New Moon in Leo
August 16, 2023
Theme: Tame Our ‘Inner Beast’
by Andrea Dupuis
Venus, Moon and Sun are all in Leo
This New Moon is at 23 Degrees and exactly square Uranus
This week we have a more challenging New Moon in the sign of Leo. New Moons are always a time for contemplation, to go internal, to reflect and take stock of life. They can tend to make us more introverted, feel more yin, and generally feel a bit more melancholy.
With several planets in the sign of Leo, the most extroverted sign in the zodiac, we may experience a mixed bag of heightened emotions this week – everything from sad, broody and even sombre – to fiery, aggressive and full of excitement.
With a hard square aspect to the planet Uranus, the planet of change, upheaval and instability – we can expect some big changes this week that may come out of nowhere! Something can shift for us dramatically – be it a circumstance, a pattern, or a way of thinking. On a practical level, we may find our plans changing last minute or things not going quite as planned.
With such a concentrated energy in the sign of Leo, including this week’s Venus Cazimi and the rebirth of Venus (read about it below), we are asked to look at the sign itself and what it represents for us.
Traditional Tarot imagery captures the zodiac signs so beautifully and it corresponds with the myth associated with Leo – that of Hercules killing the Nemean Lion in ancient Greek mythology.
Hercules taming the Nemean Lion
In the Strength Card, a soft looking woman appears to be taming the Lion by putting her hand in its mouth. She is covered in flowers and has the infinity sign above her head showing her connection to God. She is also wearing white, the color of purity. She is a divine being, she is the epitome of goodness and grace.
She isn’t scared to put her hand into the lion’s mouth, as she is determined to tame the shadow manifestations the Lion represents.
Strength Card in Tarot
The shadow side of the Lion is pride, arrogance, and lust and carnal desire, and the woman is using her divine wisdom to tame the ‘beast’.
The card relays the message – the real strength is spiritual strength – gentle, wise and patient.
We can use the lesson of Leo – to use gentleness to tame our ‘inner beast’ this week. We may find ourselves feeling aggressive, arrogant and experiencing the same from others. Be gentle with those who are having temper tantrums. Be gentle with yourself – the heat is high this week!
New Moon Mantra
I offer myself and others Gentleness and Grace
New Moon Contemplations
What in myself do I need to offer more gentleness too?
Is my temper running high? What can I do to ‘tame the beast’ figuratively?
New Moon Ritual Ideas:
- With a fiery Leo New Moon, it’s good to go to the opposite element if you’re feeling agitated or tired. Water bathing can be helpful – getting into the ocean, a river, waterfall. Anywhere you can safely swim to cleanse the intensity.
- Getting still and quiet with yourself and clear on your wants and desires at this time. Rituals don’t have to be fancy. 15 minutes with yourself is perfect. You may notice you can contact your inner voice easier.
- Rest up! Sleep is an important daily ritual. We are often tired around New Moons so honour your need to sleep.
It’s called the dark moon phase for a reason. It’s when the Moon is not visible in the night sky. It represents a time to go inward and reflect and meditate, pray and spend time alone.
Who this New Moon will impact the most:
Leo Sun, Moon and Rising
Taurus Sun, Moon and Rising
Cancer Sun, Moon and Rising
Libra Sun, Moon and Rising
Venus Cazimi – August 13, 2023
On August 13th we had a beautiful conjunction between Venus and the Sun also known as a Cazimi. The word Cazimi means ‘in the heart of the sun’ and occurs when a planet is within 1 degree from the Sun. It means the rays of the Sun shine the frequency of the other planet out into the world.
In this case it’s the benefic planet Venus, the planet of Love. So it’s quite a rare and magical time, especially for the few days surrounding it. We may feel a deep sense of love, enjoyment, pleasure and experience a sense of beauty and lightness around us.
On the other hand, Venus is retrograde at this time which means she’s not functioning as she normally does. Since each of us experience retrograde planets uniquely, depending on our charts, the Cazimi will not be felt the same for everyone.
To know how it’ll impact you, look back and contemplate what’s been going on for you since July 22nd. The Cazimi can amplify those themes temporarily.
The Cazimi is the big turning point, anything that’s felt stuck can finally take a turn. We are halfway through the retrograde!
This past month has been a time for deep heart healing and revisiting some of our old patterns and wounds in love. For many it has felt very difficult, and for others, the most fruitful time.
Now, for all of us, it’s the time to enjoy every minute, luxuriate in the pleasures, find love in your heart and share it with others. Amplify Venusian qualities out into the world. It’s a beautiful moment, enjoy it 🙂
Cazimi Contemplations:
What has been going on for you this past month in matters of love and money?
How has the themes of the heart played out?
What old patterns or wounds have returned to be worked through?
How deep are you sharing your love with others?
Have you stopped to enjoy beauty recently?
Horoscopes For Each Sign – The area of life you can set your intention this New Moon:
If you do not know your Sun, Moon, and Rising sign, you can click here to generate your chart.
Look at your Rising Sign first, then Moon, then Sun.
ARIES: Lovers and romance, play, hobbies, fun, art, intellect, creation, children
TAURUS: Home, mother, family, emotional wellbeing, ancestral roots, the heart
GEMINI: Siblings, online business, general business, local life, relatives, short distance travel, writing, speaking, teaching, the mind
CANCER: Self-worth, money, what you eat, your voice, possessions, skills and talents
LEO: Yourself, ego, how you present yourself to the world, your looks, identity
VIRGO: Spirituality, your dream world, the past, pain and loss, isolated places such as hospitals, prisons and institutions, channelling
LIBRA: The greater network, large groups of people, acquaintances, community, social media, online communities, good luck, money
SCORPIO: Work, self-employment, your career, public image, leadership
SAGITTARIUS: Father, gurus, spiritual community, foreign travel, blessings, your belief systems, spirituality
CAPRICORN: Death and rebirth, the occult, big life changes and transformation, sexuality, inheritances, other people’s money
AQUARIUS: Romantic partner, business partner, clients, anyone you have contracts with
PISCES: Your service to the world, day job, enemies, your physical body, health, animals, daily routines, therapy
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