Hang tight, Leo. This month’s starscape is a bit topsy-turvy—for you more than most other signs. Not only are there two game-changing eclipses shaking up the status quo in your closest relationships, but communication planet Mercury will turn retrograde in YOUR sign from July 26 to August 19. Whew! With Mars, Saturn, Neptune AND Pluto also in slowed-down retrograde for the whole month, you could feel misunderstood on a regular basis. You might spend a lot of time this month mending fences, clearing the air and fixing any subpar work that you rushed through.
But pace yourself! As you put out all those fires, make sure that YOU don’t burn out in the process! Until July 22, the Sun is in Cancer and your sleepy twelfth house of rest, closure and transitions. This is your annual rest period, a time when your batteries are in low-power mode. The weary Sun is completing its journey through the zodiac in preparation for your birthday and a solar-calendar reset. Catch up on sleep and self-nurturing, and tune in to your creativity during this intuitive time—and prepare for some vivid dreams as the Sun travels through your subconscious sector! Clear the decks of loose ends before Leo season kicks in. You’ll want to be refreshed for all those epic birthday celebrations!
Strong emotions could pour out after July 10, when effusive Jupiter ends a four-month retrograde in Scorpio and your fourth house of home, family and personal affairs. If you’ve been bottling things up, get ready to experience ALL the feels. The fourth house rules women and mothers; your mom or a maternal figure might be a big part of events now. You could feel a strong desire to nurture and to be nurtured.
Jupiter is in Scorpio from October 10, 2017, until November 8, 2018, a visit that only happens once every 12 years. This cycle has already brought major growth to your emotional and domestic life, and as Jupiter hits full speed again, a poignant summer awaits. Declare this the “Summer of Self-Care” and make time to pamper and coddle yourself. Over the next four months, you could reconnect with your roots, resolve (or just stop engaging in) a family feud, or let go of some childhood baggage. Philosophical Jupiter helps you view any struggles from a wise perspective.
If you’re a parent, you may have struggled with empty-nest issues or carving out time for yourself. Now that can-do Jupiter is moving forward, you’ll feel much more optimistic and energized, whether you’re settling an issue with roommates, pondering parenthood or dealing with the intricacies of raising kids. This cycle is favorable for moving, renovating and nesting. Jupiter’s direct (forward) turn could bring exciting real estate developments. And with the global-ambassador planet acting as your listings broker, your next address could be in a different zip code—if not country code!
Grab a surfboard too, because you could find yourself afloat on the emotion ocean. Two days after Jupiter unbottles all the feels, the July 12 Cancer partial solar (new moon) eclipse arrives, sweeping through your twelfth house of spirituality, release and deep inner shifts and bringing some nostalgic and tear-jerker moments that may take you by surprise. Many Leos wear their hearts unapologetically on their sleeves. But since eclipses are unpredictable and extremely potent, you may not be prepared for this swell of intense feelings.
Change could be afoot whether you’re ready or not. This eclipse is a paradox because NEW moons herald beginnings while the twelfth house rules endings and transitions. As one situation comes to a dramatic close, the doors to a new phase could fling wide open. Surrender instead of clinging for dear life. This is a day when you’ll be reminded of your humanity—and possibly humbled into asking for support. Call on some angels and spirit guides if need be or ask the universe to arrange things for everyone’s highest good. When you stop trying to force a situation, a real “divine intervention” can occur. This eclipse will oppose power-tripping Pluto in your micromanaging sixth house, so don’t be surprised if your inner control freak makes a showing. If you don’t feel well today, look to the mind-body-spirit connection for an underlying emotional cause. Codependent relationship cords might need to be cut; shift to a more empowering dynamic.
This is the inaugural eclipse in a series that will fall on the Cancer/Capricorn axis between now and July 2020, touching down on your axis of health and healing, control and surrender. You’ll need to be savvier about handling the systems in your life while also taking a more spiritual approach to it all. This is the only eclipse from this group in 2018; the majority will fall in 2019. But it’s a preview of forthcoming changes that set the wheels in motion! For Leos with creative or healing talents, this solar eclipse could kick off a long chapter where you put your gifts to use. You might also radically revamp your eating, exercise and wellness habits, or make a doctor-mandated lifestyle change.
You’ll have earned yourself an extra slice of birthday cake once Leo season begins on July 22, kicking off four weeks during which YOU rule the scene. Shake off any heaviness and refocus on your own goals. Just take it one step at a time: From July 26 until August 19, communication planet Mercury will be retrograde in Leo and your assertive first house. You could come on too strong—or not strong enough—and miss the mark. Be mindful of your messaging, as Mercury can muddle technology and interpersonal affairs.
On top of this, aggravator Mars is retrograde all month in Aquarius and your seventh house of committed relationships, which could drive up old interpersonal conflicts or make you especially thin-skinned and combative. A partnership could hit a rough patch, or you may decide to slow things down in a fast-moving business or romantic union. What’s the rush here, Leo? If you’re having second thoughts, listen to them instead of plowing ahead.
