld where it will re-emerge next spring. This may seem counter-intuitive at first. Is it the sign of the Sun's strength or a sign of it's murder? well, both. Leo and the Sun have dual roles.

the sun king killed by his nemesis

We tend to think of the Sun as a constant and the Moon as the fluctuating, changeable heavenly light but Leo, and it's ruler the Sun goes through it's own cycle of rising and setting, night and day. In fact the word "setting" as a term for descent, is the same as the god "Set" who kills Osiris, sending him into the underworld, symbolized by the winter months.

Eventually the Sun comes back into prominence as it enters into the sign of Aries at spring equinox. This is the mythic "Return of The King" as featured in Arthurian Grail lore and the works it partly inspired, such as Lord of the Rings. (More on this in a future post)

Why does this matter to you Leo's? Well, Leo has dual roles too and it's not commonly known or talked about. It is, however, an important thing to keep in mind.

 Obviously we all know the shining, proud and charismatic  type, the near-literal "dramatis personae" who "lights up the room" like the sun and whom others follow like orbiting planets. This is the Sun in the daytime. There is, however, another side. The hidden Leo who, like a cat crawling under the stars at night, slinking about, unseen and unheard. This is the reclusive former star or the obsessive theater director that hides behind the curtain, ruling the cast like a king -or tyrant. This is the Sun at night, sometimes called "the hidden sun" or the "black sun" and has esoteric associations with the planet Saturn, but I digress.

 Consider Elvis, Michael Jackson and Prince, while neither have Sun in Leo,  all three are super-stars celebrities which are  a Leo archetype. Each saw incredible fame but hid away in a kind of exile from the public eye, tormented by paparazzi and fans who saw them as Gods and reflected their light by adoration and/or emulation.


Those examples are extreme, of course. In the typical Leo we will see phases of "on stage" and "off stage" where the choreography is dreamed up, rehearsals are acted out and the costumes made. This is a time of regeneration where we get ready for the next act with a cat nap and give or receive quite affection with those we love.  Yet, For some others, this phase can be a time when the magnanimous and generous Leo turns into a cold dictator and controls those around them with the goodwill they have inspired with their charisma and charming light.


Despite the dark aspects of the mythic narrative cycle of Leo and it's 'backstage' personae, this New Moon features an exact conjunction with Jovial and generous Jupiter, making it one of the most fertile and optimistic New Moon's all year. Each year there is a New Moon in the same sign as transiting Jupiter but it's rare that it comes into an exact conjunction, so consider this period a special time to take a leap of faith and let yourself shine. Remember Leo is one of the Fixed signs and, like all fixed signs,  have a tendency to become inflexible, rigid and autocratic.

Jupiter entered Leo on July 16th and will remain here for about one year. Jupiter is the principal of growth, expansion, optimism, learning/teaching and abundance. In Leo our sense of pride can expand, offering us the optimism and faith needed to put ourselves before the world and let our self be seen. The ego can grow and even inflate into a parody of itself, so beware of those autocratic tendencies, my Leo friends, Jupiter will bring excess. Where this expansion will be seen depends on your Rising sign, read below to see where both the New Moon is and where Jupiter will be for the next year.

Adding force to the fires of this time is another major shift. Mars has moved into Scorpio. This is a big deal and will come as a major relief to many of us. Mars typically changes signs every 6 weeks, but in this case, he hasn't changed signs for about 6 MONTHS! Mars moved into Libra back in December and remained there until it went Retrograde in March. It then retraced it's steps back out of the hole and is finally blazing trails again.

Adding to this emergence is that Mars has been in Libra, a sign it's not particularly strong in. With It's retro period, it was especially diminished for a while, with possible sudden unexpected and unwelcome flashes of it's fire, sputtering as it stopped and started again. Mars is now in Scorpio, the sign it rules and is especially strong here. It's also aligned to the New Moon and Jupiter by a Square alignment. Squares are themselves signs of action, friction and drama. This will likely be a time of intense emotions and a strong need to plough ahead, taking action and seizing power in order to move forward into a new future. It's a lot of power and with power great things can be accomplished and/or we can get our fingers burned.

Those that will really notice this Mars ingress into Scorpio will include those with Rising signs in Aries, Scorpio,  Leo and Libra. Also anyone with planets in the early degrees of Fixed signs will notice this powerful time and will feel a lot of shifting but perhaps some tension and crisis. Those fixed signs are; Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. If you have Sun, Moon or Rising in early degrees of a fire sign, especially Leo, this will be an especially exciting, upbeat and joyous time.





How does this New Moon effect me? 

Where can you experience initiation into this next year of growth, expansion and rapid development? Where might you be tested to shine and express yourself or become a rigid dictator? What is stirring you creatively and where is your heart directing you? Where might we need some flexibility and surrender control?

Where this Lunation occurs in your chart will reveal what area of life will be effected, changed or challenged. For this you will need to look to your RISING sign.  

If you don't know your rising sign you can calculate with the free rising sign calculator at Cafe Astrology. : Rising sign calculator.

As always, this is an exceedingly brief look at what is going on for each rising sign and does not take into account a variety of factors that signify other evens in your life that can mitigate, exaggerate and modify these themes. (Email me to set up a consultation to get the real inside scoop on the astrological activity in your life at Ian @ pantheonastrology.com)


Aries :   5th House: Love affairs, dating, games, fun, play fullness, entertainment and entertaining, performance arts, creativity, pregnancy and children.
 
Taurus : 4th House : Home & family, houses, real  estate, rentals, renovations and relocating,  roommates and all who live in the home. 

Gemini :  3rd house: The mind, writing and communications, applied efforts, planning, practice,  errands and movement within your local area and interactions with siblings, neighbors and locals of your area.

Cancer : 2nd House: Self worth, money, wealth and finances, personal assets and values.       

Leo : 1st House: Identity, self-assertion, selfishness, personal demands, physical health of the body, the Face and outer appearance. This is an especially powerful and important new moon. The closer it is to your Ascendant, the more powerful you will feel it. 

 
Virgo : 12th House: Hidden issues, secret affairs, retreat, cooperation, hospitalization, retirement, completing old stories, self-undoing, reflection, subconscious drives and issues which inhibit free will.

Libra :  11th House: gain & increase, money from career, groups, friends and Acquaintances, networks, cliques, Hopes, dreams, gains, personal and shared goals.

Scorpio :   10th House Career, profession, status & position in society, public standing, reputation, authority figures, bosses, fathers, awards, responsibilities, desire for achievement.  Mars will be in 1st house, a powerful placement and a 6 week cycle of self-assertiveness, personal willpower and self mastery.

Sagittarius : 9th House: Travel, education, philosophy & religion, Ceremony & customs, teachers, teaching & learning, foreigners, legal issues, courthouses, broadcasting and publishing.

Capricorn :  8th House: intimacy, sexuality, psychological and occult matters, shared resources, inheritance, credit, loans, personal power of regeneration, crisis and emergency.

Aquarius : 7th House: marriage, partnership, close friends, rivals, open enemies and all important one-on-one interactions.  

Pisces : 6th House: health & illness of physical body, work, service, routines, habits, co-workers, hired workers and staff.