New Moon In Leo: Passion & Contemplation

We are having a New Moon in Leo on August 4th, 2024, at 11:13 am Universal Time, as the Sun and Moon unite to mark the beginning of a 29.5-day lunar cycle. This lunation initiates a period of distinct themes and the planting of new seeds for the coming month. The astrological influences detailed in this article will be mainly for the two weeks following. This lunar cycle will culminate with a Full Moon in Aquarius on August 19th/20th.

Leo season, which started on July 22nd, is now being further energized by this New Moon. Leo is the sign of creativity, self-expression, and leadership. It is associated with passion, playfulness, generosity, and the heart. Ruled by the Sun, Leo energy thrives on recognition, attention, and stardom. It emphasizes personal authenticity, confidence, and the joy of being in the spotlight.

Leo governs areas such as the arts, entertainment, children, romance, and speculative ventures. It is also connected to our inner child, encouraging us to embrace joy, fun, and spontaneity. The Leo influence is about shining brightly, sharing our gifts, and inspiring others with our passion and enthusiasm.

Ruled by the Sun, Leo energy thrives on vitality and self-expression. This sign channels its efforts into creative pursuits, leadership roles, and activities that allow for personal recognition and fulfillment. Leo’s energy fosters a sense of pride, courage, and an unwavering belief in oneself. It encourages us to take center stage, be bold in our endeavors, and lead with our hearts.

Negatively, Leo can be overly dramatic, attention-seeking, and self-centered. It may struggle with arrogance, stubbornness, and a need for constant validation. As a sign that relishes the spotlight, Leo can sometimes overlook the contributions of others and become fixated on its own importance.

Mercury Is About To Go Retrograde In Both Virgo and Leo

Just over 17 hours after this New Moon, Mercury will station and begin its retrograde phase. At the time of the New Moon, Mercury will be stationary, a potent moment when the planet appears to halt before changing direction. This stationary phase often intensifies the typical Mercury retrograde effects, such as disruptions in communication, technology, and travel.

We might experience heightened misunderstandings, delays, or errors, making it crucial to approach this period with patience and flexibility. However, the extent of this happening in your experience also depends on what you are doing at that time. As Mercury transitions into its retrograde motion over the next few days, it will start in Virgo but will later move into Leo on August 14th/15th, where it will spend the majority of its retrograde. To learn more about this retrograde, you can read my full-length forecast article about it here. There are also other astrological aspects happening over the next two weeks that are included in that article instead of this one.

New Moon In Leo Sextile Mars & Jupiter In Gemini

This New Moon in Leo forms a sextile with Mars and Jupiter in Gemini, bringing assertive and expansive energies into this lunation; however, we can also be more easily scattered. This aspect encourages action pertaining to the mind, intellect, communication, knowledge, exploration, and information. This aspect supports engaging in lively discussions, with many opinions being thrown around.

Mars in Gemini helps us to be versatile and adaptable. However, combined with Jupiter, it can be easy to overextend ourselves either mentally, communicatively, in our local environment/neighborhood, with close relationships, or when it comes to commuting. Mercury is the ruler of Gemini, and as mentioned in the previous section, is going retrograde. This adds a reflective, revisiting, revising, and misunderstanding energy that could also affect how the Mars/Jupiter influence is expressed in our lives.

Venus Aligned With Regulus, Quincunx Neptune & Pluto, Forming A Yod Pattern

In the day leading up to the New Moon and in the few days following, Venus forms a conjunction with the star Regulus. This can flavor our relations, social interactions, pleasures, aesthetics, or art with a regal and/or noble influence as well as ego, pride, or self-centeredness. It can be a time for connecting with or being drawn to people who are prominent, leaders, successful, or stand out in some way.

At this time, Venus is also in a quincunx with Neptune, which starts the day before the New Moon and continues until the following day. Along with the Regulus influences mentioned, this aspect may also play out as disillusionment, confusion, idealism, or unrealistic perceptions around our relationships or attractions. We might feel an urge to escape or idealize situations, and therefore it is a time to be mindful of potential deceptions or self-deceptions. During this same period, Venus also forms a quincunx with Pluto, lasting until August 6th. Pluto’s influence can bring frustrations around power dynamics, jealousy, control issues, obsessions, fanaticism, secrets, suspicions, as well as deep or intense feelings pertaining to others.

