What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger: August 2020's New Moon in Leo

What is a New Moon?

A New Moon represents the beginning of the lunar cycle when the moon is conjunct the sun and invisible to the human eye. New Moons are a good time for fresh starts and new beginnings. It is a good time to start a new project or make a radical change. It's also a good time to find clarity on what you want and release what no longer serves you. The effects of a New Moon generally last for about two weeks, up until the next Full Moon.

With the New Moon in Leo, we can expect new beginnings related to our self-expression, our self-worth and where we find strength.

It may be helpful to think back to what was going on in your life during the Full Moon in Aquarius or the Full Moon in Leo six months ago for certain themes may be repeating themselves.

Whatever intentions you set now should come into fruition by the time of the Full Moon in Pisces on September 2nd.

Those of us with planets or angles between 21 & 30 degree of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) will most especially be affected by this New Moon.

August 2020's New Moon in Leo

The Sun is at home in the sign of Leo, the lion. The Sun is the center of our solar system. It is the star each planet revolves around. Leos are also stars. As the king of the jungle, the lion is a symbol of royalty, leadership and celebrity. Leo is confident, strong, full of live and vitality. Those with prominent Leo placements are self-expressive and sometimes a bit demanding of others' attention. In modern astrology, there is a rightful focus on Leos' fun and unique qualities. Leo is all about what makes us unique and special. What is it that sets us apart from the crowd? Of course, there is focus on Leos' "narcissism," as well. With Moon in Leo, the tendency to get lost in ones feelings to the point of self-absorption is especially strong. However, I find that people often forget how strong and fierce the sign of Leo really is, even when they mention its "selfishness." It is not the "water of the fire signs," as I've seen people in astrology groups claim it to be but a FIXED fire sign. In the third decan, especially, ruled by Mars in both the Chaldean system AND by triplicity, Leo's fiery qualities are particularly strong, but not always selfish either. Third decan Leo placements are just as likely to fight on behalf of the people they care about as they are to fight for themselves.

In Greek mythology, Leo is identified as the lion Hercules had to kill as the first of his twelve labors. A fearsome beast that terrorized the land, it killed all who had ventured near it. Possessing a skin made of metal, wood & stone, it was larger and fiercer than any other creature, but while Hercules found himself unable to kill it with any weapon, he was somehow able to kill it with his own bare hands. Afterwards, he removed the lions skin with one of its claws and wore it as his own protective cloak. Similarly, we may find ourselves tested by the upcoming New Moon in Leo but if we pass whatever tests come our way, we're sure to receive a reward...

The New Moon's strongest aspect is probably its conjunction to Mercury at 28 degrees Leo. Mercury is the planet of communication & logical thought, and with Mercury conjunction the New Moon in Leo , we are likely to feel more talkative than usual & more driven to express ourselves. There will likely be a lot of conversations about important topics, and many of us will also receive clarity around significant emotional matters.

Its important to note that the New Moon & Mercury in Leo will also be making a grand trine to Mars at 24'54 degrees Aries & the South Node at 27'26 degrees Sagittarius. Mars, the god of war, is particularly strong in its home sign of Aries, but the trine to the New Moon is positive, symbolizing courage and strength. Its a good time to confront people on emotional matters and engage in conversations about things that we normally find difficult to discuss. With the South Node involved, people from our pasts (or even past lives!) may come back into our lives to give us closure or help us wrap up some sort of lesson we've been learning. We are gaining the courage to go after the things we want and gathering up the strength to walk away from the things we don't.

Mars in Aries is making some difficult aspects too, however. Mars is square both Pluto Retrograde at 22'58 degrees Capricorn & Saturn Retrograde at 26'28 degrees of this cardinal earth sign. Feelings of anger are intensified when square Pluto, but with Saturn involved, we may feel blocked from fully expressing them. Since Capricorn rules over governments and other institutions, civil unrest may be especially intense... or it could be our governments itself that are in rage. Mars square Pluto could be a war aspect... but war / anger aside, Mars square Pluto intensifies our desires. Particularly but not limited to sex, this aspect heightens our drive to go after what we want. However, Mars square Saturn shows that we're blocked from actually getting it. Whether it's outside circumstances that are blocking us from finding fulfillment, or our own internal conflicts self-sabotaging us, there is define hardship and conflict here.

Meanwhile, after four months of delusion & fickleness, Venus is finally out of Gemini and at 10'59 degrees Cancer, Venus is making a sextile to Uranus, planet of freedom & rebellion at 10'41 degrees Taurus. This indicates feelings of excitement in love relationships and positive surprise; finding love where we least expect it, feeling the freedom to be ourselves, and feelings of butterflies. Under the influence of this transit, we no longer feel ashamed of our eccentricities. Instead perhaps we are gravitating towards people who relate to them.

Conclusion

Overall, the upcoming New Moon in Leo is all about overcoming life's difficulties. With Mars in Aries square Pluto & Saturn in Capricorn, there is bound to be a lot of them, but Mars trine the Sun & Moon in Leo gives us the courage to overcome any challenges that come our way. Meanwhile, the New Moon conjunct Mercury gives us the strength to say what we wanna say and express what it is that we truly feel, no matter how difficult. The South Node in Sagittarius, on the other hand, makes a trine to these planets, allowing us the confidence to walk away from what is no longer serving us. While feelings of anger may certainly be intensified by this New Moon, what is anger, really, but an expression of self-love?