Step into the Spotlight: August's New Moon in Leo & Other Cosmic Shifts
Happy August! We made it to the start of another month. I hope this past week has been kind to you. Chiron stationing Retrograde last Friday at 23° of Aries certainly kicked up a lot of energy around our wounded spaces and insecurities we carry. The intensity has been gradually lessening each day, and if you've been diving deep and allowing yourself to sit with all the shadow parts bubbling up to the surface, you might be feeling lighter and more empowered as we head towards the New Moon in Leo this weekend.
August energy continues the surge of energy that began unfolding in July. The energy as a whole is wanting to build us up and empower us to stand tall in our uniqueness, pursue our desires, and shine brightly. However, we may feel mounting pressure around growth and expansion as it comes into a push-pull dynamic centered around Mars and Jupiter forming a conjunction in Gemini mid-month. These two powerhouse planets will bring a hefty surge of action-oriented energy but will have to face slowdowns and restrictions from the tense squares both planets will make to Saturn in Pisces around the same time. Additionally, Mercury retrograde through Virgo and Leo all month offers time to look at the details to re-work, re-examine, and re-do things before they can really take off. Activations with Pluto and Uranus will continue to bring up shadow, subconscious fears, and unexpected changes and shakeups.
This week, I've been tapping into the Mercury in Virgo vibes and the Sun and Venus in Leo vibes! It's been a time of shedding and bringing order to things in my home and wardrobe. As I've engaged in this cleansing process, I've noticed powerful creative bursts resulting from shifting the energy around in my environment. Clearing space, cutting cords, and releasing emotionally weighted items has been a necessary and cathartic process. I was reminded of my OG Energetic Closet Cleanse process I shared back in 2021, which still holds immense value. I have a podcast episode which dives into my process, click here to listen if it calls to you! I've done this process myself and have helped countless clients with this process over the years, and every time I engage with it, I'm blown away by its effectiveness. Now, I'm rediscovering clothing and home items, using them in fresh, new ways, which makes a big difference in my mood, energy levels, and how “clear” I feel at home, in my sacred space. I still guide clients through this process from time to time. If you're interested in working with me 1:1 for personal shopping and/or closest and home cleanses, please email me (tiffany@epiphanywithtiffany.com). I have a limited number of spots available and would love to support you. Or book an Astrostyling session with me here!
I've also been wanting to engage with Leo energy in preparation for the New Moon—making collages, dressing up more, thrift store shopping, dancing, and journaling are a few things I've been getting reconnected with this past week. Leo, ruled by the Sun, represents children, creative projects, romance, love affairs, and self-expression. Reconnecting with activities you loved as a child can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing and reignite your passions.
Today, Venus in Leo squares Uranus in Taurus, bringing wildcard energy. Venus deals with love, beauty, relationships, and money, while Uranus deals with innovation, technology, revelations, and liberation. Squares are typically tense aspects and can be the breaking point where feel the untamable urge to take action in a way where we previously might not have been able to muster the courage. One way this can play is suddenly becoming attracted to people or things that might stray from our usual tastes and preferences. That said, this is a “breaking free” energy signature that can bring forth surprises and unforeseen twists in our existing relationships and values.
The New Moon at 12° of Leo on Sunday encourages us to find our voices and express ourselves authentically. Leo wants us to honor our hearts' creations and share them with the world. Leo's are passionate leaders, but can sometimes be plagued by self doubt or on the flip side be overly arrogant and ego-centered, needing to be the center of attention at all times. It's about finding a balance of being bold and sharing your creations into the world vs hiding your light, but bringing genuine warmth and generosity towards others along with it. This New Moon is about being bold and genuine, removing masks that prevent us from showing our true selves. Leo wants us to drop the mask and let our true, authentic nature take center stage.
This New Moon forms sextiles with Mars and Jupiter in Gemini, offering a preview of mid-month's Mars-Jupiter conjunction. Additionally, a powerful Yod formation involving Venus at 29° Leo, Neptune at 29° Pisces, and Pluto at 0° Aquarius brings powerful lessons around love, money, and relationships. Yods are known as “Finger of God” aspects, and are thought to bring forth challenges and karmic debts that need to be paid and overcome. Be on the lookout for intense learnings or sacrifices in these areas.
Generally speaking, New Moons are prime opportunities to plant new seeds and set intentions for things you want to manifest over this next month, as well as for the next six months, when we'll have a full moon in Leo on February 12, 2025. If you identify the House you have 12° of Leo in your Birth Chart, you'll be able to narrow in on the themes and area of life seeking renewal. If you have any personal planets or placements at or around 12° of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), you'll be feeling the energy strongly.
In addition to the New Moon in Leo on Sunday, we also have Venus moving out of Leo and into Virgo, where it begins in that Yod formation with Neptune and Pluto. Venus in Virgo is a big energy shift! Venus in Leo loves attention from romantic prospects, loves to have fun, loves romance, drama, and enjoying all things love-related in general. But when it moves into Virgo, it shifts into a more logical, practical mindset. Venus in Virgo's love nature is more rooted towards how it can be of service to others vs how it can have fun and be playful. Venus in Virgo is a more virtuous and devoted lover type of energy, and is less likely to settle for any partners that don't meet each and every requirement on their well-thought-out list of qualifications!
Sunday is also the day Mercury stations retrograde in Virgo! We have a few Mercury retrogrades throughout the year, this one is from Aug 5th – Aug 28th and will move from 4° Virgo back to to 21° of Leo. That means both the Virgo and Leo house(s) in your chart will be activated for this retrograde. Mercury retrograde can be a time where we see people, projects, and communications re-surface for re-consideration and re-do's.
The shadow period has already been in affect since July 16th when Mercury was at 21° of Leo. So, think back what's been going on for you since then as it's likely to re-surface during the month of August during the retrograde period. Venus traveling so close to Mercury and moving into Virgo the same day as Mercury stations retrograde in Virgo can make this particular Mercury retrograde feel more like a Venus retrograde, especially at the beginning. Expect themes around love, money, and relationships to be part of the do-over energy that comes with Mercury Rx's. Something we can all look forward to, I'm sure. ;)
Hold on tight, August, here we go!
For deeper insights into how the cosmic energies are affecting you personally, book a Birth Chart Reading with me. We’ll dive deep into your astrological code and the current astrological landscape. Whether you're familiar with your Birth Chart or new to the language of Astrology, I'd be honored to support you and shed light on the areas of life where you're being illuminated to grow and evolve—offering valuable insights into how you can best work with the energy. I offer 15, 30, 60, and 90-minute virtual readings. These readings are full of astrological insights and are paired with my intuitive guidance. You'll get a recording of the session as well as detailed notes and dates for you to reference at any time—all customized to your Natal Chart. Click here to schedule your session today!
Wishing you a BOLD New Moon in Leo!
xo, Tiffany