Together, the quincunx aspects between Venus, Neptune, and Pluto also form a Yod pattern. At the apex, Venus acts as the focal point through which the energies of Neptune and Pluto can blend in a positive and harmonious way. Neptune’s dreamy, spiritual, mystical, imaginative, and enchanting influences combine with Pluto’s deep, magnetic, alluring, transformative, and powerful energies, creating a potent mix affecting Venus-ruled areas of love, beauty, relationships, art, pleasures, aesthetics, and attractions.

Jupiter In Gemini Square Saturn In Pisces

Jupiter in Gemini will be in its first exact square with Saturn in Pisces from August 15th to 24th. This aspect has been building up since late May when Jupiter entered Gemini and will continue to be a significant influence throughout the next year. The energy of this square will be particularly strong again when the next exact square occurs in December and then once more in June of next year, in different signs.

Jupiter in Gemini manifests as expansion through learning, communication, and intellectual exploration. It is conducive for seeking new knowledge, engaging in diverse experiences, and broadening our horizons through social interactions, curiosity, and exploration that is less foreign and closer to home. It can also be excessive, have blind spots, amplify duality or duplicitousness, and contribute to us getting scattered or overwhelmed with information.

Saturn in Pisces emphasizes discipline, responsibility, and commitment around compassion, spirituality, creativity, healing, and faith. It encourages us to bring structure and tangibility to aspects of life that are typically fluid or elusive, such as imagination and emotional well-being. Saturn’s influence can also help to redefine and solidify our approach to these areas, creating a more grounded and practical foundation for our dreams and ideals.

The square between Jupiter and Saturn represents a clash between expansion and contraction. Jupiter’s boundless curiosity and pursuit of knowledge in Gemini can be at odds with Saturn’s call for structure, discipline, and realism, either in general or in the areas mentioned in the above paragraph. This tension can manifest as feelings of frustration or restriction when trying to push forward with expansive efforts or pursuits in an excessive, overextending, or unrealistic way.

Considering that Jupiter is in a sign that can make it easy to overlook details and its ruler Mercury is retrograde, this emphasizes an increased need for caution, extra attention to detail, and reflection. With Saturn in the superior position over Jupiter, this highlights the importance of patience, focus, discipline, responsibility, structure, and restraint if necessary. By doing this, we can better manage Jupiter’s expansive, excessive, overextending energy, which can be undirected and scattered in Gemini.

From August 13th-17th, Mars will be tied into this aspect as it will be in a conjunction with Jupiter in Gemini while both are square Saturn. This can amplify this energy with Mars’ assertive and forceful qualities working in cohesion with Jupiter and its influences mentioned in earlier paragraphs. Mars’ square to Saturn can bring obstructions, obstacles, or delays affecting our pursuits and actions.

Making Intentions & Things To Consider

How can you express your authentic self more boldly? What creative projects or hobbies can you pursue to bring more joy into your life? Are there any past projects or relationships that you should revisit? What steps can you take to ensure you do not overextend yourself mentally or communicatively? Would implementing boundaries in how you engage with others support your well-being? What can you do differently to ensure clarity and avoid mistakes or misunderstandings? Do you need to have a more structured, grounded, and realistic approach in your pursuits? Is there anything in your life currently that is asking for careful review, adjustment, revision, or reconsideration?

These are just some examples of what to consider or focus your intentions on at this time; however, it is good to reflect on anything else that is coming up for you. It is generally best to make any intentions within the first 24 hours following a New Moon. The exact moment of this New Moon is at 11:13 am Universal Time on August 4th. You can click here to see what that is in your time zone.

 

Carmen Di Luccio is a practicing astrologer who has been studying astrology for 17 years and working with clients for 12 years. His forecast articles were featured in Collective-Evolution.com from 2015 until 2021 and were among the most read astrology content on the internet. Carmen has been a guest on many podcasts and other media throughout the years. He specializes in readings and consultations for individuals, businesses, and entrepreneurs to help them navigate the astrological influences and achieve greater alignment with the best version of themselves.