Any trace of uncertainty could be wiped away on July 27, when a total lunar (full moon) eclipse blazes in Aquarius and brings swift resolution to your seventh house of relationships. Some Leos could abruptly enter or exit a relationship. You may get engaged, run off to City Hall or finalize a breakup. Longtime couples may need to team up and work together in order to work through a tough issue. At work, a key person could be “eclipsed” out of your orbit, or you might be offered an unexpected contract. Just proceed with caution during the Mercury retrograde, a time that can be tricky for signing binding agreements. This eclipse will conjunct fiery Mars (also retrograde). If you have buried resentments or frustrations, the eclipse can force you to address them in no uncertain terms. Just be careful that you don’t let anger get the best of you while Mercury and Mars are in reverse.
Whatever happens, you’ve been building toward this (maybe more like hurtling toward it) for the past two years, ever since an eclipse series began falling on the Leo/Aquarius axis in February 2017. Since then, you’ve radically reshaped everything from your appearance to your identity to the way you interact with others. This is the final Aquarius eclipse in this two-year cycle, and it could be a moment of resolution in which you finally decide whether you’re fully in or fully out. Look back to the prior two Aquarius eclipses on August 7, 2017, and February 15, 2018, for clues of what might come together now.
There will be one last Leo eclipse on January 21, 2019. You’ve spent two years tweaking the “me” and “we” balance, and as a result, many of your relationships have shifted. There will be one last cosmic coming-out party early next year. Use the next six months to get your relationships on track and make sure the closest people in your life support the new, evolved and improved YOU.
LOVE & ROMANCE:
With impassioned Mars retrograde in Aquarius and your relationship house all month (from June 26 to August 27), the ties that bind could be tested. If you raced into something, you may have second thoughts now, or prefer to slow things down to a non-vertigo-inducing pace. Retrogrades rules the past, so an old sticking point could arise, you might have that same old fight again, or a former lover may resurface, putting pressure on you to make a decision. You may have to pull yourself out their electromagnetic field to resist getting sucked into something you don’t want or aren’t ready for. And while this impetuous planet of sex and pursuit is off-course, some Lions could decide to take a break—from their partnership or the search for one.
Affectionate Venus is in Leo and first house of independence until July 9, sitting opposite Mars on the zodiac wheel. Under these contrasting energies, you might actually enjoy a little more autonomy or singlehood in between those moments of bonding or relationship repair. What if you lavished yourself with some of that love you shower on dates or mates, Leo? With beautifying Venus in your first house of appearances, you’ve got carte blanche to primp, pamper and treat yourself like royalty. Reverting to being the center of your own universe will align you faster than any chiropractor could!
On July 9, Venus enters Virgo and your practical second house. This grounding energy can bring a clear-eyed return to your senses and a sexy confidence boost. After a couple weeks of “doing you,” you’ll be ready to make concrete plans or commitments. In fact, your managerial tendencies could rear up as Venus will form flowing trines to innovative Uranus (July 11), structured Saturn (July 14) and transformational Pluto (July 27), all in the most regimented houses of your chart.
Someone you meet through professional pursuits could show up as a contender at the Venus-Uranus trine, or a relationship could turn suddenly serious. The trines with Saturn and Pluto activate your service-oriented sixth house; during these times, you could attract a supportive partner or meet someone through volunteering or engaging in healthy pursuits. And for couples, while perhaps not the sexiest activity out there, you could bond by dealing with the nuts and bolts of your shared life, from painting the house to budgeting to investing in a luxury purchase together.
Key Dates:
July 5: Sun-Jupiter trine
Put others first under today’s loving and compassionate skies. With Jupiter warming up your family sector, you might be able to finally forgive someone who did you wrong. By doing so, you can start a fresh chapter. This is also a good time to experiment with some Feng Shui principles to increase the love, passion or whatever’s down a quart in your life.
MONEY & CAREER:
Sleep on it, Leo! While you pride yourself on being decisive, July’s stars are better tapped for evaluating. Six planets are retrograde throughout the month, which can cause aggravation, delays and scrambled signals. But used wisely, these “review periods” are perfect for insuring you’re on the right track. The July 12 Cancer solar eclipse in your transitional twelfth house could sweep away something that’s not a good fit, whittling down the options and helping to make your decisions easier.
Contracts are an especially dodgy topic because stressful Mars will be retrograde until August 27, and until August 12, it’s in Aquarius and your “officializing” seventh house. You may feel pressured or rushed into agreeing to a deal, so you’ll have to be assertive about saying no. This cycle can drive up stress with negotiations or a person you work with closely. Hash out sticking points rather than just plowing ahead. The July 27 Aquarius lunar eclipse could bring a clarifying moment when you DO feel ready to sign on the dotted line, retrogrades or not. Another possibility: You might swiftly and unexpectedly part ways with someone. Changes in your relationships are afoot.
With communication and technology planet Mercury retrograde in Leo from July 26 to August 19, you want to stay aware of the image you’re projecting. You could be wildly misunderstood or step on toes by being too brusque and bold. When in doubt, wait it out. Back up all your data, photos and important files—and clean up your social media accounts if there’s anything sketchy there since these days, employers DO check. Use this month for behind-the-scenes preparation, and you can unleash your grand debuts on the public this fall.
Key Dates:
July 9: Mercury-Jupiter square
Your outsized emotions could influence your ability to think or express yourself clearly. You may be taking things personally or jumping to quick conclusions, especially with a family member who always pushes your buttons. While you shouldn’t completely dismiss a gut feeling, find a balance between what your head and your heart tell you today.
Love Days: 23, 27
Money Days: 8, 16
Luck Days: 6, 14
Off Days: 12, 25, 30