It’s a good week to take heart. It’s a good week to take notes. It’s a good week to take action—as long as what you do contributes to personal and planetary healing. I’m not sure if we’ve reached our collective tipping point, but I am sure that something’s shifted, and that shift needs to be harnessed and channeled into efforts to help our fellow travelers. It’s not a huge shift, so it needs help to build momentum. Despite all the efforts of despots around the world, there are more people of conscience and good intentions than there are those committed to cruelty and violence. We can make a difference and turn the tides but we need to be united and mobilized into action. How to be an activist and answer the call to action while managing the demands of daily life is a question many of us are trying to answer. Here’s the good news: it’s been done before and many of our fellow travelers are already doing it.
Leo is where we take heart. It’s the Sign of the Lion in The Wizard of Oz, who gets his heart only to learn that he was courageous all along—he just had to become aware of it—a lesson that might be true for many of us at this moment. The Sun in Leo is conjunct Venus, also in Leo, and they travel in tandem until the end of the month. A Sun/Venus conjunction is always about the recognition of beauty, but it’s also about how beauty expresses what we value and hold in high esteem. Mars, also in Leo until August 18, intensifies the willingness to take a stand for those values, and the entire Leo package fuels a generous spirit. Obviously, not every Leo impulse is altruistic—you just have to look at Mr. Trump’s Leo Rising to make that point. But like Dorothy’s Lion, Leo only turns selfish when it is afraid or wounded. When Leo is happy, it wants to share that joy with others. So attune to that higher aspect of Leo and feel a connection with your fellow travelers, most of whom only want the best for everyone.
Mercury is the planet taking notes. It symbolizes all things mental, from thought processes to language. Mercury entered Leo on Sunday, hours before Uranus began its retrograde journey, and given Mercury’s speedy nature, it had already formed a square to Uranus in Taurus just after midnight Monday. All interactions of Mercury and Uranus support the ability to conceptualize, especially when it comes to eccentric choices and ideas, so don’t be surprised to find yourself thinking outside the box. Also be prepared for lots of people to take up unconventional ideas about how to effectuate change. The good news is that this square has the potential to problem-solve, especially when it comes to situations that seem unsolvable. So take notes on what you envision and discover under this influence; you may not be able to implement your ideas immediately but if they’re good ideas, the time will come when you can put them into action.
Jupiter Direct fuels the action. It just started moving forward on Sunday—yes, it was a very big day for the planets—and although Jupiter takes a while to build forward momentum, we’re still likely to feel the effect of its forward motion this week and next. Jupiter won’t hit its new stride until the beginning of September, but that won’t diminish its presence or its power. Jupiter can be used to organize all sorts of plans and projects, and from August 18–25, when it trines Mercury, its organizational skills are smokin’. Consider these next two weeks prime time for organizing demonstrations, even if those calls to action are scheduled to take place in September or October.
The most important goal during the coming weeks and months is to keep your energy uplifted—Trump and his Gang of Hungry Ghosts are counting on their opposition to become even more discouraged and we can’t let that happen. It’s important to marshal the combined armies of consciousness, concern, and compassion so that we can continue to help each other, especially those who can’t take a stand and need our support—like all those traumatized children who need help not just reuniting with their families but also recovering over time from the trauma they were subjected to. As spiritual warriors we know that thoughts and prayers matter to an extent, but that actions speak far louder than words or wishes. Our collective fate does not rest in the hands of the government. It rests in our hands and in our ability to create a new reality from inside-out and from the ground up. There are local elections to win and there are elections to take back the Senate. Get to work, sky-watchers! Any of us could be the 100th monkey, so let’s reach critical mass and turn the tide toward creating the loving and peaceful world we know is possible.
Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.
Aries March 21-April 19
You might benefit from a break—that’s right, I’m suggesting you take a deep breath and as you exhale, let go of micromanaging every detail. You’ve been dealing with a lot of stress, and sometimes the best way to recover is to rest. Take as much time as possible to nourish body, mind, heart, and soul because many busy moments lie ahead.
Taurus April 20-May 20.
Home—where it is, how to find it, and when you do, how to make the most of it—dominates your concerns, so don’t be surprised if you’re thinking about family and what that means to you. Almost everyone has a longing to belong, but sometimes it’s our family of choice that offers the sweetest solace. Look at the family you’ve created and see if it truly provides a sense of belonging.
Gemini May 21-June 21
There are many conversations to be had, some of them challenging to your belief systems but nonetheless catalyzing. Listen carefully and monitor your reactions. Notice what upsets you the most because that will reveal where you need to work on yourself. Just be discerning; not everything that’s said is a wisdom jewel; only certain words have the power to trigger self-awareness.
Cancer June 22-July 22
You’ve gathered a lot of information these last several months and now, as Uranus reviews its path, you’re likely to be reviewing your recent past and all that’s transpired. If this sounds a little overwhelming, my apologies. This Uranian review is not a pressure cooker of assessments; it’s simply an opportunity to see just how much you’ve grown and to make course corrections if necessary.
Leo July 23-August 22
You’re talking—a lot—and you’re interested in sharing your ideas with a wide range of people so you can assess and analyze the validity of those ideas and plan your next step. There’s no need to speed through this process; you might miss something if you move too quickly from one subject to another. Find a comfortable pace—your pace—and take as much time as you need.
Virgo August 23-September 22
In a couple of days the planets are going to move you into the spotlight and it won’t be easy to find the time you need to rest and relax. It might be wise to formulate a strategy so that when the acceleration occurs, you’ve already made provisions for the quiet time you’re certain to need to maintain your balance and equilibrium.
Libra September 23-October 22
It wouldn’t surprise me if you’re exhausted from all the social activity of recent weeks. Your calendar has been full with both personal and professional engagements, some obligatory and some just plain fun. I’m not saying that you’re going into a social slump, but you are shifting into a much more introspective phase, with less need for social interactions.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
A resurgence of creative ideas offers solutions to handling certain situations at work that have been consistently problematic. To facilitate this shift, allow yourself to stretch into new territory—turn the facts on their heads or take an adversarial point of view toward your own opinions. Be willing to make a creative shift and you’ll garner positive results.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
You’re the center of attention and as Jupiter, your Ruling Planet, gains momentum, that attention continues. Take time to enjoy being in the spotlight but also use it wisely by being an example of Jupiter’s finest qualities. Yes, I know Jupiter is about excesses of all kinds, but it also engages in philosophical pursuits as well as humor, and laughter may be the best spiritual pursuit of all.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
You can lighten your load by prioritizing various aspects of your life. Choose your most immediate concerns, examine why they are of primary importance, and then analyze how much time is needed to take good care of them. Assess your “lesser” responsibilities by sorting through and identifying which ones truly matter. Bringing awareness to these areas will shift your attitude.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
No one—including you—is singing out of tune, but that doesn’t eliminate the need to pay attention to your friends. Even if you shy away from the day-to-day goings on, this is not the time to lose the thread of certain plans and projects—yours and loved ones. Stay present for all the developments and you’ll be able to navigate the changes and adjust to them as they occur.
Pisces February 19-March 20
It’s an emotional week, so emotional that even knowing about it in advance won’t dilute its effect. As you move through several waves of deep feeling, try to bring awareness to what’s triggering such strong reactions. As you identify those situations, contemplate how to ease some of the intensity through active participation in finding positive solutions.